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The #MARCUMsold Show, Season 3, Episode 15: CASA of Madison and Clark Counties
🏡 On this week's #MARCUMsold Show, Amanda speaks with Victoria Benge, executive director of CASA.
Learn what CASA does and how you can help with this amazing organization.
#MARCUMsold #CASA #Community #BereaKY #BHHSFosterRealtors #GoodToKnow #Zillow #RichmondKY
Fall Family Fest 2021
Soooo much fun at our 1st Annual #MARCUMsold Fall Family Fest! We cherish our clients and friends more then we can ever show or say! Thank you so much to everyone who came out… we love y’all!
It's fall, and we’re headed toward that time again—Halloween, with the spooky pumpkins and skeletons and plastic bats. But then again, deep in the heart of the property owner, a different fear might be growing – the fear of selling your home!
If you're thinking about accomplishing a real estate sale this fall, don't get spooked. With the right assistance from a professional real estate agent, you can move into this process with confidence, knowing that you're in good shape to sell your home.
As with those skeletons and other scary creatures, you can deal with a lot of your real estate seller fears by facing them head-on and shining some light on them. Here are some of the ways that real estate agents can help you settle your nerves before you go forward with a real estate sales process.
Dealing With a Hot Market
Hot markets always make people on both sides of a real estate sale feel nervous. Although hot markets may be great for sellers in some scenarios, there is the fear that a certain seller is going to lose out by moving slowly, or that the competitive process is going to be stressful and require snap decisions.
In any case, your agent can help you plan for this market by looking at seasonal trends, local market trends, and more to understand what's happening so that you don't feel like it's going to disrupt your sales process.
Fluctuating Interest Rates
Interest rates moving are probably more scary to buyers than they are to you if you're selling. However, one fear around interest rates is that they will rise so much that buyers will be scared off, and your house will continue to sit on the market.
Again, though, many of these fears are somewhat unrealistic. Interest rates tend to tick up and down around a general value—they don't just spike overnight and then continue to soar. Regardless of the activity, with a common-sense sales process, you should be poised to move forward regardless of what's happening with base interest rates at a given time.
What About Low Inventory Levels?
This is another problem that may be scarier for a buyer than it is for a seller. Low inventory means that there's not a lot of stock available, and so there's more market interest. In general, low inventory levels help sellers get where they want to go more quickly.
But let's talk about the corollary fear that many sellers might have: the emotional investment that you make in your home.
In short, if you're looking to sell, that means you’ll have to move somewhere else, and you’ll have to do it on a defined timeline. If you're looking to buy somewhere else, you may be nervous about being able to buy in a low inventory environment. One of the best ways to deal with this fear is, again, to do the research and start a basic shopping process for yourself while you're looking to move toward settlement. That way you won't get any unpleasant surprises as you go!
Is My Property Good Enough?
This is one of the most common fears that professional agents help sellers with.
It's normal for sellers to look at their own properties with a critical eye. Maybe the landscaping is not optimal or the house isn’t in good shape for staging. There may be any number of structural or home system problems that have been causing the sellers themselves grief. They can't imagine it being any different for a buyer: they live in fear that because of these issues, their property will be considered a ‘dog,’ and continue to sit on the market forever.
That's really at the heart of many of these fears—that the property won't sell well, and that it won't sell at all. Having to take a loss on a property is another thing that sends shivers down a seller’s spine.
The good news is that, again, professional real estate agents can ballpark values and assess a property with all of its flaws, in the context of the deal that’s likely to be made. They’ll get you to a price point where your property will sell.
#MARCUMsold Show, Season 3, Episode 14: Meet MARCUMsold Team Member, Chelsea Huff
🏡 On this week's #MARCUMsold Show, Amanda interviews Chelsea Huff. Chelsea joined our team right at the beginning of the pandemic. We love all the postive & youthful energy she brings to the team.
#MARCUMsoldShow #MARCUMsoldTeam #BHHSFosterRealtors #RichmondKY #BereaKY #NewEpisode
#MARCUMsold Show: Season 3: Episode 13 Amanda Interviews Susan Hatfield Of Benchmark Mortgage in Richmond
🏡 On this week's #MARCUMsold Show, Amanda interviews Susan Hatfield of Benchmark Mortgage. Together we learn more about pre-approvals and mortgage planning.
