Let's get it SOLD...

MOVE YOUR HOUSE FROM LISTED TO SOLD!

The NUMBER ONE thing you can do to get your house sold is to price it right. And if you attract buyers with that "attractive" price, it has got to be in great condition. First impressions are the strongest & most emotional. Grab those buyers & have them saying, "Yes! Yes! Yes! This is the one!"

 Now is the perfect time to clear out clutter and organize closets while you can stay warm and cozy on those winter days. Who wants to spring clean when the weather is nice outside?  With all the new gifts received from the holidays make room for the new while you sweep out the old. 

 The 4 C’s of Staging

Here are your "C"s from our very own staging professional and team agent, Kim, "The House Whisperer."

 Clear: Label 4 large boxes with the classification of keep, sell, toss and donate. Start on the top left hand side of the closet/cabinet and work from left to right and top to bottom. Touch each item only once and make a decision within 10 seconds as to which box it should be placed. If you have not used an item in a year and it is in good condition place it in the donate box. Large and high dollar ticket items place for sale on Craigslist, eBay or have a yard sale. Items that are broken, torn or in disrepair put in the toss box. Sentimental and keep sake items pack and place in the keep box. As you make room for new items, take out at least 4 old items so the closet/cabinet will have more space when buyers look at your home. Maximize closet and cabinet space by utilizing the vertical space rather than placing items across a shelf. By editing down now you will also have fewer boxes to move into your new home.

Clutter: Duplicates and extra items that are not needed on a consistent basis should be packed. Think of it as a pre-pack and you will have a head start on packing which will save you time and stress as you prepare to move into your new home. This way you can pack at your own pace instead of having to do it all at once when you are under contract.

Clean: January is a great time to clean the oven and refrigerator after all the holiday cooking and parties. Since the furnace has been working overtime to keep the house warm clean the vents, returns and intake registers and change the furnace filter. Clean finger prints and scuff marks from walls, doors and light switches using a foam eraser (i.e. the Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean) and a damp cloth.

Color: Paint colors in warm neutral tones are appealing to a wide range of buyers. Walls that are painted in a personalized color or have chipping/peeling paint should be re-painted. Take special note of corners and baseboards. Paint is the cheapest and easiest way to give the house a fresh new look. Consult with our team’s accredited staging professional before selecting a new paint color.

 Have a great holiday season!

Rick Bennett & Kim Terry
Boise's Best Area Real Estate Agents
ID-BUY Real Estate with Keller Williams Realty Boise

208-407-0532
www.id-buy.com
rickbennett@id-buy.com
kim@id-buy.com

Home Seller's "Honey- Do" List

Rick, we have time during these winter months to get our house ready to list it with you ASAP. My "honey-do" list is long! What should I focus on?


Sorry about the list! It can all be kind of stressful, right? I will put you directly in contact with our
in-house stager, Kim, who can come back out and really itemize those things you need to conquer. She is awesome and we call her "The' House Whisperer!" But in a nutshell, BE REALISTIC. Plan and organize to do what is feasible given time frame, budget, scope of repairs. Fix what needs fixing and don't start something insurmountable.

Meanwhile here is a good list to work with meanwhile.

1. First impressions are the most important so focus on general repairs or replacing- walkway cracks, wood floor scratches, broken seals on windows...If cabinets and drawers need help, get new doors/fronts only and freshly paint. This is also where you really need to consider new, updated kitchen and maybe bathroom counter tops like granite slab. It's cheaper to fix now than to take a price reduction later.

2. De-clutter by removing everything by about half including furniture, books, nick-knacks, art/things on walls, all counter tops. Closets need to be thinned out or empty. Good storage helps sell houses. Store your things off-site, donate, sell, recycle, pass them on... just don't show it!

3. Cozy up your home by grouping your furniture into liveable pockets throughout the house. This creates more room to navigate the rooms and creates friendly, warm, intimate living hubs.

4. Think outside the box with both furniture and art. Use an old chest as a coffee table and use a coffee table as a low art table in a kids' room or playroom. Use a colorful art poster in a humdrum bathroom. Remember to break up a line-up of art & things hanging. This keeps your buyers' eyes moving around. Unconventional makes for a hip, eclectic and fresh take on your home.

