Archive for August, 2007
Holy House Batman!
50 (pronounced Fitty) Cent’s digs in Farmington can’t hold a candle to these houses…
My L.L. Bean Experience
This weekend I ventured East of the River to check out the new L.L. Bean in South Windsor. Yes, I know I’m a few weeks behind the grand opening, but I’m not a fan of crushing crowds and I needed a respite from the sweltering heat on Saturday. Any who, these are my observations about the store…
1. If you’ve been to the one-and-only true L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine- brace yourself. The L.L. Bean at Evergreen Walk simply does not compare. Now, I’m not saying it’s worthless, it’s just a mini, mini version. So be prepared emotionally before you go.
2. It’s still super-crowded on the weekends. Bleh. You might want to try an evening after work or a weekday morning if you can’t handle throngs of people.
3. If you’re looking to buy an outdoor gadget/gear (fishing tackle, mountain bike, canoe, spelunking headlight, etc.) go to the store so you can check out the goods in person. If you’re looking to buy clothing, I would recommend sticking to the catalog. I heard several people complaining that they could not find their size in a specific color that they wanted. I heard one person mention that they drove all the way from Massachusetts but couldn’t find the flannel-lined jeans. Maybe because it was 95 degrees outside?
4. Vertically, there appears to be a huge amount of wasted space. The ceilings soar, but the merchandise is only on one floor. Why not put in a second floor if the main footprint of the building does not need to be changed?
5. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful. And friendly even though the place was overrun with visitors.
I’ll be interested to see how Cabela’s compares when it opens later this year in East Hartford.
Inventory’s Up. How Do You Differentiate?
The Greater Hartford Association of Realtors recently released their statistics for July. For the year (and July), the number of listings is up and closed sales are down. Add to that the shrinking number of available buyers due to the mortgage industry troubles. So, to put your home sale in business terms, you now have more competition and fewer buyers. Time to differentiate!
1. Most importantly, price your house right. Be sure the agent listing your home gives you recent closed comps, but also shows you the current competition in your price range. If you need a quick sale, and can financially stand it, price at the lower end of the range compared to your competition.
2. Make sure your house is clean and free of clutter, even if you don’t have the most updated house on the block. Cleanliness and neatness go a long way with buyers.
3. Review the pictures your agent will be posting on the MLS, Realtor.com, their company’s website, etc. before they are posted. Do they show your house in the best light? We see many crappy pictures on the MLS on a daily basis (which feeds the other websites), so make sure your agent isn’t doing you a disservice. Good online pictures make buyers want to see houses.
4. Buy a 1 year Homeowners Warranty. It’s like a gift to the buyer and will cost approximately $450 which comes out of your closing costs. It gives the buyer peace of mind and might make your home stand out from others.
5. Try to make your house as available for showings as possible. If you have pets that may need to be crated, see if you can have a friend or family member watch them during the first few weeks of activity.
Hopefully some of these ideas will help you sell quickly.
On a more national note, here’s a great inventory trends graph for the entire US… Click on the checkmark boxes on the left of the webpage to view different city trends.