#MARCUMsoldShow #MARCUMsoldTeam #BHHSFosterRealtors #RichmondKY #BereaKY #NewEpisode
It's official—fall is here! While Mother Nature works her magic outside, you can do the same inside. These easy fall home decor ideas can "autumn-atically" transform your living room, front porch, dining room, and more.
This is the time of year all about coziness and making your home as inviting as possible. We've pulled together some of the coolest fall decorating ideas that are not only impressive but aren't difficult to do. From a cozy entrance and a crackling fire in the hearth to some perfectly placed blankets and pillows, your home will come alive with the fall spirit.
And best of all, these ideas work with any budget. Many of the items you can use are already in your yard: pinecones, leaves, branches. With these easy home decorating ideas for fall, your home will be the envy of the neighborhood.
1. A Cozy Entryway and Foyer
Guests will feel at home from the minute they reach the front door. A fall door decoration really ups your home's curb appeal (we'll get to porch decorations in just a moment). A new coat of paint in an amber hue or wallpaper with colorful leaves immediately evokes the autumnal spirit. Adding some fresh orange and yellow flowers and a classic runner can make your home's entrance and foyer feel exceptionally welcoming.
2. Warm the Hearth With a Cozy Fire
There's no comfier living room than one with a crackling fire. As a nod to the fact that winter's right around the corner—and your fireplace will soon get much more use—have a professional come to ensure your chimney is in working order.
Bonus tip: Decorate your mantel with gourds, maize, and other fall cornucopia items.
3. Add Hanging Baskets
Baskets can be hung from almost anywhere inside or outside your home. Wall baskets add texture to a room and can work regardless of the season. But hanging baskets work best in fall when the warm golds, browns, and other buff colors are paired with pumpkins and other fall decorations.
4. Speaking of Pumpkins…
Tis the season for pumpkins! While you can place these orange baubles on your front porch for all to see, you can also place them around your home's interior. After all, it can be fall indoors, too. Place some pumpkins where guests wouldn't typically expect to see them, such as in a corner in your foyer or on a countertop in your kitchen. Pumpkins help conjure the spirit of the season-best, adding a cozy ambiance wherever they're spotted—so think of other rooms in your home that could use a bit of the fall spirit.
5. Create a Gourd Display in Your Kitchen
Got some baskets left over from the third idea above? Or maybe some colorful bowls to match the season? Fill them with gourds and place them around your kitchen on countertops, on the table, or even on top of your fridge (when was the last time you looked up there? Fridge tops become a catch-all, and this is the perfect time to clean off the top of your refrigerator). Too many gourds? Fill some bowls with pinecones, apples, or fall-scented potpourri.
6. Forage for a Display All Your Own
Looking for a unique way to add some fall flair to your dining room? Forage your yard for fallen leaves or branches, and then style your findings in a vase. Not only is this a beautiful way to bring fall indoors—but it doesn't cost a thing!
7. Brighten Your Kitchen Floor
Regardless of how big or small your kitchen is—or even its current color scheme—new flooring always changes a space. And you don't have to spend a ton completely overhauling your kitchen flooring—a simple throw rug in warm, fall colors can really add to your home's comfy vibe while displaying your style. A multi-colored runner could change the ambiance of your kitchen so well; you may even decide to keep it year-round.
8. Make Art with Leaves
Many people have traditions of finding leaves and then pressing them in the pages of a book. Take this tradition one step further and use the leaves to make decorative statement pieces. Instead of framing them, use a mounting spray to affix them to white card stock. Use golden thumbtacks to tack the finished pieces to your walls—consider an orderly pattern for even more appeal.
9. Hang Wreaths
Wreaths work for all occasions and seasons, but especially during fall. You can add a wreath to your front door, on the inside or outside of windows, the breakfast nook, or even a bare wall to bring in the season. Fall wreaths can have various decorations, such as apples, mini maize cobs, and even fall flowers. This is a great way to herald in the season—indoors or out.
10. Create an Autumn Vignette
Capture fall with a themed space indoors or out. For instance, get your porch ready for fall with a pretty, yet functional rustic bench. It's perfect even as the seasons change—for cozy cups of cocoa with a warm, wool blanket or for putting on boots once the season changes yet again. A basket with pinecones or firewood and a long, fall-colored runner completes the look—and the runner even doubles as a doormat!
11. Go Crazy on the Outside
For some things, less is more—but for fall home decor ideas, more is definitely more. For instance, decorate the entire space outside your home—think gourds and pumpkins in mounds around your yard; cozy blankets draped across your porch swing, rocking chair, or outdoor seating area; giant wreaths that can weather all the holidays from Halloween to Thanksgiving and even Christmas.
#MARCUMsold Show: Season 3: Episode 12 Bluegrass Marble & Granite
On this week's #MARCUMsold Show, Amanda interviews Lindsey Guzman of Bluegrass Marble & Granite
#MARCUMsoldShow #MARCUMsoldTeam #BHHSFosterRealtors #RichmondKY #BereaKY #NewEpisode
If you’re thinking about selling your home, it's important to have a good understanding of what’s going on in the Madison County market.
Knowing the most important data such as the average sales price, number of homes sold, and days on market will better prepare you to sell your home.
Our market report showcases everything you need to know about local real estate trends.
140
New Listings
116
Active Listings
84
Under Contract
133
Closed Sales
Homes Sold
99.7%
Sale-to-List Price
$284,780
Average Sales Price
1.3
Months of Supply
15
Average Days on Market
$133
Average Price per Square Foot
Changing demographics, principles, and values are breaking the rules of real estate. As the global shift towards digital disrupts the real estate industry and every sector surrounding it, it's not surprising that traditions that were once "rules of thumb" are becoming less the norm and more frequently the exception. It's not just digital influence, either. Here are five examples that show major changes are happening.
New Rule #1: Strategize on pricing and market timing.
Want to sell your house fast, in any market, for no less than what it's worth? There are several different pricing strategies that we use depending on the home and market conditions. The trick isn't always to price it at its evaluation point. Instead, one strategy agents are getting in the habit of is coming onto the market anywhere from 15 to 20 percent below the home's value. The result is a flock of buyers, often creating a bidding war where the seller can walk away with even more than the home's value.
In this market, we see that bidding wars ensue regardless. We're here to help price your home appropriately and strategize on how to enter the market depending on your home, your neighborhood, and local real estate trends.
You're not obligated to take an offer if it's not as much as you want, but weighing the pros and cons of this approach is important. Think about your market, timeline, and agent's input before proceeding.
New Rule #2: Avoid "over-upgrading" before listing.
Far too often, buyers are told that investing in upgrades will help their homes sell faster, but putting money into the wrong areas can mean that you won't get your money back, and it may not even have a big impact on how buyers perceive your home. Instead of throwing money anywhere, focus on many small improvements--old doorknobs, dingy light switches, disagreeable paint colors, and so on.
Looking at comparable homes in your neighborhood is a good place to start if you have extra money to invest in your home before listing. Focus on raising your home to meet the standards of others on the market, like replacing windows if they all feature energy-efficient ones or replacing linoleum flooring with sleek tile.
New Rule #3: Cater to buyer's second-biggest caveat.
Everyone knows that selling real estate is all about "location, location, location." That's something you can't change, but you can control the next thing on some buyer's lists: Lighting. Creating a bright and cheery home may not even require a fresh coat of paint--simply remove the drapes, wash the windows, change out lampshades, and replace light bulbs with new LED "daylight" bulbs.
If your home tends to be dark, go as far as trying other "tricks" to brighten it up, too. Bright paint colors are a start, but so is re-positioning furniture to maximize window views. Place lamps in dark corners and consider adding ceiling fixtures if rooms lack them altogether, especially in living rooms, which tend to be the darkest areas.
New Rule #4: Invest in the kitchen before all else.
Many agents will go so far as to say that, in order to sell your home, you must sell its kitchen. If you have money to invest in an extensive project, this is where that money should go. New appliances should be at the top of your list if yours are showing their age. Next, you should paint or replacing cabinetry, followed by upgrading the sink and replacing countertops.