5. Make every room count by giving it importance and a purpose. This adds value to your home. Create a comfortable reading spot on a funny corner of your bedroom or a yoga studio in the de-cluttered extra bedroom or a craft nook in that huge closet under the stairs.

6. Make the lighting right to make your rooms glow. Increase wattage in bulbs up in cans, sconces and chandeliers, in all lamps and even small accent lights so make every room as warm and welcoming as possible. Remove heavy, dramatic curtains or swags and show off nice blinds, shutters and natural light.

7. Fresh paint does wonders. Use warm, pretty neutral tones for large and main room spaces. Go with bolder colors on an accent wall, small room, inside built-in shelves & niches to add variety and POP! Add deep, rich color tones to make a wall dramatic, like in your master bedroom or study. Make a small room or annex bigger by painting it the same color as the adjacent room.

8. Bedrooms should be sexy! Well, especially the master suite. Keep it serene, luxurious and soothing with softer colors in general and maybe a dramatic wall.

9. Add "the fluff" (but not the clutter) but adding good-looking rolled up linens, soaps, baskets and candles in the bathrooms... Think "spa." Keep all counter and wall surfaces shiny. One tables and one shelves, keep decorative items at a minimum and place them in groups of 3 or other odd number for visible impact and group in themes of shape or texture or color.

10.  Add fresh life with vases filled with curly twigs, fresh cuttings (hard to find right now in the yard!) or really high-end silk branches, springs or flowers. Keep proportionate to table and surroundings. A touch of nature says a lot about you as a seller and rounds out the look.

Good luck and we are sending help!!!

Rick Bennett
208-407-0532
Your Best Boise Area Real Estate Agent
ID-BUY Real Estate with Keller Boise Realty Boise

Smart Sellers Stay Listed Over Holidays... or List

Rick, we really want to take our home off the market for the holidays for the obvious reasons. What do you recommend?

Don't do it! Tow the line and stay listed. Here are 11 solid reasons why you should remain on market or even list a new home when the season is upon us.

Holiday lights lead buyers to finding your Home for Sale.

1. Only serious buyers look for homes over the holidays. Just like only serious sellers are on market over the holidays, right?! Now, put your feet in a buyer's shoes- there is obviously a fairly urgent need to find a house if they are sacrificing holiday shopping and family time to view homes. You wasted some time showing your home to casual lookers; now let the serious buyers in!

2. You haven't had many showings? More reason NOT to go off market. Waiting for agents to show your home and not getting many appointments is very stressful. Now you can draw in those really serious buyers who need to be looking for a home rather than enjoying the holidays. (Maybe a slight price adjustment at this time is the icing on the Christmas cookie?)

3. Your Listing Agent can adjust your showing  preferences to accommodate your holiday schedule. That's easy to do. Work with him/her to put special showing instructions in your MLS listing. "No Show" dates, hours that work and don't work, blocks of time that you can or can't have showings. Let them know what works for you as the seller, because real buyers really need to know!

4. Listing inventory NOW is lower than other seasons. Why? Because sellers who did not get or follow good advice like this pulled out of the market, giving buyers less of a choice thus increasing the "value" and attractiveness of your home.

5. Buyers have more free time to look. They are on vacation, have more flex time or time off from work, can visit the city they might want to live, or may be visiting family/friends and have fallen in love with an area.

6. The internet search is always on! And a great real estate team/agent is always ready to show a home to a motivated buyer! 42% of buyers find a home via the internet. 34% tap their agents. It's the holidays and buyers have even more time to search the internet (anywhere, anytime) & work with their buyer's agent to find the right house.

7. The Holidays are very emotional! We know a big portion of a buyer's decision is emotional so tap into that over the holidays. It may mean a buyer paying a higher price for a home they love.

8. The Holidays create an extra special look & ambiance. Holiday decorations increase curb appeal and again tug on the emotional side of house-shopping. Not only is your home highlighted but most likely your whole neighborhood is "glowing!"

9. Relocation does not stop over the holidays. Companies are transferring employees year round, business & life continue on, and there is a push to get things in place for the new year. So why would you stop showing your house?

10. If you sell now, you will be a non-contingent buyer later. Selling your home now frees you up to make an attractive offer on a purchase. Perhaps you can sell higher now and then buy lower, rather than the opposite, during the spring. Get ahead of the game...

11. Go PENDING and relax over the Holidays.  If you sell your home within the next month, you will most likely close in 45 days.  Plan to look for a home, buy and pack up after the first of the year.

