New Justin TX Home

Looking for a new Justin TX home?  Well I have the home for you.

Kirby Smith, Broker owner for DFW Realty Group in Roanoke TX and team leader at Kirby Smith & Associates Realty is the number one real estate company in Roanoke TX since 2000.

Today we want to introduce to you a new community and a new home that’s just West of Roanoke in the popular community of Justin, TX.  Just like Roanoke, Justin is part of the Alliance Corridor and sits on the Northwest side of the Speedway.  Justin is a rapidly growing community and still very affordable.

Because Justin  is still considered a rural area, buyer’s are able to use the USDA 100% financing program to purchase homes there.

The video below highlights the new home at 103 Forest in the Hardeman Estates addition.  This brand new home is completed and ready for a new buyer.  The home is 3,059 square feet, with 5 bedrooms, 2 of which are downstairs. hardwood floors, granite counter tops, game room, covered patio and much more.

If this new Justin TX home is not enough to convince you to buy in Roanoke and you still want Roanoke TX real estate, then let the Roanoke real estate expert, Kirby Smith help you with your new Roanoke TX home.

Kirby Smith is a lifelong resident of Roanoke and has been selling Roanoke tX real estate for 17 years.  His office is located in downtown Roanoke.

Roanoke TX Realtor

Roanoke TX Realtor:  How to Choose the right one.

Kirby Smith, broker owner of DFW Realty Group in Roanoke and team leader for Kirby Smith & Associates Real estate team in Roanoke, TX discusses Roanoke TX real estate in his daily blog.

Looking to buy a home in Roanoke TX?  Maybe you’re looking for a great Roanoke TX real estate agent to sell your Roanoke TX home.  Today we discuss choosing the right Roanoke real estate agent to help you with your real estate needs.

When first deciding to choose who’s going to represent you on your help with Roanoke TX real estate, you need to decide what factors are most important to you in making a decision.  Is character important to you?  How about experience?  Maybe professionalism is your cup of tea?  How about how long the agent has been selling homes?  How about if the agent even lives in Roanoke?  Is that a consideration for you?  How about reputation?

From my experience in working with clients in Roanoke, the things they usually find the most important are experience, reputation and expertise in selling Roanoke real estate.

Kirby Smith has been a Roanoke TX real estate agent for 17 years and a broker for 10 years.  He was born and raised in Roanoke and has lived there his entire life.  Kirby has sold more Roanoke real estate since 2000 than anybody.  Kirby serves on city council in Roanoke and has children that are going to school locally.  Kirby has an A+ reputation that far exceeds his competitors.  Also with his 17 years of selling real estate in Roanoke TX, no one else can compare.

So if you need to buy or sell a home and you need a good Roanoke TX realtor, call Kirby Smith today at 682-237-1440 or email him at kirby@kirbysmithrealty.com.

Investing in Roanoke TX with a good Roanoke TX real estate agent!

Investing in Roanoke TX?  You need a good Roanoke TX real estate agent!

Investing in Roanoke TX real estate is always a great idea.  Roanoke real estate is hot and has been for the last 5 years.  Roanoke TX home values have skyrocketed by over 50% in the last 5 years and this trend is expected to continue for the next 4-5 years.

With all new employment in the dfw area including the Alliance area, thousands of families are relocating to the roanoke area.  Because of the strong employment and people moving to the area, housing demand has gone up, up up.  Even with all the new Roanoke construction, inventory is still in very short supply.

Here’s where having a great Roanoke TX real estate agent plays big dividends.  A good Roanoke TX real estate agent is one who has lived in Roanoke their entire life, one who has an office in Roanoke and one who is actively involved in various ways in the community.

Kirby Smith is just such an agent.  Kirby Smith has lived in Roanoke over 45 years, has an office in downtown Roanoke and has served on the city council twice since 2005.  When you take into account the number of homes sold since 2000, there’s not another Roanoke TX real estate agent that compares.