With that said, a kitchen that's fully functional, clean, and not horribly out-of-date may not need upgrades, especially if you don't have a lot of money to put in. Instead, make simple improvements, like tidying up cabinets to show off storage space and staging any bar seating or breakfast nook with new chairs before showings.
New Rule #5: Show your home anytime you can.
Open houses are convenient and can lead to a lot of foot traffic, so they're worth doing if it's the right time of year. However, that doesn't mean you can rely on one to sell your house. Keeping your home "show-ready" all the time is a hassle, but one that will pay off. You must work around the buyer's schedule, so prepare to keep the sinks clean, the closets tidy, and the windows sparkling so you can show your house whenever a potential buyer wants to see it.
Accommodating buyers is an important part of selling real estate these days, so the other half of that equation is being certain to partner with an agent who will work with you to be responsive. An agent that's dedicated to selling your home will work quickly and diligently, jumping on opportunities as they come along and actively seeking them out on your behalf.
Selling your home without a real estate agent sounds like an appealing option to some people. Why hire an agent when you can just sell the house on your own?
Before you spend money on a "for sale by owner" sign, however, make sure you take time to learn the pros and cons of selling your home without a real estate agent. Most homeowners decide to use a real estate agent after they learn about the challenges of selling a home without a professional's help.
Pro: You Avoid Paying the Real Estate Agent's Commission
Agents get paid by taking a commission from your home's sale price. Most agents tend to charge about 6%, which gets split up between fees, marketing, and more.
It makes sense that you want to avoid paying someone 6% of your home's sale price. Let's say you own a home, where the median home value is approximately $350,000. Assuming that you sell your house for $350,000, you will pay your agent $21,000. You may be able to think of better ways to spend $21,000, but if you decide to sell your home without a real estate agent, it may be harder to get the full sales price of your home.
Con: You Probably Don't Know the True Value of Your Property
You immediately encounter a problem when you try selling your home without an agent. You think that you will save money by avoiding commission — but do you really know the true value of your property?
At best, you can make a guess based on what homes in your area have sold for recently. Unique features in your home and surrounding property, however, could significantly increase the amount of money buyers will pay.
What if your home has features that make it worth $400,000? Hiring a real estate agent who recognizes the higher value could mean that you sell your house for $400,000 instead of $350,000. After a 6% commission to the agent, you get $376,000 from the buyer.
Trying to save money isn't always the right move. In this case, you lose $26,000 because you thought you could do an agent's job. You can actually get paid more by hiring and paying a real estate agent.
Pro: You Get to Make All the Decisions
There's something to be said for having control over your home. Selling your home without a real estate agent means you can take your personal approach to the process. If you don't like someone who wants to buy the property, you can simply refuse the sale. With no one there to encourage you to sell, you get to make the call.
For example, if you overhear a potential buyer saying they want to tear down the treehouse in your backyard, you might decide to pass on their offer. That treehouse has sentimental value. Maybe no amount of money can make you feel good about knowing it will get ripped down and sent to the dump.
Con: You Have to Do All the Work!
The flip side of "getting to make all of the decisions" is that you "have to do all of the work." Do you want to spend time advertising your property, fielding phone calls from potential buyers, scheduling meeting times, and setting up open houses?
It will likely take a lot of effort for you to sell your home without a real estate agent. Most people change their minds and decide to hire a professional when they realize how much time and energy it will take to sell property independently.
Con: You Miss Out on the Expertise an Agent Brings to Your Side
The job of a real estate agent might look pretty easy when you have an outsider's perspective. In truth, hiring an agent means that you get an expert on your team who has diverse talents and skills.
Why would you need a real estate agent? Some of the things they do include:
Negotiating with buyers to settle on prices and property improvements that will help the property sell quickly at a price that makes you happy.
Bringing in experienced inspectors who can give you objective reports of your property and recommend improvements that will help you fetch more money.
Accessing proprietary real estate information to determine the value of your home.
Staging your home to make it more appealing to buyers.
Marketing your property to get the maximum value as soon as possible.
Walking you through each step of the selling process to keep everything legal and easy for you.
The chances are that you don't know all of the behind-the-scenes work your real estate agent does. You'll find out when you try selling your home without a real estate agent. Or maybe you won't find out, in which case you might lose money and find that it will take a long time to sell your property.