The Holidays are quickly approaching...I still can't believe Thanksgiving is a few days away. Here are some tips for selling your home and how to amp up your homes presence on the market during the Holiday Season.
Don't be discouraged..buyers looking at properties right now are serious buyers, so capitalize on that and make your home stand out. Will they remember your home after they have looked at 10 others in the same day (which I strongly suggest you NOT do). Check out my previous Blog posts on some quick and cheap tips you can do to get your home ready to sell.
3 essentials to selling your home:
1) Price
2) Shows well
3) Marketing - Find a great Agent and find out their marketing plan for your home.
Get all three of these and I guarantee you success. A great Agent is honest, so you might not like what they have to say, but their job is to sell your home, so trust in them.
Good luck!
Tracie
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Video of new Waterfront in Downtown West Palm Beach at the Green Market
Hi everyone...
Well, I wasn't able to get to all the great events in Palm Beach County that I mentioned in my last blog post because I worked a lot, but I was able to make it to the Green Market. I haven't been since it moved to the new Waterfront in downtown, West Palm Beach, so was very excited to check it out. I shot some video so everyone can see how beautiful it is. Such a great turnout with a lot more vendors than ever before. What I love about the new location is that you can grab a croissant and a cup of coffee and relax in the grass area to watch the boats or just people watch while you enjoy the beautiful weather. You can also bring the boat, the boat docs are FREE! It's so good seeing downtown West Palm Beach alive with energy again. Loved the cooler weather too, it gave me a chance to wear my new boots. Don't laugh..when you live in South Florida, you don't know when you will have the chance to wear the sweater and the boots!!
Well, I wasn't able to get to all the great events in Palm Beach County that I mentioned in my last blog post because I worked a lot, but I was able to make it to the Green Market. I haven't been since it moved to the new Waterfront in downtown, West Palm Beach, so was very excited to check it out. I shot some video so everyone can see how beautiful it is. Such a great turnout with a lot more vendors than ever before. What I love about the new location is that you can grab a croissant and a cup of coffee and relax in the grass area to watch the boats or just people watch while you enjoy the beautiful weather. You can also bring the boat, the boat docs are FREE! It's so good seeing downtown West Palm Beach alive with energy again. Loved the cooler weather too, it gave me a chance to wear my new boots. Don't laugh..when you live in South Florida, you don't know when you will have the chance to wear the sweater and the boots!!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tips From A Local Girl - Fun Things To Do In Palm Beach County This Weekend
Hi everyone, Very excited for all the happenings in Palm Beach County this weekend. One of the things I love about Palm Beach County is that there's always something going on. So, since I'm a Florida Native, I would give you some good ideas and a few tips as well.
This weekend on Nov 5th, 6th and 7th is the Feast of Little Italy in Abacoa in Jupiter, Florida. One of the best festivals in Palm Beach County, in my opinion, and with the great weather we are expecting this weekend, it will be the perfect time to get outside to enjoy the great food and beverages.
Another thing I LOVE to do on the weekends is the Green Market in downtown West Palm Beach. It's located on the new Waterfront. You can get farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, baked breads, pastries, plants and gorgeous flowers. It's on Saturday morning between 8:00-1:00 AM and it runs from October 16th thru April 23rd. TIP - Parking is FREE in the Banyan and Evernia parking garages. No need to spend more than you have to. Another TIP - DON'T GO EARLY. You can usually bargain down the items at the end of the market hours due to vendors wanting to get rid of what they have left. Also, it's pet friendly, so brig the poochie, I do and he loves it. Trust me, you will not be disappointed if you check this out.
Also something I'm really excited about this weekend is the FREE 1st Annual Palm Beach Art & Music Festival in Downtown West Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday from 4-11PM, November 6th. It will have local musicians, entertainers, and artists! This FREE event (no admittance fee) presented by Art Nouveau Events and the Downtown Development Authority will feature a showcase of art, crafts, food and beverage vendors, kids activity center, VIP area, live music & entertainment, fire dancers, and more according to their website.
With all the great musicians, art and food, you can't go wrong.
So, get out there and enjoy all the great festivals and markets this weekend and in return support your community and local artists. Plus with a few of my tips, you can keep a few more dollars in the wallet.
Follow me on Twitter using the logo below - I will have some pics and updates from the weekend!
Tracie Whillock
This weekend on Nov 5th, 6th and 7th is the Feast of Little Italy in Abacoa in Jupiter, Florida. One of the best festivals in Palm Beach County, in my opinion, and with the great weather we are expecting this weekend, it will be the perfect time to get outside to enjoy the great food and beverages.
