Rob Gow - Real Estate and Shoreline Lifestyle: August 2013

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Pricing Your Home Correctly and Other Tips for Selling Your Harbor Country Home

Whenever we talk with sellers, one of the biggest challenges or questions that sellers have is determining the selling price of their home. They have invested time, resources and energy into their Harbor Country home and want to price it accordingly.

Yet, as Harbor Country Real Estate agents and advisors here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we know that there more factors that play a role in coming up with the correct selling price. Setting the right price from the beginning can set the tone for the entire home sale and can make the process a smooth and efficient one.

As you begin thinking about selling your Harbor Country home, here are a few tips when it comes to pricing and selling your home.

1. Study past sales- While this will take a little work, getting to know what other homes in your town of Union Pier, New Buffalo, Harbert, Grand Beach, Three Oaks or other Harbor Country town have recently sold for will be helpful in giving you appropriate expectations. Your Harbor Country Real Estate agent can also provide you with this list and can explain more about the current market value.

2. Do not confuse active listings with past sales- For those who are new to selling a home, this is key. The active homes on the Harbor Country Real Estate market don’t reflect what the actual selling price for the home. While these homes are your competition, they shouldn’t be the determining factor on the price point for your home.

3. Do not overprice because you have the time- This can be one of the biggest mistakes sellers can make. They reason that, since they’re not in any hurry to sell, their Harbor Country home can sit on the market. The reality? This can have the opposite effect on your home. The longer your home sits on the market, the harder it is to sell. Buyers will assume there’s something wrong with your home, or may not even bother looking at your home if it’s overpriced.

4. Leave some room for negotiation, but don’t overreach- You never want to feel like you’re giving your home away, but you will want to leave some room for both parties to negotiate.

5. Think like a buyer- You’ll want to talk with your Harbor Country Real Estate agent about current buyer trends. What are the top things they’re looking for in a home? What type of flooring or finishes are desirable? If you’ve been out of the market for some time, chances are things have changed since you last bought a home. Getting to know what buyers are looking for will help you evaluate your home, help you consider any updates you’d like to make, and allow you to price your home accordingly.

6. React swiftly and decisively- Being proactive with the price of your home is key. You want to remain on top of what buyers are saying during the showing of your home and how the market is moving. Your Harbor Country Real Estate agent will guide you with this information, and you’ll want to be prepared to respond quickly in order to keep buyers interested in your home. Don’t delay the inevitable!

As you consider selling your Harbor Country home, we hope these tips will help you navigate through the issue of pricing. Of course, we would be happy to talk with you about getting your Harbor Country home sold and can help you determine the best selling price for your home.

Contact us anytime to set up a time to meet!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

4 Tips for Buying a Harbor Country Home Now!

It’s an exciting time in Harbor Country as we near the end of summer and anticipate the beautiful fall season. It’s also a time when there’s lots of activity as buyers want to make a purchase before the busy fall season. New homes are coming on the market in New Buffalo, Harbert, Union Pier, Three Oaks and other towns along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

If you’re considering buying a home in Harbor Country; now is a great time to do so! Mortgage rates are still low, and with their continuing upward swing, waiting to buy can be costly. Of course you’ll want to weigh the decision carefully and have an experienced Harbor Country Real Estate agent by your side each step of the way.

Here are a few key things you’ll want to remember as you prepare to buy a home within the next few months.

1. Look past curb appeal- Summer and early fall is a great time for sellers as their home is being shown in the best light possible. Budding flowers, lush trees and green grass set the stage for a home to show well. Buyers see beautiful curb appeal and can instantly fall in love with the appearance of the home and its charming setting. Yet, it’s important to look past curb appeal and focus on what’s going on inside the home. Take note of any major updates or repairs you’ll have to do to make the home move in ready and take those factors into serious consideration.

2. Act quickly- On average, 30-40% of homes sell in the summer months. And, as we begin to approach the fall, there will be buyers who want to be settled into their new home before the holiday season. This means that competition is tight. If there’s a great home that fits your style, budget and your wants; move quickly or someone else will! Of course you still want to weigh the decision carefully and talk with your Harbor Country Real Estate agent, but delays can lead to bidding wars or someone snatching up the home first.

3. Have your financials in order- Because you’ll need to act quickly on a Harbor Country home this time of year, you’ll want to be sure to have your financials in order. This means being pre approved and making sure you’re prepared with a down payment.

4. Don’t be fooled by nice weather- A dry summer can hide a moisture problem in a home. Look for clues of excessive moisture by checking the ceiling and walls for water marks. Mildew is also another sign of moisture issues and will need to be dealt with immediately. You’ll naturally want a home inspection before purchasing the home, but these are a few clues to look for when viewing the home for the first time as they can tip you off to potential issues.

As a team of Harbor Country Real Estate agents and advisors here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we would be happy to talk with you more about your home buying needs!

Please feel free to contact us today to get started in your Harbor Country home search!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Don't Miss New Buffalo's Ship & Shore Festival This Weekend!

For those of you who’ve visited Harbor Country, you know what a special place it is. Whether you call one of its’ charming towns “home” or you look forward each year to vacationing on our shores; this area along the Lake Michigan Shoreline is truly unique.

As real estate agents and advisors on the Shoreline Property Advisors team, we enjoy highlighting the various towns that we serve and showcasing their appeal. Today, we wanted to focus in on the beautiful town of New Buffalo and an event taking place this weekend you won’t want to miss!

New Buffalo received it’s name in 1835 shortly after Captain Wessel D. Whittaker’s ship ran aground new Grand Beach and was destroyed. He began his journey up the coast to report his loss in St. Joseph, but fell in love with the beautiful area he found along the way. He envisioned building a harbor town much like his hometown of Buffalo, New York and, after buying the land, he established New Buffalo.

Since then, this quaint town has changed and grown due largely in the beginning to it being the end of the line for the Michigan Central railroad. New Buffalo then became a popular resort area in the early 1900’s and has continued drawing tourists and buyers to its shores ever since!

This weekend’s festival is a fantastic way to pay homage to New Buffalo’s rich history and take part in it’s future!

The New Buffalo Ship & Shore Festival

Downtown New Buffalo

Friday, August 9th through Sunday, August 11th

- Don’t miss the 29th Annual New Buffalo Ship and Shore Festival this coming weekend! This great festival is a much anticipated event for visitors and permanent residents of Harbor Country. This event began as a simple arts and crafts fair and has grown tremendously over the years!

New Buffalo’s downtown is the host for the fair each year which is sponsored by the New Buffalo business association. Streets will be blocked off to all traffic and will come to life with local artisans, musicians, food and much more! You’ll enjoy tasting local wines from Round Barn Winery and Free Run Cellars along with other amazing food selections from Harbor Country restaurants.

There’s something for every age as special events will take place beginning on Saturday just for the kids! Activities such as watermelon and ice cream eating contests and many other fun games will make this weekend a memorable event for everyone! A 5K, volleyball tournament and other fun things are planned for the adults as well.

Of course many look forward to the pinnacle of the weekend with the lighted boat parade that takes place on Saturday evening at 9:30 followed by fireworks! You can view more information and the full schedule of events on the New Buffalo website.

We hope you are able to get outdoors and soak in the festivities over the weekend. You’ll find it to be a great community event no matter what town in Harbor Country you choose to vacation in or call home.

If you’re interested in learning more about New Buffalo or Harbor Country and are hoping to buy a home here in the future; please don’t hesitate to contact us! We look forward to hearing from you!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff