Featured Homes
- 19440 East Mann Creek
- 8788 E. Mad River Rd in Parker
- 20949 Woodside Lane, Parker CO
- 4054 S. Atchison Way, Aurora, CO
- 4056 S. Atchison Way, Aurora, CO
- 37963 County Road 17, Elizabeth, CO 80107
- 4896 South Dudley Street, Denver Colorado 80123
- 10427 Longleaf Drive, Parker CO 80134
- 15896 Quarry Hill Drive, Parker CO 80134
- 7995 S. Roslyn Way, Centennial, CO 80112
- 1067 Ridge Oaks Drive, Castle Rock, CO
- 9674 Deerhorn Court in Parker
- 5055 Miriam Lane, Parker CO 80134
- 41456 Farmhouse Circle, Parker CO
- 6251 Westview Circle in Parker
- 10668 Stone Creek Ct. Parker CO 80134
Helpful Parker CO Links
Short Sales Info
Neighborhoods
- Highlands Ranch Homes
- Castle Rock Homes
- Horse Creek
- Lone Tree Colorado Homes
- Meridian Village
- Newlin Meadows
- Pradera
- Stonegate
- The Timbers
Local Resources
Videos
Categories
- Fun Things to Do
- Colorado Short Sales
- Homes for Sale
- Just Cool Photos
- Real Estate Answers
- Real Estate Stats
- Rental Homes
Archives
- February 2012 (2)
- January 2012 (20)
- December 2011 (3)
- November 2011 (11)
- October 2011 (9)
- September 2011 (3)
- August 2011 (3)
- April 2011 (6)
- March 2011 (7)
- February 2011 (2)
- January 2011 (11)
- December 2010 (3)
- November 2010 (11)
- October 2010 (24)
- September 2010 (5)
- August 2010 (5)
- July 2010 (7)
- June 2010 (9)
- May 2010 (5)
- April 2010 (17)
- March 2010 (5)
- February 2010 (13)
- January 2010 (13)
- December 2009 (5)
- November 2009 (30)
- October 2009 (31)
- September 2009 (36)
- August 2009 (21)
- July 2009 (9)
- June 2009 (16)
- May 2009 (12)
- April 2009 (2)
Is your home ready to list for sale?
Nov 2nd 11
Is your home ready to list in the MLS?
It’s a great question since I see a lot of homes listed for sale in the MLS that are clearly not ready to be adverstised out in the market yet.
What do I mean?
- Homes listed in the MLS for days, weeks and even months without photos.
- Disclosures to the buyer not completed.
- No flyers inside the house.
- Unable to find the virtual tour if there even is one.
- Unable to locate a video if there even is one.
- Well Permit info non-existent.
- Homes not staged or even de-cluttered.
If you are going to list the house in the MLS at the very least there should be photos to accompany the listing. Believe it or not many homes get listed in the MLS without even one photo. Really there should be professionally shot photos of the house for sale.
Obvously all the listing paperwork including the disclosures to the buyer need to be filled out and loaded into the MLS. Potential buyers or other brokers need this info to make a decision on whether or not to look at your home.
Color flyers should be inside the home at all times when the house is actively listed in the MLS and accepting showings. Buyers like to take home nice color photos of the house if they like it.
Virtual tours and videos of your home for sale need to be advertised and on the web so buyers searching online can easily find the photos and video. If your house is listed in the MLS you should be able to Google your address and have professional photos or a video show up for that address immediately. Generally it should show up in the #1 position of Google. Example; buyer drives by your house and goes home to Google your address or even better does it on their smartphone right in front of the house. Better have a video. Videos show up great on smartphones.
In and around Parker Colorado many of the homes have wells. Wells require permits and permit numbers so the Colorado Divison of Water can keep track of who owns the well and/or water rights. Listing a house or property for sale without having this info easily available is crazy. This is all info that buyers will want up front and generally well before an offer is ever made.
To me de-cluttering a home is one of the first things that must be done. It has to be done before the house if photographed and before it is listed for sale in the MLS. I’m shocked when I go in homes with buyers to see that the house is very cluttered and in disarray. Make your property inviting and warm and easy to walk around.
