New York Real Estate Blog: October 2007

Vincent, My home was already listed and didn't sell... How come?

There are several reasons that homes don't sell. It was probably as simple as - it wasn't priced accordingly with similar properties (believe it or not some agents will say anything to get the listing). It may even be simpler than that - you choose the wrong agent (we're independent contractors and have different styles and techniques).

If you have had your home on the market for several months and haven't seen much activity or any offers, chances are that one or more of the reasons below are to blame.

Here are the the top seven reasons:

Your price is too high

No doubt about it, the most common reason for a home not selling is that the asking price has been set too high. The reasons for setting your price too high to begin with are many. Ranging from over enthusiastic listing agents to unrealistic seller expectations. Regardless of the reason though, if you've priced your home too high, you've set yourself up for a number of obstacles to selling your home. Even if you do get an offer for the overly high asking price, the deal may fall apart before closing because the buyer may have problems financing at too high a price. Look at other homes for sale, ones as similar and as close to yours as possible. If they are going for less than you are asking, you may be priced too high.  The fact is, your home is competing against those other homes, and what buyers are willing to pay is what will determine final sales prices.

The condition of your home

There is a lot of competition out there to sell homes.  Your home has to compete against other similar homes for sale, as well as competing against shiny brand new homes.  The more you can do to make your home look appealing to a buyer, the better your chances for a quick sale.  Look at your home with a critical eye - put yourself in the buyers position.  A buyer doesn't want to have to do anything except move in.  Your best "bang for the buck" in improving the condition of your home are paint and flooring.  Make sure that all of the paint is in great condition, both inside and out.  Repainting doesn't cost too much, and will usually make the biggest impact on buyers.  Make sure all of the flooring looks good too.  You may want to consider putting in new carpet.  Again, it's not that expensive but it sure does make an impact on buyers coming to look at your home.

Location, location, location

It's the oldest cliché in the world, but it's true.  When it comes to real estate, it's all about location!  When it comes to homes, things like how good the schools are, crime rates, visual appeal of the neighborhood and noise or the smell of pollution can all effect how desirable the location is.  If you're in a bad location, a good real estate agent may help to minimize some of the impact by suggesting improvements to the house.  But the only really reliable way to overcome a bad location is with a lower price.  Simply put, an identical home in a bad location won't sell for as much as the same home in a better location.

Your marketing campaign is out of steam

The best listing agents all use an aggressive marketing plan to market their listings.  If your listing agent isn't making sure your home can be found easily on the internet, isn't actively touting his or her listings to other agents in the area, isn't running ads in the local newspapers and real estate publications, then it might be time to change agents.  The best agents might even run radio or television ads for their listings.  If all your agent has done is put a sign in your front yard and add your home to the local MLS, then that agent isn't coming close to doing all that can be done to effectively market your home.

The market is slow

You'll hear it described as a slow market, or a buyers market, or maybe a cold market.  But it all means the same thing.  That home sales in the local area, or market, are slow.  That there are too many homes for sale and not enough active buyers.  There are several things you can do to combat a slow market.  The most effective strategy is to sell at a lower price.  Buyers are expecting to find bargains during a slow market.  You can also help yourself by offering to pay some concessions to help a buyer that might not have a lot of cash.  The ultimate way to beat a slow market is to simply wait it out.  But that's not always an option for many sellers.

Your home isn't easily accessible

To get your home sold quickly, it's important that other agents in the area show it to as many potential buyers as possible.  When a busy agent is compiling a list of homes to show a buyer, the agent will naturally tend to show those houses that are easiest to gain access to first.  Many homes on the market have "lock boxes" on them.  The lock box is a device which holds a key to the home, that only qualified local agents can access.  Homes that are listed as being "lock box, no appointment needed" will get shown more often than homes listed as "agent has key, call for appointment".  If at all possible, you should let your agent put a lock box on your home for easier showing.  If not, you should do anything else you can to make it as convenient as possible for agents to show your home. 

You have an agent nobody likes

Sounds almost silly, but it's very true.  If your listing agent isn't liked or respected by other agents in your area, it could slow down the sale of your home.  When an agent prepares to show properties to prospective buyers, the agent begins by talking to the buyer to find out what kind of home they are looking for.  Then the agent searches the local MLS and other sources for homes that fit the buyer.  If there are a number of good matches to choose from, and one of them has been listed by an agent that is hard to get along with, or arrogant, or has otherwise made himself unpopular, well...  It's just human nature to tend to skip over someone you don't like.

To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/

Vincent, Should I Update the Plumbing and Fixtures Before Listing?

 I would say update depending on the condition of the plumbing and fixtures. It may just need to be polished up with a little bit of Brasso to give it that showroom shine (the fixtures of course).

