Category Archives: Home Seller

14,986 Homes Sold Yesterday… Did Yours?

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Homes.Sold.YesterdayThere are some homeowners that have been waiting for months to get a price they hoped for when they originally listed their house for sale. The only thing they might want to consider is… If it hasn't sold yet, maybe it's not priced properly.

After all 14,986 houses sold yesterday, 14,986 will sell today and 14,986 will sell tomorrow.

14,986!

That is the average number of homes that sell each and every day in this country according to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) latest Existing Home Sales Report. NAR reported that sales are at an annual rate of 5.59 million. Divide that number by 365 (days in a year) and we can see that, on average, over 14,986 homes sell every day.

The report from NAR also revealed that there is currently only a 4.0-month supply of inventory available for sale, (6-months inventory is considered ‘historically normal’).

This means that there are not enough homes available for sale to satisfy the buyers who are out in the market now in record numbers.

Bottom Line

We realize that you want to get the fair market value for your home. However, if it hasn't sold in today's active real estate market, perhaps you should reconsider your current asking price.

Rita Boswell is who to notify when you are moving, a recognized leader in her field. Rita can be reached via email at rboswell@kw.com or by phone at 614-270-4499. Rita has helped people move in and out of many Central Ohio communities.

Search for Central Ohio homes at www.SeeBeautifulHomes.com

“Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!”

I service Real Estate sales in the following Central Ohio towns: Dublin, Powell, Delaware, Lewis Center, Galena, Sunbury, Westerville, Worthington, Columbus, Hilliard, New Albany, Blacklick, and Gahanna.

See all my Rave Reviews. People Say The Nicest Things!

Will Appraisals Continue to be a Challenge in 2016?

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First American Title issues a quarterly report, the Real Estate Sentiment Index (RESI), which “measures title agent sentiment on a variety of key market metrics and industry issues”. Their 2015 4th Quarter Edition revealed some interesting information regarding possible challenges with appraisal values as we head into 2016.

“The fourth quarter RESI found that title agents continue to believe that property valuation issues will be the most likely cause of title order cancellation over the coming year.” 

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. In a housing market where supply is very low and demand is very high, home values increase rapidly. One major challenge in such a market is the bank appraisal. If prices are jumping, it is difficult for appraisers to find adequate, comparable sales (similar houses in the neighborhood that closed recently) to defend the price when performing the appraisal for the bank.

Another monthly report by Quicken Loans measures the disparity between what a homeowner believes their house is worth as compared to an appraiser’s evaluation. Here is a chart showing that difference for each month through 2015.

Will Appraisals Continue to be a Challenge in 2016? | Keeping Current Matters

Bottom Line

Every house on the market has to be sold twice; once to a prospective buyer and then to the bank (through the bank’s appraisal). With escalating prices, the second sale might be even more difficult than the first. That is why we suggest that you use an experienced real estate professional to help set your listing price.

 

The above Real Estate information on who to notify when you are moving was provided by Rita Boswell, a recognized leader in her field. Rita can be reached via email at rboswell@kw.com or by phone at 614-270-4499. Rita has helped people move in and out of many Central Ohio communities.

Search for Central Ohio homes at www.SeeBeautifulHomes.com

“Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!”

I service Real Estate sales in the following Central Ohio towns: Dublin, Powell, Delaware, Lewis Center, Galena, Sunbury, Westerville, Worthington, Columbus, Hilliard, New Albany, Blacklick, and Gahanna.

Selling a House is a Business Decision

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Empty Nest - Bird HouseIt is likely you are making a decision to sell your house. Maybe you have decided to downsize from your empty nest, or perhaps, the house you have right now is too small, or a job/business relocation is causing you to move. Whatever your circumstance you must take into consideration a very important thing about selling your house: it is a business transaction. There is very little room for sentiment.

The Value Could Make You Upset

You can be under the impression the home is worth more than the real estate agent says it is worth. Your house may be assessed at a value you do not like.  It’s important that you do not take it personally. The value of your property might be determined by things beyond your control. The school district, location including accessibility, crime rate in the neighborhood, and the sale price of recently sold homes are going to be taken into consideration. You might think that your home is in great condition. The inspection could point out some necessary repairs and improvements. A final dilemma happens should you decline to make any needed repairs or not budge on the price. Your house may be on the market too long and you will then be forced to lower your price.

