Real Estate Tips: When Your Home Won’t Sell…

We have seen a decrease in property values across the nation. Tampa Florida is no different, if a buyer purchased at the height of the market, they may not be able to sell the property for what is currently owed. This blog is to help let owners and sellers know what options they have to consider.

Revamp All Efforts to Sell House

The last thing you want to hear but the FIRST THING YOU SHOULD TRY is exhausting all efforts to get your home sold, relieving you of financial and legal responsibility. Meet with a savvy and local real estate professional. Examine your price point, evaluate your showing effectiveness of your home, and do some touch up repairs and maintenance to have it looking its best for potential buyers. We are seeing homes sell every day! As a matter a fact we reported in our last blog, “Life of Real Estate Agents in Tampa”, that we cannot find enough good quality inventory to show our clients! If you have a nice home, and you price it right for today’s market, it will sell!

Accidental Landlord Scenario

There is a term being pushed around by Zillow, called “accidental landlord”. The definition of this is a buyer who had no intention of renting or investing in their property to hold it open for tenants. The lack of equity in their home forces them to rent and move on, hoping for the best outcome with the situation as it is.

For some reason this term gets a negative connotation. There is nothing wrong with renting out your home! Many real estate investors purchase properties strictly to rent to tenants. However if you are not a financial position to carry the current mortgage and still feel financially stable in a new home purchase, talk to a real estate professional to see what options you may have.

We also highly encourage you to find a property management company to take care of your property for you. This removes the hassle of dealing with tenants 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also, professional management companies can save you on cost of repairs when needed. It is well worth the investment.

If you have any questions about buying, selling, renting, or investing contact SI Real Estate at 813.631.5144 or email us at Yourhome@SIRealEstateInvestments.com. We have full property management services along with extensive knowledge of the Tampa Florida market and how to buy and sell properties with your best interest in mind.

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Real Estate Tips: Home Staging

One of the most important elements of buying a home is imagining yourself and your stuff in it. The best way for sellers to help their prospective buyers have a good first impression and easily visualize themselves living there is setting up the home is staging. Home staging is the practice of setting up your home so it is aesthetically pleasing to buyers.

Looking at an article in the Realty Times, they brought up the best secrets to staging. Maybe you can try and apply these tips in your home:

1. Declutter

The first and sometimes hardest part of subjectively looking at your home is removing clutter. After years or months of accumulating possessions, we sometimes slip on clearing all the extra things in our homes. Bottom line cutter is distracting and it gives the illusion the home does not have enough storage. Clear the extra knick knacks and furnishings in your home by putting in a better location or storage.

2. Cleaning

After clearing away clutter, the next most important step is thorough cleaning. The prospective buyers and agents can get a bad impression when a home is not cleaned. They assume it is also not maintained regularly. Before any showings make sure your property is clean and ready to invite people in.

3. Repairs

Make sure all the little projects you have left undone get repaired and fixed up. These projects may scare off potential buyers. Loose knobs on handles, touch-up paint, and other seemingly harmless repairs may tell the buyers that more has been neglected.

4. Neutral Décor

Neutral colors are the best choice for staging. Most buyers are paying attention to color; they may not have the same taste as you. Try and keep everything appealing to all buyers. Bright colors that do not agree with your potential buyers may start adding up in their mind as projects that need to be done and may be too overwhelming.

5. Appropriate furnishings

Make sure that the furniture is the right size for the room. Furniture that is too big for a room makes it feel smaller. The reverse is also true that small furniture makes a room feel disproportionate. Also try and use the room for its designed purpose. For instance a bedroom turned into an office may work for you but buyers may think the space is small or unusable for a bedroom. Also, dining rooms may not be necessary in your home, but not utilizing a separate dining room may turn off potential buyers.

If you are looking for some help in selling or staging your home, talk to professionals. Here in Tampa, Florida we have lots of options in staging assistance. Of our valued friends, Staging South Tampa, LLC is a great source for advice.

When it comes to getting your house sold, contact SI Real Estate. We pride ourselves in helping buyers, sellers, tenants, investors, and landlords in accomplishing their real estate goals. We can be reached at 813.631.5144 or email us at Yourhome@SIRealEstateInvestments.com.

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Real Estate Statistics Greater Tampa Bay

June 2010 real estate statistics compiled by the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors are in... The news is positive for our local real estate market in Tampa, FL. The number of properties that sold in June 2010 was at a phenomenal level of 2,069 – the best month for sales since December of 2006, the very peak of our market.

The statistics provided by the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors also showed the current inventory is at a multi-year low of only 13,514 homes, which translates to 6.5 months of inventory remaining.

One of the factors influencing this was the number of home buyers who wished to purchase homes in time to earn the First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit and the Move-Up/Repeat Home Buyers Tax Credit. These federal stimulus plans had an amazingly positive effect on the real estate market in Tampa, Florida. Other areas across the nation have witnessed similar encouraging trends.

So, what does this mean to those who wish to buy or sell right now? Now remains the time to buy or sell! The market is active. Buyers are buying, sellers are selling, and investors are investing in real estate -- property inventory is moving on all fronts.

Realtors at SI Real Estate are engaged in an dynamic real estate market and transactions are being made. Many times properties are receiving multiple offers on them, especially if priced correctly. Whether you are someone who wishes to purchase a home, or sell your real estate, now is the time! Don’t get left behind!!!

Call us today @ 813.631.5144, or e-mail us at YourHome@SIRealEstateInvestments.com to find out how you too can make the best of this real estate market.

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