Is June a Good Month to Sell in Roanoke?

Kirby Smith, the most influential of Roanoke TX Realtors, discusses Roanoke TX real estate.

In today’s blog, I want to discuss the timing of selling your Roanoke TX home.  When is the best time to sell a home?  Does it make a difference?  Do you get more for a home in the summer months vs. the winter months?

I’m going to answer these questions about Roanoke Texas real estate today.

Right now, Roanoke TX real estate inventory is at an all time low, which means that there’s many more homebuyers in the market looking for homes than there are homes for sale.  What does this mean?  Whenever you a shortage of anything, what happens?  The prices go up.  And that’s exactly what we’re seeing right now with Roanoke TX real estate.  Roanoke home values continue to go up at a record pace.

So right now happens to be a great time to sell your Roanoke TX home.  There are many Roanoke TX Realtors, but only one was born and raised in Roanoke.  Only one has been selling real estate in Roanoke full time for 17 years, since the year 2000.  One one serves on the Roanoke TX city council.  Only one is considered Roanoke’s foremost real estate expert.  Kirby Smith get’s results.

If you would like to find out the value of your Roanoke TX home or if you are interested in looking at homes for sale in Roanoke TX, I invite you to call me at 682-237-1440 or email me at kirby@kirbysmithrealty.com.  I’m available to discuss real estate almost anytime, so don’t delay, call Kirby today!

Mortgage Rates Today: What Homebuyers Should Know.

Mortgage Rates Today:  What Homebuyers Should Know.

Kirby Smith on Roanoke TX homes for sale.  

Hal Bundrick writes a great article today on mortgage rates.  If you are looking for Roanoke TX homes for sale, then most likely you'll need a mortgage.  Be up to date and current on the most current interest rates.  If you need a referral to a great lender, I can put you in touch with a top notch mortgage lender who is local.

 

mortgage rates

Mortgage rates are marking a three-year low, falling for the third consecutive week. But while prospective homeowners are seeing more buying power, lending standards are tightening.

Freddie Mac’s just-released weekly survey of lenders shows the following average rates for the most popular home loan terms:

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.57% with an average 0.5 point for the week ending May 12, 2016.  A year ago, the rate averaged 3.85%.
  • 15-year fixed rates averaged 2.81% with an average 0.5 point. The same term priced at 3.07% a year ago.
  • 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages priced at 2.78% with an average 0.5 point. Last year at this time, the same ARM averaged 2.89%.

Compare mortgage rates

mortgage rates

“Disappointing April employment data once again kept a lid on Treasury yields, which have struggled to stay above 1.8% since late March. As a result, the 30-year mortgage rate fell four basis points to 3.57%, a new low for 2016 and the lowest mark in three years,” Sean Becketti, chief economist for Freddie Mac, said in a release. “Prospective homebuyers will continue to take advantage of a falling rate environment that has seen mortgage rates drop in 14 of the previous 19 weeks.”

Meanwhile, mortgage application volume increased slightly from one week earlier, rising 0.4%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association report for the week ending May 6, 2016.

Purchase applications were up 0.4%, as refi applications rose 0.5%. Overall, home purchase loan applications remain 14% higher than the same week one year ago.

Low interest rates, but tight inventory

With mortgage rates hovering at three-year lows, it would seem that prospective homebuyers have little to worry about. But with tight home inventory in many markets across the nation, there remain challenges.

“The downward movement in rates this year has been a gift to the well-qualified potential buyer, as the lower interest rate provides for almost 6% more buying power,” says Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for Realtor.com.

But historically low housing inventory is sparking bidding wars in hot markets like Dallas, San Diego and San Jose, California. The National Association of Realtors says single-family home prices rose in 87% of measured markets. Median prices were up 6.3% in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2015.

And sustained low mortgage rates are having another effect: Lenders are taking on less risk.

