Housing Trends in Austin, Texas

Keep up with the housing market in the greater Austin area and around the county. Follow this link to the latest update from my housing trends newsletter.

 

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Copyright © Robin Scott, REALTOR® 2014.

Tip #3 Get Your House Ready to Sell

You've probably heard that curb side appeal is most important. It's the first impression anyone has of your home. I've had buyers reject a home without even entering based on the condition of the yard.

Spruce up the yard.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on landscaping or a landscaper. Simply clean it up.

Start at the front door. Perhaps it needs a fresh coat of paint. Most of the time an entry just needs the dust and cobwebs cleaned off. Polish the door knob and lock. Do the address numbers stand out?

A large planter with a blooming plant on the front porch will add appeal.

Prune shrubs and trees.

Keep the lawn freshly mowed and trimmed. If watering restrictions permit, try to keep it green.


This issue of my enewsletter covers a Gardening Tips for the Summer.

I want to be you REALTOR®. If you are thinking about selling your house in the greater Austin area, call me at 512.589.7988 and I can walk you through getting your house ready to sell, marketing your house and represent you to the end of the transaction.

I want to be you REALTOR®. If you are thinking about selling your house in the greater Austin area, call me at 512.589.7988 and I can walk you through getting your house ready to sell, marketing your house and represent you to the end of the transaction.

Homes sellers are also homebuyers. If you are in the Austin, Texas area and are planing to sell and/or buy a house, contact me for a FREE home market analysis and marketing plan or help finding and purchasing your new home. Robin Scott, REALTOR® 512.589.7988 or robinscottrealtor@gmail.com 



 

Austin Area Home Sales for February 2014

Austin-area home sales, prices hit record high for the month of February

Austin Board of REALTORS® releases real estate statistics for February 2014

AUSTIN, Texas – March 20, 2014 – Austin-area home sales and home prices hit an all-time high in February, according to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS®. In February 2014, 1,761 single-family homes were sold in the Austin area, which is nine percent more than one year prior, and the median price for Austin-area homes was $230,530, an 11 percent gain from February 2013.

February 2014 Statistics

• 1,761 – Single-family homes sold, UP 9% from February 2013.


• $230,530 – Median price for single-family homes, UP 11% from February 2013.


• 4,724 – Active single-family home listings on the market, DOWN 8% from February 2013.

I want to be you REALTOR®. If you are thinking about selling your house in the greater Austin area, call me at 512.589.7988 and I can walk you through getting your house ready to sell, marketing your house and represent you to the end of the transaction.

Homes sellers are also homebuyers. If you are in the Austin, Texas area and are planning to sell and/or buy a house - search for homes, contact me for a FREE home market analysis and marketing plan or help finding and purchasing your new home. Robin Scott, REALTOR® 512.589.7988 or robinscottrealtor@gmail.com

Tip #2 Get Your House Ready to Sell

After you have addressed Tip #1 and decluttered you house, you are ready to . . .

Clean, Clean, Clean

Look up, look down, look all around. Following is a list of things that are often overlooked:

The front door - The first impression is so important
Ceiling corners - Get those cobwebs that sometimes collect in the corners
Ceiling fans - Make sure dust isn't hanging off the blades
Window blinds and window sills - People may raise the blinds and you wouldn't want dust bellowing
Windows - A clear view leaves a more pleasant feeling
Baseboards - Clean baseboards make the house look fresher
Shower tiles - Visitors will look behind the shower curtain
Appliances - Clean appliances look cared for

Dusting and wiping surfaces aren't the only things that indicate clean.

Eliminate Odors

When you live in a house, an odor may develop you aren't aware of. Ask a friend or family member for a frank opinion and explain it's important for the presentation of the house.

The disposal. Be sure to run it and add some lemon or orange followed by enough water to clear out any food particles that may have lingered.

The bedspreads. Although you may wash your bed linens regularly, the bedspread, comforter or duvet gets washed less often and does absorb people odors that you may not be able to detect but a guest in your home may so be sure to wash them. 

The pets. Pet beds or carpeted areas where dogs sleep will hold a doggy odor so be sure to clean those areas and consider moving the dog bed to the garage.

Garbage cans and diaper pails. Make sure these are fresh every morning.



This issue of my enewsletter covers a Comprehensive Spring Cleaning Checklist

Once your house is decluttered and clean, it will have the appeal a buyer is looking for.

I want to be you REALTOR®. If you are thinking about selling your house in the greater Austin area, call me at 512.589.7988 and I can walk you through getting your house ready to sell, marketing your house and represent you to the end of the transaction.

Homes sellers are also homebuyers. If you are in the Austin, Texas area and are planning to sell and/or buy a house - search for homes, contact me for a FREE home market analysis and marketing plan or help finding and purchasing your new home. Robin Scott, REALTOR® 512.589.7988 or robinscottrealtor@gmail.com

Tip #1 Get Your House Ready to Sell

A good deal of my time is spent showing property to buyers so I have a lot of experience listening to what they say and how they react to things that attract, detract and puzzle a buyer.

Declutter. You've probably heard that many times but here it is again in detail.

It means that the prospective buyer can't imagine themselves and their things in your home if your decorating is overwhelming.
It means that too much in a room will make it feel cramped and difficult to navigate.

It means that the prospective buyer is considering how many holes will be left behind in a wall and will they need to repaint.

It means there will be trapped dust bunnies you may overlook but the prospective buyer may not.

1. Start by removing the big things like excess furniture and rearrange furniture so that it's easy for a couple to walk around a room, through a doorway or to another doorway. You may choose to have a garage sale, sell on craigslist or rent a storage unit for a short time. As long as you keep attic access, utilities and doorways clear, it's OK to use garage space for some storage.

2. You will have to pack to move so start now by packing up collectibles, photos and other knickknacks you have displayed on table tops, shelves and dresser tops. Surfaces don't need to be bare but one or two items ( a lamp or a lamp and a decorative box) should be enough. Clean out closets so they look more spacious. This may be a good time to decide what you want to keep and move. When I was getting my home ready, I visited Goodwill, a used bookstore and the trash can.

3. Minimize decoratives on the walls like photos, certificates and art. These elements can distract a buyer from the home while they try to figure out what you do for a living, how old you may be and if those are your children or grandchildren.



You may not be moving to a smaller space but my enewsletter has some great tips on Scaling Down Your Stuff.

Decluttering should be your first step in getting ready to sell your house because after you do that, it will be easier to see what else needs to be done.

Homes sellers are also homebuyers. If you are in the Austin, Texas area and are planning to sell and/or buy a house - search for homes, contact me for a FREE home market analysis and marketing plan or help finding and purchasing your new home. Robin Scott, REALTOR® 512.589.7988 or robinscottrealtor@gmail.com