November

November in Maine. Leaf season is pretty much over. Snow? It could come any day - or not. There is a lull between the leaf peepers and our holiday guests. The merchants are preparing their store fronts for the holiday shopping season. You see people in trucks wearing blaze orange. The community starts to think about basketball, frozen ponds and skiing. Night comes early. There is a sense of quiet.

Not so widely known is that late November is often a busy real estate month. Traditionally Jaret and Cohn's brokers are busy showing homes to real estate buyers during Fall. Why? Buyers and Sellers do not want to bother with moving when it is icy and snowy. If they put a property under contract in the Fall months then there is a great possibility that they can close and move into their property before the coldest of Maine's months.

FSBO...Not in this soft market

Many people calculate the commission they pay to a real estate agent and decide to explore other, cheaper ways to sell – primarily the For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO). Soft markets like we are in are the worst time for FSBO’s. With so many homes on the market it is more difficult for a FSBO to be seen, buyers are picker (and negotiate harder) and lending practices are tightened.

According to the National Association of REALTORS, fewer than 10% of FBSO are successful in completing a sale. Before you try to fly solo consider:

1. Do you have the resources, data and history to accurately price your home to sell?

2. If you fly solo, your home will not be listed in the Maine Multiple Listing Service (MLS), REALTOR.com or syndicated to countless websites. The MLS and REALTOR.com are the top sales tools for marketing your home. How can you compete with the homes that are being advertised on this level when the majority (90%) of buyers shop for homes online?

3. Do you have the time and schedule flexibility to show your home?

4. Can you separate your emotional attachment to your home in order to show it in a neutral objective manner?

5. How are your negotiating skills? Without the buffer of an agent, you will be dealing directly with the buyer’s negotiating strategy, pricing and views (opinions factual or otherwise) about your home.

6. Do you know what your legal requirements are and what information to share with the buyer?

7. Do you have the resources and information available to respond and mediate any problems that occur with the sale?

8. Do you understand all the forms, process and required paperwork?

9. Do you know the steps necessary to finalize the sale?

The reality is that if you want to get maximum value, exposure for your home and guidance it makes sense to hire a real estate agent. That's why many of those FSBOs yard signs are removed and replaced after a few weeks or months and list with a brokerage sign. We just hope it is a Jaret and Cohn sign...

Do you have oil stains on your garage floor?

Part of preparing your home for sale includes a good cleaning of your garage. We are often surprised at a few homeowners actually use their garages for vehicles....really! Most of the time they are filled with the toys that allow us to enjoy and recreate in Midcoast Maine - bikes, skis, power boats, muck boots, camping gear, fishing gear, kids toys...etc. If this sounds like you and all of these "toys" are located in the center of your garage floor, then its time to organize these items against the outer walls of the garage.

House construction supplies? Half used paint cans, extra lumber, extra building materials? Dispose of all the chemicals properly and remove any building materials that are not essential to the maintenance and/or competition of the property.

And if you are one of those lucky Mainers who can actually fit their car inside the garage and therefore never have to shovel snow of their car.... then back your car out and look at the garage floor. Is there an oil stain? If so it is time to try to clean it up. Here are a few tips for cleaning oil stains off a garage floor:

Make a paste out of dry laundry detergent and hot water and spread onto the stain. Scrub aggressively with stiff bristle brush. Hose off and let dry. Repeat if necessary.

• Apply kitty litter to the oil spill to soak up any puddles. Scoop up and dispose of.
• Make a paste out of dry laundry detergent and hot water. Spread onto stain. Scrub with bristle brush, hose off and repeat if necessary.
• Another option, try soaking with Spray and Wash and then covering with dry laundry detergent. Leave on for ten minutes, scrub and hose off.
• And if that does not work try oven cleaner.

It may sound like quite a bit of work to get your home ready to sell however it will pay off in the end. Not only will it make the property more appealing to buyers it will make your moving day more organized and easier!

Oil stain tips adapted for The Homeowner's Manual (Que Publishing 2006)

Price Well

When it's time to sell your home, it's very easy to be enticed to overprice your home. We all know that prices were at an all time high in 2006-2007 and that prices have dramatically taken a nose dive in the past few years.

It makes sense that you want to price your home above the fair market value. You may have purchased your home when prices are a high and don’t want to loose money. Or you may have made improvements that you hope to see a return on. However those factors don’t change the price a buyer is willing to pay or the amount an appraiser will value your home in today’s market.

Be careful in the pricing of your home, as you probably won't realize you are priced too high until after you suffer from a lack of showings and minimal interest.

People generally purchase buy by comparison shopping. They will look at the better “deals” first unless your home is so unique that it can not be compared to other properties.

Find out what homes are on the market at the same price level as yours. Do they have more features? Are they in a better location? Updated? The buyers will likely be attracted other homes at the same price if they will receive more home/value for the price.

