By Keith Loria
With hundreds of new apps being introduced on a consistent basis, it’s often difficult to stay on top of the latest and greatest to ensure you’re getting the most out of your mobile device. While there have always been great apps available for house hunters, more recently, some wonderful apps for sellers have come to fruition.
Here are five apps that will make your life easier if you’re in the process of selling your home.
1. Handyman Calculator. Before putting your home on the market, you’re most likely going to want to fix up a few things around the house, and this app is the perfect tool to make sure your home improvement is done right. Whether you’re repainting the walls, retiling the bathroom or hanging photos, this app will help you figure out the proper measurements and material you’ll need to get the job done. Not only will the Handyman Calculator calculate the proper square footage of a project, it will get you one step closer to becoming a home repair expert.
2. DecorPad. If you’re looking to catch the eye of a potential buyer, this interior design app is the way to go. Browse photos from top designers to inspire your own home decorating and create a look even a stager would be jealous of. DecorPad can be used for any room in the house, and also offers a “steals and deals” section where sellers can find furniture and other home décor on sale.
3. Breathe2Relax. Selling a home can be a stressful time with house hunters coming and going, bids falling through or just the agonizing waiting that often accompanies the process. Breathe2Relax is the perfect stress management tool, providing numerous ideas on how to relax. Breathing exercises have been documented to decrease the body’s stress response, and help with mood stabilization, anger control, and anxiety management—all things that can come into play during a home sale.
4. Remember The Milk. The list of things you need to accomplish when selling a house is myriad. There’s decluttering, making small repairs, doing paint touchups, tending to the yard and making sure the house is always presentable. Staying organized can be tough, but thanks to this handy app, you can create lists and schedules that will get everyone in your family on the same page so everyone knows what their responsibilities are. Users can set tasks, organize them into lists, and get reminders via email and text when something is due.
5. iMoving. This innovative app will help a seller through the moving process once a bid is finally accepted and it’s time to move out. Not only can the app gauge how much stuff you have in each room, it can also provide tips on the best way to pack. This handy app offers a room by room guide so you don’t forget anything in your packing details, and it can also calculate the approximate price it’ll cost to move by providing estimates in weight and cubic feet. It’s the perfect way to make moving hassle-free.
For more information about apps available for home sellers, contact me today.
photo: Realtor.com
The TV show Mad Men has done a lot for the resurgence of mid-century modern style. Enjoy a photo tour of five estate homes from the 50s and 60s. Most of them have their original decor still in pristine condition. From Palm Springs, California to Chappaqua, New York the Scandinavian-style furnishings, wood paneling, and brightly colored fabrics could make you want to call your decorator. Read more and view the photos on realtor.com…
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RISMEDIA, Monday, April 21, 2014
April is new homes month. And one of the virtues of a newly constructed home is the savings that come from reduced energy and maintenance expenses.
In a previous analysis, we used data from the 2009 American Housing Survey (AHS) to offer proof. The AHS classifies new construction as homes no more than four years old.
For routine maintenance expenses, 26 percent of all homeowners spent $100 or more a month on various upkeep costs. However, only 11 percent of owners of newly constructed homes spent this amount. In fact, 73 percent of new homeowners spent less than $25 a month on routine maintenance costs.
Similar findings are available for energy expenses. According to the 2011 AHS, on a median per square foot basis, homeowners spent 81 cents per square foot per year on electricity. Owners of new homes spent less: 68 cents per square foot per year. For homes with piped gas, homeowners spent on average 50 cents per square foot per year. Owners of new homes spent just 34 cents per square foot per year.
The 2011 data show similar results for various other utilities. For water bills, homeowners averaged 28 cents per square foot per year, while owners of new homes averaged 22 cents. For trash bills, the median for all homeowners was 15 cents per square foot per year, while for new construction the median was 13 cents per square foot per year.
These data highlight that a new home offers savings over the life of ownership due to reduced operating costs. And in fact, these reduced costs result in lower insurance bills as well. The median cost for all homeowners of property insurance is 39 cents per square foot, while it is only 31 cents per square foot for owners of new homes.
These reduced expenditures represent one of the many reasons that the current system of appraisals needs updating to reflect the flow of benefits that come from features in a new home.
View this original post on the NAHB Eye on Housing blog.
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A service from the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® | Naples, Fla. (April 17, 2014)
Million dollar home sales in Naples continue to skyrocket with the $2 million and above single family home market increasing 83 percent from 48 sales in the first quarter of 2013 to 88 sales in the first quarter of 2014, according to the 2014 First Quarter Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Overall closed sales increased 5 percent from 2,237 in the first quarter of 2013 to 2,352 in the first quarter of 2014. However, closed sales in all price categories above $300,000 increased by double digits with the $2 million and above price category experiencing the highest increase of 80 percent from 61 sales in the first quarter of 2013 to 110 sales in the first quarter of 2014.
Overall, homes in the $300,000 and below price category realized the biggest median closed price adjustment from $159,000 in the first quarter of 2013 to $173,000 in the first quarter of 2014, which reflected a 9 percent increase.
“NABOR reports statistics based on activity in the Southwest Florida MLS [multiple listing system],” said Pat Pitocchi, NABOR® president and corporate trainer at Downing-Frye Realty. “However, the system does not compile all commercial real estate activity or new construction activity.”
