By Deanna Lawley | RISMEDIA, Friday, October 03, 2014
According to the Real Estate Staging Institute, a staged home sells 70 percent faster than a non-staged home. Are your listings staged to sell? Or are you sabotaging the sale? Expert stagers share the most common staging mistakes below. Help your sellers avoid these mistakes so you can sell their home faster.
1. Mistake: Not creating space. “People often move because they want more room, so make sure the house feel as spacious as possible,” says Egypt Sherrod, host of HGTV’s “Property Virgins.” “Clutter robs a home of valuable space. Make sure everything is cleared from the countertops and remove at least two-thirds of books on the shelves.”
“Furniture, art and accessories that are not scaled correctly for a room are a big mistake,” says Dawn Alpern, associate designer at Interior Transformation, Inc. “These items need to fit the room. It doesn’t work if they are too big or too small.”
“Closets should be half full, and buyers should be able to see the bottom of the closet. If they see a jam-packed closet, they will think it’s too small for them. Bedrooms should contain only a bed, nightstand and dresser. In the master bedroom, swap out the king-size bed for a queen-size bed to create more space,” says Sherrod. “Throughout the house, pull furniture two or three inches out from the walls and allow the corners of a room to be visible.”
2. Mistake: Excessive furniture. Too much furniture, or oversized furniture, can ruin a home sale. There needs to be enough room for buyers to walk in and out of all the rooms in your home. If there is any doubt that a piece of furniture may be too big or distracting, take it out, says Cannon Christian, president of Renovation Realty.
“Remove the seller’s giant family-size couches, chairs and tables and replace them with rented mid-size or small furniture to make the room feel more spacious,” says Scott Sorrell, CEO of Sales Adrenaline.
3. Mistake: Household smells. “The only thing as important as decluttering is having an immaculate house. A house that smells odd to a prospective homeowner, whether because of a cat’s litter box, dogs, or exotic food can easily be a deal breaker,” says Sherrod. “Don’t try to mask anything with potpourri, or by baking cookies. Just open windows a few minutes before a showing to let in fresh air.”
“Having a professional cleaning companycome in to scrub walls, floors, carpets and windows can make an amazing difference, both in general appearance as well as removing odors. If the smell persists after the cleaning crew has finished, consider replacing any carpets used by animals,” says Russ Tybus, co-owner of Morris Organizers.
“We were recently in a listing with a newer kitchen, updated utilities and very little clutter. The real estate agent did a nice job staging the house, but what they missed was overwhelming. There was a very distinct smell of animals. Candles were lit, which only drew more attention to the fact that they were trying to cover something up. On top of that, most of the floor moldings were filthy, covered in everything from scuff marks to food splashing and slobber. That home was likely to be known as the dirty animal house, when the home was staged very nicely,” says Tybus.
4. Mistake: Failure to edit. “The failure to edit can include too many personal items, clutter or disastrous decor. If your seller thinks the home is edited as much as it can be, tell them to edit again. The goal should be to remove virtually everything that would allow a buyer to picture the current owners in the home,” says Rhonda Duffy, a real estate professional in Atlanta.
Sherrod encourages using vignettes throughout the home. Vignettes are groupings of accessories, usually in threes. It could be three pieces of art on the wall, candlesticks, something tall, medium and short. The shapes and colors can help draw the visitor through the room and make the room visually interesting.
5. Mistake: Having more than one focal point in a room. “Every room needs a focal point, but most people never figure out what it actually is,” says Alpern.
“As a rule, in the bedroom it is the headboard, in the bathroom it is the vanity area. The living room’s focal point can be the television, the fireplace or the window, says Karl Lohnes, interior designer and co-host of HGTV’s “This Small Space.”
6. Mistake: Color faux pas. Real estate broker Lauren Schreyer cautions sellers not to choose drastic shifts in color from one room to the next. “It’s critical to maintain a continuum of a neutral paint color throughout the main areas of the home to provide a sense of openness and flow. This also helps make a home feel bigger,” says Schreyer.
“Neutral doesn’t have to be bland and boring. Everything doesn’t have to be tan or beige—certain shades of grey, green and even purple can be neutral,” says Alpern.