Also, if you do find a buyer at your price, know that they buyer’s financing could fail because of a low appraisal. The appraiser must prove that the house meets a standard and price that justified by market conditions and sales history.

So what can you do insure your home will be shown and that your price will stand up to an appraisal? Work closely with an experienced Jaret and Cohn Broker who knows the market in your neighborhood and town. And strongly take into consideration market trends, comparable properties and the advice your real estate agent offers.

Deodorize your home for showings

You get a call from your real estate broker saying that a buyer wants to see your property but how does your home smell? Do you have pets? A diaper pail? Did you have lobster and extra onions for dinner last night? Buyers won’t linger around a home that smells unpleasant. Consider eliminating or avoid strong odors while your home is actively being shown.

Scented candles and deodorizing sprays are not pleasant to all people and some just temporarily mask the odors. Consider other natural or easy ways to freshen up your home.

• Put cut up orange or lemon in your garbage disposal and grind up lightly.
• Put dryer sheets in your clothes and linen closets
• Place a drop of vanilla extract on your range or your oven. Heat up & turn off.
• Bake brownies, bread, pie or cookies…
• Simmer a pot of water, cut up citrus and cloves on the stove.
• Place dried herbs/flowers like rosemary, lavender or sweet annie around the house.
• Fresh Flowers… this will make your house look extra wonderful.
• And season permitting… open the windows!

Give some thought to the foods that you cook the day before a showing. Try to avoid cooking heavily with potent foods such as garlic, onions and fish. Replace any damp or moist smelling towels with fresh towels. And don't forget to empty all your trash cans. Outside can smell also - clean up after your pet and make sure your trash receptacle is closed up tight.

Let’s get these home buyers to linger in your home and appreciate its’ great qualities.

We would love to hear your idea for deodorizing homes?

Now for the inside

Hopefully now the outside of your home has great curb appeal! It is now time to spruce up the inside of your home. Let's make certain that your home makes a lasting impression on potential buyers and their real estate brokers.

Understand that buyers are looking for a house and are not buying your decorating style, emotions towards the home or lifestyle. It is time to prepare your property so that it has a clean, clear appearance in which a buyer can envision their life within the bounds of your property.

• Remove personal items such as family photos and collections. Buyers need to imagine their items and not be distracted by wondering what type of people live there now.


• Ask your broker what the difference is between personal property and fixtures. If you want to take your chandelier or built in cabinet with you, then you should consider removing them prior to showing your property.


• Consider removing curtains that block natural light.


• Clean out your closets and organize them. This is a great time to get rid of those items you don't want to move!


• Minimize the number of items on your kitchen and bathroom counters.


• Make all minor repairs. Having a leaky faucet or a light that doesn't work suggests that you might not take good care of your property.


• Repaint any rooms that have a loud non-neutral color.


• Toilets... Close the lids for showings. If you have water with high iron/mineral contents use an iron out product and make those bowls their intended color.


• Removing extra furniture will make a room appear larger and will invite buyers to walk around and linger longer in each room.


• Consider renting a storage space. Get those extra boxes and pieces of furniture out of the house so that buyers can move around.


• And lastly, clean clean clean. Make every room sparkle.

If you have doubts about what to remove or update in your home to give your home greater appeal then ask your Jaret & Cohn Broker. Another option is to hire a professional stager to come in and make the changes for you. We can refer you to several Midcoast Maine home stagers and cleaners that can assist you. Just ask, we are happy to help.

First Impressions

You placed your house on the market. You want for it to sell fast, sell it for top dollar, and you want home buyers and real estate brokers to love your home enough to tell all their friends and colleagues about it.

Chances are potential buyers will drive by your home before they schedule an appointment to see the inside. Stand on the street and look at your property. What do buyers see?

Give your property greater curb appeal with these tips:

• Is your street number visible? Buyers need to see they are looking at the correct property.
• Mow and edge your lawn regularly. (Don't forget to take your for sale sign out of the ground before mowing.)
• During winter keep your walkways free of snow and ice.
• Trim any shrubs and trees that are blocking windows and architectural features. (Extra bonus - this will increase the natural light coming into your house.)
• Remove the weeds from any planted/landscaped garden areas.
• Keep your yard and drive free of debris, toys and trash. If you do not have outside storage, organize these items in a place out of street view.
• Repaint any peeling or flaking house trim.
• Sweep and/or wash porches, decks and walkways.
• Repaint, stain or weatherproof any tired steps, porches or decks.
• Place potted flowers, hanging pots or wreaths near your door to create an inviting and welcoming entry.

Lastly, ask your Jaret & Cohn real estate broker, friends and family to drive by your home. Ask them for any suggestions for ideas on how to make your home exterior showing ready. After all you want your property to give buyers a lasting first impression.