Selling

5 Tips to Closing on Your Ocean Edge Condo Fast

When selling your Ocean Edge condo, price is important but closing quickly is also a priority in most cases. Closing on your Ocean Edge condo in a timely manner often helps you close on your new property. If you are hung up on closing your first property, it can impact your new property. The owner of the home you are interested in purchasing might not want to wait for your condo to close before moving forward with the sale of their home. Financing can be tied up and your approval for the new mortgage product could be put on hold until your condo sale closes.

Incentives for Closing Fast

In a buyers market or a sellers market, it is a good idea to be honest and upfront about what your closing expectations are if it is important for you to close on your Ocean Edge condo quickly. If it is a seller’s market, where the inventory is low and demand is high, let the buyers know what your closing expectations are so they come with their best offers and fastest closing timeline. If it is a buyer’s market where inventory is high and not as many buyers, it is a good idea to offer a closing credit if the sale of your condo closes within a specified period of time. This is a little bonus that might intrigue buyers and get you a faster closing. The cost of offering this closing credit is far less than what it could cost you if your home does not close quickly.

Add on Extras

When showing your house to potential buyers through open houses or private showings, you will be urged to depersonalize your condo as much as possible. However, you typically can not completely depersonalize your home no matter how hard you try. You are still living there after all, and it needs to still look like a home for buyers to be able to visualize themselves living there. When buyers are looking at your home, ask your real estate agent to take notice of anything they may have liked about your home that is outside of the physical features of the condo itself.

If a buyer makes a comment during your open house about how cute your window treatments are, offer to include them in the sale! Maybe they liked the bookshelf in your living room. Offer to include it for free in the sale in exchange for closing on your Ocean Edge condo faster. Buyers who are offered little extras that they liked in the house will feel like they’re getting a deal, or getting something for free which can be very exciting. Questions about your open house? Check out our blog, “Top 7 Open House Mistakes Sellers Make.”

Upgrade Credits

Ocean Edge is a highly desirable place to buy for a number of reasons. The onsite amenities and the location are two main reasons buyers are drawn to owning a condo at Ocean Edge. However, if your home does not have the most cutting edge it can be a difficult sell as there are many beautiful units. Offering upgrade credits to make your condo more modern to the seller’s taste could bring people to your open house.

The ability for home buyers to make upgrades to the home they are about to purchase instead of the home owner making the renovations is more appealing. This incentive could help you achieve your goal of closing on your Ocean Edge condo faster because not many other homes offer that credit. For more tips on how to sell your Ocean Edge condo quickly, check out our blog “Ocean Edge Brewster – How to Sell Your Condo ASAP.”

Home Repair Credits

If there are repairs that need to be done to your Ocean Edge condo, offering a home repair credit instead of fixing it yourself may be appealing to home buyers. With a home repair credit, the buyer has the ability to use their own contractor to repair the issue instead of having the seller use whatever contractor they want to use. A buyer might feel more comfortable using their own person that they trust instead of leaving it up to the seller who they feel might choose the least expensive option when repairing the home.

Giving the buyer that power might make them more willing to move up the closing time. Bumping up the time line and closing on your Ocean Edge condo may be appealing because once you are out of the condo, they can arrange for their contractor to go in and do the work before they move in to the property. They may have a time they are to be out of the home they are in now, so having the ability to work on the condo before they move in would be very appealing.

Increase Buyer Commission

Buyers real estate agents work on a commission, just like your selling agent. Increasing the percentage of commission the buyers agent would receive once the property is sold might encourage more buyers agents to bring their clients to your condo for a showing or open house. Be open about what your closing timeline is so that they are aware of the quick closing part of your home sale. Do you have the right seller’s agent? Check out our blog, “Selling Your Ocean Edge Condo? Qualities to look for in a Listing Agent” to see what you should look for in a listing agent.

