But why?

Because otherwise I’d be slowing down before I reached the runner…I’d have no momentum and no power to stop the person breaking through the line of scrimmage.

In a nutshell the running back would have the advantage and instead of delivering a blow I’d be on the receiving end of one. Which, for obvious reasons, is no fun at all. (In case you didn’t know…)

So instead my focus was on a point past the ball carrier and I did my darnedest to get there. True, I usually didn’t reach that imaginary spot — but it did help me win more battles than I lost. 

By focusing my efforts on running through the person, the tackle would usually take care of itself. Maybe I wasn’t able to wrap my arms all the way around. Or pull their legs up into my chest. But the other person knew what just happened…

My point is — if you only aim for the runner (or at just putting your home on the market)  then you won’t make the tackle (or the sale). But if you aim past the runner (at actually selling your home) you will.

Putting your home on the market isn’t the point. It’s only the beginning.

Instead you should focus on the end result — getting an accepted offer. It’s the follow through that will get you to that point.

For example, what will you do if you have no offers the first 3 weeks your home is listed?

What if comments from showings aren’t what you expected? Will you make changes?

How will you react if your agent brings up a price reduction? Or asks you to paint a bedroom?

To often we race to the starting line and completely neglect the actual point of the race — to actually finish.

What will you do so you can finish the race?

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I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my exercise program…or my lack of an exercise program. Unfortunately, I’m not getting any younger. Like the rest of you, I’ve tried. It doesn’t work for me either. Don’t get me wrong, I like exercise. Or maybe the thought of exercise.

Back in my twenties, I was a workout fiend. You’d find my brother, my neighbor and me pumping away in a home gym we put together. But then things change. I graduate from college and find a job in Mauston. With a new job and apartment living finding a place to workout and time, for that matter, becomes difficult.

Fast forward a few years and I purchase my first place. So I buy a couch, table and chairs and a squat rack and weights. That’s what the rest of you did when you bought your first home? Why do I only hear crickets?

Now I have everything I need to stay in shape, or to even change my shape a little. Nothin’ gonna stop me now…

The first summer goes pretty well. I found Crossfit the fall before and I’m going strong in the garage gym that spring and summer. I’m in the best shape of my life. Not quite as big, but my soon to be wife says that’s ok (something about not having a neck before). I’m more athletic than I’ve ever been. I’m doing things I couldn’t do before.

Now winter arrives. The garage gym isn’t as much fun anymore. For obvious reasons. Brrrr…

I slack…or maybe more accurately, stop working out. It’s too difficult to head into the freezing garage for a workout. It’s a whole lot easier to stay in the warm house and watch CSI: Las Vegas.

Oh, spring how I love thee… I’m ready. Ugh, but starting is so difficult. I really want to fast forward a month and start from there. But I can’t, so I procrastinate…

And procrastinate…

A little more procrastinating…

But why start now? It’s been sooooo long… I’m not happy with myself… so to punish myself, I still don’t workout… WHAT? Does that sound reasonable? Apparently it does because I never really get around to starting…

Have you lived through something similar? Don’t lie. If we truly want something, we’ll start. But it’s too easy to push it off. To say you’ll start next week or next month (my wife says this is what I’m doing right now…don’t tell her but she’s right)…

And time goes by. Maybe years. Now a decade or two…

This is where I bring my story back to your home… and I’m going to hit you in the face with a little fact:

Your home is EXACTLY like your exercise program.

At some point your home will be sold. Realistically you’ll be selling it in 5-10 years. If not then, it’s when your kids move out. Or when it becomes too difficult to manage all those stairs. Or when 3000 square feet is too much.

The question is, what condition do you want your home to be in when you want to sell?

Do you want it in peak physical condition so you can get top dollar?

Or in good shape, so a little work over the course of a couple months can get you top dollar?

Or average so it looks like every other home out there? The ‘someone will buy it at some point’ condition.

Or with the bulging waistline, high cholesterol, maybe a little adult onset diabetes… The ‘better days were decades ago’ condition.

I know starting a program is difficult. I know that finding time can be difficult. I know that at times it’s going to cost more money than you may want to spend. I know that researching and finding the best program (updates) is better than blindly following anyone or thing and regretting it later.

But it’s important. Just like exercise can add years to your life, a proper program for your home can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line AND cause you significantly less stress as well.

And I know that you know that this is what the 10 years from now you really wants.

Now, I have to wrap this up and make a plan to hit the weights AND finish painting and installing the door trim I’ve been putting off.

What’s your plan?

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You may head off to college or join the military. But the goal was the same…to get away.

Life was simple. Get an education. Get a job. Live far, far away. Get married, have kids. See grandparents at Christmas.

But then, LIFE happens. And for many of us, you could say **** happens and have it mean the same thing.

We all have are own examples of ‘life happening.’

‘Life happening’ is causing an increase in homes being purchased with the express purpose of combining multiple generations under a single roof.