7. Mistake: Covering up the light. Lighten up! “You want as much light to come in as possible. Remove unneeded blinds. If there’s drapery, pull it to the side. You want people to come in and say, ‘I could live here. It’s nice and bright,’” says Sherrod.
8. Mistake: Skipping the walk-through. “Make a trip through the home with your sellers and test all cupboards, cabinets and drawers for proper opening and closing,” says Christian. “Buyers will hear squeaky cupboards or see jammed drawers as something they will have to fix if deciding to buy the home. Replacing hinges or greasing drawer tracks is inexpensive and quick.”
“If there’s a door that needs fixing, or wall that needs painting, now’s the time to address it,” says Jay Hart of Sold with Style. “When buyers see these repairs, they will speculate about the ones that they don’t see. It sends the message that the home is not well maintained or cared for.”
9. Mistake: Neglecting the exterior. “The front porch is the home’s first impression. Encourage your sellers to paint the front door, place seasonal planters on each side of the door, keep lawns freshly mowed and remove garbage cans immediately on trash day,” says Sherrod. “Pressure-washing outdoor decks and aluminum siding can also do wonders for a home’s first impression and boost a home’s value.”
Looking for more staging tips? Learn the Luxury Home Staging Secrets that Sell.
Naples, Fla. (September 19, 2014) – A service from the Naples Area Board of REALTORS®
“We can’t sell what’s not there,” was a phrase repeated among several brokers as they analyzed a recent report tracking August home sales activity released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Overall inventory dropped 20 percent in the $300,000 and below price category in August 2014 compared to August 2013. The median price in this price category rose 13 percent as a result. The pending and closed sales dropped double digits in the same price segment August 2014 compared to August 2013, factors that illustrate the economic law of supply and demand.
Low inventory was also a strong factor in the decrease of pending and closed sales activity in the Naples Beach area condominium market. This much-sought after location experienced a 28 percent decrease in available inventory from 571 condominiums to 409 condominiums in August 2014 compared to August 2013. The low inventory contributed to the 31 percent decrease in pending sales and 23 percent decrease in closed sales of condominiums in this area. And, the median closed price in this area increased 7 percent from $495,000 in the 12-months ending August 2013 to $530,000 in the 12-month ending August 2014.
“I thought we had seen the top of this economic cycle a year ago,” said Cindy Carroll, SRA, with the real estate appraisal and consultancy firm Carroll & Carroll, Inc., referring to unpredictable activity in certain areas within Collier County. “Our local market is extremely diverse. For example, in Pelican Bay there is a three month inventory of single family homes for sale, but if you are looking to buy a Crayton Road area condo in the $2 to $3 million price range, you’d better be ready with a checkbook because there are only two listings.”
Brenda Fioretti, Managing Broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, pointed out that the report also showed financed sales had increased 30 percent since NABOR® starting tracking overall cash versus conventional (financed) sales in January 2013. “We are starting to see an increase in the number of homes being financed by qualified buyers.”
The NABOR® August 2014 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® August 2014 sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:
- Overall pending sales decreased 11 percent from 890 homes in August 2013 to 795 homes in August 2014.
- Overall closed sales decreased 2 percent from 9,798 homes in the 12-months ending August 2013 to 9,613 homes in the 12-months ending August 2014.
- The overall median closed price increased 14 percent from $228,000 in 12-months ending August 2013 to $260,000 in the 12-months ending August 2014.
- Overall inventory decreased 8 percent from 3,875 in August 2013 to 3,579 in August 2014.
- Average days on market were 83 for August 2014.
- Inventory for single family homes increased 1 percent from 1,894 homes in August 2013 to 1,904 homes in August 2014. The largest increase was in the $300,000 – $500,000 price category, which saw a 12 percent increase.
- Closed sales for condominiums decreased 1 percent from 5,137 condominiums in August 2013 to 5,066 condominiums in August 2014.
Several brokers agreed with Phil Wood, President & CEO of John R. Wood Realtors, who said, “We’ll have to see if the low inventory will continue to be a trend in the coming months.”
The August report reflects inconsistent activity across all geographic areas making it difficult to predict whether the low inventory will continue to affect pending and closed sales moving forward. Additionally, another factor not tracked in the report but one that impacts pending homes sales is new construction, which continues to swell in the area. However, the rising inventory of newly constructed homes will not help those buyers looking for homes in the under $300,000 price category because there are few available.
