Are you getting your home ready to list it for sale?  Preparing to sell a home in West Chester, Liberty Township or Beckett Ridge can be an overwhelming task if you are not prepared.  The process of getting your home ready can be simplified by breaking the areas of your home up into groups. 

In my previous post, >>Preparing Your Home To Sell, we covered Curb Appeal, Front Entry / Porch & Landscaping.  Today we will cover your first impression (interior, foyer).  When selling your home in today’s real estate market it is critical that the first impression that homebuyers have of your home is a welcoming one.  A welcoming space is one that invites the homebuyer in and lures them into the rest of the house.

Many times homeowners don’t even come and go through their front door and thus don’t place a great enough emphasis on this area of the home.  This is the area of the home that starts off the showing for the homebuyer and this is where they begin to anticipate the rest of the house.

The homebuyer needs to be able to envision themselves in your home, so this is definitely an area of a home listed for sale that should have all personal effects, photos and clutter removed.  Generally speaking, any furniture that is located in this area should be removed with the exception of a properly sized foyer table.  Be sure that there are no pieces of furniture or babygates blocking the path or view from the foyer in the rest of your home.

Be sure to de-clutter your foyer closet.  A full and cluttered foyer closet simply tells homebuyers that you are short on closet space.  The foyer closet should not be more than half full.  Store unused and seasonal coats in plastic tubs in a storage area away from the living spaces of your home.

All personal/family photos should be removed from the foyer area.  If your foyer has a space that you feel needs decorating consider a mirror instead of photos.

The foyer paint color should be neutral and an earth tone.  Under no circumstances should your foyer have wallpaper on the walls.

As buyers enter your home, the scent that they smell must be clean and very subtle.  The use of candles or spray air freshener is not recommended.  Many homebuyers can have adverse reactions to these strong smells and in some cases may actually wonder what it is you are trying to cover up.

We have now created a great first impression for homebuyers as you continue preparing your home for sale in today’s real estate market.  In the next post in this series of articles we’ll cover Living Room, Dining Room, Family Room & Study.

Read the first article in this series here >>  Preparing Your Home For Sale In Today’s Market Part I

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My Newest Listing…

 

8090 South Port Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069

West Chester, Ohio 45069

Lakota Schools

$214,900  - Four Bedrooms - Two Full Baths, One Half Bath

This is a terrific two story home in West Chester, Ohio:

• Two Story Foyer!
• Kitchen Features Hardwood Floors, Pantry & Breakfast Nook 
• Warm, Inviting Family Room w/ Gas Fireplace 
• Large Finished Lower Level 
• Cathedral Master w/ Adjoining Bath
• Formal Dining Room
• First Floor Laundry
• Community Walking Trails
• Close To Schools, Shopping & Expressways

Click here to see more information on this terrific West Chester, Ohio home for sale including many more photos

Moving to West Chester, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

My Newest Listing…

 

5722 Blackfoot Court, Fairfield Township, Ohio 45011

Fairfield Township, Ohio 45069

Fairfield Schools

$237,500  - Four Bedrooms - Two Full Baths, One Half Bath

This is a terrific two story home in Fairfield Township, Ohio:

• First Floor Master!
• Large Wooded Cul-de-Sac Lot
• Cathedral Family Room w/ Gas Fireplace 
• Island Kitchen w/ Pantry, Planning Desk & Breakfast Nook 
• Open Two Story Foyer
• Formal Dining Room
• First Floor Laundry
• Three Car Garage
• Large Deck – Great For Entertaining

Click here to see more information on this terrific Fairfield Township, Ohio home for sale including many more photos

Moving to Fairfield Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

My Newest Listing…

 

6636 Eagle Creek Drive, Liberty Township, Ohio 45011

Liberty Township, Ohio 45011

Lakota Schools

$274,900  - Four Bedrooms - Two Full Baths, One Half Bath

This is a terrific two story home in Liberty Township, Ohio:

• Custom Built Home!
• Two Story Foyer And Great Room
• Large Island Kitchen
• 1st Floor Study w/ Oak Panels & French Doors
• Beautiful Stone Fireplace In Great Room
• Large Master Bedroom w/ Sitting Area, Fireplace, Luxury Bath & Huge W/I Closet
• Walkout Lower Level
• Three Seasons Room Overlooks Rear Yard
• Very Nice Rear Yard w/ Large Trees
• Three Car Garage
• One Year Home Warranty
• New Roof In 2008
• Newer Furnace & AC
• Close To Schools, Shopping, Dining & Expressways!

Click here to see more information on this terrific West Chester, Ohio home for sale including many more photos

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

My Newest Listing…

 

7763 Tylers Reserve Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069

West Chester, Ohio 45069

Lakota Schools

$365,000  - Four Bedrooms - Three Full Baths, One Half Bath

This is a terrific two story home in West Chester, Ohio:

• Located In A Pool Community!
• Tree lined wooded lot
• Beautiful patio setting – perfect for entertaining
• Former Zicka Walker model home 
• Cathedral Family Room w/ Fireplace
• Large Island Kitchen w/ Breakfast Bay
• First Floor Study w/ Hardwood Floors
• Formal Dining & Living Rooms
• Cathedral Master w/ Luxury Bath
• Finished Lower w/ Full Bath
• Three Car Garage
• Close To Schools, Shopping, Dining & Expressways!