Closing on Your Ocean Edge Condo

Closing on your Ocean Edge condo in a timely manner can be tricky to coordinate but if you offer incentives to the buyers or even the buyer’s real estate agent you might be able to pull it off! Looking to sell your Ocean Edge condo? Contact Michael Leighton and his team, he has been named the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004 and #1 Agent in Brewster since 2007. Check out the testimonials from clients that have worked with Leighton Realty to find out why Michael Leighton and his team have been #1 for over a decade.

May 24, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

10 Ways to Keep Your Ocean Edge Condo from Selling

Sometimes you need to look at things from another angle to get a clear view of what you should do to be successful. That is why we are going to look at how to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling. If you have a clear idea of what not to do to sell your home, it may help you to be more successful in selling your home and gain some perspective on how buyers see your Ocean Edge condo. Here are the top 10 was to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling!

Real Estate Agent

If you want to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling, DO NOT consult a real estate agent. A full time real estate agent is a professional that is skilled and knowledgeable in their field. If you do not want your condo to sell, do not get a real estate agent involved, especially one that specializes in properties at Ocean Edge. Michael Leighton knows Ocean Edge so well that he has been named the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004. He and his team know Ocean Edge properties and can help you sell your condo quickly and for the best price. Therefore, if you want to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling, do not consult a real estate agent! If you do want to sell your home, check out “5 Reasons to Be Thankful for a Great Real Estate Agent.”

Price Per Square Foot

If you are a fan of shows such as Million Dollar Listing on Bravo, you are familiar with the practice of pricing a home by the square footage. The real estate agents on the show typically use the size of apartments to help determine the price they will set for the homes. However, they take in a number of other factors in addition to the square footage of the homes. Pricing your home by square foot does not take into account the location of your condo, amenities available with your Ocean Edge condo, upgrades and condo style. You could over price your home or price your home under what it is really worth by using this method of pricing.

Use Zillow to Set Price

Pricing your home based on the Zillow estimate is a great way to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling! Zillow is typically 3 weeks behind the local real estate market, so it is not a current and reliable tool to determine the price you should list your condo. A tool that could help give you an idea of what your Ocean Edge condo might be worth is the Free Home Valuation tool on the OceanEdge.net website. Plug in your information and find out what your home is worth today!

Price Above Market Value

Listing a home for above the market value will keep a lot of buyers away from your home, so if you’re hoping to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling, this is a great place to start. A home priced above market value will typically sit on the market longer and once it does finally sell, it sells for well under the fair market price of the home. However, it is not always impossible to price your home above market value, check out our blog “5 Tips to Sell Your Condo Above Market Price.”

Repairs

Neglecting repairs such as broken fixtures, doors and windows is a great way to make a terrible first impression. Home buyers are less likely to buy a home that is in desperate need of repair if it is not priced with the cost of repair taken into account. Therefore, if you are looking to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling, do not repair a thing and price it as if it was in perfect condition. Minor repairs that would be easy to fix yourself or major repairs left make buyers wonder what other issues have been ignored and what potential issues will arise when they buy the home.

Cleaning

Along with neglecting repairs, neglecting to clean your home is a great way to make a poor first impression on a potential home buyer. Leave the dishes in the sink, the toys all over the floors and dust on the blinds for potential buyers to see in order to turn them away from your home. A home that is not kept up will give buyers a difficult time visualizing themselves in the home, which is exactly what you want if you do not want to sell it.

Pets Out

Make potential home buyers feel at home and leave your pets out to greet them at the open house! Some buyers might have allergies, aversions to animals or find having animals out and about while looking at your home distracting. To keep from selling your Ocean Edge condo, leaving your pets to roam your condo is a great way to turn buyers away.

No Showings

Open houses or showings are a great way to get people in the door of your home, and could possibly generate offers to buy your home. If you really want to keep from selling your Ocean Edge condo, do not have open houses or showings! When a home buyer sees a condo for sale at Ocean Edge, they typically like to go see the home before presenting an offer. Stop buyers in their tracks and do not have an open house at all so buyers do not try to buy your home. Home buyers will sometimes request showings of a home if they are interested in the online ad or paper ad marketing the property. Deny the buyers the opportunity to see the home to keep them from snatching it up!