“This is a very diverse market with a diminishing inventory in the reasonably priced housing sector,” said NABOR® President and Corporate Trainer at Downing-Frye Realty Pat Pitocchi. “The increase in median closed price continues to be driven by the under $300,000 market, which comprises nearly 65 percent of existing home inventory. In August, the under $300,000 price segment’s overall median closed price increased 13 percent, while all other price categories moved slightly up or down. It’s the only area of the market whose median closed price behavior is predictable.”
With the complexity of real estate transactions today, compounded by varying price pockets within the diverse Naples geographic areas and the speed at which you need to be ready to make a move, using a Naples REALTOR® to buy or sell a home is the best way to know you have a guide that understands what’s best for you. A Naples REALTOR® has the expertise and professionalism to help you make the smartest move at the right time.
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 4,700 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.
View August 2014 Market Statistics
NABOR Market Report: Median Closed Price Increases $35,000
Naples, Fla. (August 22, 2014) – “Stable” continues to be the adjective real estate experts use to describe the Naples area housing market after analyzing a recent report tracking July activity released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Overall pending and closed sales for July increased in all price categories except the $300,000 and under market. The overall median closed price in July increased 16 percent from $225,000 to $260,000; with a 12 percent increase in the $300,000 and under market, from $155,000 to $174,000,driving the overall price increase.
“Due to demand in the under $300,000 market, which resulted in a 25 percent decrease in that segment’s inventory, the market’s total inventory in July fell 13 percent,” said Phil Wood, President & CEO of John R. Wood Realtors. “However, it’s important to note that 15 percent of the total inventory available included 539 newly constructed homes. Our report tracks some new construction activity, typically ‘spec’ homes, however, it does not include new home inventory being added from the 30 new communities currently under development in the area.”
“The report shows us clear inventory decline in the $300,000 and below market,” said Wes Kunkle, a commercial broker at Kunkle Realty. “The fact is: we’re running out of homes to sell in this price category.”
Kunkle continued, the trend can be seen in the statistics, as pending sales for homes under $300,000 decreased at almost the same rate as its inventory. The report also shows new summer trends by neighborhood. In July 2014, the only increase in pending sales of single family homes was in the Naples Beach and South Naples areas. Interestingly, the only area to experience a positive increase in inventory was East Naples.
“Appreciation is one key factor driving prices in the lower end of the market,” said Dr. Shelton Weeks, Department Chair of Economics & Finance, Lucas Professor of Real Estate and director of the Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development & Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University. “These homes are in demand and quick to sell.”
Brenda Fioretti, Managing Broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, noticed another interesting trend in the July report, “Overall pending sales in the $2 million and above price segment increased 47 percent from 19 homes pending in July 2013 to 28 homes pending in July 2014. For single family homes in this segment and timeframe, pending sales increased 100 percent from 11 to 22; yet pending sales for condominiums in this price segment decreased 25 percent from 8 to 6.”
The NABOR® July 2014 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® July 2014 sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:
- Overall pending sales decreased 13 percent from 975 homes in July 2013 to 845 homes in July 2014.
- Overall closed sales had=0 no change from 12-months ending July 2013 to 12-months ending July 2014.
- The overall median closed price increased 16 percent from $225,000 in 12-months ending July 2013 to $260,000 in the 12-months ending July 2014.
- Overall inventory decreased 13 percent from 4,086 in July 2013 to 3,562 in July 2014.
- Average days on market were 77 for July 2014.
- Pending sales for single family homes decreased 10 percent from 505 in July 2013 to 453 in July 2014. In the $2 million and above category, pending sales increased 100 percent from 11 in July 2013 to 22 in July 2014.
- Closed sales for single family homes decreased 1 percent for 12-months ending July 2014. However, closed sales increased in all price categories except the under $300,000, which saw a 20 percent decrease.
- The median closed price for single family homes increased 25 percent for the 12-months ending July 2014. However, all price categories above $500,000 saw a decrease in median closed price.
- Inventory for single family homes increased 1 percent. The largest increase was in the $300,000 – $500,000 price category, which saw a 14 percent increase.
- Average days on market for a home in the $300,000 and under category was 50 days in July 2014.