There are several good reasons to make sure all of your plumbing and fixtures look  good and are in good working order before putting your home up for sale. When potential buyers come to look at your home, they are likely to turn on faucets and flush toilets "just to see". This is no time to make a bad impression with grungy old fixtures, leaks or stained sinks. Before showing your home, you should make sure that all faucets and knobs are clean and shiny (again I've found Brasso to be quite cost effective, at only $4.00, in giving it that brand new look we're looking for). If needed, buy new ones. They don't need to be expensive.  An inexpensive but shiny and obviously brand new fixture will make a far better impression than an expensive but old and stained one. Another good reason to look after these items before putting your home up for sale is the likelihood of a home inspection prior to closing.  Most savvy buyers will insist on allowing an independent contractor to perform a home inspection before closing. The inspector will be checking for leaks, pressure and making sure any appliances included with the home are in good working order. If the inspector finds any problems in these areas, it could easily cause a delay in closing.

To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/

Vincent, How do I prepare my house for the sale?

After listing you're home with me, I will supply you with a complimentary 20 minute video from David Knox (a real estate superstar). I will also help you prepare your home and if staging is necessary I will be there for you to maximize your homes appeal with the use of some very simple staging techniques.

Here is how it's going to down:

One of the first things I will do before putting your house on the market is prepare your house for sale. I want to show your house off in its best light to maximize your earning potential. I will tour your house with the eye of a buyer - what works, what doesn't work.

Curb Appeal
Does your house have curb appeal? Can we give it a little more pizzazz to draw the buyer in? Would a bit of touch-up paint add dollars to the sale? What about the garden? Is the lawn in order and neatly edged? Are trees and bushes neatly pruned? Are flowers in bloom? If not, it may be time for a garden upgrade. Adding colorful annuals to the front garden will make a big difference. Remember, creating curb appeal will add dollars to your house's final selling price.

Welcome Home
As I walk in the door of your house, I will ask myself, "Will this house say, 'Welcome home' to a buyer?" Looking through the eyes of a buyer, I will recommend changes that will enhance sales appeal.

I'll help you eliminate anything that gives the appearance of clutter. Countertops should be free and clear. Knickknacks, souvenirs, family photos, refrigerator artwork - it's gone. We need to "de-personalize" the house so buyers can imagine it as their home.

Closets and cupboards should appear large and roomy. It's time to make a donation to a local charity or store belongings at a friend's or family member's home.

Reviewing your home room-by-room, I will make recommendations that impact the sale. I'll point out the pieces of furniture that should be removed, rooms that need new paint, carpet that needs to be changed, fixtures that need polishing, windows that need cleaning, and any other improvement that can easily be made to promote the sale.

Setting the Stage
Before the first buyer walks in your door, I'll show you how to set the stage. We want to engage the buyer's senses. Lighting is critical. We'll draw back curtains, open blinds, change light bulbs and add lighting where needed to welcome the buyer. We'll enhance the ambiance with music playing lightly in the background and insure a pleasing aroma emanates from every room.

To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/

 

Tips for better gas mileage

After having a chat with my mechanic Jerry Rosario, from the Mobil Gas Station on 69th St. and Queens Blvd. (Woodside, Queens), I decided to put these tips together for anyone who might be interested in saving a buck. His first piece of advice... buy a hybrid vehicle!

Unless you drive a hybrid car or ride your bike to work, there's no way to escape the high gas prices. But there are ways you can get better gas mileage out of your vehicles - which will save you money in the long run. Here are a few ways to help you get better gas mileage:

  • A well-maintained vehicle will operate more efficiently. Fouled spark plugs, dirty air filters and clogged fuel filters will diminish fuel economy. Follow the Recommended Maintenance.
  • Under-inflated tires require more energy to roll; properly inflated tires can improve fuel economy by as much as 3 percent. Keep Tires Properly Inflated.
  • Heavier vehicles require more energy to move. Pack light and remove unnecessary items from the car. Take a Load Off.
  • Hitting the gas pedal hard after stopping, slamming on the brakes and speeding all decrease fuel efficiency. Don't Drive Aggressively.
  • Lower gears use more power, so manual transmission drivers should switch to a higher gear when driving at a steady speed, and automatic transmission drivers should avoid using "sport" mode. Use the Highest Gear Possible.
  •  Cruise control is a great asset on flat roads, but isn't the most efficient on hilly terrain. Use Cruise Control Selectively.
  • Keeping your car washed and waxed improves its aerodynamics, thereby improving fuel efficiency. On a long trip, a quick run through a gas station car wash might more than pay for itself. Think Clean.
  • An idling car burns fuel. Whenever possible, turn your car off while waiting, and try to avoid drive-through windows and long toll booth lines. Avoid Excessive Idling.
  • Air conditioning consumes more fuel, while rolled down windows decreases aerodynamics. Roll down windows when in slow-moving traffic; use the air conditioner when traveling at high speeds. Think Before You Ventilate.
  • Cold engines use more fuel than warm engines. Combining errands means the engine will be warmer for more of the trip. Combine Your Errands.

Also Make sure you check out www.GasBuddy.com for the most cost effective stations nearest to you.

To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/

SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit http://www.allnylistings.com/

"TV Star" hails from Richmond Hill Queens

Hawaii Five-OJack Lord was born in Brooklyn, on December 20, 1920. He grew up at 97-25 125th Street in Morris Park, New York (now known as Richmond Hill, Queens).Most of us know him as Lt. Steve McGarrett on the series "Hawaii Five-O" (which I watched for years as a kid and you can still catch on the TVLand cable station just check your local listings).

Before Jack Lord became a "Hollywood Movie Star / Actor", Jack attended St. Benedict Joseph Labre School and John Adams High School. His childhood dream was to follow in his big brother Bill's footsteps as an artist and to travel across the seas.

During his years at NYU, majoring in Art (on a football scholarship), Jack and his brother Bill opened the "Village Academy of Arts". They  directed art courses there until he graduated in 1942.  He continued his sea journeys during the summer and then served in the merchant marine throughout World War II. After the war Jack spent a year in as a steel worker with the US Engineering Department in Persia.

After that he worked for a couple of years with the US Maritime Service in Washington (making maritime training films). This consisted of his being photographed by movie cameras while splicing lines, launching lifeboats and illustrating other duties of a deckhand. After he finished 25 of these movie-manuals, he decided that acting might be the best way for him to make a living. He tucked a can of film under his arm and began chasing down all the New York theatrical agents. It paid off like he knew it would and he went on to play some minor roles at first. With movie stardom proving elusive, Lord turned to television, where he had been making guest appearances since 1956, he was usually cast as villains in Westerns.

  • The Red Menace - 1949
  • Project X - 1949
  • Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - 1955 (leading role on Broadway)
  • The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell - 1955
  • Tip on a Dead Jockey - 1957
  • God's Little Acre - 1958
  • The True Story of Lynn Stuart - 1958
  • Stoney Burke - (television series) 1962-63
  • Hawaii Five-O - (television series) 1968-1980


In 1967 he got the break he'd been searching for his entire life... an opportunity to star in Hawaii Five-O. Lord jumped at the chance and also signed on as producer of the series, which was shot entirely in Hawaii. The police show was a huge ratings success and made Lord a TV star. The catchphrase he said to his sidekick "Book 'em, Danno!", entered into TV history.

I hope you found this this post interesting and fun to read.

To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/

SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit http://www.allnylistings.com/

Find the cheapest gas station near you… right here!!

 Gas prices change on a daily basis. I remember not to long ago (less than 10 years ago) it cost me about $20 to fill up my tank (My Ford Mystique). That's no longer the case, is it?? Today (if I still owned this vehicle) it would cost me anywhere from $40 to $45 to fill up that same gas tank. My brother's vehicle (Escalade with a V8 engine) cost $78 - $80 to fill up. So if you'd like to save a few bucks everytime you "filler up" keep reading...

With hundreds of locations throughout Queens county it would be impossible to locate the most cost efficient gas station, right?? WRONG!!! Visit http://www.gasbuddy.com/ and I assure you that saving 20 to 30 cents a gallon EVERYTIME you fill up at the pump is just a click away. This site makes it real simple to find the closest service station to you. Just click on the link to GasBuddy.com and you'll find the closest station to your job or home.

 

To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/

SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit http://www.allnylistings.com/

Vincent, What questions should I ask when shopping for a mortgage professional?

Keep in mind the mortgage loan officer needs to get ALL the facts before giving you a good faith estimate. With all the recent changes in the mortgage industry taking place I would also want to make sure I was asking the right questions. Ask for points to be quoted to you as a dollar amount--rather than just as the number of points--so that you will actually know how much you will have to pay. Ask for an explanation of any fee you do not understand. Don't be afraid to ask the following tough questions:

  • How many lenders do they work with? (different lenders have different programs to offer you based on credit, income and down payment. The more lenders the wider the range of options available to you).
  • How do they differ? (again... find out about the program that may suit your mortgage needs)
  • How do you make money off my loan?
  • Who pays you? (Whether you are dealing with a lender or a broker may not always be clear).
  • Will you provide me with a loan commitment letter, or other proof in writing,
    when you lock my interest rate? (Always make sure you obtain these very important documents)
  • Can you explain my closing costs and fees, on an itemized basis?
  • Will you tell me if you're earning a markup on any of them?
  • Do you handle transfer taxes and insurance out of escrow, rather than
    me paying cash up front? (Do yourself a big favor and find out right then and there).
  • Can I have the names of some past clients?