Lower rent/mortgage costs. Easier to find childcare. Easier to make sure grandma and grandpa are safe. Help with raising children in this crazy society. The list goes on…

The take away:

Buyers: do you foresee yourself taking care of grandparents? Will your new home support extra residents? Could the basement be remodeled?

Sellers: Could your home support a larger family? Do you have egress windows in the basement? If so, it becomes easier to market your home as having the potential for more bedrooms. Or a separate area/bedroom for extended family?

It can feel overwhelming with all the things you need to think about when buying or selling a home and adding more to your list is never fun. But being able to support a multi-generational family is another way to broaden your list of potential buyers.

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On paper it sounds like the perfect way to purchase your next home.

But there’s a problem. It can become quite expensive… Here’s how:

In a normal real estate transaction every seller fills out a Property Disclosure form. This is a bunch of questions asking the homeowner if they are aware of any major problems with their home. Water leaks, electrical issues etc. It behooves the homeowner to be honest in answering these questions because if it becomes apparent that they lied there can be repercussions for the homeowner.

Obviously with a foreclosure that homeowner does not own the home anymore, the bank does. And because the bank has not lived in the home they do not complete a Property Disclosure form.

That’s a hassle but not a deal breaker. It just means you have no background information as you begin your due diligence…

Next, as a Realtor I’m not allowed to do many things. One of which is to give legal advice. Another of which is to give advice on the status of the mechanicals of the home. The plumbing, electrical etc. I’m not a professional electrician or plumber. Nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn last night… My role is to handle the negotiations and contracts. The closing and legal transfer of title is then handled through your lender and a lawyer.

Lets back up for one second. In a normal situation the homeowner will do everything in their power to make sure the home is in the best possible condition to sell. In a foreclosure, the homeowner is beyond upset about losing their home and in many cases will damage and leave the home in worse condition than when they lived there. Often times the damage will go unnoticed by you and your real estate agent.

This leads you to hire a property inspector to thoroughly inspect the property from top to bottom looking for issues and things that need to be repaired.

So, the property inspector does their thing and finds a problem(s). One major issue is the electrical is not up to code. You get an estimate and find out that it will cost you upwards of $1000. And this is on top of you having to paint because many walls have scuff marks because the previous homeowners moved as fast as they could with no regard to damaging the home. Plus there’s a hole in the wall that needs to be fixed. You get the idea.

All of this adds up. Property Inspection + Electrical Upgrade + Other Fixes = More money than you’re comfortable paying out.

So you decide to pass on this home, but you’re now out the money you spent to have the property inspection and you’re no closer to finding your next home.

And that is how purchasing a foreclosure can become expensive.

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Staging. The next big thing in real estate. You’ve probably seen the TV show all about staging or this other one which more subtly works staging into the equation.

But it’s definitely not hocus-pocus.

You see pictures of a home or walk through a home and it just looks “Nice.” Your mood is happy. You can see yourself living there.

Lets back up a second. You know how you feel when a home doesn’t cut it… All you see are problems. Things to fix. Colors to change. Things to replace. Nothing works…

But if you feel good walking through a home. If the furnishings are top notch. If the colors work. If the rooms flow. If they make sense. And once this happens you stop looking for problems and start seeing all the good things the home has to offer.

And guess what? You’ve just experienced a properly staged home. Do you need to hire a professional stager to have your home looking its best? Absolutely not.

I’m definitely not an expert home stager, but I’m getting better. For some help from people a little more knowledgeable take a look at this article by FrontDoor.com entitled: Staging Secrets: How to Dress Your House for Success.

I wholeheartedly subscribe to staging your home when you sell. The easier you make it for buyers to want to live in your home the better your odds of receiving offers. Plus those offers are closer to your asking price. And that’s what you want, right?

Like what you’ve read? Subscribe to Wis. Rapids Real Estate School and have all posts delivered right to your email inbox.

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Following are two articles that are worth your time:

• Sellers how to make your house irresistible
• 7 tips to sell your home in a crowded market

My take:

The byline for the first article hits the nail on the head: “The longer your house sits on the market, the less cash it commands.” That’s it. If you have a number in your head of an offer you’d accept, you need to sell it quickly. No, it doesn’t have to be in a week. But 120 days is definitely too long. The longer it sits, the more concessions you’ll have to make.

You need to have your home ready to be lived in by someone else… to be sold right out of the selling gate. My suggestion: wait to have your home listed until you have it in the best shape possible. Remember: patience is a virtue.

Should a dark room be repainted? The carpet cleaned? By waiting a few days you may gain thousands of dollars because it shows well instantly.

Next, determine if there are other homes in your neighborhood for sale. This is key in determining the listing price for your home.

Do you want to price it lower than other homes in your neighborhood? That way if it comes down to just price for a buyer, you win.

Or do you price it according to the amenities in your home? Do you have upgraded counters? Cabinets? Finished basement?

That way if a buyer compares multiple homes they can plainly see why your home is priced higher. You’ll come out ahead in this situation if the buyer’s comparing more than just the price of each home.

