Friday, March 27, 2015

A Metairie Home Should Use Staging to Propel the Sale


Staging is to a Metairie home what packaging is to a supermarket product: a vital element that can supersede all others. Product managers rely on advertising and marketing efforts to create awareness among consumers, just as homeowners use their Realtor’s marketing know-how (the listing, web page, signage and all their other advertising initiatives) to bring Metairie prospects to the door. Then, just as well-designed, attractive packaging is what finally moves a product off the shelf, it is first-class staging that can transform casual lookers into Metairie home buyers.
The goal of staging is to draw observers in; to help them picture whether the property’s spaces have all the nuances of what in their own mind’s eye constitutes a welcoming home. Bottom-line studies continue to verify that, staged correctly, homes sell more quickly. Although there are few absolute staging dos and don’ts, (after all, staging is an art); we can point to a number of probably don’ts. They’re relatively easy to avoid:

Failing to Incorporate the Outside

No matter how beautiful a home is once you open the door, prospective home buyers want to be proud of their new Metairie digs. Even if it will be marketed as a fixer-upper, a welcoming exterior is always a welcome surprise. If, on the other hand, dirty windows, dry grass, and cracks in the sidewalk greet buyers, that first impression can be counted on to drive offer numbers in the wrong direction. Staging efforts need to encompass the whole enchilada!

Neglecting the Little Things

When it comes to staging, nothing is completely unimportant. Light fixtures, cabinet knobs, faucets, drawer pulls—even electric outlet covers—all contribute to the cumulative impression a Metairie home conveys. It doesn’t mean that every tiny detail needs to be replaced; only those that are conspicuously damaged or dirty need to get attention.

Failing to Capitalize on Natural Light

As photographers know, “It’s always all about the light!” The fewer dim corners, the better. Staging a home to accentuate its rooms’ natural light is important, and where needed, boosting with lamps and overheads.

Forgetting the Nooks and Crannies

Assume that prospects see everything. Before a showing, a last quick walk-through of the whole home is a good idea. Check for stray items that are out of place, and be sure all is properly swept and neatened.

Opting Not to Use a Professional Stager

If the whole prospect of diligent staging isn’t appealing, it makes good business sense to hand it over to a Metairie staging professional. Pro stagers see every detail with a trained eye, and work to create a rich atmosphere—not just a collection of rooms.

From a buyer’s first glance at your listing to its ultimate sale, each step of the way is an opportunity to propel the process. The first one of those steps is choosing the Metairie Realtor® who will add energy and expertise to the campaign: I hope you’ll consider me!






The culture of our city has so much to offer... Love our city, New Orleans.



Questions about buying or selling a home?
Call Terez B. Harris 
504.297.2619





View Homes For Sale in Metairie
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Terez B. Harris
Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group
(504)297-2619
www.TerezHarris.com
TerezHarris@kw.com










      




Terez B. Harris   Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group   504-297-2619   www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100
Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.





Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Filming near Keller Williams Realty New Orleans


There is a little Hollywood action going on just a few doors down from our Keller Williams Realty office in Uptown New Orleans....

As most of us were leaving the office yesterday evening near the river bend, we caught a glance of the full scale production taking place just down the street from our office! 

There was what looked like a small village of people gathered around this shotgun house on Leonidas. 

This is just another reminder that the culture and character of this beautiful city draws not only the attention of buyers anxiously awaiting their opportunity to live here, but also provides a rich canvas for film makers and TV producers!

Homes For Sale in Uptown New Orleans

We suspect that this may be the newest set for upcoming episodes of NCIS New Orleans. Keep an eye out and let us know if you think you may have spotted this home on the show! 
Terez B. Harris 504-297-2619










The culture of our city has so much to offer... Love our city, New Orleans.



Questions about buying or selling a home?
Call Terez B. Harris 
504.297.2619





View Homes For Sale in Metairie
View Homes For Sale in New Orleans





Terez B. Harris
Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group
(504)297-2619
www.TerezHarris.com
TerezHarris@kw.com










      




Terez B. Harris   Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group   504-297-2619   www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100
Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.







Monday, March 23, 2015

Flipping Metairie Real Estate vs. Buy-and-Hold


When you own the Metairie home your family lives in, you are by definition a real estate investor: it comes with the turf. Your investment is essentially a passive one. Until the day you decide to sell and move on, any improvement in its value is secondary to how well it serves to shelter your family.
How you think about your investment—and how you proceed to manage it—is altogether different when you buy an Metairie home purely as a financial venture. For one thing, you face an immediate strategic decision: will you be flipping for a quick short-term profit, or aim for the long term through a buy-and-hold strategy? You have to weigh some pros and cons in order to make the right decision.                         Home Trends Report

Flipping
Pro: Capital is Freed
A flipping strategy minimizes the amount of time your investment capital is committed, freeing it for other uses. Should you identify another potentially lucrative investment, you will be able to take advantage of it.                                            Smart Home Price

