Like when you buy Mums, that's it.

When I help buyers find a home they will often hear me refer to a home as being "maximized." For the most part this means that every opportunity to make additional living space, a better kitchen, updated baths, and cutesy finishes has been taken. What sometimes surprises them is that I think this is a bad thing.
You see, if you buy a home and hold it, your home will simply appreciate at the rate that property appreciates in that market. If you buy a home that has already been maximized, that is what you will do. If you buy a home that has some simple needs, ugly wallpaper, needs a little sprucing up in the kitchen or bath, and you do that work, then your property will appreciate not only as much as the others around it but also exponentially based on the sprucing up and improvements.
Think about buying Mums. You want to pick a plant that looks healthy, has a nice pot, a nice color but has not fully bloomed. You want to get the most out of that plant.
Now, not all investments in a home return exponentially, or more than they cost originally, but most simple updates requiring more sweat than equity do.
So as you shop for a new home, and you walk into one that has been maximized, have a look around and get some ideas. They did all the things you should do to the "Grandma House" that I will hope we uncover in our search.

Oh, Oh, Oh it's Magic!

Choosing the right Realtor can be tough. This town is lousy with them. When enrolling Lola at her new daycare I was told that there were 3 other Realtor parents. Rather than be comforted by the director's words, as I am sure she intended, I thought that it limited the daycare as a new client source.

Choosing your second Realtor is even tougher. So your home has been for sale for 6 months and no takers. You are dissatisfied, you feel lousy about the whole thing. You love your home and everyone else should too. Selling a home can be hard on you, it calls to question your beliefs, opinions and perceptions about the market, your home and its value.

So why should you choose me to be your second Realtor? I have no magic skills, I cannot defy physics or manipulate the economy. I use the same MLS as the other Realtor. I have the same open houses, signs, and business cards. I don't even drive a fancy car (it's kind of my badge of honor.) What I do have is a track record of success. Often that success means selling a home. Sometimes that success means creating a relationship based on communication and trust that can weather the storm of a slow market place, too many showings and not enough offers, dissatisfied tenants, hurdles, hassles and all the other mess we may find ourselves in. When you consider a listing agent, the relationship is key. If you feel a disconnect, find an agent that you mesh with. In this new normal, the agent-seller relationship is key to negotiating the deal in as painless a manner possible.