Take good pictures

Why isn’t my home selling? We know, it's the economy, right? Partially, but not completely. Many homes sell within a few months, some in as little as a week. So what is the problem with the houses that don't sell? Ask any home stager, or look through the MLS ( Multiple Listing Services) pictures, and you will find the answer.
Assuming that the home is priced correctly and is in a good location, the reason it remains on the market could lie in the photos posted on the Internet. Since over 80% of potential home buyers begin their searches on line pictures of homes for sale are critical. If the photographs present the home poorly many buyers won't even consider visiting the house in person. The list below highlights just some of the problems displayed in pictures that are costing home sellers thousands of dollars. These examples are from actual listings.
• Too much furniture makes the rooms appear smaller and hides the home's features.
• Outdated or very large furniture. Clutter on kitchen and bathroom counters. (Please put the toothpaste in a drawer).
• Toilet seat left up. Dishes in sink
• A cluttered or messy office, can't even see the desk
• A bed with such huge lumps under the spread that it looked like a body was under it.
• Floral, cowboy, rooster, ivy or any wallpaper design that was from another decade.
• A big screen tv blocking a window.
• A tv left on when photographing the room. It just looks tacky.
Before listing your home look at the home thoroughly to avoid these mistakes

Home Selling Tip

Home Selling Tip.
Put new comforters on all of the beds.
Comforters are a lot like family heirlooms in that they tend to stick around for a really long time. Pick out some stylish, up to date comforters that fit the ambiance of each room.

6 Reasons Sellers should have their home Pre- Inspected

6 REASONS TO HAVE A PRE LISTING HOME INSPECTION!
So you are thinking of putting your home on the market. You have cleaned, decorated, painted the home and manicured the yard. But what about what you can’t see? Many sellers will opt to have a pre-sale home inspection done, prior to putting their property on the market. The benefits are many!
1. You will have a copy of the inspection to make available to buyers when viewing your home. They will feel more confident moving ahead, after reading a report and knowing the condition inside and out.
2. If repairs are needed, you can mark them on the report or include copies of invoices for those repairs. Be sure to get permits and hire qualified contractors, or the buyer will question the repairs.
3. You will save some money by knowing if there is any issue that needs attention. You can get it taken care of BEFORE going on the market. Buyers hire home inspectors after they have agreed on a price. If something comes up, you can’t factor it in to the price, like you would if you inspected prior to listing.
4. You have trust in the inspector you hire, not an inspector the buyer chooses. You have no control over who the buyer hires, and may differ with their opinion or their qualifications.
5. You have control over the contractor and price, should any repair be needed. For example, if it is determined that a new roof is needed now, you get it done on your terms! You can get a 3 tab shingle roof, and the buyer will be happy with a new roof. If the buyer is involved in the decision, they may want the more expensive option of a dimensional roof, or a certain color.
6. In the case of something that looks scary, like an older furnace, having an inspection on file that shows it has been checked and in good working order, may keep a buyer from passing on the home.
Can you see that having an inspection done prior to listing is a good idea for several reasons? The cost of home inspections run anywhere from $250-$500, depending on the size of the property.

Cookies and Flowers

Selling Tip: Finishing Touches
Bake cookies, light a fire, put out fresh flowers...these are common techniques to help create a feeling of welcome before open houses or scheduled showings. Talk with me about what aspects of your home are the most appealing and how you can take the extra steps to highlight them for potential buyers. Visit my website for more information. www.greencountyhomeguide.com

Heres a couple of ideas to help sell your home

Monroe and Green County Wisconsin Real Estate by Scott Larson Here are ‎2 Things to help sell you home: Furniture arrangement – Instead of arranging your furniture against the walls, add visual square footage by first removing one or two pieces of furniture and pulling the rest away from the walls.
Fresh bedding – Make your bed an inviting focal point with an updated bedding set layered with neutral pillow shams, or extra comforter folded at the foot of the bed. Choose simple patterns.

What can you do about pet urine spots?

Strong pet odor can ruin a showing, so what can you do to avoid this problem?

First the bad news: Not all urine stains are removable. The types of damage caused vary according to the urine content. This is determined by the pet's diet, age, sex, and any medications being taken. If it is removable, the following steps may get it out.

1. Blot up the urine as soon as you discover it. Use plain white paper towels to avoid dye transfer.

2. Mix 1/4 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent (non-bleach and non-lanolin) in a cup of warm water. Apply this to the spot.

3. Blot up the moisture, rinse with warm water, and apply more of the detergent mixture. Rinse, and continue the process until you don't see any urine transfer to the paper towels.

4. Mix two tablespoons of ammonia in a cup of water. Apply this to the spot, blot it up, rinse with warm water, and repeat. Blot the area dry.

5. Mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of water. Apply this to the spot, blot it up, rinse, and repeat. Rinse well when you are done, and blot the area to remove as much moisture as possible.

6. Put a stack of plain white paper towels on the spot and weigh them down with something flat and heavy (something that won't lose its color if it gets wet). Change the paper towels occasionally, until the spot is dry.

The faster you get to the spot, the more likely it is that it can be removed. When urine spots develop over time, and are not noticed right away, the dyes and carpet fibers may be permanently damaged. In beige carpet, the stains will appear red, yellow or orange. Color can sometimes be restored by treating with a solution of two tablespoons of clear, non-sudsy ammonia in a cup of water.

To get urine odor out, it's often necessary to remove virtually all the urine - especially in the case of cat urine. Many products simply mask the odor, and fail even at that during times of high humidity. Some pet stores and veterinary offices now have enzyme treatments that work better, and professional carpet cleaners can apply these for you if you aren't sure how to do it.

If odor persists, you may have to remove that section of carpet. You can replace it with scraps if you have saved them, or cut a piece from an area that isn't visible. Unfortunately, sometimes the padding and even a section of flooring has to be removed to totally eliminate odor from old urine stains.

What if you get a very low offer on your home?

Negotiate! Keep the conversation alive with the buyer for as long as you can. Do not settle right away. Always maintain open communication about your limitations with your agent; he or she is there to help you get the best price possible for your home. Remember, if the offer is too low, always counter; don't walk away. Sometimes buyers simply want to test the waters.