We have an in house mortgage company here at Prudential Network of Homes and it's called - "Best Mortgage Solutions" - with seasoned professionals that answer all these tough questions for you (even if you don't ask them). They can provide you with the documents necessary to purchase or refinance your home in less than 24 Hours (unlike some other lending institutions).

Drop me an email and I'll put you in touch with the Senior Officer of this Mortgage Company.

Call me at 646-294-2561 or email:

ProRealtor@verizon.net

SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit http://www.allnylistings.com/

Vincent, I'm a FSBO... What can you do that I can't??

Besides a license to practice real estate, a thorough knowledge of the intricacies of putting the sale together, and the ability to put more money in your pocket than you could on your own (I have a dozen ways to do this, ask me how) I also have:

  1. The right connections needed to expose your home to thousands of prospective buyers. I will list your home on my websites (I have five) and through my MLS service (L.I.B.O.R. - The Long Island Board of Realtors). This increases your chances of finding a buyer that matches your needs and speeds up the selling process. (LIBOR has over 30,000 members that I can expose your home to).
  2. Years of experience. I have been successfully buying and selling homes in the local market for 9 years. I have connections throughout the mortgage industry with the best service providers, including title agencies and home inspectors. (I will know if the buyer can afford your home before he or she walks in through your door).
  3. Knowledge of current market conditions. I make sure I stay up to date on current market values. This will help you set a competitive asking price and help you negotiate a fair price for your home. (Over price and it will sit on the market for months and months - Under price it and you practically give it away).
  4. A familiarity with the paperwork that goes into selling a home. I've read hundreds of contracts over the years and know how to spot the fine print that others might overlook. (I'll help you determine if you can save a small fortune just by looking through your paperwork)
  5. An unbiased opinion of your house. Unlike you, I have no emotional ties to your home. This allows me to make impartial judgments on all aspects of the process from home preparation to sales price negotiation. (I can honestly say that I'd turn you down now... rather than let you down later. I won't let emotion get in the way of your financial winnings )

Why do you want to sell your home when an expert can do it for you and help you get the most money out of the sale? Give me a call and we can discuss options today 646-294-2561 or you can email me with any questions at ProRealtor@verizon.net

To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/

Home Maintenance for the Fall Season (or monthly maintenance you decide)

 Well, I can't believe another year has come and gone. Fall is here and winter is right around the corner. In New York City that means we need to do everything possible to remain warm and safe in our homes (our investment).

A key to protecting the investment you've made in your home is by following a regular maintenance schedule. By performing preventative maintenance, you'll avoid many of the big repair items that can lower the value of your home.

Here is a helpful checklist for monthly and Fall maintenance:

  • Check faucets for drips and check plumbing for leaks. (Running water can freeze up in the colder months and can sometimes cause the pipes in your home to burst... this can be a costly fix!!!)
  • Test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. Make sure you change the batteries in both.  This should be done twice a year. 
  • If you use a portable humidifier, it's time to clean it.
  • Have your furnace and water heater systems serviced by a qualified service company. (My service contract gets renewed in early September every year).
  • If you have electric baseboard heaters, vacuum them to remove dust. Now this step is crucial ...Remove the grills on forced air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.
  • Put up storm windows.
  • Remove screens from the inside of casement windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass.
  • Ensure windows and skylights close tightly.
  • Make sure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and make sure you renew the weather stripping as required (If you could feel a draft then RENEW IT!!)
  • The water heater is also very important to maintain. You can extend its life expectancy by draining a gallon or two of water from your hot water heater at least twice a year. (I like to do this once a month... It will add ten years to the life of your unit when this is done).
  • Check your chimney for obstructions, such as bird's nests.
  • Clean gutters and test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof.
  • Make sure the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall.  Remove mulch from the foundation wall as well.  This helps prevent water damage. (Most people don't realize that most water damage is caused by the sponge-like effect of mulch... so this step is very important).
  • Drain and store outdoor hoses.  Prepare your outdoor faucets for winter freezes.
  • Protect young trees and bushes for winter and winterize gardens.
  • Trim shrubs and trees so that they clear the foundation, exterior walls, and roof of the house. (The worst thing here in New York is the effect that the accumulation of snow can have on weak trees or branches... so make sure to trim them!!)
  • Store outdoor furniture.

I hope you found this information to be of value to you (that was the sole intention).

To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/