- Pending sales for condominiums decreased 17 percent for 12-months ending July 2014.
- Closed sales for condominiums increased 1 percent for the 12-months ending July 2014. Activity in this area was most impressive in the $1-$2 million price category which had a 25 percent increase, and in the $2 million and above price category which had a 35 percent increase.
- The median closed price for condominiums increased 12 percent for the 12-months ending July 2014.
- Inventory for condominiums decreased 19 percent with all price categories experiencing a drop.
- Average days on market for a condominium in the $300,000 and under category was 56 days in July 2014.
- Average days on market for a condominium in the $2 million and above category was 95 days in July 2014.
“Traditional sales dominate the market. In July 2014, they increased 35% from 345 in July 2009 to 603 in July 2014,” said Carmen Vasquez, owner/broker of US Prime Realty. “There were 330 non-traditional [short sale or foreclosed] home sales in July 2009. In July 2014 there were only 102, a significant reduction.”
There were also more closed sales recorded in the first seven months of 2014 (5,952) than there are available in our current inventory (3,563), which NABOR® experts believe is an encouraging message to consumers looking to sell or buy.
View July 2014 Market Statistics
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 12, 2014
Florida’s housing market reported higher median prices, more new listings and gains in inventory during the second quarter of 2014, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 67,579 in 2Q 2014, up 7.3 percent over the 2Q 2013 figure.
“Florida’s housing market continued its steady course during the second quarter of 2014,” said 2014 Florida Realtors® President Sherri Meadows. “As of June, the state’s unemployment rate is 6.2 percent. More jobs are being created, which is good news for Florida’s economy and a strong housing market.
“And in another positive trend, median prices continue to rise, though the pace has slowed somewhat over the past several months. The statewide median price for single-family homes for 2Q 2014 was $180,000, up 22 percent over two years (compared to the 2Q 2012 median price of $147,450); and the statewide townhome-condo median price of $142,000 rose 29 percent looking at the same period ($110,000 in 2Q 2012).”
The 2Q 2014 statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes rose 5.3 percent from the same time a year ago, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties during the second quarter was up 10.1 percent over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.
Statewide, new listings for single-family homes over the three-month-period rose 11.5 percent year-over-year, while new townhouse-condo listings rose 2.8 percent.
Looking at Florida’s townhouse-condo market, statewide closed sales totaled 30,918 during 2Q 2014, down 3.4 percent compared to 2Q 2013. The closed sales data continued to reflect fewer short sales over the three-month period: Short sales for condo-townhouse properties declined 59.8 percent while short sales for single-family homes dropped 52.6 percent. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
“The second quarter numbers show that Florida’s real estate market is settling in,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. “While prices throughout the state tend to be up, sales are mixed with single family sales growing, and condos and townhouses declining. There are a lot of reasons for this, but the major factors are the reduced role of bulk investors, along with the difficulties faced by households with essentially flat incomes and thus limited access to mortgage credit. This market is sustainable, but either or both of these roadblocks must be removed if it’s to take off again.”
In20 2Q 2014, the median days on market (the midpoint of the number of days it took for a property to sell during that time) was 55 days for single-family homes and 56 days for townhouse-condo properties.
Inventory was at a 5.6-months’ supply in the second quarter for single-family homes and at a 5.8-months’ supply for townhouse-condo properties, according to Florida Realtors.
According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.23 percent for 2Q 2014, up from the 3.69 percent average recorded during the same quarter a year earlier.
To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to Florida Realtors Media Center at http://media.floridarealtors.org/ and look under Latest Releases, or download the 2Q 2014 data report PDFs under Market Data at: http://media.floridarealtors.org/market-data
RISMEDIA, Wednesday, July 23, 2014
During the month of June, existing-home sales reached an annual pace of 5 million sales for the first time since October 2013, according to data recently released by the National Association of REALTORS®. In addition to the heightened existing-home sales, rising inventory continued to move the housing supply forward, signaling a strengthened and more balanced market.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says housing fundamentals are moving in the right direction. “Inventories are at their highest level in over a year and price gains have slowed to much more welcoming levels in many parts of the country. This bodes well for rising home sales in the upcoming months as consumers are provided with more choices,” he says. “On the contrary, new home construction needs to rise by at least 50 percent for a complete return to a balanced market because supply shortages—particularly in the West—are still putting upward pressure on prices.” Read the full article
More About Buying A Home:
Existing-Home Sales Rise 6.5% in July
Shadow Inventory Down 28 Percent from 2010 Peak
Naples Area Board of REALTORS | Naples, Fla. (July 18, 2014)
Positive activity within various pockets of Naples area real estate contributes to a stable market overall in the second quarter of 2014 as indicated in a report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island).
