Luther Kraxberger REALTOR® - Realty One Group Mountain Desert PHONE: 928-275-1657     EMAIL: lutherkrax@gmail.com ADDRESS: 100 E. Sheldon Suite 200   Prescott, AZ  86301

A do-it-yourself project can be an empowering way to save money, provided you know what you're doing. But making even one simple mistake could put a strain on your back or your bank account. Often, it's best to put safety first and call a professional. Here are four types of home improvement projects that are best left to the experts. 1. Plumbing or electrical projects -- There's a reason these are skilled trades. Both systems are complex, no matter how straightforward a repair may initially appear. Even small leaks can cause serious water damage, and faulty electrical wiring can lead to a house fire. Don't risk flooding or electric shock. Call a plumber or hire an electrician to make sure these jobs are done right the first time. 2. Renovations with possible code violations -- Structural changes require a licensed contractor. Not only can shoddy craftsmanship severely affect your home's value, but it can also put your family in danger. Accidentally removing a load-bearing wall, for example, could cause an entire room to collapse. Why take the risk? 3. Repairs involving heights -- More than 130,000 ladder-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms each year. Whether you're looking at a roof repair or trimming a tree, consider calling a professional before attempting to complete the job yourself. 4. Time-sensitive projects -- Weigh your work and family commitments before embarking on a home improvement project. Even if you're confident in your abilities, the added pressure of a tight deadline can lead to unnecessary and often dangerous mistakes. Remember, just because a DIY project looks simple doesn't necessarily mean it's safe. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and call a professional.

Thank you for reading my newsletters. I look forward to connecting with you soon! Luther Kraxberger

The Listing Expired - Why didn't my house sell?

The Listing Expired – Why Didn't My House Sell?

 

Has your house been on the market for months or even years?  Has your listing expired?  Are you wondering why your house didn’t sell?  Out of the numerous possible reasons, here’s a few of the most important ones.

 

Asking Price Too High

I know what you’re thinking – “Here we go again….”, but the numbers speak for themselves.  Prescott area Market Research shows price reductions on a daily basis for 20-40 properties for sale.  That’s 20 to 40 Daily Price Reductions in the Prescott area.   At least sellers aren’t alone in wanting more and setting their initial asking price too high.  It’s a common misstep when listing a house for sale.

 

Industry experts have stated that the most common reason for a house not selling is Price.  Setting the asking price too high may cost you in the long run as your house sits on the market without any offers and may even lessen showing potential.  Pricing it correctly, what some sellers may even consider low, may actually bring multiple, and stronger offers.  Every seller has personal reasons for needing to sell including money.  Buyers also have their own set of personal reasons for needing to buy.  Personal motivations are just that, personal.   A Seller’s personal needs do not always drive the market and demand.  Keep emotions in check and have reasonable expectations on the value of your house so that you can meet the ultimate goal which is to sell it so that you can move on.  The most important piece of the selling puzzle is to Price Your House Correctly from the beginning.  It cannot be emphasized enough to be realistic in establishing the asking price for your home to get it sold. 

 

Condition

The condition of your house also plays a large part in attracting a buyer and determining the final sale price.  Some older houses may be considered ‘dated’ by their style, materials and finishes and may truly be in need of major renovations.  Potential renovations aside, simple deep cleaning, organizing, staging, packing, and landscape trimming may be all that is needed to meet the basic living conditions for potential buyers and to secure an offer.  Research indicates enhanced Curb Appeal can equal 50% fewer days on the market.  Put yourself outside looking in.  Drive by your house during the day and evening.  What do you see that would give a negative first impression or have positive appeal to potential buyers as they drive by?  Cutting back overgrown plants can make a huge difference in making a good first impression.

 

Do what you can to entice potential buyers to walk through the door, but don’t let them down once they get inside.  While sellers should keep their emotions in check in determining the asking price, they should play to the emotions of a buyer.  Sellers are selling a house but Buyers are searching for their next HOME.  Buyers need to see themselves living there and can’t always see past the current owner’s belongings.  The possibilities in the eyes of the buyer are high and their emotions play a big part in the decision to move forward with an offer. 

 

While seller’s may not always be able to renovate, they should follow through on as many basic preparations as possible to present a clean, fully functioning, ready-to-move-into home to match the correct asking price.  One of the toughest jobs Realtors have is to be brutally honest about the condition of a house and suggest de-cluttering and cleaning, but de-personalizing a house allows potential buyers to mentally move in.  Research shows that 83% of homes purchased were in either good or excellent condition.  The bottom line is to make it shine!