“There are downsides to lower mortgage rates. One disadvantage is that credit availability declines marginally as the rates decline,” Smoke says. “With little margin, lenders become more risk-averse, so indicators of credit tightness like the average FICO score have ticked up as rates have gone down.”

The Mortgage Bankers Association says credit availability decreased again in April, continuing a tightening trend that began in November of last year.

Smoke says that while mortgage rates are expected to remain under 4% through early fall, buyers should monitor the market closely and expect short-term fluctuations.

“In this type of environment, it will be crucial for would-be buyers or refinancers to stay on top of rates, work closely with mortgage brokers or lenders, and learn about options like locks and float-downs,” Smoke says. “However, they do come at a price, so you need to weigh the potential gains against the costs with your lender.”

This post was written by HAL M. BUNDRICK, CFP

Homes for sale in Roanoke tX

homes for sale in roanoke tx

roanoke tx real estate by roanoke tx real estate expert, Kirby Smith.

homes for sale in roanoke tx are few and far between.  just not that many roanoke tx home sellers at the current time.  that's placing a real burden on Roanoke tx homebuyers.  

If you need to sell your roanoke tx real estate you should call roanoke tx real estate expert kirby smith.  Kirby smith is a lifetime roanoke tx resident and has been selling roanoke tx real estate for 16 years.  He knows homes for sale in roanoke tx better than anyone..  

Looking for Roanoke tx homes.  If you are looking for Roanoke tx homes, call kirby smith.  he knows all the homes for sale in roanoke tx and can make sure you see the perfect one.

Don't delay.  roanoke tx real estate is hot, hot hot and is getting even hotter.  work with a roanoke tx real estate agent that knows how to get deals done.  

roanoke tx real estate, roanoke tx homes for sale, roanoke texas real estate, roanoke texas homes for sale, homes for sale in roanoke tx, homes for sale in Roanoke texas, homes for sale in roanoke, homes for sale in roanoke 76262.  roanoke tx, roanoke tx real estate agent, roanoke texas real estate agent.

New Home Sales Rise in March as Prices Drop

New Home Sales Rise In March as Prices Drop (New Roanoke Homes)

(New Roanoke Homes)

 

Buyers, many of whom have been frustrated by the lack of homes on the market and even outbid on the abodes of their dreams, snapped up more newly built homes last month as prices fell. New Roanoke homes

March sales of never-before-lived-in, single-family houses were up nearly 6.7% over February and about 4.3% over the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s monthly new residential construction report. There were 48,000 new homes sold in March, according to the numbers in the report, which were not seasonally adjusted (in other words, the actual number of homes that were sold) New Roanoke homes

The median price of the new homes was $288,000, a nearly 3.2% drop from February and a 1.8% decline compared to a year earlier, according to the report.

“It’s an indication that new homes are being offered at lower price points to attract first-time buyers,” says realtor.com®’s chief economist, Jonathan Smoke.

That’s significant because buyers typically pay a premium for newly constructed homes, which tend to be larger and attract those with deeper pockets. New residences have become increasingly expensive to erect since the financial crisis as the costs of labor and materials rise at a time when it’s harder for builders to secure financing and permits.  New Roanoke homes

“It’s difficult for builders to produce lower-price homes, and that’s why we’re not seeing bigger gains in sales,” Smoke says.

The bulk of sales, 37%, were in the still somewhat affordable $200,000 to $299,999 price range, according to the report. About 13% of the purchases were between $150,000 and $199,999, while 17% were in the $300,000 range.

Just 6% were under $150,000.

Nationally, the overwhelming majority of sales, about 31,000, were in the lower-priced South, according to the report.

The region has seen high job and population growth fueling demand, Smoke says. Land is also less expensive than up north or along California’s pricey coast, and there aren’t as many zoning and permitting hold-ups, he says.

Atlanta-area developers are scooping up whatever spare land they can to meet demand, says Jason Lapene, an Atlanta real estate agent who also sells homes in New Orleans and Miami.