Stay for the Open House

It’s your home after all, why not stay for the open house? If you want to keep from selling your Ocean Edge condo, you should absolutely attend your open house. During an open house, home buyers walk around your condo to see if hey can envision themselves living in the home. However, if you do want to sell your home, check out our blog, “Top 7 Open House Mistakes Sellers Make” so that you are prepared for your next open house!

Highest Offer Wins

Your home’s appraisal is what the buyer should expect to pay for the home. If an appraisal comes in lower than the high offer, they could walk away. This is great news if you really want to keep from selling your Ocean Edge condo. What can you expect from the appraisal process of your home? Check out our blog, “Ocean Edge Brewster Condo Appraisals: What to Expect.”

How to Keep Your Ocean Edge Condo from Selling

Obviously you want to sell your home, and you do not really want to keep your Ocean Edge condo from selling. Seeing what you should not do in order to be successful in selling your Ocean Edge condo will help you make the right choices and sell your home quickly. For more tips on how to sell your Ocean Edge condo, check out our blog, “Ocean Edge Brewster – How to Sell Your Condo ASAP.”

May 4, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

Spring Cleaning Your Ocean Edge Condo to Get it Ready to Sell

Spring has officially sprung and now that the icy cold temperatures are behind us, it’s time to focus on spring cleaning your Ocean Edge condo to get it ready to sell! The spring real estate market is always a hot time of year to sell properties, so make sure your home is warm and inviting instead of stuffy and worn from the harsh winter months. During the winter months a lot of damage is done to properties, whether you live there year round, or your condo is closed up for the season. In addition to cleaning, check out your decor. Our blog, “Delight Ocean Edge Condo Buyers with our 3 DIY Decorating Tips” will help you get your Ocean Edge condo ready for buyers during the spring real estate market. The warm spring air gives you the ability to open all the windows, enjoy the warm sunshine and give your home a thorough cleaning. Here is how you can start spring cleaning your Ocean Edge condo to get it ready to sell!

Clean the Vents

Typically when a home buyer is touring a home, they do not look up, but if they did would they catch a glimpse of a dirty HVAC vent? You have lived in your home a long time, you’ve been cooped up in your home all winter or haven’t seen it all winter because it’s been closed up. When you are spring cleaning your Ocean Edge condo, you could easily overlook cleaning those heating and cooling vents. Your system carries a lot of allergens, which during the spring months we get enough of as it is. Dirty vents could make potential buyers wonder how often the filters and vents had been cleaned, and what kind of allergens could be lurking inside your system. Make sure you clean not only the vent covers, but you also change over the filter so that clean fresh air circulates throughout the condo and not dusty, stuffy air. If this is your first time selling your home, and you’re not sure what to expect from your first open house, check out our blog, “Top 7 Open House Mistakes Sellers Make.” This guide to open houses will help you understand what to expect and how to avoid common sellers mistakes during open houses.

Dusting

The cold winter months have blanketed your home with a coating of dust, and it is time to shake it off. It is surprising how much of a difference simply dusting your home will make, so it is important not to forget to do this when spring cleaning your Ocean Edge condo. It is especially important to remember to clean your blinds. The blinds in your condo let in the light, so you do not want to filter that light through the dust because it will not appeal to home buyers. One dusting hack we have found for dusting blinds requires kitchen tongs, a pair of socks and rubber bands. Cover each side of the tongs with a sock, and secure with rubber bands. Clamp down on each blind and slide side to side. Cleaning your home thoroughly is one of the steps you can take to sell your home quickly. Read our blog, “Ocean Edge Brewster – How to Sell Your Condo ASAP” to find out other ways to sell your home quickly and for the right price.