But, the problem with this strategy is often times, because of our current economy, price is playing a larger role for buyers than in years past.

In the end, both you and I need to be comfortable with the listing price. Pricing is not rocket science and many times small things will go far. Be patient, take an honest look and proceed full-bore. Or something like that.

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I recently ran across this article posted at FrontDoor.com.

I found a few tips especially interesting:

• Research = Savings. They state “agents will almost always tell you the time to buy is now.” I agree. It seems to be either a great time to buy or a great time to sell… What can you do to sift through all the talk? They say to “look for average for sale time that the home is on the market and average selling prices.” I wonder where you can find local real estate information?
• Price your home correctly from the get-go. You may have a gut feeling about what your home is worth… But you must trust your agent. But, make sure your agent can back it up with comps from homes that have sold as well as currently on the market. Use these comps as part of your research… My thoughts on pricing: your home must be memorable in order to sell. If your home is memorable at $125,000 but ho-hum at $140,000…will it sell at $140,000?
• Looks do matter. The prettiest girls at the dance are the ones who get to choose. Improve your home so it’s move-in ready at the right price.

Still have questions? I have answers! Click here to see how easy it is to get the answers you need.

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Take a look. The presentation is just under 3:00 in length. It’s a fresh look at 10 proven tips to help get your home sold.

I’ve talked before about covering all the bases when marketing your home, it’s also important for you to have your home appeal to as many possible buyers as possible. This video will help.

Similarly, when you begin to think about selling your home it’s important to hire a Realtor with a strong marketing strategy in order to maximize your sale price while also minimizing the amount of time your home is for sale.

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As we move past the holiday season I want to encourage you to take a look at your real estate holdings.

Your home, your second home, your rental(s), or maybe the fact that you’re currently not a homeowner.

Why? Now may be an excellent time to jump into our real estate market. John Deininger, Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin executive director, recently stated:

Some people do understand that getting into the market right now, whether it’s in stock equities, or real estate; will allow them to find opportunities that may not exist in the future. It’s a great time to buy, and I predict people will look back at the opportunities that currently exist and regret sitting on their hands.

More confirmation: Currently the average days a home has been on the market in the entire Wisconsin Rapids area is 200. Compare that to the average of 135 days on the market for a home that sold during 2008.

What does that mean? Odds are the best homes will have sold before it’s been on the market for 200 days. If you’re a little creative, a little handy and take a blind eye to wallpaper and bold colors you can find your diamond in the rough.

Obviously you cannot predict the motivation of every Wisconsin Rapids home seller, but to me if my home has been on the market for 6+ months I’m a bit edgy and am willing to negotiate with buyers.

If you want to talk about taking advantage of these opportunities click here to contact me today. Now may be the best time of year to start your search–homes that are on the market have gone through the winter with very few showings, plus with spring coming more homes will start to come on the market.

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Selling your Wisconsin Rapids home during the holiday season brings with it many challenges. Not the least of which is how much holiday decorating should you do when your home is for sale?

It’s important to be as tasteful as possible with your decorations. Decorating your home for the holidays is very similar to staging your home when it initially went on the market.

Following is a list of simple, easy to implement ideas that will not only allow you to enjoy the holiday’s, but also to continue to market your home:

1. Add tasteful, generic decorations. Keep your decorations generic, simple and elegant. Think minimalist-”one wreath, one tree, one dining room centerpiece.” Also, be wary of using religious symbols.
2. Trade nonseasonal for seasonal decorations. Ballinger calls for trading one seasonal decoration for one nonseasonal decoration.
3. Don’t imitate Scrooge. Buyers are expecting to see some decorations… So indulge them.
4. Think green, metallic and white. Think classical and again, elegant. By staying away from the stereotypical reds and greens you’re making a positive lasting impression with buyers.
5. Remember the joy of entertaining. The holiday season is a very emotional time of year for many, stage your home so it looks inviting for a holiday party.
6. Be mindful of valuable gifts. Keep all expensive gifts and heirlooms out of view. Although, you’d like to trust everyone, it’s not worth losing your great grandmothers china or your daughter’s new iPod.
7. Keep decorations up for a limited time. Although most homeowners keep decorations up well into January or later (myself included) experts suggest keeping decorations up for two weeks prior to Christmas and two weeks after.
8. Add warmth and energy. Before you leave for a showing turn your Christmas lights on and start a fire. The Christmas lights will help illuminate your homes exterior and make it safer for buyers and agents.
9. Minimize smells. Think holiday aromas-baked goods and live greens. These smells are very calming…
10. Play soothing music. Experts say this is when you should stray from season selections. Instead choose favorites that are appealing year round.
11. Use timely marketing materials. Any marketing pictures that were obviously taken in the summer need to be swapped out. Why? It shows buyers that your home has been on the market for awhile.
12. Remember winters threat. Keep your walkways and driveways free and clear of all ice and snow.

These tips will help show your home in the best possible light this holiday season.

Read the full article: Rules for Tasteful Holiday Decor

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