Your Home is Called “Property” to Others

You’ve made memories in your home and you have the photos to prove it. The problem is accepting that the treasured old times do not mean anything to a prospective buyer. You have to make some sensible decisions. For example, you painted your kitchen cherry red; buyers may hate the shade. The same might be true for the wallpaper. It may be frustrating because the pattern is a favorite to you. Despite everything, and for the sake of the sale you might want to consider taking down all of the wallpaper and paint the rooms woodmont cream or some other color that is fashionable.

Let Me Help You

I fully understand some of the frustrations a seller may encounter. I will listen to your concerns and then gently point out what will get the highest price for you. I will go the distance to market your property. I not only have a website, but I am well represented on social media. I do everything possible to get your house shown to as many potential buyers as possible. The negotiation over the sales price can be very emotional. I will work as a dedicated third-party on your behalf.  I work to provide the best service for those whom I am proud to call my clients.

If you are contemplating selling your Central Ohio home, please feel free to contact me. I can arrange an appointment at a time convenient for yourself and discuss with you how I will help in the sale. It is not easy to part with the old place, but there is a new house just waiting for you to walk through the door. I can help with both the selling and the buying. Please do feel free to contact me at 614-270-4499 or by email at rboswell@kw.com.

Browse prime Central Ohio real Estate at my website, www.CentralOhioHomeSold.com.

After 8 Days This Westerville Home is IN CONTRACT!

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249 Ashford Dr., Westerville, Ohio

$ Click for current price

4 BEDROOMS | 3 (2 full, 1 half ) BATHROOMS | 2286 SQUARE FEET

 

Don't miss this extraordinary & immaculate Windsor Bay home w/ all the features you're looking for including an updated island kitchen w/ granite counter tops, new back-splash, new SS appliances, solid oak cabinets, a freshly-painted interior, brand new wood laminate flooring & carpet throughout. A loft overlooks the 2-story great rm which is flooded w/ natural light & highlighted by a brick fireplace. The basement features a finished rec. room/media room plus unfinished space for plenty of storage. Sit on your rear patio & enjoy the expansive over half acre of outdoor living space. The yard is picturesque & beautifully landscaped with lush trees. Conveniently located – close to schools, shopping & recreation. Walking distance to Westerville North High School. MUST SEE!

 

Pros and Cons of FSBO

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Pros and Cons of FSBO – Once you’ve deciding to sell your home, some choose to work with a real estate professional and some choose to sell “For Sale By Owner” or FSBO. Ultimately, you don’t have to sell your home using a real estate professional but there are definitely pros and cons of selling your home FSBO. Here are a few to help you decide the right path for you…

Pros of Selling a Home FSBO:

  • Save Money – You won’t have to pay 2 real estate agents. Instead you will only be in charge of paying the agent of the buyer unless you work with the buyer directly.
  • You Are In Control – You can control how your home is staged, marketed, when you show the home, etc.
  • It’s Your Home – You know the home better than anyone. You can point out the amenities and items in the home like no one else.

Cons of Selling a Home FSBO:

  • No Help – Without an agent, you are in charge of marketing, pricing, showing, staging, negotiating, finding a buyer, doing the paperwork, etc.
  • Pricing – This is a touchy subject. Too high and you lose interest. Too low and you lose money. Real estate pros know the strategy and how to negotiate the best price for you and your home.
  • Less Visibility – This is what real estate pros do. They have a marketing strategy for your home to get you the most exposure and to target the right buyers. Without the right marketing you have less visibility.
  • Contracts – Real estate pros tell you what you need, what it means and handle the leg work for you. When you sell a home FSBO, you can get that info from a title company or an attorney but you will still most likely pay a fee for that information.

There are pros and cons to every situation. It won’t hurt to interview a real estate professional to get your questions answered and to see which route is best for you. It’s important that when you want to hire a real estate agent that it’s the right one. We recommend you interview a few to find the right one for you.

 

How To Sell Your Home in 2015

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How To Sell Your Home in 2015

If you’re thinking about selling your home in 2015, you’re in luck – it’s predicted that the real estate market will make it easier to buy and sell, with more options and buyers than last year. For first time sellers, preparing and putting your home on the market is often an overwhelming and stressful process. It’s difficult to know where to start, what to do and what’s the best way to do it. That’s why we’ve put together this guide with a number of tips for everything from home improvement, selecting a realtor and staging your home.

With this as a starting point, you’ll be sure to have your home sold in no time. Happy selling!

