The Four Reasons Your Home Is Not Selling

The Four Reasons Your Home Is Not Selling

If properly marketed there are 4 very big factors in why a home will not sell

LOCATION, INTEREST RATES, CONDITION and PRICE

LOCATION You may have heard that LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION is prime in selling any home at top dollar. The same home for example in a different neighborhood, elementary, middle or high school district or on quiet cul du sac could sell for more money. All to often sellers insist on a specific market price because they compare their homes to others outside their immediate neighborhood. Todays big name online evaluation services often times are a disservice to sellers  in that those services compare valuations over to broad an area or are not as in tune to a neighbor hood as a real estate agent.

INTEREST RATES Naturally sellers may assume that if rates are low their home will sell. That may be true but a rate increase by even a quarter of a percent could knock out buyers that would normally qualify to purchase the home.

CONDITION It is "interesting" to see what some sellers consider as "market ready". Many buyers are qualified to purchase but the property but the property does meet the qualifications for   "government loans" like FHA, VA etc. Peeling paint, rotten exterior wood, not so handy person electric and more. An experienced real estate agent should be able to point out the red flags prior to putting a home on the market.

PRICE  Price will compensate for the other three.A home will sell when the location is bad, interest rates are to high or the condition is bad to marginal. The price is to high if there are no showings.  The price is to high if there are showings and no offers. If price is adjusted closer to what similar homes are selling showing activity will pick up.  A seller should see one or more offers if price is at or below the median sale price for a neighborhood.

If you are going to be in the market to sell a home in the  Waukesha County Real Estate Market
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My Most Favorite Deck + Hot Tub Combo

My Most Favorite Deck + Hot Tub Combo

What a fantastic idea! A little bit of everything for your deck! If you are looking for a house with amenities like this, call Heidi Buchberger 262-443-2672

A Mom’s Advice: Preparing Your Home for Baby

RE/MAX Housing Blog

A Mom’s Advice: Preparing Your Home for Baby

1. Take stock and declutter. Before the baby arrives, it helps to declutter your home as much as possible – for your own sanity and to make room for all the baby gear you’ll acquire. Paring down unnecessary belongings and furniture is a great way to add some simplicity to your now-very-busy life.

2. Baby-proof your home in stages. You don’t have to do it all at once! To save time and money, childproof your home as your baby shows signs of reaching milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling and walking. Here’s a great guide from Parents.com.

3. Make the nursery functional. It’s tempting to want to re-create the immaculate nursery designs you see on Pinterest, but my advice is to put function first. Ease and practicality should take precedence over style.  Install window coverings that block out UV rays to help keep the room comfortable and dark during sleep times.

4. Check those smoke detectors. You might not think of this in the hustle and bustle, but testing the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home is extremely important. We have smoke detectors in every room, and a carbon monoxide detector on every level. The U.S. Fire Administration has many resources to help you choose and install these critically important devices.

Have your own tips to share on prepping a home for a new baby’s arrival? Share them below! And if you’re looking for more space for your little addition(s), a local RE/MAX agent can help you find the right place.

Home Improvements: What’s a Good Investment?

RE/MAX Housing Blog

Home Improvements: What’s a Good Investment?

You want to invest in your home – wisely. So how do you decide where to put your money?

Improvement projects don’t automatically increase the value of a home – factors like the state of the neighborhood can be more important to your bottom line. But knowing which improvements give a higher return can help boost your home’s value and save you time and money.

Here’s a quick look at how you could prioritize projects around your home.

Address the small stuff
A home plagued with many minor issues is usually considered less desirable and harder to sell. Those dripping faucets, running toilets, torn vinyl flooring and damaged carpet instantly make a bad impression on buyers. Put your money into those first and use what’s left to make larger improvements.

Boost curb appeal
It comes as no surprise that exterior home improvement projects rank as the most cost effective, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2014 Cost vs. Value Report. It ranks projects based on their cost and how much money they recoup after selling.

96 percent – Replace a wooden front door with a steel security door
87 percent – Add a new deck
78 percent – Replace siding
78 percent – Install a new garage door
78 percent – Install new windows

Consider interior investments
84 percent – Convert an attic to a bed and bath
82 percent – Minor kitchen remodel
77 percent – Basement renovation

If you’re thinking about selling your home, talk to a local RE/MAX agent to evaluate what to change or replace. He or she will know your neighborhood, and can guide you toward projects that will make the home buyer-ready and also give you the biggest bang for your home-improvement buck.

5 Guidelines for Tipping Movers

RE/MAX Housing Blog

5 Guidelines for Tipping Movers

Moving can be an expensive undertaking, especially when you hire outside help to pack and transport your belongings. When calculating costs, keep in mind that the amount you pay the moving company doesn’t necessarily trickle down to the people packing, loading and driving the trucks.

