Advice for Melbourne, Florida Home Sellers

If you are considering selling your Melbourne, Florida home there will not be a shortage of advice.

Selling your home requires specialized knowledge.  Evaluating advice (solicited or not) can be a challenge.

Advice may come from all directions. 

The know-it-all at work will likely be among the first to offer advice as he knows it all!  "Uncle Fred" who knows everything will tell you the secrets.  Your neighbor (you know the guy who has not spoken to you twice in the past year) will tell you how much you should get for it.

Multiple real estate agents will  provide their take on the market, the price and how quickly they can get the job done (read this "hire me!").

I don't know you.  If you are considering selling your Melbourne, Florida home here is some more unsolicited advice.

• Disclose issues (current or past) up front.  Don't try to hide anything .
• Don't expect to get what you paid plus a return on your investment. 
• In the end the market will set the price for your home.  A ready willing buyer under no duress determines the ultimate selling price.
• Don't price high now and reduce later.  This not a great starter strategy.  Buyers will wonder why your home has been for sale for so long!
• Regardless of the direction of the real estate market buying high is not good strategy for buyers.  Reason enough for not listing high.
• Decide what your real requirements (net proceeds) are and go from there.  The market data may or may not support this number.
• Concentrate of the positives that separate your home from the others.  If it is "just like the rest," make it stand out by preparation, presentation and pricing.
• Accommodate as many showing requests as possible.  Not all prospective buyers have flexibility in their schedule if they are relocating from another area.
• Don't acquiesce to the real estate agent who gives you the highest recommended listing price. 
• Don't rely solely on what you "hear" in the feedback, if received.  After all, perception is reality.  

Gary L Waters © 
Florida Licensed Real Estate Broker
Waters Realty of Brevard, LLC
3270 Suntree Blvd #2218
Melbourne, FL 32940

Home Seller Tips: What are your utility costs?

Does a buyer care to know what your utility expenses are?

Although most buyers don't ask for them I believe a seller can separate themselves from the competition if they provide their electric bill information.  Perhaps an entire twelve months is not necessary but the summer months (July, August, September especially) could help a buyer gauge how "bad" it will be when the air conditioner is operating the most.

Of course "bad" can be "good" if your home features energy efficient appliances including  newer high SEER AC system.  Although not as common, natural gas heating, cooking and hot water is a big seller for many because of its lower costs (plus you don't lose it if the power goes out).

Other energy savings like new or extra insulation, hybrid hot water heater, tank-less hot water heater or solar energy features.

On the other side is the challenge selling an older less energy efficient home presents.

Utility costs will not likely be the major decision maker when selling your home but if it is something that gives you a leg up on the competition - use it!

For information on buying a home in Brevard County, Florida, give me a call at 321-693-3850 or send me an email.

If new construction is a consideration I suggest you take a look at  Lifestyle Homes SunSmart systems.   Better yet, give me a call for information about these solar powered homes. You still want your own real estate agent when considering new construction. 

Image courtesy of phasinphoto at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Important Questions to Ask Every Real Estate Agent You Interview to Sell Your Home

There are hundreds of articles on the Internet about choosing a real estate agent.  many of these include the questions to ask every real estate agent you interview to sell your home.

This is not one of those lists of questions but rather the general topics to be include when interviewing a real estate agent to sell your home.

In my opinion the most important questions deal with three main topics.

1. Local knowledge.  Have you ever sold any homes in my neighborhood?  If so, when?   I have written this many times – local knowledge is critical.  How many homes are for sale in your neighborhood?  What type of sales are they (standard, short sale, foreclosure)?   What is my main competition?  Neighborhood knowledge is key - knowing your neighborhood and where your likely buyer will come from is key to market success.
2. Experience. How long have you been in the real estate business?   Having gone through a real estate market shakedown during the 2005-2008 period I think real estate agents who were in the business before and remained in the business have demonstrated some strengths like tenacity, creativity, stick to it ability, managing budgets, achieving results.
3. Success.   It is not necessarily how many listings one has today or has had in the past.  It is about the percent of listings that sell.  It is about the percent of original list price they get for their sellers.  It is about the number of days on the market (after all there are carrying costs while selling).  

 
Here is a list of questions to ask when interviewing a real estate agent to sell your home.

What is the best way to sell my house?

Signs your house is not priced right.

The Three Ps of Selling Your Home


Considering selling your Viera, Florida home?    Call me at 321-693-3850 if I can help.

Buying or Selling a Home in Melbourne, Florida: Who am I to tell you to sell your home?

Who am I to tell you that it is the best time to buy or sell your home? 

As a real estate agent I make money when my clients buy or sell a home.   But I am not here to tell anyone it is time to do either.

I read an article this morning urging buyers to get off the fence.  It pointed out that in many markets (340 of 1000) homes are less affordable now than they were a decade ago. 

While it may be true that homes are becoming less affordable the decision to buy should not made in fear of not being able to afford a house some time in the future.

Back to my initial question. 

There are multiple things to evaluate when it comes to buying a home.  Some of these include the interest rates, job stability or likely change, ability to obtain financing, long term goals, potential life changes and many more.

Similarly there are also multiple considerations to consider when it comes to selling include your mortgage balance, ability to obtain financing, options for replacement housing, etc.

My point is simply this...

If the possibility exists for you to buy or sell your Melbourne, Florida home, give me a call. I can provide a free market analysis.  I can provide you with listings meeting your desires.  I can provide local contacts in the mortgage and insurance areas to answer your questions.

And, if you decide to buy or sell a home in Brevard county, Florida, I can work with you.  Give me a call at 321-693-3850 or send me an email.

Home Buyer Tips: The whole truth and nothing but the truth...

The home buying process is filled with questioners... mortgage loan officer,  Realtor®, seller, insurance agent, etc.  And it is critical answers provided by completely honest.

This starts with the first step in the home buying process - the mortgage pre approval.

Related article:  The Home Buying Process in Florida - Where do I start?

When applying for a mortgage loan it is imperative all the answers provided be on the level.  Why can't I just ballpark some answers?   Because every piece of information on that application is subject to verification and most of the critical stuff (like income, employment, debts and payments) will be verified and re-verified before final approval at the closing table!

When buying a home I suggest non-cash buyers (most) do two things -

1. provide accurate answers and documentation,
2. temporarily freeze their lives until closing (no loans, no job change, no new debts or major expenditures).

When you are ready to buy a Melbourne, Florida home please give me a call at 321-693-3850 if I can help in any way.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Florida Homes For Sale: Signs that your home is not priced right...

This post was originally published on August 14,2008.  Although the Brevard County, Florida real estate market is better now than it was six years ago the message is still the same.

Selling you home is all about price.   Price for condition, location, competition and motivation. 

Signs that your home is not priced right...

To sell your home, it must be seen by potential buyers.  If your home is presentation ready, curb appeal looking fantastic and still no one is coming maybe it is priced incorrectly.

The first sign a home is not priced right is no showings during what I call the "golden period."

The "golden period" is a term I coined to describe the first two weeks a property is listed.

Most real estate agents and motivated buyers watch for new listings.  They want to buy but they are particular.   It is during its first two weeks a listing will garner the most activity. 

If it did not, look at the price.

Another measure I use to gauge whether a home is priced correctly is my 30-10-1 rule.

If a home is listed for 30 days and has less than 10 showings and not one realistic offer, then the price is most likely an issue.   While this is a buyer's market a home that is priced right will garner the appropriate attention early on in the process.

If you are considering selling your Rockledge, Viera or Suntree home, please give me a call to discuss how I can market your property.

Want a free market analysis on your Melbourne or Viera, Florida home?  Send me an email or give me a call at 321-693-3850.

The Home Buying Process...More than just opening a few doors.

I recently read an article that talked about how consumers "these days" only need a real estate agent to open the doors so they can look in the house.  It seems many seem to think the information is all on the Internet so they can go from there.

The reality is that information can be good or it can be bad.  The key is separating the wheat from the chaff.  In real estate that key is your Realtor®.

The home buying process is an education.  Ask anyone who has ever purchased or sold a home and they will attest to the educational process!  In real life very few can start school ready to graduate - even if they have all the books in their bookshelf!

So where does a buyer start?  Regardless of experience home buyers should start at the same place - get an experienced local real estate agent.  A major responsibility of your real estate agent is educational including the process, area, prices, trends, etc.

Your real estate agent will likely start with an assessment of experience and goals.   This will mean a lot of questions!

With these answers your agent will begin your education.  It may end with a new home purchase now or a plan to purchase at a later date.  Sometimes getting the mortgage lined up takes time.  Sometimes it is a matter of saving cash for closing expenses.  Sometimes the time is just not right to make the purchase.

Having an individualized plan based on real, verifiable information is critical to the home buying process.

Ready to buy or sell a home in Melbourne, Florida?  Call me at 321-693-3850 or send me an email.  It doesn't cost a thing to discuss your goals and how I can assist you in meeting them.