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PRIVATE WELLS IN DOOR COUNTY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Tuesday, May 13, 2014
by Connie Erickson
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PRIVATE WELLS IN DOOR COUNTY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN BUYING AND SELLING DOOR COUNTY REAL ESTATE!

The Door County Addendum A to the Offer to Purchase addresses the conformance or nonconformance of the well servicing the subject property.  The Addendum asks a WI licensed plumber to determine if the well is up to conformance at the time of installation.

If there are repairs or work that needs to be done to bring the well up to conformance, if is usually the Seller’s responsibility to have the plumber do that prior to a sale.

Many times, the nonconformance relates to the casing, which needs to be extended 12’’ above the ground.  Sometimes a new vermin proof cap is necessary to install.  There are other things that are necessary also, and if the plumber can perform the tasks, the well is brought up to conformance.

If it can’t be brought up to conformance, it is my understanding that it may continue to exist in its nonconforming state until the first time it must be repaired.  If the plumber visits the site, and he sees that the well cannot be repaired, the nonconformance must be reported and disclosed to the DNR.  At that time, the well may have to be abandoned and a new well dug.

Selling Tip #5 - Yard Facts

Tuesday, April 29, 2014
by Connie Erickson
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SELLING TIP #5
YARD FACTS

 

 

92% of all properties are sold from the CURB.  The front of your home immediately reflects the inside condition of your house to the buyers.  If there is no curb appeal, the buyers will drive right by the house and go to look and buy another house.

It is important that the house can be seen from the street, so you need to make sure that the trees and bushes are trimmed so the house can be seen from the street.  You need to have the grass mowed, trimmed and edged, and if there an inordinate amount of weeds, you need to do something to get rid of them.  Plant flowers to give the yard some color and appeal.  Walkways should always be swept and the debris cleaned away.  Remove parked cars.  If there are parked cars in the driveway, you see the cars and not the house.  Removing them adds to curb appeal.  If the buyer does not like the outside of the house.  I guarantee you that the buyer will simply drive by.  Another factor in a good presentation is cleaning the windows inside and out.  Few sellers do this, and it makes a huge impression not only attention that the seller is giving to the house, but allowing more light into the home which is always a good benefit.

Selling Tip #4 - Paint and Carpet Fact

Tuesday, April 22, 2014
by Connie Erickson
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Selling Tip #4


Paint and Carpet Fact

 

 

Paint is the best improvement that you can make for getting a good return on your money for a small amount of investment.  A freshly painted home smells clean and looks neat.  Also, color is in style at this time. 

If your house has chipped paint, exposed wood, or the paint looks faded, it is time to do something about it.  If your carpet is worn, dirty or outdated or an unusual color, you need to seriously consider replacing it.  Many sellers will say that they do not want to replace it, because they, as sellers, will choose something the buyers do not want.  This cannot be further from the truth, get rid of the old and update with the new.  Giving an allowance does not work.

Buyers choose to buy or not buy based upon just what you show them in your home.  They don’t pay top dollars for possibilities.  They simply buy elsewhere. 

If painting is not necessary in your home, then usually, touch up is necessary.  Look for the areas where there are nicks in the wall or black marks where something has hit against the wall.  Paint over those areas, so the whole house looks brand new. 

Selling Tip #3 - Access and Showing Facts

Tuesday, April 15, 2014
by Connie Erickson
​       Access and Showings Facts

Top selling agents will not show your home if the key and access to your home is not readily available.  Lock box entrances are key to your success.

Imagine having to drive all over Door County to pick up keys and then having to drop them off at the real estate offices after the showing occurred.  REALTORS do not want to do this, they want to show and sell houses.  The greatest way to show a house is to have your agent install and electronic lockbox for easy access to the property. 

While some agents guarantee that they will be present for all the showings, in most cases, this is not necessary.  What is necessary is to prepare the house for sale, and select a good REALTOR whose knows the ins and outs of making the property easy to show. 

When you property is being shown please do the following:  Keep all the lights on.  Don’t worry if the REALTOR turns them off after the viewing, you want the REALTOR to focus on the buyers who are previewing the house, not running around turning the lights off.   Keep all drapes and shutters open at all times.  I cannot tell you how many houses I walk into where they lights are not keys on (they are shut off at the electrical box) and every drape is closed.  Therefore, the REALTOR goes into every room to turn on the lights and open the drapes.  By this time, the buyers have looked at the house by themselves and are ready to leave.  It really helps to leave soft music playing and it is imperative that you leave the house with your children and your pets.  The worst thing you can do is be present during the showing.

And lastly, let the buyers be at ease and let the agents do their job.  There is nothing that a REALTOR dislikes more than having the sellers follow them around during the showing, let go of everything, and let the real estate agents do what they are being paid to do.

5 Facts That Determine Whether Your Property Sits or Sells

Tuesday, April 1, 2014
by Connie Erickson
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The 5 Facts That Determine Whether Your Property Sits or Sells:

While I have discussed pricing before, there is nothing more important than correct pricing.  I can take the property in the worst condition, in the worst location, and keep reducing the price.  I guarantee, eventually, that it will sell.

Study after study shows that the longer a property stays on the market, the less the Seller will net.  The property becomes shop worn, and REALTORS pay little attention to it.  While the Door County Market is still a buyer’s market, it is more important to price your property at a competitive market value at the time that you sign the Listing Agreement.  Because the second home buyer has less motivation to sell (they never had to buy), often times this is not what is done at the initial placing of the property on the market.

Correct pricing can becomes so competitive, that if you overprice by even a few dollars, it will mean that your property will sits and not sell.  Additionally, your first offer is always your best offer.  I cannot tell you, how many times in my 30 year career, that this has been demonstrated over and over again.

An overpriced property minimizes offers, lowers agent response, limits qualified buyers, lowers showings, lowers prospects, limits financing, waste advertising, waste marketing dollars, and nets less for the seller.

MARKING TO OTHER AGENTS AS IMPORTANT AS MARKETING TO THE PUBLIC!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014
by Connie Erickson
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MARKETING TO OTHER AGENTS AS IMPORTANT AS MARKETING TO THE PUBLIC!

As the listing agent, I may not always be the one who brings the buyer to the table, but I will be the reason the property sells!  When marketing property, I always see the importance of marketing to other real estate agents as it is to market to the consumer or purchaser.

During the listing appointment, I ask copious amounts of questions of the seller about the property.  It is important that I do my homework and become the most educated person on the seller's property, so I can share all the information with the cooperating REALTOR.

For every property I represent, I create a special file that I call the property's "fact file".  I share this with the other real estate agents prior to them viewing the property.  By sharing this copious amount of information, the REALTOR has the information they need to position my listing against the other properties they may be showing.  This often times ensures my listing sells over the competition!

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Connie Erickson
Door County Realty, Shorewest, REALTORS®
10580 Country Walk Dr., #12
Sister Bay WI 54234
920-868-3245
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