 

Lack of Exposure

The reason a house has not sold may have nothing to do with price or condition.  Lack of exposure plays a role as well.  Sellers who purchased 30, 20, even 10 years ago may not have a full understanding of today’s real estate marketing strategies.  While open houses and local print ads used to be the standard and may bring in a few local prospects, quality photographs and the Internet have a national and global reach. 

 

Effective online marketing should include syndication to websites outside of the local multiple listing service.  My Marketing Strategies include personalized attention to detail in preparing a syndication list to attract qualified buyers looking for your specific type of property.   Once a buyer finds a property that meets their basic location, price, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, Quality Photographs are the most important selling point via the Internet.  While features and description matter, the visual images seal the deal in taking action.  While Internet marketing may seem a bit abstract to sellers, Technology is the Key in marketing real estate today. 

 

You may have the wrong agent

It’s possible that your agent was not able to put in the time, be bold enough to make appropriate suggestions to you to prepare your house, follow up on showings, or provide a high quality digital marketing campaign necessary to sell your house.  It may be in your best interest to consider a new agent to get the personal attention your property needs to stand out and attract buyers.  While it may feel awkward to change agents, a new perspective can have positive results.

 

If you are serious about selling your house but the thought of putting another “For Sale” sign in your yard is making you anxious, please Contact Me for a No Obligation Consultation.   Call 928-275-1657 to ask any questions, and allow me to address your concerns and put your mind at ease. 

Luther Kraxberger, REALTOR

Keller Williams Check Realty

E-mail luther@kw.com or Call 928-275-1657 for information on Buyer's Representation Services

Search Yavapai County MLS for FREE at luther.kwrealty.com/search

Selling a Home in Prescott AZ?  Get a FREE report on YOUR HOME's Value at luther.kwrealty.com/sell/

Read my Blog @ http://real-estate-prescott.blogspot.com/ about Prescott Arizona Real Estate

Hire a positive and proactive Realtor to sell your home and remember to www.ShopPrescottHomes.com!

For Sale By Owner-FSBO

The Circle of Life of a For Sale By Owner 

 

Anyone remember the Frasier episode with Doctor’s Frasier and Niles Crane’s circle of life, a-ha moment?  Frasier and Niles, the highly-educated, notable psychiatrists, questioned the expense of hiring a professional plumber to unclog the plumbing and decided they were perfectly capable to perform the task themselves.  As you may remember one thing led to another and as water was spraying out everywhere they reached their A-ha moment!

 

They called it the Circle of Life.  In justifying their decision to finally hire the professional plumber they knew in the future the plumber will eventually send his offspring to the Crane psychiatrists to help his children deal with the fact that their father was a plumber. 

 

One of my team members recently gave support to friends living out of state that shared their experience along the way from preparing their home for sale to attempting to sell it themselves then ultimately ended up hiring a REALTOR after becoming overwhelmed with the amount of time involved to market, network and show their home to potential buyers. 

 

As weeks went by of showings without any offers, the owner’s realized they could not put in the time to be available for calls, foot traffic, inquiries and showings, and they were learning from visitors that some important features of their home just weren’t up to par and needed updating.   By not consulting with a REALTOR, the owner’s list their home $100,000 higher than the market in their area, and spent months preparing the property but may have been able to save themselves time and money in the end.   Had they consulted a REALTOR earlier they would have listed with a more realistic value of their property and possibly received offers much sooner.

 

Their home is now listed with a knowledgeable REALTOR in their area for a realistic market value price and has more exposure to potential buyers than the average individual can do on their own.  They learned a valuable lesson in the circle of life and can now get back to their jobs and obligations.

 

For home owner’s out there seriously considering trying to sell their own homes, are you ready for random drive by inquiries knocking on your door without notice morning, noon and night, taking calls to answer questions and scheduling tours, managing websites and flyers, placing signs daily throughout the neighborhood, and being available at all hours to make sure you don’t miss any potential buyers?  Are you prepared to address negative comments about the price and every little thing that needs updating or isn’t to the potential buyer’s liking?  Are you ready to process paperwork, negotiate prices and terms, schedule inspections and protect yourself with warranties, and ensuring documents get appropriately signed? 

 

The Circle of Life may save time and money for those willing to follow its lessons.  Trust a REALTOR to do their job so that you can get back to yours!

 

Luther Kraxberger, REALTOR

Keller Williams Check Realty

Selling a Home in Prescott Arizona?  Get a Custom Evaluation of YOUR HOME’s Value at www.luther.kwrealty.com, inquire by email at luther@kw.com, or call 928-275-1657 to schedule a free consultation.

 

Search homes for sale in Prescott Arizona, or all of the Prescott area MLS at www.ShopPrescottHomes.com, and call us at 928-275-1657 for information on Buyer Representation Services.