“The amazing thing is, people are still buying homes located near interstate [highways] or electricity poles,” he says as builders scramble to put up residences on whatever scraps of land they can find. He’s seeing multiple bids on properties before ground is even broken in new subdivisions.

But he expects homeowners will pay for those purchases down the line when they try to sell the homes, which will no longer have that brand-new allure.

“Once it becomes a resale…buyers are going to opt for properties in more desirable places,” he says.

Demand is so high in the Southern hub that, contrary to the report, he’s seeing prices go up—instead of down.

“It’s a great place to live,” Lapene says of Atlanta. And “the cost of living is absolutely lower than New Orleans or [big cities in] Florida.”

Following the South, the next highest number of new homes was sold in the West at about 10,000 sales, according to the report. Next up was the Midwest, with about 6,000 sales, and the Northeast, with another 2,000 purchases.

written by Clare Trapasso

 

Roanoke TX Homes

Roanoke TX Homes:  Roanoke TX real estate expert, Kirby Smith

Below is a great article written by Anita Clark of Coldwell Banker that I wanted to share.  Roanoke TX homes expert, Kirby Smith writes regularly on Roanoke TX real estate, but sometimes he likes to share other articles that are really well written.  This one fits the bill.

11 Reasons Why Sellers Need to Hire A Real Estate Agent by Anita Clark

Why Sellers Need to Hire a Real Estate Agent

It is easy to see why a lot of home sellers do not want to hire a real estate agent. As a seller, of course you want to get as much money as you can out of the sale so you would rather sell the home and not have to pay commission to an agent.

Often those same sellers find out the hard way that agents do a whole lot more than just put a sign in the yard and hope someone buys yours property. They do a lot of marketing, take care of the myriad of issues that pop up, find resources to help you with whatever your needs are, and typically have your best interest at heart.

Unless you are well versed in selling homes yourself, it is always better to hire a real estate agent to help take you from listed to sold on your property!

Here are 11 good reasons why sellers need to hire a real estate agent when they are ready to put their home on the market.

Seller Price Guidance

This is important if you want to ensure your home is market priced to get the most money possible in the current market. There is a fine line between being at the top of the price market and being a poor deal for buyers. Overpriced homestypically sit with very little activity. It is just that simple!

If you price it too low you may be leaving funds on the table and selling your home way below its potential selling price. With the help of an experienced real estate agent, you can price your home to generate buyer interest and be competitively priced at the same time.

Right priced properties get plenty of attention and often sell quickly for top dollar. No doubt, that is what all sellers want, regardless where you call home!

Price Guidance When Selling Your Home

Access to Real Estate Agent Professional Network

This industry is a massive one that requires a network of professionals for best results. This is why real estate agents team up with other professionals like handymen, inspectors, lawyers, mortgage professionals, painters, photographers, and the like. Often times it takes this entire team of professionals to get a home through closing.

That is part of the reason why it is very important upfront to check out several agents before deciding on one to represent you in the sale of your home. The right agent will have a long list of resources they can rely on when needed.

You want your agent to be able to tap into their trusted and proven network when the need arises to solve whatever issue comes up quickly and professionally. You also want them to provide quality advice, that may or may not require one of their partners to get involved, in order to give your home every advantage of catching the attention of real estate buyers and investors. Anything less is definitely a disservice to you!

Real Estate Agent Professional Network

Get the Best Options for Financing Purposes

Yes, even sellers need financing, especially when there is work to be done to the home before it is sold. By taking advantage of available financing options, you can get the money that you need to fix your home and increase its resale value. The better your home looks the longer buyers will stay in it to determine if it is the right house for their needs.

Getting an equity loan may be exactly what you need to give your home a facelift or a minor makeover and take it from drab to fab. You can bet this will provide an excellent opportunity to impress potential buyers who are out looking for their dream home in your neighborhood.

As always, ensure you discuss your options with a mortgage professional to get the best financing advice before you decide on a plan of attack. Your local real estate agent should be available to provide you with mortgage references and tips as needed.

Best Financing Options for Sellers

Have a Marketing Expert On Your Team

In essence, real estate agents are marketers and some are definitely better at their craft than others. If your agent does not do any marketing, or does the bare minimum compared to their local contemporaries, you need to look for another agent!

Without adequate marketing, you will not get nearly as much reach for your listing as you should. Search online to see which agents keep popping up, visit their websites to see what they offer sellers, ask your sphere of influence about those on your short list, then ensure you interview those you are interested in working with to determine what their marketing will do to improve your chances of selling your home.

The best real estate agents constantly updte their marketing techniques and skills. With their experience, they have determined the strategies that work and the ones that do not. Whenever in doubt, ask the real estate agents you interview what type of marketing they provide (online, offline (i.e. print maedia), or both), how that benefits getting your home seen and sold, and how their marketing sets them apart from other local agents.

Real Estate Marketing Techniques for Sellers

Get Listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Hopefully your agent’s brokerage participates in the Multiple Listing Service that provides the list of available homes in your area. By getting listed on the MLS, your listing can get a massive amount of exposure, both locally and by third party aggregate sites as well. Many agents will have a feed (IDX) setup on their site to allow you to view the available listings in your area.

The only way to take advantage of this quality service is to list your home with a professional real estate agent. They have the capability to list your home in the MLS to be seen by other agents and consumers alike. This is not a task you can perform on your own…an agent needs to do it for you.

Multiple Listing Service

Tap into a Network of Ready and Qualified Buyers

How many ready and qualified buyers do you know of? Be honest…not many I would guess. How many qualified buyers will that “For Sale By Owner” sign in your yard attract? Sure, you can attract a lot of potential buyers provided that you market your listing right, but how many of them are really serious and are qualified to buy? How dedicated are you to deal with showings, issues, and everything else that comes with selling your home?

Real estate agents, in addition to helping sellers, help buyers as well. They often have a network of ready and qualified buyers that are ready to buy as soon as a particular style, price point, or home in a specific location becomes available.

The agent you hire will play the matchmaker. He or she will cross-reference your home to buyers’ they know and ensure those real estate consumers have the latest information about your listing to make a solid decision on whether or not they want to view the property. Also, agents will often also share their new listing details with other agents in-case those agents have buyers who are looking for whatever your property offers.

Access to Real Estate Buyers

Get Help with the Paperwork

No one wants to plow through mounds upon mounds of paperwork, regardless of the reason. No.One. Unfortunately, the process of buying or selling a home often takes reams of paperwork that requires your attention, understanding, and your signature (numerous times). All the more reason to work with an agent who has been through the process numerous times and can help make the process as smooth as possible.

A good real estate agent can help you with the paperwork, provide the guidance you need while reviewing the information, simplify any hard-to-understand paperwork, and even provide ways to make the process a bit easier (such as electronic signatures). If it gets too complicated, or you are still not sure what the information means, your agent can refer you to a real estate attorney who can provide clarification on misunderstood issues or concerns.

Seller Real Estate Paperwork

Agents Knows How to Package Your Home

This is important if you want to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. The agent will take a look at your home and pinpoint its key and important features. Many agents will then lightly stage your home (or recommend a professional stager) to highlight these features. In addition, they can also see the potential of your home that you never really saw before.

For example, if there is a corner area that you do not really use, perhaps it can be used as a reading nook, quiet space for writing or studying, or even a cool place for pets, toys, or other hobby essentials. The agent can stage your home (or use their network to find you a stager) to show this area in its best light.

That is just one simple example of how your agent can accentuate the features of your home to showcase those properties for active buyers and investors. They can also blog, video, and share the details about your house on a host of social media sites, targeting local consumers who may be looking to buy a home with specific details. Do not underestimate the power that a well staged and expertly marketed home has in the local market!

