Avoid These Home Selling Mistakes

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There are many things that can go wrong in a real estate transaction. By being aware of the possible mistakes that can be made, it can help you to avoid them. Here are four mistakes to avoid when selling your home...

1. Not Having Professional Photos
Not having professional photos of your home is a huge mistake. When your main source of attention from buyers is on the Internet, your photos have to be outstanding in order to stand up against other listings online.

2. Limited Exposure
You need to make sure that your home gets as much exposure as possible. If your agent doesn't have a complete marketing plan, then it is going to be difficult for your home to be sold quickly and for top dollar.

3. Not Using A Real Estate Agent
It has been proven that when you hire an agent, your home will sell quickly and for more money. In fact, homes sold by their owners sold by 13% less than when people hired a real estate agent.

4. Mispricing Your Home
Your price is your number one piece of marketing and advertising, so you have to get it right the first time. Buyers are savvy and they know whether or not they are getting a good deal.  

With over 100 years of combined real estate experience and over 400 families served in 2015, put The Raines Group to work for you! 

Real Estate Teams Vs. Individual Agents

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The landscape of the real estate industry has changed dramatically in the last decade. Technology has taken over and a new 'team' approach to real estate has allowed for a better customer experience. Instead of a single agent doing all of the work throughout an entire transaction, real estate teams are meant to function somewhat like an assembly line. Each person is specialized and focuses on completing a single task.  

The team approach allows much faster service and superior production, as opposed to a single person trying to accomplishing everything to get one home sold. The amount of tasks needed to close a deal is incredible and it makes it very difficult to accomplish individually.

If you see your doctor you talk to a receptionist, then you talk to a nurse, then you see your doctor, and finally you meet with a billing department. This is similar to how real estate teams function. At every step, there is someone ready to help you achieve your goal.
 
This allows for a great customer experience and it also allows us to sell your home faster and for more money. At The Raines Group we have professional photographers, listing coordinators, marketing managers, listing agents, buyer partners, title specialists, preferred lenders and more. Whatever it is that you need, we can help!

With over 100 years of combined real estate experience and over 400 families served in 2015, put The Raines Group to work for you!

Why Should You List Your Home In Early Spring?

                

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Selling Your Central Ohio Home? Get A FREE Home Price Evaluation

With spring just around the corner, I wanted to share with you THREE reasons why now is the best time to list your home. Many sellers are still hesitant about putting their home up for sale. Where are prices headed? Where are interest rates headed? These are all valid questions, however, there are several reasons to sell your home sooner rather than later.

1. Demand is about to skyrocket. Most people realize that the housing market is hottest from April through June. The most serious buyers are well aware of this and for that reason, come out in early spring in order to beat the heavy competition. There is also an increased demand as many buyers push off their home search in the winter because of the extreme weather. These buyers are ready, willing, and able to buy...and are in the market right now!

2. There is less competition. Housing supply always grows from the spring through early summer. The choices buyers have will continue to increase over the next few months. Don't wait until all the other potential sellers in your market put their homes up for sale. Remember, you want to sell your home when the pool of serious buyers is at its peak and inventory levels are at their lowest.

3. Time is money. In addition to attracting a serious buyer, you likely care about two things; how quickly and how much you can sell your home for. Turns out,  the two go hand in hand. After January, there is a significant drop in the time listings typically spend on the market. This is also when the difference between final sales price and list price is the lowest.

Choosing to sell your home is a very important decision. I recommend hiring an experience real estate agent to help you through every step of the selling process.

 With over 100 years of real estate experience and over 400 families served in 2015, put The Raines Group to work for you!

2016 Central Ohio Market Update

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Selling Your Central Ohio Home? Get A FREE Home Price Evaluation

Today we will discuss the current real estate market in central Ohio.

There are currently over 5,000 homes on the market in Central Ohio. Over 1,600 homes have sold in the last 30 days, and over 15,000 homes have sold in the last six months. Overall, that gives us 4 months of inventory, but this can vary depending on your price bracket.

• For homes priced up to $350k, it's a strong seller's market.
• Between $350k and $650k, we have a balanced market.
• Between $650k and $1 million, it's a buyer's market.
• Homes over $1 million are in a very strong buyer's market.

Interest rates will continue to increase throughout 2016. Currently, interest rates are steady at 4%, and jumbo rates are even better at 3.875%. I predict that the year will end with interest rates at a stable 4.5-5%

If you have any questions about today's video, or about real estate in general, please give us a call or send me us email. We would be happy to help you!

How To Choose The Best Real Estate Agent

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Selling Your Central Ohio Home? Get A FREE Home Price Evaluation

When considering buying or selling a home, it is important to utilize the help of an experienced real estate agent. There are many things to consider before making this important decision. Here are the six key factors to take into consideration before choosing the real estate agent to help you with the buying or selling process.

1. Don't Pick Blindly.It's estimated that 68% of people choose the first agent that they meet. However, it is important to do your research and find a reputable agent that can help you buy or sell your home.

2. Ask The People You Trust. Personal recommendations are important because you want to work with someone who has a good reputation among your peers.

3. Interview The Agent. Make sure you know who they are, what they plan to do, and how they will sell your home for top dollar. 

4. Make Sure They Are Paying Attention. Always make sure that the agent is paying attention to you during the interview process. This speaks volumes about whether or not they will listen to you during the transaction.

5. Evaluate The Office/Brokerage That The Agent Works For. Is it small or large? Do they have enough resources on hand to meet your needs?

6. Find Someone You Are Comfortable With.You are going to be working alongside this person for at least a month or maybe more, so find someone that you are able to get along with.

Thanks for watching! If you need help buying or selling a home, put The Raines Group to work for you and contact us today!