Con: Unexpected Challenges
While flipping for short-term profit has definite ‘hands-on’ appeal, first-time investors can be surprised by unexpected complications. Properties that appear to be undervalued (and ripe for a quick flip!) may require costly fixes. Overspending on renovations quickly eats into profits, but underspending can lead to a lengthier holding time. Experienced Metairie flipping veterans have learned to successfully gauge a property’s true turnaround value.                                                                                               7 Seller Tips for 2015

Additional Consideration: Taxes
Metairie flipping has tax implications that impact the bottom line. Profits from a property owned more than a year are generally taxed at the ordinary income tax rate, while a property held for less than a year may be taxed at the capital gains rate. Local and state tariffs need to be considered as well—this is where input from a qualified professional is important.
Buy-and-Hold
Pro: Passive Investment
If management is outsourced to a professional property manager, the buy-and-hold strategy will require less personal attention than flipping does. Preparing a property for a flip often involves considerable time commitment and adept contractor schedule-juggling.

Con: Management Costs
The passive investment advantage holds true if outside management is contemplated— with commensurate expense. If you enjoy the challenge of successfully managing a property, this negative doesn’t apply.

Pro: Fewer Properties Need To Be Identified

Ultimately, successfully executing a flipping strategy means scrutinizing a huge number of properties over the course of time. In contrast, a buy-and-hold strategy necessitates finding only a few great bargains. Pursued intelligently, both buy-and-hold and quick flip strategies have proved profitable for many investors. Both call for finding solid value in Metairie properties—which is where giving me a call comes in!






The culture of our city has so much to offer... Love our city, New Orleans.



Questions about buying or selling a home?
Call Terez B. Harris 
504.297.2619





View Homes For Sale in Metairie
View Homes For Sale in New Orleans





Terez B. Harris
Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group
(504)297-2619
www.TerezHarris.com
TerezHarris@kw.com










      




Terez B. Harris   Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group   504-297-2619   www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100
Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.







Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Skeletons in Your Metairie House for Sale’s Closet? Fear Not!


Would you buy a house where someone died? Would it make a difference if the death was peaceful or…otherwise?

You might never have considered such questions, but the answers can become a serious issue for a Metairie house for sale—especially if it has a history that could be right out of a CSI episode. And what if you are the owner of a Metairie house for sale with this kind of issue? It may be labeled as stigmatized—the unpleasant term that can attach to a house for sale which buyers or tenants may shun for reasons unrelated to its physical condition.
It’s a good thing that the list of potentially disturbing events isn’t a long one: death; murder; suicide; scary illness; being haunted (rather, the belief that it’s haunted—let’s not get into that discussion!). An owner might have known of a sketchy history when he or she purchased the property, or perhaps found out later on. The information may not have made a difference before, but it could impact the number of prospects who will make offers on a house for sale—in Metairie(or anywhere, for that matter). What to do?
                                                                                      Smart Home Price

Selling for the Right Price

What of happenings that are simply gruesome? Another property in California's Bay Area had a grisly past involving drugs, murder and other heinous activities. This was a stylish home in an affluent neighborhood which sat empty while other comparable homes for sale came and went. Then one day a young businesswoman made an offer well below the asking price. The bank that owned the property had a list price of $335,000, already below values in the area. After negotiation, the buyer bought the home for $261,000. She saw past the horrific story to the potential that it offered to someone not affected by the drama of days gone by. And probably counted on the fact that her remodeling efforts—plus the many years she planned on living there—would make future buyers much less likely to worry about what would gradually turn into a distant past.

Telling the Right Story

One otherwise quaint home in a western small town was widely reputed to host paranormal activity. The stories of what previous owners had faced from ghosts of the past were widespread enough that even non-believers might think twice about taking it on. For some properties, it is just a matter of putting the right spin on the story. Events that took place decades ago often bring allure to a property—while more recent activities may cause buyers to hesitate. The Realtor® took the ‘problem’ head-on by making the most of it, figuring that a good ghost story could add to the appeal if it was marketed correctly. It sold at a premium.

The takeaway: if you have a Metairie house for sale that’s connected to a sad, tragic or paranormal history, don't assume the worst. Some ‘stigmas’ may mean a sale takes more careful handling (but that’s just one more reason why a call to my office is a good first step). With the right story and the right price, you’re pretty certain to find the right buyer—one who either overlooks the past, or is fascinated by it!





The culture of our city has so much to offer... Love our city, New Orleans.



Questions about buying or selling a home?
Call Terez B. Harris 
504.297.2619





View Homes For Sale in Metairie
View Homes For Sale in New Orleans





Terez B. Harris
Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group
(504)297-2619
www.TerezHarris.com
TerezHarris@kw.com










      




Terez B. Harris   Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group   504-297-2619   www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100
Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.