Staging Your Home

Get Objective Advice

Savvy real estate agents get it! It is incredibly easy to get emotional throughout the process of selling a home, sometimes to the point where your good common sense is clouded. After all, this is your home complete with many memories that we are talking about. Do not let your emotions get in the way of a decent sale! This is one of the areas where a seasoned real estate agent is worth their weight in gold.

Excellent agents understand they need to be objective and even keeled as emotions can quickly derail a home sale. You are looking for an agent that will step in and give solid counsel, providing advice that is void of emotion, to help you see the forest through the real estate trees.

The end state is to hand over the keys so you can move forward with the next chapter in your life. Let your agent help you do that by leaning on them when you feel like you are losing control. They do this for a living and will do their best to maintain their cool in the midst of the real estate storm. That is exactly what you want when home negotiations are fast and furious and thousands of dollars are at stake.

Professional Real Estate Advice

Comply with the Rules and Regulations

As you can probably imagine, there are a lot of complicated rules and regulations when it comes to selling a home. Agents have rules, lenders have rules, inspectors have some of their own as well. With so much at stake, it is good to know there are plenty of checks and balances along the way to getting your house sold.

Real estate agents constantly update themselves on the ever-changing rules and regulations. What better way to ensure you follow the letter of the law, and ensure you stay compliant, then to entrust a real estate pro to help.

Whether it is encroachment issues, septic concerns, homeowner association rules, or a myriad of other governing topics, it is important to build trust with your agent so you know they will do the right thing, have or research the correct answer, and keep you on the straight and narrow path towards closing on your property.

Real Estate Rules and Regulations

Sell Your Home Quickly

Sure, you have to pay your real estate agent a commission if they sell your home, but that is a small price to pay considering that a good agent will do everything in their power to help you sell your home quickly for the most money possible. You can bet they will work long hours, resolve any issues that arise, and keep you abreast of everything going on all the way through your real estate transaction.

When you take into account all the things your agent will do for you, it is wise to let these real estate professionals do what they do best….sell homes! After all, if they do right by you there is always the chance you will mention how good their service was and recommend them to others.

Selling Your Home Quickly

Selling a home is stressful, so help yourself by hiring a quality agent to manage the process, allowing you to focus on more important tasks. As I often tell consumers looking to buy or sell a home in Bonaire GA and the surrounding communities, anyone can put a sign in your yard and hope for the best, but a top-notch agent will take care of the big, little, and all the in-between things that can hang-up a deal before it even gets going. Do not pick an agent…instead choose a real estate partner!

This article was written by Anita Clark of Coldwell Banker.

If you're interested in Roanoke TX homes, please contact Roanoke TX homes expert Kirby Smith at 682-237-1440 or email at kirby@kirbysmithrealty.com

How to Avoid Costly Mistakes When Buying a Roanoke TX Home!

How to Avoid Costly Mistakes when buying a Roanoke TX home.

Roanoke TX real estate expert, Kirby Smith, talks about mistakes to avoid when buying a Roanoke TX Home!

There are some simple steps that homebuyers often miss when looking for their new home.  Taking the time to consider these steps can save you thousands of dollars, but more importantly, can smooth the process of buying a new Roanoke home, saving time and money, as well as alleviating stressful situations in advance.