“The statistics show key indicators of a stable real estate market in the Naples area with no real significant gains or losses overall in the Second Quarter 2014 compared to the Second Quarter 2013,” said NABOR® president and corporate trainer at Downing-Frye Realty Pat Pitocchi. Our statistics, comparing the second quarter 2013 to the second quarter 2014, show that:
- Overall Pending Sales are down 8 percent from 3,197 to 2,949;
- Overall Closed Sales are down 4 percent from 3,165 to 3,054;
- Overall Median Closed Price is up 10 percent from $249,000 to $273,000;
- Overall Inventory is down 9 percent from 4,086 to 3,723; This has been a good, strong quarter.”
Overall, the luxury segment of the market improved with 156 closed sales over $2 million in the second quarter, up 42 percent from the same time last year. Single-family homes in the $2 million and above market rose 44 percent from 68 to 98 closed sales quarter over quarter and condos in the $2 million and above market rose 38 percent from 42 to 58 closed sales, same time period. Confidence in the market combined with appealing inventory has increased the number of high-end buyers.
Another key indicator of a stable housing market is that conventional financing is making a comeback. According to the report, in June 2014, 37.5 percent of homes sales were financed with conventional mortgages vs. cash in June 2014. That’s up 10 percent compared to January 2013 when conventional financing was 27 percent of the market.
The NABOR® Second Quarter 2014 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® Second Quarter 2014 sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:
- Overall pending sales decreased 8 percent from 3,197 in the Second Quarter 2013 to 2,949 in the Second Quarter 2014. A 14 percent decrease in the $300,000 and under price category and 6 percent decrease in the $1 to $2 million price category weighted this figure.
- Pending sales for condominiums decreased 7 percent from 1,626 in Second Quarter 2013 to 1,510 in Second Quarter 2014, with reductions reported in all price categories.
- Overall closed sales increased 11 percent for homes priced above $500,000.
- Overall closed sales for homes in the $2 million and above market increased 42 percent from 110 in the Second Quarter 2013 to 156 in the Second Quarter 2014.
- Closed sales for single family homes $300,000 and under decreased 23 percent from 677 in the Second Quarter 2013 to 521 in the Second Quarter 2014.
- The overall median closed price increased 10 percent from $249,000 in Second Quarter 2013 to
$273,000 in Second Quarter 2014.
- The overall median closed price decreased 4 percent for homes $1 million to $2 million from
$1,387,000 in Second Quarter 2013 to $1,325,000 Second Quarter 2014
- The median closed price for single-family homes in the $2 million and above category decreased 15 percent from $3,225,000 in Second Quarter 2013 to $2,750,000 in Second Quarter 2014.
- Overall inventory decreased 9 percent from 4,086 homes in Second Quarter 2013 to 3,723 homes Second Quarter 2014.
- Inventory in the single family home market increased 4 percent from 1,896 in Second Quarter 2013 to 1,964 in Second Quarter 2014.
- Inventory of condominiums decreased 20 percent from 2,190 condominiums in Second Quarter 2013 to 1,759 condominiums in Second Quarter 2013.
- The overall average days on market are at 94 for Second Quarter 2014.
“There is an influx of new construction, which is adding to the inventory,” said Brenda Fioretti, Managing Broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. “It should be said, however, the Southwest Florida MLS does not report activity in the new home construction market.”
Analysts at NABOR® explain that market stabilization is further evident as reflected in the Second Quarter 2014 Market Report wherein only 9 percent of all closed sales in June 2014 were non-traditional (short sale or foreclosed). Comparatively, in July 2009, when NABOR® began collecting this data, 49 percent of sales were non traditional.
More About Buying A Home:
NABOR First Quarter Report Indicates 2014 Off to a Strong Start
The Housing Market Continues to Progress