5 Tips to Sell Your Home in 2015:

  • Know who’s looking and how much your home is worth. It’s predicted that 2015 will be a popular year for first-time home buyers. Many Millenials delayed buying when the recession hit, but many are now starting families and looking to purchase their first home. Make sure to prepare your home to attract this demographic, and know how much other homes in your neighborhood are worth.
  • Find a qualified real estate agent to work with you. The right agent can offer valuable knowledge, negotiate with potential buyers in your favor and guide you in the right direction. Ask your friends, neighbors and family for recommendations of real estate agents, or search online at reputable sites such as realtor.com. Attend open houses to see a potential agent in action and get a feel for how they do business.
  • Make your home sale-ready. This often means repairing, remodeling or staging for sale. The first step is to de-personalize the house. You may love the trendy colors, but neutral walls let prospective buyers can imagine the place as their own. Pack away family photos, knick-knacks and other personal items, make minor repairs like cleaning top to bottom and remove all the clutter that’s on your coffee table, kitchen counters and end tables, as well as anything you don’t need from your shelves. Your real estate agent will be able to give you more specific instructions for how to get your home ready for showing.
  • Get a professional home inspection. Most buyers will get a home inspection before signing any papers. Should they find anything serious, the buyer may offer less for your home than you were expecting. Prepare for this by taking care of any minor repairs before putting your home on the market and having your own inspection done. This way you can be aware of any problems and consider them when determining your asking price.

We hope these tips will help you sell your home this year. Leave a comment us below, or contact us if you have any questions!

7 Ways To Keep Your Home Showing Ready in the Winter

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7 Ways To Keep Your Home Showing Ready in the Winter-Some people think it is almost impossible to sell their homes in the winter because it’s hard to keep a buyer interested when the weather outside is frightful. Fortunately, there are a plethora of things you can do to prepare your home for a showing this season. Even small tasks can make the biggest difference when it comes to keeping your home attractive to buyers. Here are seven ways to keep your home showing-ready this winter.

 

Shovel the Snow

Make sure the snow in your driveway and walkway leading up to your house is clear and plowed. Nothing will scare potential buyers away more than having to trudge through a foot of slushy snow. It will also help enhance the curb appeal.

 

Salt the Walkways

On a related note, salting the sidewalks is always a good idea. Eliminate the possibility of a disaster with the potential home buyer and make sure they’re able to get in the house without slipping.

 

Let There Be Light

Add extra lamps to the rooms in your home to brighten it up. Even in the middle of the day it can appear to be a bit gray outside, so adding lamps will help brighten up the space to make it more inviting to a potential buyer.

 

Festive Decor

Something as simple as a holiday welcome mat on your front porch will do wonders. It makes your home seem not inviting, but also festive and ready for the holiday season.

 

Crank the Heat

Ok, you don’t necessarily have to make it 80 degrees, but make it warm enough that it will be a relief for the potential buyers to step in from the cold outdoors. If they walk in cold and remain cold the whole time, it may be a turn off.

 

Display Photos

Sometimes it’s hard to picture what a home will look like in the spring and fall if it’s masked by feet of snow. Display pictures of your home in other seasons to show the potential buyer how beautiful your home will be, year-round.

 

Do Some Baking

Bake some holiday cookies in advance of potential buyers viewing your home. Not only will the wonderful smell take over your house, but you’ll have some festive treats to share with the potential buyers.

 

For more ways to keep you home showing ready this season, visit here.

Staging Your Home To Sell: Secrets From The Experts

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Staging Your Home To Sell - Secrets From The Experts rita boswell

Are you selling your home? You may want to consider staging it to attract buyers and allow them to imagine it being their home.

“Buyers can only imagine what they see, not what it’s going to be,” says Barb Schwarz, a broker who now focuses entirely on staging homes with her International Association of Home Staging Professionals. “If you don’t clean the carpet or don’t take down the flocked wallpaper or the teenager’s walls are painted bright purple, the buyer can’t envision it any other way.”

 

Staging a home can make the biggest difference in your selling process. Investing in staging can actually bring better returns on a home in the long-run!

 

Curb Appeal isn’t just a catchy phrase created to boost landscapers’ income. It’s a crucial first impression that can make buyers either wary of stopping to look or else eager to step inside. Make sure that your lawn and garden look great, trash cans and bikes are put away, house numbers are attractive and easy to see, the front door is spectacular (because you’ve replaced or painted it and perhaps updated the hardware), and you have attractive potted plants by the door.