Window Washing

Now that the blinds have been dusted, it is time to take care of those windows! Spotty dirty windows prevent the natural light from coming into your condo and making the place feel fresh appealing to home buyers. The cold winter elements do a number on your windows, as do little noses pressed up against them waiting to be able to go outside to play. Time to wipe those finger prints, nose prints and dirt off of the windows and let your condo shine. If you are not a fan of the window cleaning products that use harsh chemicals, there are plenty of eco friendly products that you can use that are just as effective as the products we grew up using. Next time you are in the grocery store, check out the organic / all natural aisle. There are plenty of cleaning products, such as Mrs. Meyers that are easy on your skin, clean just as well as the products that use harsh chemicals, and have a clean fresh scent.

Tracks Cleaned

Now that the windows are cleaned and the blinds are dusted, it is time to take care of your window and sliding glass door tracks. When spring cleaning your Ocean Edge condo, it is important to pay attention to the details like these tracks and take good care of them so they stay in good working order. The tracks catch dirt, hair and debris which can cause them to catch and not close completely and eventually start wearing on the door. Not only does gunk built up in the track impair the door or window’s performance, the debris and dirt is also unattractive to the eye. To get rid of the gunk in your track, take your vacuum to remove all of the loose dirt, debris and hair that has built up over the winter. Next you want to take a rag soaked in a vinegar and water solution to the track and clean all the stuck on dirt and grime. Once your track is cleaned, spray it down with a lubricant such as WD-40 to keep the track running smoothly. When spring cleaning your Ocean Edge condo, it is important to pay attention to the details, such as the windows and sliding door tracks because although you might not think that a buyer would pay attention, but after a long winter, this is the time that your condo needs that extra attention.

Spring Cleaning Your Ocean Edge Condo

Spring cleaning your Ocean Edge condo is important when selling your home because the winter is tough on the interior of a home. During the warmer months, many of us are out and about, so our homes are generally ready to be shown to potential buyers at any time with little prep needed. During the winter, many of us go into hibernation mode, so making the condo ready for showings can be difficult because your home has accumulated a season worth of rock salt, dust and fingerprints. Take the time to really do a thorough cleaning of your home so that you appeal to more buyers. If you are not interested in cleaning your home yourself, you could always hire a local cleaner to come and do a deep clean of your home for you. This money will be money well spent, and an expense you will not regret if you don’t have the time to clean your condo thoroughly yourself. Think your home might need a refresh? Check out our blog “5 Signs the Bathroom in Your Ocean Edge Condo Needs an Update” to see if sprucing up your bathroom could appeal to more buyers in the spring real estate market.

April 28, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

How to Let Go of Your Ocean Edge Condo – A Seller’s Guide

There are a number of reasons that cause people to sell their home. Regardless of their reason, it is never an easy or light decision. You could be selling your Ocean Edge condo due to divorce, an empty nest, new job which causes you to relocate or outgrowing your condo because your family expanded. For whatever reason you decided to put your condo on the market, it is typically a well thought out decision that is not made lightly. Your home is your comfort zone, where memories were made and that can be difficult to walk away from. So how do you let go of your Ocean Edge condo and move on? Here are our suggestions to make the transition smoother and easier to handle.

How to Deal

Your home is more than brick and mortar. It is a part of you that defines a time in your life. Moving on can be really difficult because of all of the emotion and all of the memories attached to your home. However, you do need to find a way to let go of your Ocean Edge condo and move on with your life. Before you move out of your home, take a lot of pictures so you can look back on them once you move into your new home. Take a handful of dirt from your yard and use it in a planter to plant some potted flowers. There are plenty of ways to take a piece of this home with you once you leave.

Value and Love are Different

You have worked hard for your home, and you have every right to take a lot of pride in the home that you have made. Sometimes a home owner’s value of their home is different than what the true market value of their home is, and this can be upsetting. The details and work that you have put into the condo might not get you the return that you wanted when it is time to sell. It is important that you take the emotion out of selling your home and trust that your real estate agent is an expert in the field, and wants to give you the most money for your condo. On the other hand, there could be someone that comes into your condo and absolutely falls in love with it. They might be willing to pay more than what you are asking, but you want to make sure you listen to your real estate agent regarding price and not overprice your home. Check out our blog, “Why Overpricing Your Ocean Edge Condo is Never a Good Idea.” However, there are things that you can do to increase the perceived value of your home to generate higher offers. Ask your real estate agent what improvements you can make to your condo to generate more interest and higher offers. Our blog, “7 Tips To Becoming the In Demand Condo at Ocean Edge Brewster” will give you plenty of ideas to get more buyers interested in your home.