Also something I'm really excited about this weekend is the FREE 1st Annual Palm Beach Art & Music Festival in Downtown West Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday from 4-11PM, November 6th. It will have local musicians, entertainers, and artists! This FREE event (no admittance fee) presented by Art Nouveau Events and the Downtown Development Authority will feature a showcase of art, crafts, food and beverage vendors, kids activity center, VIP area, live music & entertainment, fire dancers, and more according to their website.
So, get out there and enjoy all the great festivals and markets this weekend and in return support your community and local artists. Plus with a few of my tips, you can keep a few more dollars in the wallet.
Follow me on Twitter using the logo below - I will have some pics and updates from the weekend!
Tracie Whillock
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Do you want to sell your house or not?
Okay, let me just start by saying - I know sellers, especially in a short sale situation, don't want to shell out money for repairs or staging. But you can do some simple things to help sell your home without spending much money by following some simple steps and using some common sense.
I'm writing this in response to showing several properties to a client the other day. In the first home we were greeted by the owner, who proceeded to walk with us through room by room. Big NO NO!! Buyers do not want to see your home with the homeowner walking behind them, because it makes them feel uncomfortable and slows the process of going through the home. The second issue came when we couldn't even walk in two of the bedrooms, and because it was so cluttered, you couldn't even see the floor. Buyers want to see Real Estate, not clutter.
I'm still amazed when I run into these situations, so that leads to wonder, do they want to sell their home or not? I have listed some tips that require no money, just a little of your time, but well worth it!
1) Pick up toys or clutter and even remove magnets on the refrigerator. The less clutter and knickknacks you have lying around, the more potential buyers will be able to see your home and what it offers. Remember, you are selling your house, not your stuff. Plus, getting a head start on packing will eliminate some stress down the road.
2) If you can prepare for the showing, turn the lights on and open up the curtains and let the light shine in.
3) If your home has some minor repairs that need to be made, do it! Maybe some rooms just needs a fresh coat of paint, just keep it neutral.
4) Keep it clean - it doesn't take money to keep your clean and smelling good. Clean homes sell, trust me!
I'm writing this in response to showing several properties to a client the other day. In the first home we were greeted by the owner, who proceeded to walk with us through room by room. Big NO NO!! Buyers do not want to see your home with the homeowner walking behind them, because it makes them feel uncomfortable and slows the process of going through the home. The second issue came when we couldn't even walk in two of the bedrooms, and because it was so cluttered, you couldn't even see the floor. Buyers want to see Real Estate, not clutter.
I'm still amazed when I run into these situations, so that leads to wonder, do they want to sell their home or not? I have listed some tips that require no money, just a little of your time, but well worth it!
1) Pick up toys or clutter and even remove magnets on the refrigerator. The less clutter and knickknacks you have lying around, the more potential buyers will be able to see your home and what it offers. Remember, you are selling your house, not your stuff. Plus, getting a head start on packing will eliminate some stress down the road.
2) If you can prepare for the showing, turn the lights on and open up the curtains and let the light shine in.
3) If your home has some minor repairs that need to be made, do it! Maybe some rooms just needs a fresh coat of paint, just keep it neutral.
4) Keep it clean - it doesn't take money to keep your clean and smelling good. Clean homes sell, trust me!
5) If you have pets, especially large ones, take them out of the home for showings. The last thing a prospective buyer wants is to have a dog being aggressive or greeting them at the door with a slobbering dog.
Bottom line, it doesn't always take money, all it takes is some elbow grease, as my grandmother would say. So get out the broom and cleaning products and get to it. You don't want to give them any reason not to put in an offer.
Good luck!
Email: tracie@traciesellsflorida.com
Good luck!
Please take a moment to check out my website: www.traciesellsflorida.com
Tracie Whillock
Contact me:
Call or text (561) 376-0985 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (561) 376-0985 end_of_the_skype_highlightingEmail: tracie@traciesellsflorida.com
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
To Refinance or not to Refinance???
Not many homeowners are considering refinancing these days due to falling home values, but if you are one of the lucky ones, I'm sure you want to know your options. Mortgage rates are at record lows and some great tools have surfaced to help you decide if refinancing your home is an option. On bills.com, you can use their calculator to help, which will give you a "yes" or "no" answer. We all hate long forms and mid-way through we usually give up due to them asking so many questions. With this calculator, you just enter your current loans, goals for refinancing and your homes location, the New York Times reported.
