Archive for the 'Tips for Sellers' Category

Granite Counters Emitting Radon in Tampa Homes?

August 11th, 2008 categories: Tampa Real Estate, South Tampa, Home Inspection Tips, Tips for Sellers, Tampa Home Buyer Tips

There’s been a lot reported in the media recently regarding the fact that some granite counter tops may emit radon at a level that could be hazardous to one’s health. Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause cancer. The gas occurs naturally in the ground as uranium in the soil is broken down. The EPA says that 1 in 15 homes in the USA has an “elevated” level of radon. Now the news that granite counters may be adding to radon levels in some homes.

So if you’re a Tampa homebuyer, here’s what you should know:

• Buyers usually have the right to test for radon during the home inspection period. The contract that we use with our buyer clients gives them the right to inspect for radon, and cancel the purchase agreement if radon is found at a level that exceeds EPA standards. The buyer can also ask the seller to have the problem corrected.
• Many home inspectors also offer radon testing.
• There are certain areas of Hillsborough County where radon sometimes exceeds EPA standards (according to a radon specialist with whom I spoke)

As for the granite, it’s everywhere these days. Most new homes have it, many older homes have it as well. Most buyers I work with want it. And since most buyers want it, many home sellers update their kitchens and baths with granite in preparation for selling. Personally, I’m tired of seeing it. There are some great alternatives to granite these days, always has been really. Tile, Corian, Silestone, laminates, etc. My kitchen is certainly in need of an upgrade. The previous homeowner’s choices were not timeless unfortunately. One look at my kitchen and the 80’s instantly are recalled.

But my next choice will most likely be concrete. I haven’t heard about any hazardous gasses related to concrete, and the design options are endless.  My wife and I have long had our eyes on a custom terrazzo pattern (below) by Tampa custom countertop designer Jeff Downing. Check out Jeff’s site:

Radon Info:

EPA Radon Guide for Home Sellers and Buyers
Certified Florida Radon Specialists

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | No Comments »

The Benefits of Staging Tampa Homes For Sale

July 29th, 2008 categories: South Tampa, Tips for Sellers

In a recent post I mentioned that homes that are best prepared for sale are the ones most likely to find a buyer quickly. Price is most important, but if you want to maximize price, you better prepare adequately. Staging is the term most often used these days when referring to preparing a home for sale. The way a home is packaged and presented to buyers goes a long way in determining how well it will appeal to buyers, and how quickly it will sell. It is very important to prepare a home so that it will appeal to a broad audience of potential buyers.

Just like any other product for sale, a target group of prospective buyers must be identified, and then the home must be prepared and packaged to best appeal to that target group of potential buyers. As one professional stager that we work with says, “the way you live in your home and the way we market and sell your house are two different things”. You want to minimize the things that may turn buyers away, and maximize the things that appeal most to most buyers.

Let’s face it, a home can be sold at any price if a seller is not focused on the highest and best price. But for those who are looking for the best price (most sellers), the effort and expense in staging is usually well worth it. Homes that are prepared best sell faster. Homes that sell fast sell for more, generally speaking. There are only so many buyers out there. Appealing to more of them gives sellers a better chance to sell faster, and for more $$. The importance of preparing a home for sale can’t be overstated.

For more information on home staging visit StagedHomes.com

Questions about the market? Contact us.

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | No Comments »

How Long Will It Take To Find A Buyer?

July 28th, 2008 categories: South Tampa, Tampa Market Conditions, Tips for Sellers

I was speaking with a prospective seller client recently and she asked the question that most, if not all, seller’s ask. “How long is it taking to sell a home?” The way that I answer this question is to look at homes in the same neighborhood that have either recently sold or are under contract (pending). Our MLS has a statistic called Days To Contract, which is a measure of the days that the home was listed for sale until going under contract. Of course the numbers are widely ranging, but we can focus on the median as a gauge of how long it will take.

The homes that go under contract quickly are either prime properties or are homes priced where buyers see value, or some combination of both. The ones that take longer to sell most likley had to go through a number of price reductions to find the sweet spot, where buyers saw value. Or maybe the right buyer just had to enter the market. The properties that are overpriced or are not prepared correctly prior to being placed on the market are the ones that are still on the market, expired or withdrawn from the market.

So here are some numbers to consider. For the single family homes in Tampa that are under contract currently, here is what we know:

• Total Number of Pending Single Family Homes: 828 (Yes buyers are buying!)
• Median Days to Contract: 55
• Maximum Days to Contract 492 (That’s a patient seller)
• Minimum Days to Contract: 2 (Does that still happen?)
• Median List Price: $189,000
• High Price: $2,100,000
• Low Price: $22,900
• MLS Grid with the most pending properties: WJ17 (Palma Ceia Area)

The answer to “how long” depends on a number of factors including how many buyers are currently in the market, property condition, property type, LOCATION, etc. The one thing sellers have the most control over is the preparation of the property in anticipation of placing it on the market for sale. Those who prepare best and price best are rewarded with a relatively low Days to Contract.

Considering a sale? A purchase? Both? Call us: 813-205-1802

Enter your email address to subscribe to Tampa real estate information and market updates: Delivered by FeedBurner

or subscribe using RSS!

Data used is from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, all brokers/agents included, and does not include private-non brokered properties for sale.

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | No Comments »

MLS Market Snapshot Shows Tampa Real Estate Market Conditions

April 30th, 2008 categories: Tampa Market Conditions, Tips for Sellers, Tampa Home Buyer Tips

Do you see the Market Snapshot form over there in the right hand column? The Market Snapshot is a great tool for Tampa home buyers or sellers to keep tabs on what’s for sale, and on what’s selling in any Tampa neighborhood. And what’s best about this tool is that it automatically sends you an updated report every six weeks, or for whatever time period you select.

The report, sent by e-mail, shows active listings, recent sales, asking prices vs. selling prices, and other data that help Tampa home buyers and sellers understand the local market. You can select a zip code, or better yet, click the zip code lookup and just just select a spot on the map in which to center your reports.

The data we use on the Market Snapshot is imported directly from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, the database of all brokered listings and sales. Good stuff. Give it a try, or, contact us and we’d be happy to set it up for you and answer any questions about the market, your home’s value, specific neighborhoods, etc.

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | No Comments »

Pent Up Demand About To Be Being Released?

April 10th, 2008 categories: Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Florida Real Estate, Tampa Market Conditions, Tips for Sellers

Spring has sprung and along with it so has buyer traffic. From my perspective as well as the perspective of other Realtors, buyer traffic is way up. Listings are getting much more attention in recent weeks, website traffic and inquiries are way up as well. But the ultimate gauge of activity and demand as I see it is the amount of pending sales out there. Yep, that’s up too.

More importantly, the gap between listings and pendings, my measures of supply and demand, is trending tighter. Sure, ’tis the spring season and we expect this to be the case. But with the last 2 years of price corrections and sales declines, many would-be buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines are beginning to hop of the bench and move forward.

So I’ll be keeping a close eye on the number of pending contracts in the City of Tampa to see if all this traffic is converted to more listings being sold. If you can get the financing or have the cash, it’s great to be a home buyer in Tampa. And if you’ve been considering a sale, we are approaching the busy season.

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | No Comments »

« Previous Entries

Next Entries »

Also Noteworthy

How's The Market In Your Neighborhood?

 

What I'm Reading:

• FloridaFoodHound
• Tampa Bay Rays Blog
• Sticks of Fire
• Funny Stuff
• Get Your Grill On
• Retro Renovation
• Atomic Addiction

Real Estate Blogs

• Real Estate Blog Directory