  1. Begin by being up front and honest with your Roanoke TX REALTOR and lender about your credit history.  Your credit, whether good or bad, affects everything from your down payment to your interest rates.  Your REALTOR or a professional mortgage consultant can often advise you as to how you can get credit problems cleared up or completely eliminated from your credit report before you apply for financing or make an offer on a new home.
  1. Getting pre-qualified for a loan by a professional lender before you begin your search for a new Roanoke home will allow you to know in advance exactly what kind, and how much, mortgage you can afford.  This makes it possible for you to make an offer on your new home with confidence that enough funding is available.
  1. If the seller does not offer a home warranty on the house you want, ask your REALTOR to make it a part of the written offer that you make.  A home warranty can save you thousands of dollars in repairs, and can often be obtained for a very nominal annual fee.  A standard warranty covers the electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems as well as major home appliances.
  1. Ask your Roanoke REALTOR for a market analysis of the home, in comparison to similar homes in the neighborhood or throughout the city, before you make an offer.  A home is not just a place where you live – it is also an investment.  Take the time to view several homes before you make an offer so you know exactly what is on the market.  Be certain you are making a wise investment.
  1. Make your offer contingent upon a home inspection and ask the seller to make the required repairs.  Hire a professional to inspect every aspect of the home thoroughly.  This can save you thousands of dollars in costly repairs and many headaches in the future.  A good inspection can also allow you to negotiate for any repairs prior to closing.  If the seller is not willing to make the necessary repairs, remind them that the lender will also require the home to be in good condition before they make a loan for the purchase.
  1. Take into account your present homeowner or renter status.  If you already own a home and must sell it before you buy a new one, it is best to get a REALTOR to do a complete market analysis on your present home.  This allows you to know how much you can sell your current home for before you make an offer on a new one.  If you are leasing or renting, the lease’s expiration date will give you a timetable for your new purchase.  Review this with your REALTOR well in advance of when you want to move.
  1. Choose your Roanoke TX real estate agent wisely. Working with a full-time professional Roanoke real estate agent is a must. Ask questions of your agent.  Find out how knowledgeable he or she is about houses currently for sale in your price range and also of houses that have recently sold.  Can your agent recommend a good lender that has the reputation of excellent customer service and low rates?  Does your agent ask questions of you to have a full understanding of what you are looking for and to help you get the most home for the money?

 

 

 

Home Staging: Should I sell my home empty or staged

Should I Sell My Home Empty or Staged

 

Home Staging: Should I sell my home empty or staged?

Another article on Roanoke TX real estate by Roanoke TX real estate expert Kirby Smith.

This is a great article I found on the pro's and con's of selling a home empty vs. staged.  I don't necessarily agree with all  the points, but it definitely gives one something to think about as they prepare to sell their home.

 

As a homeowner is preparing to list their home for sale there are many decisions that need to be made.  When is the best time to list the home?  What price should the home be listed for?  Who will be hired to sell the home?

These are just a few of the most common questions.  Another popular question that home sellers who don’t live in their home ask is whether they should sell the home empty or staged.

Like with most things, there are PROs and CONs to selling a home empty as well as PROs and CONs to selling a home staged.  It’s important that homeowners weigh the PROs and CONs to help them decide whether they should sell their home empty or staged.

Below you will find out what the PROs and CONs are to both selling a home empty and selling a home staged.  After reviewing the information below, the decision whether to sell your home empty or staged should be an easy one.

What Is Home Staging?

If you’ve walked through a staged home, you would know it.  A staged home can be defined as a home that has been setup in a layout that appeals to the highest number of potential buyers.  Often times when a home is staged furniture, decorations, paintings, and general décor is brought into the home to make the home appealing.

It’s important to understand that there are also many home staging tips that do not require additional furniture, decorations, and other items to be brought into a home.  For example, a smaller home may actually be staged by removing large pieces of furniture, not adding furniture, in order to help make the rooms seem larger.

PROs Of Selling A Staged Home

Arguably the biggest benefit to staging a home when selling is the ability to paint a picture for potential buyers.  Staging is a great way to allow a buyer to envision themselves in the home.  If you’ve walked through a model home before that was staged you likely noticed the comfortable sofas, beautiful mirrors on the walls, and silk plants throughout the home.  This is a great way to help make a potential buyer feel comfortable in an empty home by creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Since the majority of home buyers are beginning their search online, another benefit to staging a home is that in most cases a staged home will look better in photos when comparing to an empty home.  It’s still extremely important that when selling a home, whether it’s empty or staged, that the quality of the photos are top notch.  One of the most important, yet basic, real estate marketing strategies that real estate agents should use when selling a home is using high quality photographs of a home.