Call me if you have any other insights or questions. We would love to help you list and/or buy a house during this wonderful season!

Rick Bennett
ID-BUY Real Estate with Keller Williams Realty Boise
208.407.0532
Your Best Boise Real Estate Team & Agents

Swimming Pool Communities in Boise Idaho

Our families from California, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Maryland visited us in May here in Boise for our son's high school graduation from The Riverstone International School and the weather was unbelievably PERFECT.  They hiked the Ridge to Rivers trails, they played tennis, they read on the patio under bright blue skies, they birdwatched, they walked the Idaho Botanical Gardens at "peak" rose bloom, they used a local guide to catch big brown trout over on the Owyhee River, they went to the downtown farmer's market, we grilled and we all ate great local foods.
They asked, "Is Boise always this perfect?"

The sizzle of summer is upon us RIGHT NOW... 100 degree days that prohibit many of these activities. A swimming pool is key!  I'd love to help you find your next "cool" home & community! Here are a couple of great East Boise subdivisions with community pools to enjoy as a homeowner but not have to maintain personally!
And beat the heat!

Our granddaughter cooler by a (s)mile in a Harris Ranch pool

Spring Creek at Harris Ranch 

Community clubhouses and pools; workout facility; trails and park-like common areas; walking paths.
With the high desert foothills with their Ridge to Rivers trail system to the north and the scenic Boise River to the south, Harris Ranch is a premier East Boise setting for all recreation- fly fish, hike, walk, bike, float, boat... Walk or bike to the Idaho Shakespeare Amphitheater, enjoy high quality schools, local dining, greenbelt.

The Mill District at Harris Ranch
Community clubhouses and pools; workout facility; trails and park-like common areas; walking paths.
With the high desert foothills with their Ridge to Rivers trail system to the north and the scenic Boise River to the south, Harris Ranch is a premier East Boise setting for all recreation- fly fish, hike, walk, bike, float, boat... Walk to Idaho Shakespeare Amphitheater, enjoy high quality schools, local dining, greenbelt.

Surprise Valley
Community clubhouses and pools; workout facility; park-like common areas; walking paths.
Surpise Valley is situated on the rim above the Boise River in Southeast Boise. Shaded neighborhoods, valley views and great area schools make this an ideal subdivision. With a variety of home styles from condo living to grand custom homes with rim views, there is sure to be a home for everyone in Surprise Valley. Surprise Valley offers two pools, workout facility, clubhouse and walking paths.

River Heights
Activity Center; Fitness center: outdoor pool; walking paths.
This new East Boise community near the Harris Ranch subdivision, offers new homes built by Brighton.  River Heights is near Lucky Peak, Discover Park, it's Arrowrock Reservoir and the Boise River; and is across the street from The Idaho Shakespeare Amphitheater and Riverstone International School and next to East Junior High.

Triplett Ranch
Community pool; walking paths.
Adjacent to Harris Ranch, Triplett Ranch has hiking trails and convenient access to the Boise River and Greenbelt, the Ridge-to-Rivers Trail System, Lucky Peak Recreational Area, mountain biking and hiking out the back door, and the hundreds of acres of parks in close proximity.

There is also the Boise River to cool off in but be careful and wear a life vest if you are anywhere in it!
Best,
Rick Bennett
ID-BUY Real Estate/Keller Williams Realty Boise
208.407.0532

Military Families: Buying Homes and PCSing

Our  ID-BUY Real Estate Team "family" has lots of military affiliations- a retired Marine husband, a retired Naval Officer/USNA graduate son and daughter-in-law, a father who was a Navy Commander, just to name a few. We know you all have some military service connections in your family presently or historically or have military friends. At ID-BUY we give our military its due respect and full attention, especially when it comes to transitions and finding a place to call "Home," whether while active duty or retired, temporary or long-term. We have helped many military families transition in the Boise area. Let us know if you or any of your military (or non-military) family or friends need real estate assistance. It is our honor to help!

Below we want to share some info with you on how to make a move successful,  organized and stress-free!

Click HERE to view and download a very thorough moving guide for military from SargesList and Military Duty Stations PCS.

Happy 2014!
Rick Bennett and Team ID-BUY Real Estate
Your #1 Keller Williams Realty Boise Team
 rickbennett@id-buy.com
208.407.0532