Hawaii Home Improvement, Hawaii Home value, cost vs value

The truth about home improvements.

HONOLULU ADVERTISER January 21, 2007 BY LISA SCONTRAS  Custom Publishing Group

Advice for sellers as to what works and what doesn't.

Spending a lot of money on the wrong improvements may make your home less attractive to potential buyers. Common mistakes include over-improving your home or selecting styles or colors that may not appeal to buyers. Chan advises against do-it-yourself projects which may showcase expensive materials but are plagued by poor workmanship. Inappropriate upgrades can not only be a waste of money, she says, but sometimes they end up being more of a detraction. READ MORE

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Maximize your return on investment - realtors’ advice on which improvements add value to a home

 HONOLULU ADVERTISER March 26, 2006 BY LISA SCONTRAS  Custom Publishing Group

A common misconception among sellers is that money spent on upgrades will automatically translate to a higher value when they put their home on the market. But that’s not necessarily so. For the maximum return on your improvement investment, it is wise to ask the experts first.

“It’s a very common misconception,” says Stephanie Chan, a top listor at Prudential Locations LLC in 2005. “It’s important to keep in mind that all upgrades are not created equal.”

Mistakes range from a seller over-improving their home or selecting improvements or colors that may not appeal to buyers to what Chan calls DIY-category improvements or do-it-yourself projects which may showcase expensive materials but poor workmanship. Inappropriate upgrades can not only be a waste of money, she says, but sometimes they end up being more of a detraction. READ MORE

Selling Your Home in Hawaii Today’s Market

The media has been full of stories about the slowing housing market – and although this kind of market normalization is commonplace in the real estate industry, there is no question that in many parts of the country, houses are currently on the market a little longer and there is more competition for buyers.

Hire a Professional

If you want to sell your home fairly quickly, now is not the time to go at it alone. You want to make sure that your home gets the maximum exposure and the best marketing strategy. When you work with a qualified real estate professional, your home will be listed on a MLS database that other real estate professionals can access. In addition, you get the benefit of an experienced marketer and negotiator who is familiar with real estate issues in your community.

When selecting someone to represent you, interview at least three real estate professionals who are familiar with your area. Ask questions such as: How will your home be marketed to reach the greatest number of buyers? What price can they get for your home? What’s the average time their listings have been on the market? They should be able to back up their answer with a Comparative Marketing Analysis and provide the names of two or three of their most recent sellers who you may contact for a reference.

Price It Right

A house priced at just below market value piques the interest of real estate professionals and buyers, while overpricing chases them away. If your home is priced too high, interested buyers may never even tour your listing. It is true that you can always drop the price, but the first 30 days are the most critical. That is when interest is the highest, and it can be difficult to recapture people’s interest later on. The longer the property is on the market, the fewer the prospects.

Sellers beware: There are costs associated with pricing a property too high.An overpriced property will take longer to sell, and in today's market, the longer you're on the market, the less money you'll get.  While you always have the option of dropping your price, pricing it right from the beginning may give you the best opportunity to market your property while it still has some sizzle, and may actually get you the best price. READ FULL STORY

Get Your Home In Show-Condition

Get your home in tip-top shape before any potential buyer views it. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Get rid of the clutter. Touch up the paint where needed. Clean the carpet. Consider having your home inspected, and make any recommended repairs. (If there are any repairs you decide not to fix, inform the buyers about the condition of your home and discount the repair cost from the selling price).

Curb Appeal

Don’t overlook the outside of your property. You don’t want a buyer to rule out your home based on the outside appearance. The lawn should be trimmed, bushes and shrubs pruned, and leaves raked. The front of the house needs a clean, fresh appearance. Even the mailbox needs to be attractive and functional. (Believe it or not, a rusty, unhinged mailbox can turn potential buyers off.) And don’t forget to put away bicycles; toys and other items that may make your property seem cluttered.

Offer Incentives

Offering incentives can be just the impetus a potential buyer needs to select your property over others. You may want to consider offering a carpet or paint allowance. If the buyer knows up front that there is an allowance for the worn carpet or paint, they may overlook those cosmetic flaws in order to choose their own color. You could pay for a professional home inspection or a home warranty – and, depending on your market and budget, offer to pay some of the closing costs.

Don’t be discouraged if there are competing homes for sale in your neighborhood. Making the right moves at the beginning of your home selling process can give you the upper-hand you’ll need in today’s competitive market.

For most families, selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions they will ever make. The process can be daunting, with many important questions that need to be answered. Choosing the best Realtor to market and sell your home can make all the difference, turning an otherwise difficult, stressful process into a comfortable, informed experience that you are in control of.

I analyze and determine home values in the Honolulu market every day. I can help you determine exactly what your home is worth in the current market. Then, as an experienced professional, I'll market your home and negotiate on your behalf to sell your home at the best price possible.

My goal is to make homeselling process for you as comfortable and successful as possible.

One of the reasons I am positive that I can provide you with full service is because of the strong support of my company. Prudential Locations has been a leading firm in Oahu for many years. When you agree to have me and Prudential Locations assist you in the homeselling process, we become your “Seller Agent” which means we will work for your best interest throughout the process of marketing and selling your house.

Our Marketing Objectives

• To sell your home for the highest value in the shortest possible time

• To utilize the full resources of Prudential Locations in gaining maximum exposure for your home

•To attract qualified buyers through a variety channels

• To cooperate fully with the real estate community to maximize exposure of your home

• To assist in all stages of the transaction, from the purchase offer through closing

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