Fort Mill Tega Cay Lake Wylie Real Estate

Its a buyers market even in Fort Mill or Tega Cay, SC. I found a few tips I want to share with my home sellers.  

Below is a reprint of an article by David Sobel and RISMEDIA. The article has good tips for sellers on how they can increase curb appeal to make sure buyers come in to view their home.

By David Sobel

RISMEDIA, Jan. 17, 2008-You’ve all had that experience with a client where you drive up to a house and they don’t even want to go inside. It’s an immediate “un-appeal.” You may know the inside of the house shows much better, but you just can’t convince them to spend the time to even go inside. In today’s market where lots of choices in housing are available to the buyer, why should they?

Here are some easy, inexpensive fixes that will help create that outside appeal and get you one, giant step further to a sale.

1. Paint or stain the front and garage doors, especially if they show any weathering. These are the first visuals where a potential buyer focuses. If garage doors are metal and dented, they may need to be replaced.

2. Any old, basically abandoned sheds or small structures, must be removed, the area graded and the grass replaced.

3. Change any dated, outside light fixtures.

4. Fix that driveway. If it is blacktop, make sure cracks and crumbling areas are dug out and filled and then the whole driveway sealed. If it is cement, have large cracks filled and repaired professionally. The buyer must at least feel they can drive the moving truck in confidently!

5. Make sure landscaping bricks are in their proper placement. Mowing, weed-whipping sometimes moves them and this is something the homeowner rarely notices, but makes the property look unsightly.

6. Fill in bare dirt under large shade trees. Plant shade-tolerant plants in defined planters or groundcover. Landscape properly for that area.

7. All landscaping beds should be cleaned out and updated for the time of year it is in your region. Place new bedding material down.

8. Have trees and bushes pruned and trimmed. If a bush or tree is looking old or about to expire, remove it and replace it with a similar size and type if you can. If there is a tree limb(s) over the roof, have them removed.

9. If the house needs painting and a full paint job is not in the cards; have it touched up professionally in the worst, most visible spots. Paint shutters and fix them if they are hanging crooked. At least this may help get your client in the front door, even if they negotiate a full paint job into the sale later.

10. If the house is sided, have it power-washed and have gutters and windows cleaned. Window cleaning inside and out makes the house feel updated and fresh, rather than old and dingy.

11. Make sure grass is in good shape, weeds are removed, trimming done regularly. So many sellers fall down on this job the minute the house is listed, and this is critical to selling a house quickly, especially one where the owners have already moved out. In snowy climates, removal must be done regularly too. If owners have moved out, make sure you have an HWA Home Warranty to re-assure buyers.

12. Keep garbage and recycle containers inside the garage, along with all toys and equipment. Make sure the garage is neat and organized. Painted walls and floors also go a long way in this area and are inexpensive to do. (more…)

Walk the Walk What a Home Buyer Should Do before Closing - Fort Mill, SC.
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One of the final steps before the closing is called the final walk-through. This is an opportunity for you, the buyer, to see the property one last time before the money is exchanged and the purchase paperwork completed and filed.

It is important to note that this is not a home inspection. That should have been done weeks ago so there was adequate time to negotiate and address concerns. This is also not a time to nit-pick or back-track on agreed upon items. However, it is the right time for you to look! at the property and make sure it is in the condition you agreed to buy it. If repairs or upgrades were part of the deal, now is the time to make sure they were completed to your satisfaction.

Your real estate professional may or may not accompany you to the final walk-through. In either case, you will want to do the following:

• Open and close all windows, doors, garage doors
• Run all faucets and check for leaks
• Flush toilets
• Test outlets
• Check the basement, attic and crawl spaces
• Make sure that certain items as stipulated in the contract are left behind - i.e. light fixtures, window treatments, appliances, etc.
• Test the heating and air conditioning systems

In short, you want to make sure the home systems are operational and the seller has met the obligations laid out in the purchase contract.

If you do have a concern, bring it to the attention of your real estate professional and attorney. They can advise you ! about different courses of action. For instance, if it a significant expense, you may withhold money until a repair is made.

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On the Market for Fort Mill, SC
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What makes one home sell in a few weeks while another may linger on the market for what seems like seasons?

Well, each case is different, but it almost always boils down to one of these 4 factors.

Price - A home that is priced right will attract buyer attention. A fair and reasonable asking price that is in keeping with market demands will pique consumer interest and ultimately make the property more appealing.

Condition - Unless they are searching for an investment property, mo! st buyers are looking for a structurally sound home that has been well-maintained. In addition, a home that “shows well” is likely to sell quicker. This means the home is clean, well-kept, updated and appealing to today’s buyer.

Location - The better the location, the more likely the property will demand buyer attention. This could mean a single-family home in a charming town with an exemplary school system. Or it could mean a wonderful apartment in a great section of the city.

Market - Whether it is a “buyer” or “seller’s” also influences how long a property is up for sale. When the advantage is with the buyers, you may need to make allowances, such as

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Happy New Year to all! As the new year starts I’ve been asked on several occasions what the re-sale market trends will be for 2008 in our community of Tega Cay, SC. There is much uncertainty in everyones mind as to the value of our homes today. Much of the information and reports I’ve been reading state a slow and steady growth of resale sales.

Even in Tegca Cay or Fort Mill there will be more inventory and buyers are slower to make decisions. Gone are the days of multiple offers and quick listings. Today’s buyer is taking a step back and looking for value. They want to be impressed, they are informed, and they are slow to give second chances. (more…)

SOLD HOMES FOR OCT-DEC
25 Homes Total, 13 in Lake Shore
Avg. Sq Ft 2,829
Avg. Sold Price $325,392
Avg. Days On Market 112
UNDER CONTRACT AS OF JANUARY 15
15 Homes Total, 6 in Lake Shore.

Lake Shore is a subdivision located in Tega Cay South Carolina

This analysis was done by (more…)

The National Association of Realtors® announced in their latest homes sales forecast that existing home sales are projected to trend up in 2008 while recovery of new home sales is unlikely before 2009. (more…)