This is not a compete list but it is a good baseline for getting started. Make sure to ask your listing agent or broker if the property is ready to go. Make sure there are photos for the MLS and the house is in good shape. It can mean the difference between a sale and sitting on the market for months without an offer.
Photos can make or break your listing
Nov 2nd 11
Photos of Parker CO Homes Showcased in the MLS
Professional Home Photos
We see it all the time. Amateur photos taken of homes that are listed in the MLS for sale. A good or bad photo can make or break your home sale. Being successful selling your home starts with a professional presentation.
Listing agents or brokers use these poor examples in their online marketing and offline print ads for the property. It’s a poor representation of the property and frankly something I would never have my name associated with.
I regularly see fliers in flyer boxes in front of the house stuffed full of fliers that have photos that are so bad I’m embarrassed for the seller.
Here’s an example of a poor lighting and not capturing the entire kitchen. The person that took these shots didn’t even take the time to turn the lights on in the kitchen. Not a very good presentation to the potential buyer and certainly not what a seller is expecting from their agent or broker selling the house.
Kitchen photo no lights on?
Here is another example where the listing broker didn’t take the time to turn the lights on inside the room where they are taking the photo.They only shot half of the room and really dropped the ball here.
No lights and half of the room?
When a seller hires Steven Beam to sell their home we do it right.
I have a professional photographer that has been working for me and shooting all of my listings for the past 11 years. He knows the best angles to shoot a room and how to get the best lighting to showcase the room. The photos we use are high resolution and can be used for both print and online advertisements.
The next time you get ready to list your home for sale make sure the broker you hire has a professional photographer that can get the job done.
Many times you have only a few seconds to attract a buyers eye online before they eliminate your property from the ones they want to view. Don’t you think that having your home presented professionally with top notch photos is a bare minimum?
Here are a few more examples of high resolution professionally shot photos of my listings. This is how it should be done.
Professional Photographer Home in Pradera
Another way I professionally market homes I list for sale in the MLS is by using professional videos with onscreen talent.
Here is an article about video and how it can be used.
Small but perfectly photographed room.
Small rooms like the one just above deserve as much attention as the larger main rooms. Buyers want to see what the home has to offer so you better make it visible and beautiful.
If you would like to see what your home is worth fill out this questionnaire and I will call you today.
Do you decorate your house for Christmas if it’s listed for sale?
Nov 30th 09
Christmas Decorations?
Every year we get the same calls from our sellers and they all want to know if they should decorate their homes for Christmas if the house is on the market.
- My standard answer is live like you normally would if the house was not on the market. (BUT KEEP IT CLEAN) If you decorate every year then decorate.
- I should emphasize that if you decorate like Clark Griswold then please tone it down.
- I have never in 11 years had a buyer complain about Christmas decorations in or on a house when showing homes during the Christmas Season.
- Realtors and buyers love walking in homes with fresh cooked sweets and the good smells of Christmas.
NOTE: If you have a North facing property or one with a sidewalk that takes days or weeks for the snow to melt off I highly recommend that you make sure the sidewalks and driveways are clean of any slippery spots.
Do I take my home off the market in the Winter?
Sep 10th 09
For Parker Colorado Real Estate Brokers the yearly question every broker is asked…
“Do we take the house off the market in the winter months?”
Confusion is Scary! Know the Facts.
The yearly question every broker is asked “do we want to take the house off the market in the winter months?”
What is the answer?
- Buyers that are out looking between September and March are usually very serious buyers. They are not “tire kickers.”
- Inventory is low since many sellers buy into the myth that they need to take the house of the market in the winter.
- Low inventory + serious buyers = a great opportunity to sell a home or real estate.
- Fewer “tire kickers” means fewer showings = less interruptions and house cleaning. Again, serious buyers will be looking.
- Serious buyers usually = relocation buyers or people that have already sold their home and need to find a replacement home quickly.
- Relocation buyers usually close very quickly and you know they have a Company behind them so they will be prepared and ready to close the deal.
- Fewer real estate transactions are taking place at this time so Realtors, title companies and inspectors have less pressure and more time to dedicate to your transaction.
- It isn’t as hot outside. Fall in Colorado is the most beautiful time of the year so buyers really enjoy getting out and looking for homes.
” I advise you to continue actively marketing your home for sale in the winter.”
Social Networking Profiles