Here are five questions you can consider when deciding whether and how much to offer your moving team:

What's the industry standard?
Unlike the restaurant business, where 15 to 20 percent of the check is considered the standard, the moving industry has no such tipping guidelines. Determining how much to tip somewhat depends on the quality and quantity of the service you received.

How far was your move?
For local moves that require less than a half-day’s work, $10 per mover is considered acceptable. If the move takes a full day, tipping $20 per mover might be more appropriate. If your move requires long distances and several days on the road, use a percentage model. A tip between 5 and 10 percent of the total bill is usually considered fair.

How large is your household?
The size of your household should factor in, too. If you have a large family and lived in a large home, with a basement and garage packed with possessions, your move will require considerable effort. You can adjust your tip accordingly.

What services did you request?
Consider what you’re asking of your movers. Will they be packing your belongings for you? How about delivering boxes and furniture to the appropriate rooms and on various levels in your new place? Will they be required to handle large, difficult objects such as delicate artwork or a bulky piano? Will they assemble your beds before they leave? All of these tasks can be weighed as you consider a tip.

Did your possessions arrive on time and in good condition?
For local moves, time isn’t usually a significant factor. But when it comes to long-distance or interstate moves, the timeliness of the arrival certainly can factor into the tip. If you received your belongings on schedule despite a major snowstorm along the way, for example, you might decide that's worthy of a tip. Likewise, if unexplained delays occur, this might be reflected in your tip. After the the movers unload your possessions, do a quick inspection. If everything checks out, reward them for a job well done.

If you’re considering a move, buying a house, or listing your home for sale, contact a local RE/MAX agent. He or she can guide you in finding the right place – and any additional services you might need.

Dreams of Summer and the Oconomowoc Summer Farmers Market.

Dreams of Summer and The Oconomowoc Summer Farmers Market.

Sick of the blowing snow and the nose stinging chill of winter?

Just sit back, close your eyes and dream about walking through the Oconomowoc Summer Farmers Market. on a warm summer day   

Check out the Oconomowoc Summer Farmers Market – Saturday mornings, 7:00 am to noon.  2015 dates May 2 thru October 31.  Location is the south municipal parking off of East Wisconsin Ave.  Sponsored by Oconomowoc Chamber of Commerce.  

Want a buy a home within walking distance of the Oconomowoc Summer Farmers Market?

Contact Glenn Shong Re/Max Realty Center -262-490-2787

8 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own

RE/MAX Housing Blog

8 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own

Every home at some point requires maintenance. Some of that maintenance doesn't have to cost you a lot of money if you keep some basic tools around the house. Here are some helpful tools you can keep on hand.

Screwdrivers
Make sure you have both flathead and Phillips-head screwdrivers of various sizes. A complete set is even better, letting you do everything from tightening loose fixtures to putting together furniture. For light projects, you could opt for a single, multi-bit screwdriver that stores detachable heads in the handle and doubles as a nut driver.

Hammer
A good hammer is an absolute staple for everything from hanging photos to repairing fence pickets. The most common size weighs 16 ounces. Consider investing in a good hammer with a claw head and an anti-vibration rubber grip.
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Utility knife
A trusty utility knife or box cutter can come in handy, especially if you're just moving into your home and need to unpack those well-taped-up boxes. And as long as we’re on the subject of knives, consider getting a putty knife. You’ll be surprised how often you’ll reach for it.

Wall level
It only takes a few millimeters for a shelf or artwork to look off-kilter; a wall level takes the guesswork away. Unless you have an experienced eye, a level will help you hang items on the wall evenly the first time.

Measuring tape
You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration if you measure appliances and furniture before trying to fit them into your new place. A long, 35-foot tape measure will do the job in big and small projects. A more modest, 12-foot measuring tape also is a good alternative, particularly for jobs like hanging artwork.

Flashlight
Power outages can happen anytime, so be ready with at least one durable flashlight and batteries. They also come in handy when you're working on repairs in those darker and tighter spaces. Look for hybrid versions, which use solar power and contain a back-up battery. If your new place has electricity upon move-in, you also can purchase a rechargeable work light.

Wrench and pliers
Start with an adjustable wrench that can handle many different jobs. Six-, eight- or 10-inch long wrenches are the most popular. Pliers also are indispensible; look for ones with serrated jaws that grip objects firmly.

Toolbox
Store your most commonly used tools in a single place, such as an easy-to-carry toolbox, and you'll always know where to find these tools when you need them.

Do you have a favorite go-to tool? Share it below!

Are you thinking about buying a house? You'll need a lot of information – and not just about tools! Contact your local RE/MAX agent to help you find the right home for you.