Selling Your Ashram or House

The Real Estate Swami says follow the experts for enlightened  advice on selling your  house.  They will not lead you astray.

Whether a seller is listing a home or an ashram for sale, following certain paths will entice buyers to make an offer.         

            Experts at HGTV have several pointers:

1.  Keep the first impression the best impression. Make sure the curb appeal is welcoming with a well-trimmed lawn, fresh flowers and a clean front door. Make sure the entryway is inviting to visitors and not cluttered with coats and car keys.  The swami says less is more.

2.  Once a house is listed for sale, agree to show it whenever a Realtor calls. Keep it ready to show, with beds made, dishes put away and bathrooms sparkling.

3.  Forget a massive makeover. Do projects that pay off including fresh paint on the walls, clean curtains, updated cabinet handles and fixing leaky faucets.  Spending money will not bring happiness.

4.  Put personal items in storage. The family photos, the knick-knack collections, the sports trophies all need to be boxed up. Once the home is de-personalized, a buyer can imagine living there.  Each soul wants to live in their own home.

5.  Finally, embrace the light. Clean windows, change lampshades, trim the bushes to let in sunshine – if a house is bright and cheery, buyers will be inclined to make an offer.

The swami sees more home sales in the future if sellers follow this path. For more tips on selling a home, see www.hgtv.com/reale-state/10best-kept-secrets-for-selling-a-home/index.html

Swami and the 2011 Real Estate Crystal Ball

As the swami gazes into the real estate crystal ball to determine the future, he sees a very localized central Ohio housing market. Some good areas and some not so good. Here are his guiding visions as you consider your neighborhood.

1.      An overcorrecting market:  Prices may have dropped too much.  If prices are below 2002 levels in your neighborhood improvement may soon occur.

2.      Overdevelopment:  The swami sees too many houses built in some neighborhoods before the crash.  Over supply is a red flag in newer developments.  It may mean prolonged pain.

3.      Jobs, jobs, jobs:  Swami sees new jobs coming.  These areas will see a quickly improving housing market.

4.      Lifestyle: The swami sees people having fun, listening to music and going to farmers’ markets.   Swami sees some neighborhoods with lifestyle attractions for today’s buyers.  Is it walkable? Nearby parks? Fun things to do around the neighborhood?  If yes is the answer to these questions, then swami sees great things ahead.

5.      Responsible government:  Swami sees turmoil ahead for local governments.  Are your local taxes reasonable?  Schools ok?  Sane growth policies that make sense for sustainable growth?  Again, if yes is the answer good things are ahead

The swami sees these trends impacting the market for the foreseeable future.