According to Wes Kunkle, a commercial broker at Kunkle Realty and NABOR® president in 2013, activity has increased in commercial real estate for the first quarter as well. Activity was also impressive in the new home construction market during the first quarter according to Brett Brown, Director of Sales and Managing Broker for Fiddler’s Creek Realty, Inc.
In the first quarter of 2014, a total of 270 homes with a median closed price of $1 million and above exchanged hands in Collier County (excluding Marco Island), up 65 percent from 176 closed sales in that category during the first quarter of 2013, according to the report.
“The Naples area housing market does not appear to be slowing down,” said Pitocchi. “REALTORS are busy; especially agents who are showing homes priced over $1 million. In addition, for the first quarter of 2014, cash sales are continuing to dominate the market as shown by sales of 74 percent versus financed sales of 26 percent.”
Inventory in all price ranges has continued to decline. In the first quarter of 2014 there were 4,405 available properties, a 14 percent decrease from the 5,136 available during the same quarter last year.
As reflected in the statistics, the tight supply and high demand of homes is not triggering dramatic price increases. The median closed price in the price segments above $300,000 increased 9 percent from $540,000 in the first quarter of 2013 to $590,000 in the first quarter 2014.
The NABOR® 2014 First Quarter Report provides comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The NABOR® First Quarter 2014 sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:
- Overall closed sales increased 5 percent from 2,237 sales in the first quarter 2013 to 2,352 sales in the first quarter of 2014.
- The overall median closed price increased 15 percent from $230,000 in the first quarter 2013 to $265,000 in the first quarter 2014. The overall median closed price of homes $300,000 and under increased 9 percent from $159,000 in the first quarter 2013 to $173,000 in the first quarter 2014.
- The overall average days on market are at 95 for the first quarter of 2014.
- Overall pending sales increased 45 percent for homes $2 million and above from 120 contracts in the first quarter of 2013 to 174 contracts in the first quarter of 2014.
- Inventory for condominiums decreased 23 percent from 2,758 units in the first quarter of 2013 to 2,110 units in the first quarter of 2014, while inventory for single-family homes decreased only 3 percent from 2,378 units in the first quarter of 2013 to 2,295 units in the first quarter of 2014.
The NABOR® March 2014 Report reflects sales statistics presented in chart format, with these overall single-family and condominium statistics:
- Overall closed sales increased 42 percent in the $2 million and above price category from 245 sales in the 12-months ending March 2013 to 348 sales in the 12-months ending March 2014.
- Overall pending sales increased 4 percent from 10,633 contracts in the 12-months ending March 2013 to 11,083 contracts in the 12-months ending March 2014.
- Overall median closed price increased 15 percent from $215,000 in the 12-months ending March 2013 to $248,000 in the 12-months ending March 2014, with the under $300,000 price segment experiencing the largest increase of 11 percent from $148,000 in the 12-months ending March 2013 to $165,000 in the 12-months ending March 2014.
- Closed sales for condominiums increased 10 percent from 4,694 sales in the 12-months ending March 2013 to 5,140 sales in the 12-months ending March 2014.
- The median closed price of single-family homes increased 25 percent from $248,000 in the 12-months ending March 2013 to $310,000 in the 12-months ending March 2014.
“According to the report, distressed sales – foreclosures and short sales – now account for only one in ten transactions,” said Steve Barker, Advising Broker for Equity Realty. “This represents an important milestone and indicates that Naples has returned to a stable real estate market.”
“Despite a low inventory, sales are strong because the inventory is continually being sold and replenished. List your home with a REALTOR® who can help you price it correctly and it will likely sell quickly,” said Pitocchi.
The Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®) is an established organization (Chartered in 1949) whose members have a positive and progressive impact on the Naples Community. NABOR® is a local board of REALTORS® and real estate professionals with a legacy of nearly 60 years serving 4,000 plus members. NABOR® is a member of the Florida Realtors and the National Association of REALTORS®, which is the largest association in the United States with more than 1.3 million members and over 1,400 local board of REALTORS® nationwide. NABOR® is structured to provide programs and services to its membership through various committees and the NABOR® Board of Directors, all of whose members are non-paid volunteers.
The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics.
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photo: www.seankenney.com
Click to enlarge
Don’t miss the wonderful exhibit of Lego “sculptures” by artist Sean Kenney at Naples Botanical Garden. It will close on May 11th so make a date to see it soon. From bees, bunnies and orchids, to gardeners at work, you will marvel at these clever and colorful works of art. ANd don’t miss the hands on Lego workshop! What work of art can you make?
“Walk under an 8-foot tall hummingbird, stand amidst a 7-foot rose, go nose-to-nose with a 5-foot butterfly! Built from nearly half a million LEGO® pieces, this show features 14 total displays built with LEGO® bricks by New York artist Sean Kenney.” (www.seankenney.com).
With hundreds of new apps being introduced on a consistent basis, it’s often difficult to stay on top of the latest and greatest to ensure you’re getting the most out of your mobile device. While there have always been great apps available for house hunters, more recently, some wonderful apps for sellers have come to fruition.