Be Flexible

Just because your home is on the market, it does not mean that your life stops, and that is understandable. However, do not make your busy life an excuse as to why you can’t do certain things to sell your condo. Carting your children to an from sporting events, work obligations and family responsibilities should not prevent you from hosting an open house or allowing showings of your condo. If you need to enlist a cleaning service to come in and clean your home occasionally to accommodate your life needs with the demands of having your house on the market, do so. However, your home was put on the market for a reason and selling your home should be your top priority. Letting your condo sit on the market too long because it is not being seen by buyers will make your listing stale and hurt you in the long run. Buyers will not wait around for you to make time for them to see your home, and they are not interested in a home that has been sitting on the market for a long time. They will move on to a home that is available for them to see and is the latest and greatest on the market. Free up some time so your condo can be viewed by buyers so you can let go of your Ocean Edge condo and find your new home.

It’s Nothing Personal

At one time or another, most sellers have to deal with a potential buyer that makes a low ball offer. Sometimes those low ball offers are a little on the low side, and other times they are flat out insulting. The trick is not taking those low ball offers personally. The potential home buyers is not trying to personally attack you by making the low offer, the majority of the time, they are simply trying to see how low you will go. Everyone loves a good deal, and that is what the potential home buyer is trying to do, score a deal. Do not take the low ball offer as an insult and flat out reject the deal. Instead, take it as a starting point for negotiations. If they walk away, they walk away. Never shut down a potential deal because you feel insulted by a potential buyer’s starting offer. For more tips on how to sell your condo, check out our blog, “Ocean Edge Brewster – How to Sell Your Condo ASAP.”

How to Let Go of Your Ocean Edge Condo

Your home is more than just a warm place that shields you from the elements. It is the place where memories are made, holidays are celebrated and children are raised. Selling your home and starting over is an emotional decision that can fog judgement. It is important that you put your emotion aside and learn how to let go of your Ocean Edge condo and move on with your life. When selling your home, it is also important that you go with the experts. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004 and the #1 Agent in Brewster since 2007. Recently he was named a top agent for the Lower Cape. Contact Michael and his team today to see what your condo is worth, or check out the free condo valuation to get a rough idea of what your condo could be priced today.

April 5, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

5 Signs the Bathroom in Your Ocean Edge Condo Needs an Update

The bathroom is the most frequently used room in your condo, but it is often overlooked when you think of remodeling your home. Typically a kitchen or living room remodel are on the top of the list, but updated bathrooms are very important to home buyers when looking to buy a home. How do you know if your bathroom is in good enough condition to sell as is, or if you should invest the money because the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update? Here are 5 signs that will tell you that it is time to renovate:

Mold

Mold is a huge issue, especially on Cape Cod. If your bathroom is not properly vented, the moisture from the shower could cause mold to pop up. Leaks in your pipes or cracks in your bathtub surround could cause moisture to get into the ceiling, floor and walls. Inspect your shower, bathtub, ceiling and wall for dark spots. These dark spots could possibly be mold. If you do spot what you think could be mold, do not panic. Sometimes small and inexpensive repairs could remedy what is causing mold in your home, eliminating the problem. However you should get the mold situation checked out by a professional. Large areas of mold or certain types of mold can be dangerous and should be handled with caution by a skilled professional. If there is mold in your bathroom, that is a major reason that you should have your bathroom remodeled for the safety of the people who will be buying your condo from you. If you do not do it now, it has to be disclosed to potential buyers if you are aware of the problem. It is better to take care of the problem instead of hoping that a buyer would not be turned off by the idea of mold being in the condo. Mold is a scary problem to potential buyers which could cause your home to stay on the market for a long time, costing you money instead of just resolving it right away. Discovering mold is a major sign that the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update.