The tool compares a user's current loan with refinancing options offered from lenders Bills.com works with that the user would qualify for, basing its answer on real-time feeds about these loans' rates and costs. The tool also shows users how much they would hypothetically save in payments and interest expenses by refinancing. [NYT]
Having this tool is great and I am a firm believer in knowing your options, especially in this economic time, but let's get down to the real issue here. Most homes don't have enough equity in them to refinance -worth less than the value of their mortgage. Due to the '05-'06 bubble, with the help of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with other federal subsidies, financed more than $1 trillion mortgages during that time. If you are one of the lucky homeowners that has the option to refinance, do your research.
The tool compares a user's current loan with refinancing options offered from lenders Bills.com works with that the user would qualify for, basing its answer on real-time feeds about these loans' rates and costs. The tool also shows users how much they would hypothetically save in payments and interest expenses by refinancing. [NYT]
Having this tool is great and I am a firm believer in knowing your options, especially in this economic time, but let's get down to the real issue here. Most homes don't have enough equity in them to refinance -worth less than the value of their mortgage. Due to the '05-'06 bubble, with the help of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with other federal subsidies, financed more than $1 trillion mortgages during that time. If you are one of the lucky homeowners that has the option to refinance, do your research.
Boynton Beach Home with the Biggest Price Drop of the Day!!!
Perry Avenue, in Boynton Beach, Florida is a three bedroom, three bath home and is the biggest price cut on Tuesday, September 14th, according to data from Condo Vultures Realty.
The $3 million Palm Beach County home was cut $900,000, or 23%. This 3,773 square-foot oceanfront home sits on 25,777 square foot lot. It came on the market in March and was listed for $3.9 million and today, it's listed at $2,999.00. Harvey Traub of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate has the listing.
What does this say about the Real Estate Market? The drastic price reduction since March is shocking. High end real estate has not been the untouchable, and this is a prime example.
The good news is - you can by a direct ocean front home at a drastically reduced price.
(Condo Vultures data includes condos and single-family home listings in the main metropolitan areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Key West that are priced at $1 million and above, and that include photographs. Listings are taken from the South Florida MLS.)
The $3 million Palm Beach County home was cut $900,000, or 23%. This 3,773 square-foot oceanfront home sits on 25,777 square foot lot. It came on the market in March and was listed for $3.9 million and today, it's listed at $2,999.00. Harvey Traub of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate has the listing.
What does this say about the Real Estate Market? The drastic price reduction since March is shocking. High end real estate has not been the untouchable, and this is a prime example.
The good news is - you can by a direct ocean front home at a drastically reduced price.
(Condo Vultures data includes condos and single-family home listings in the main metropolitan areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Key West that are priced at $1 million and above, and that include photographs. Listings are taken from the South Florida MLS.)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Welcome to my website and blog!
Hello everyone!
I want to welcome you to my new website and blog I've built to help me better connect with my friends, colleagues, clients, and followers. I'm looking forward to keeping my website updated and full of information news, articles, and resources that you can enjoy every week.
For my previous clients: I would like to say thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, and hope you've thoroughly enjoyed the professional services myself and my broker, Seawinds Realty, Inc., were able to provide to you, and I can't wait to serve you again!
For my prospective clients: I want to thank you for visiting my site as well! I'm here to serve you. I'm a real estate agent specializing in short sales and investment properties in West Palm Beach, Miami, Orlando, and every town and city in between. I'll work directly with you every step of the way whether your considering selling you home to avoid foreclosure, or are ready to make a purchase.
As always, if there is anything I can ever do for you or someone you know, please don't hesitate to email me at Tracie@Traciesellsflorida.com!
Thank again!
Tracie Whillock
I want to welcome you to my new website and blog I've built to help me better connect with my friends, colleagues, clients, and followers. I'm looking forward to keeping my website updated and full of information news, articles, and resources that you can enjoy every week.
For my previous clients: I would like to say thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, and hope you've thoroughly enjoyed the professional services myself and my broker, Seawinds Realty, Inc., were able to provide to you, and I can't wait to serve you again!
For my prospective clients: I want to thank you for visiting my site as well! I'm here to serve you. I'm a real estate agent specializing in short sales and investment properties in West Palm Beach, Miami, Orlando, and every town and city in between. I'll work directly with you every step of the way whether your considering selling you home to avoid foreclosure, or are ready to make a purchase.
As always, if there is anything I can ever do for you or someone you know, please don't hesitate to email me at Tracie@Traciesellsflorida.com!
Thank again!
Tracie Whillock
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