Brevard North Carolina Real Estate Blog

When we are showing homes to prospective buyers, one of the biggest considerations, aside from price, is the condition of the home. No matter what price it is, if a home appears to be neglected and poorly maintained, the quality of the home is immediately suspect, and the perceived value (how much a buyer would be willing to pay) is immediately lower. In the eyes of a buyer, if the most basic maintenance issues have not been done, it's a short leap to assuming that the bigger issues, things can could end up costing the buyer big bucks,  haven't been taken care of either.

Before you put your home on the market, there are a number of pre-emptive approaches you can take to make sure your home is making the best possible first impression and that you get top dollar.

1. Hire your own home inspector. Once an offer has been made on a home, it's very typical for the buyer to pay for a home inspection which almost always results in a Repair Request and sometimes, credits to compensate the buyer. But, by having your own home inspection done first, you can take care of any issues that might otherwise be a stumbling block for buyers. Prices vary, of course, but generally speaking you can plan to spend around $350.00 for a thorough home inspection by a license and insured home inspector. Here are just a few of the things you can you expect from a home inspection:

• Investigation of all household systems including the heating and cooling (electric and gas), plumbing, and electrical to identify their efficiency and if they are operating properly.
• Identify any safety issues including some things that may no longer be up to code. This may include a wobbly hand rail or faulty electrical wiring.
• Examination of the roof, including gutters and soffits, to identify any leaks or failing roofing materials.
• An interior and exterior (including basements and attics) examination for any prior water damage

2. Another alternative is to ask a friend to walk through your home as a buyer would to help you "see" things you may be overlooking. It won't be as thorough or technical as a home inspector, but it will give you a fresh set of eyes. When we live in our homes for any length of time, it's only natural to not see flaws and problem areas.  You can do this on your own, of course, but another set of eyes is always helpful.

Whether you decide to hire a professional or rely on the advice of a friend, here are some other things you should look for in your home before opening the doors to potential buyers:

- Make sure all interior and exterior doors, especially bi-fold closet doors work smoothly and properly.
- The same goes for windows. Make sure all your windows open smoothly.
- Clean the gutters around your home. This a good time to shore up any sagging sections.
- If you have pets, get an objective "sniff" test.
- Patch and paint/stain any damage to chair rails, wood work, or walls
- Caulk around windows and doors. If you plan to paint, it's a great time to create a seamless look around any molding. And don't forget the bathrooms.
- De clutter as much as possible. Nothing makes a room look small like tons of clutter and too much furniture.
- Clean the carpet.

In a buyers market, there is a lot more competition so it's important that your home leave a positive and lasting impression. For more information or helpful hints, give the Clay Team a call, or visit us online!

Ok, so you're looking for a home that isn't way out in the woods, miles from town, but you still want it to feel private. And you aren't looking for a remodeling project. How about something with a master bedroom suite that has big bathroom and an "owners retreat".  A couple of extra bedrooms would be great for the rest of the family.

If this sounds like you, then you owe it to yourself to visit this home on Crestview Drive near Brevard, NC. It's spotlesslesly clean, has a huge deck for entertaining and another one for more private moments. The kitchen has been updated, the living room has a cozy gas fireplace, and the landscaping is a perennial paradise.

To learn more about this home, visit the Clay Team online, call us at 828-551-6290, see the whole house tour at www.5crestview.com.

AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CLOSING PRICE

September numbers are back down to reality. In August I reported that according to our MLS numbers, the average residential closing in Transylvania County was $536,148. However, since Lake Toxaway, a very high end community where homes routinely sell for millions of dollars, is part of our MLS, whenever a home sells in that community, it causes all sorts of spikes in our otherwise consistent data.

In September the average closing price was $217,152. A year ago, the average was $244,503.

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET

The average days on market for homes closed during September was 132 days. In August that number was 266 days. However, just as sales in the Lake Toxaway area affect our selling prices, it also affects the days on market statistics because homes in that area are typically on the market longer.

In September 2007 the average was 164 days.

PERCENT OF LISTING PRICE

This particular group of numbers has been a wild ride this month. The selling price for homes in the $100-$300K price range remained stable selling at about 96% of the asking price.For the first time in a year, though, homes in the $300-$400K range sold for less than 95% of the asking price. Homes in the $400-$500K range were up, though, selling for around 96%. In the price range of $500K and up, homes are still selling for about 97% of the asking price. But that number is actually down from the same time last year when homes sold for almost the asking price.

Statistical data provided by the WNC Regional MLS

For more information about residential sales in Transylvania County, contact the Clay Team.