 

First Impressions come the minute a potential buyer steps inside your home. Coats on a rack, shoes underneath and keys and other doodads in a dish on a console table may show that you’re a fabulous organizer, but this look is not the way to sell a home. Put the coats and shoes in a closet, the keys in your purse and a vase of flowers on the table.

 

Time To Clean! Or hire a cleaning crew to come regularly while your home is on the market, or at least for a one-time super-cleaning. Don’t skip windows (inside and out), behind the toilet, bathroom grout, under sinks. Actually move your furniture to vacuum behind and under it.

 

Rearranging Is Key. Arrange your furnishings to frame — not obscure — views, fireplaces and other architectural details. Put tall objects (furniture, vases, paintings or plants) against tall walls. Highlight, don’t block, the traffic flow. Grab a couple of sturdy friends and play with different ways to arrange your furniture. Pay attention to your friends’ opinions.

 

4 Home Updates That Will Hurt You at Selling

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4 home updates that will hurt you at selling

4 Home Updates That Will Hurt You at Selling- Updating your home is something that everyone wants to do, but thinking that they will make a positive return on their investment isn’t always accurate. Customized updates might be the best thing for you and your vision, however, they might not be the most practical option. Here are four home updates that will ultimately hurt you when you explore the options of selling your home.

 

Personalization

Personalizing your home might seem like the right idea for you; however, it won’t provide you with a positive ROI. It has the possibility of inhibiting the potential buyer from picturing themselves in your home, and therefore not purchasing it in the long run. To avoid an over personalization of your home, give it non-permanent personalized touches like furniture and accent colors.

 

 

Home Office Renovation

Many homeowners dish out a lot of cash to create their very own home office. Unfortunately for them, that isn’t necessarily an important feature that potential home buyers are looking for. To avoid this costly mistake, make updates to your home office that won’t necessarily be permanent. You want to give the person who buys your home the option of converting the room into a bedroom, or recreational room of their choice.

 

Additions

Additions to your home, like a sun room or additional garage, might end up hurting you in the long run. The extra space has the potential to hook the potential buyer into being a homeowner; however, they will not want to foot the bill of your expensive renovation and expansion.

 

Luxury Upgrades

Any type of luxury upgrade to your existing home sounds like it would be a benefit and provide a positive turn on your investment, right? No, not every luxury upgrade is beneficial. Unless you have a very high-end home, making upgrades like marble floors and custom bathrooms, will likely not pay off in the long run.

 

Customized updates to your home might be the best thing for you at the time, however, it might not be the best option for you to get the best return on your investment. To learn more about home updates that will hurt you when you sell your home, visit here.

Why Should Someone Choose Rita As Their Realtor?

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why should someone chose rita as their realtor - rita boswell1

Why Should Someone Choose Rita As Their Realtor? Buying or selling your home is a huge task. Whether this is your first time, or you’ve done it a million times, a little help from a professional can always help you in the best possible way. Rita Boswell prides herself on the communication she has between herself and her clients. She’s an expert on residential real estate sales and listing, single family homes, condominiums, distressed properties, short sales, downsizing, relocation, and working with buyers and sellers. She is a great resource when it comes to the real estate market, and you can always expect honesty and integrity from her – something that isn’t true for every agent you work with in your lifetime.

About Rita

Rita may not have started her career as a real estate professional; however, that has been a great benefit and has given her a broad background and set of skills that not many professionals have. She began her career as an accounting and support operations manager, where she learned business skills that she applies to her life in the real estate business today. As a native of central Ohio, she is familiar with the area and can provide the best possible advice to buyers and sellers.

Location

Rita’s office is located in the heart of Worthington, Ohio. She serves a number of communities surrounding central Ohio, including: Clintonville, Delaware, Dublin, Gahanna, Galena, Hilliard, Lewis Center, Powell, Sunbury, Upper Arlington, Westerville and Worthington. Working and living in the area gives her an extra advantage when it comes to being a great resource for her clients. Her knowledge digs deeper than the surface, making her a reliable and trusted real estate professional.

What she has to offer

Rita has plenty to offer to individuals and families who are looking to buy or sell their home. Not only does she have extensive knowledge of the real estate industry, but she is familiar with the ins and outs of central Ohio, and keeps your best interest at heart as a homeowner. Her listings range from condos to single family homes to rentals and everything in between, and she works to ensure that her clients are happy and satisfied with their home in the area.

 

To learn more about Rita, and all of the wonderful things she has to offer that will help you sell your home and find your next home, visit here.