Click here to see more information on this terrific West Chester, Ohio home for sale including many more photos

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

Here are a couple of articles to start off your Monday:

Smart Money Magazine recently published this article titled 10 Mistakes First Time Homebuyers Make. It’s a pretty good article, worth reading if you are a 1st time homebuyer.  Here is more information on the $8000 tax credit for 1st Time Homebuyers.

An article in the Cincinnati Enquirer today touches on the growing trend of short sales in real estate.  They are a little late to the story here and the article is not very informative to someone struggling to make their payments or needing to sell and owing more than the house is worth, but you can read the article here:

Cincinnati Enquirer Short Sale Article.

You can also read my previous post on short sales here.

Wondering about the value of your home in today’s market?  Request a Free Market Analysis.
 
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posted by Eric Lowry
Email Me | Search For Homes
www.LowryTeam.com | P: (513) 874-1830

Why Buy a Home Now??

If you’re renting and wondering if you should buy a home, consider what bestselling author, David Bach, says, “The average homeowner is worth 35 times more than the average renter.”

He advises renters to take action immediately and start saving part of their paycheck every month to help accumulate a down payment. He also encourages renters to borrow 10-20 percent less than what the bank is willing to lend; that way they’re only buying as much home as they can afford.

The longer you rent, the longer it may take you to eventually get into homeownership. If the market conditions have scared you, perhaps you’re not looking at the other side of the coin. Owning a home becomes part of your investment portfolio, provides tax benefits, allows you to build equity (it still exists), and, if you buy now, you may get an excellent deal.

According to a MarketWatch news article, buying a home now can provide some real negotiating power to request improvements, price reductions, help with closing costs, and more. “People can get a lot of what they need and almost all of what they want today,” said Jay Papasan, one of the authors of “Your First Home”.

The historically low interest rates that we are currently enjoying make buying a home especially compelling roght now.  A 30 year fixed rate mortgage is 4.90% with no points as of today!

While poor market conditions have created a troubling situation for some homeowners, the downturn has made the buying market ripe for others. The affordability of homes is better than ever. The National Association of Realtors’ housing affordability index concluded that homes in December of 2008 were more affordable than at any other point since 1970 (the start of the index). And with numerous foreclosures on the market and prices dropping in many areas, now is a good time to buy. But in order to make your purchase profitable, here are some things you should consider…

To read the entire article in my monthly real estate newsletter click here!

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

You can subscribe to my blog via RSS.  Click here to subscribe via a feed or receive a subscription via e-mail!  Either way click the orange RSS options at the top of the page.  Of course, I never rent or sell your e-mail address… I don’t even know what it is, I never see it.

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

It’s time to take a look at how January 2009 home sales compared to January 2008.

With regard to sales, in January 2008 58 units were sold vs. 55 units in January 2009.  This represents a decrease of just 5.17%.  I say “just” because today the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors reported sales being down 19.29% (unit sales) for the Greater Cincinnati area. So being only down 5.17% for the West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio real estate market feels like a victory!!

The average sale price for January 2008 was down 8.02% compared to the same period in 2009.  As you can see in the table below, the average sale price in January 2008 was $219,688 compared to $202,077 in 2009.  For there to be a stabilization of home prices and then at some point a return of appreciation, we will need to see a smaller supply of homes available for sale.  In many of the price ranges there remains a significant oversupply.  The average sale price was down 18.49% in January 2009 when compared to January 2008 for the Greater Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors.

 Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

You can subscribe to my blog via RSS.  Click here to subscribe via a feed or receive a subscription via e-mail!  Either way click the orange RSS options at the top of the page.  Of course, I never rent or sell your e-mail address… I don’t even know what it is, I never see it.

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

♦Everyone it seems is interested in foreclosure and short sale properties.  Well how about this deal:

Bridgewater Falls sheriff sale planned

The sale is planned for March 5th according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.  It should be noted that the shopping complex is continuing to operate business as usual.

♦Homearama 2009 has been delayed until September this year.  The show featuring the finest luxury homes in the area has normally been held in June each year.  Several weeks ago the Cincinnati Home Builders Association annouced that the show had been delayed by the economy.  Read the full story regarding the Homearama 2009 here.

The price point of the homes built will be between $550,000 and $950,000.  Homebuilders that have committed to the show so far are: The Drees Company, Fischer Homes, John Henry Homes, Pendragon Homes and Summit Custom Homes.  More details on the luxury home show can be found in this article.

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

You can subscribe to my blog via RSS.  Click here to subscribe via a feed or receive a subscription via e-mail!  Either way click the orange RSS options at the top of the page.  Of course, I never rent or sell your e-mail address… I don’t even know what it is, I never see it.

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

As I mentioned in my previous post on the West Chester real estate market, the last three months have been very turbulent.  There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the availability of mortgages for buyers and in the financial markets in general.  I can say with absolute certainty however,  that if you are thinking about buying a home, whether it is new construction or an existing home, the opportunities are terrific with regard to the home prices and there is no question about the ability to get a mortgage, the money is out there!

Today we will take a look at how the Liberty Township, Oh real estate market fared in the last three months of 2008.  The West Chester and Liberty Township markets are very connected and to many folks would be considered one and the same.  They share the same school district (Lakota Schools) and are geographically adjacent.   However breaking them down a little gives us better detail of just what has been going on.