If you’re home has a room or two that has an odd shape or that is small, staging might be a good choice.  Another benefit to selling a staged home is the ability to show prospective buyers that an oddly shaped or small room is functional.

CONs Of Selling A Staged Home

When deciding whether to sell your home empty or staged, it’s important to remember that staging can cost additional money.  One of the biggest drawbacks of staging a home is the cost to stage a home.  Depending on what is done to stage a home, it can cost several thousands of dollars to stage a home.  It’s important when deciding whether to sell your home empty or staged you evaluate if the money spent on staging will yield a return on your investment or not.

Another negative of staging a home is the amount of time that it can take to properly stage a home.  In many cases, to properly stage a home requires specific pieces of furniture and decorations to be purchased and brought into the home.  Many stagers will attempt to use belongings that a homeowner already has, however, it’s possible they won’t have the proper staging pieces.

PROs of Selling An Empty Home

 

One of the most common home selling dilemas that many home sellers will face are buyers who cannot envision a home while it’s staged or occupied.  Some buyers who are pickier than others can envision their own personal touches on a home when there is nothing but a blank canvas in front of them.

Another PRO of selling an empty home is that it shows you have moved on and the home is immediately available.  This is extra appealing to buyers who need possession in a short amount of time.

Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY the buyers needed to be out of their apartment in only 4 weeks since their lease was expiring.  There were two homes that the buyers were deciding between and ultimately chose the home that was vacant because the other was owner occupied and a 4 week closing wasn’t possible.

CONs of Selling An Empty Home

One of the biggest drawbacks of selling an empty home is that it does not give the same warm and fuzzy feeling that a staged home gives.  When deciding whether to sell your home empty or staged, you need to keep this is mind.

One potential negative of selling a home that is vacant is that photos will show the home is empty and not lived in.  Unfortunately this potentially can lead to break-ins and the property being vandalized.   It’s important to follow specific tips to selling a vacant home to help improve the chances that your home is safe and undisturbed.

Another drawback of selling an empty home is the reality that defects often stand out more in an empty home than an occupied or staged home.  When selling a home it’s important to disclose known issues with the home, however, defects such as little scratches on a floor will stand out more in an empty home than they would in a staged home.

When selling a home that is empty, it’s possible that buyers will perceive they can buy the home for less than market value because the seller is desperate to get rid of the home.  This is a common thought process from buyers that often leads to low ball offers in real estate.

Empty or Staged – By The Numbers

There are lots of PROs and CONs that you need to weigh when deciding whether to sell your home empty or staged.  In addition to the PROs and CONs that are discussed above, there are statistics that should be considered when deciding.  Below are a few important statistics from the National Association of Realtors relating to home staging.

  • The median dollar amount to stage a home is $675.
  • According to Buyers Realtors® surveyed, 49% of Realtors® believe staging a home makes an impact on a buyer, 47% of Realtors® believe it impacts some buyers but not all, and 4% of Realtors® believe it has no impact.
  • Most important rooms to be staged, in order of importance: living room, kitchen, master bedroom, dining room, bathroom, children’s room, guest bedroom.

 

Final Thoughts

There are many decisions that need to be made when selling a home.  Some sellers will need to decide whether to sell their home empty or staged.  As you can see there are benefits and drawbacks to both selling a home empty and selling a home staged.

I always make it very clear with my home sellers that home staging does not sell a home.  Don’t fall for the trick of the real estate agent who tells you they are a certified staging specialists and that is why you should hire them.  It’s vital that your home is priced properly and the proper marketing strategies are being used to sell your home.

About the authors: The above article “Should I Sell My Home Empty Or Staged?” was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).