Reba Golden of HomeSmart Thinks the Industry Isn’t Going to the Dogs. by Mark Berger
new perspective on what direction to take, but provide buyers with more reasons to want the home, Golden said. “Sellers should be thinking about the home from the outside in because the front yard will be the first thing they see,” said Golden. “The house could be beautiful inside. However, if they see tall grass, shoddy landscape and/or a cracked driveway, then they may be turned off. Approaching this from that perspective may do wonders for the property.” Meanwhile, buyers need to develop “a thick skin” because inventory is still extremely low. Because of that fact, many people are putting in offers, some well over asking price while others are closer to what the seller is requesting. Not every offer will come out as the winner. Understanding the market as Reba does helps, but she says that every rejection means the buyers are one step closer to finding their new home. Ask any realtor what the state of the market will be in a few months, and you may receive several vastlydifferent responses. That is because the market fluctuates so much that it can be hard keeping track. Just when houses were selling for far over the seller’s asking price, interest rates soared—driving down prices. The upcoming winter may see prices fall even further with interest rates slowly coming down.
What can possible buyers and sellers do to keep up with the changing trends and ensure that their investment will put its’ best face forward? Realtor Reba Golden of HomeSmart Professionals Real Estate in Warwick offers buyers and sellers based in Rhode Island with some thoughts to make this process a smooth one. For the seller, she suggests thinking about the staging from the mind of the buyer. Presentation can either make or break the purchase. So, looking fresh, modern, decluttered and depersonalized may bring in more people and attract more offers. Perhaps seeing things differently can not only offer a
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She also strongly suggested buyers get pre-approved for a mortgage before looking. This gives them an idea of what they can afford. She said it makes little sense to looking at a house if you can’t put in an offer. Furthermore, most listing agents won’t show a house unless the buyers are pre-approved. “People shouldn’t take it personally if they don’t get the offer on the home. If they keep plugging, they will find their home,” she said. For both parties, it also means pricing the property correctly in the first place. Nobody wants to overpay for a property that they later discover has issues. Also, the seller does not receive points for having its property available for more than 30 days. Even 50 days can be a tell-tale sign it was priced too high, which mean reducing prices and answering additional questions. “I’ve already noticed some price reductions,” she said. Another thing keeping Reba grounded is volunteering. She spends a few hours weekly helping at the Hotel for Homeless Dogs in Cumberland. She donates her time to caring for dogs who do not have anywhere else