Leaks

Leaks in your bathroom may be obvious, or they might not be. If you notice a leak, it is best to take care of it right away before it becomes a bigger problem. It is wise to check your pipes and faucets to make sure there aren’t any subtle leaks that could compromise the structural integrity of your bathroom. As mentioned, mold is a big problem when there is a leak in the bathroom. Leaks are often present due to corrosion or rust of the pipe and can just happen over time without anything causing the damage besides old age. A less obvious sign that there is a leak in your pipes is an increase in your water bill. If you notice your water bill go up and do not believe that you have not increased your water usage, you should check your pipes for a leak. Discovering a leak is a sign that the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update

Damaged

Bathrooms are the most utilized room in the home. With that being said, there is bound to be some wear and tear in the bathroom with the amount of use it gets day in and day out. Cracked glass, damaged tile and chipped flooring are all signs the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update. Faucets, light fixtures and knobs are used multiple times a day and can show it after time. Discolored paint and grout between your tiles, peeling wallpaper and missing vanity knobs are all signs that your bathroom is in desperate need of a remodel before your home is listed for sale. Want to learn more about making your condo stand out among all of the other Ocean Edge condos for sale? Check out our blog, “7 Tips To Becoming the In Demand Condo at Ocean Edge Brewster.”

Outdated

When selling your home, it is always best to make your living space as neutral as possible so you appeal to more buyers. How can you tell your home is outdated? Some signs the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update are obvious, while some are not. If you have a bright pink toilet in your bathroom or avocado colored bathtub, it is quite clear that your bathroom is dated. While you might find it fun and retro, the majority of buyers will see it as something that they will have to spend money on remodeling, turning them away from your property. If you want to sell your home quickly, you can not wait to find the right buyer that will find your outdated bathroom appealing. To sell your Ocean Edge condo quickly, it is important to paint your bathroom in neutral colors along with updated flooring and fixtures. The more buyers that can picture themselves living in your space the more likely you are to generate offers. Interested in learning more tips on how to sell your condo quickly? Check out our blog, “Ocean Edge Brewster – How to Sell Your Condo ASAP.”

Kitchens and bathrooms are the two rooms that home buyers look at when buying a home. Renovated kitchens and bathrooms are very appealing to home buyers, as they are the two rooms that are used the most in a home. An outdated bathroom will not generate interest in your property. Whether you are thinking of selling your Ocean Edge condo tomorrow or some time down the road, you might want to consider renovating your bathroom. If the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update, it is better to start on it now instead of waiting until you are just about to put it on the market so you have the time and money to make it appealing to buyers. However, if you are in a rush to sell your home, there are quick updates you can do yourself or hire a professional to do to make your Ocean Edge condo more appealing to buyers.

Signs the Bathroom in Your Ocean Edge Condo Needs an Update

If you discover that the bathroom in your Ocean Edge condo needs an update, it is best to make your bathroom as neutral as possible to appeal to more buyers. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004 and the #1 Agent in Brewster since 2007. Contact him today if you are considering selling your home so he can help you sell it for what it is worth. Check out the free condo valuation to see how much you could sell your Ocean Edge condo for in this market.

March 29, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

How to Market Your Ocean Edge Condo to Buyers

The art of properly marketing properties is often lost on some real estate agents when listing properties for sale. Many take for granted the current market, expecting homes to sell themselves once they put the condo in MLS and put out an ad or two. Relying on the current market instead of aggressively marketing a property for sale is a huge mistake. Even if the market is hot and demand is high for Ocean Edge condos, there is no guarantee that the home will just sell itself. You still need to market your Ocean Edge condo in any real estate environment. The more people reached by good marketing practices, the more people that will view your property. If they are not interested, they may know someone who is and tell them about your home.

A listing real estate agent who is aggressive in their marketing will get people through your doors and this will ultimately generate offers. Read more about what you should look for in a real estate agent in our blog, “Selling Your Ocean Edge Condo? Qualities to Look for in a Listing Agent.” The real estate agent that you choose to sell your property is going to get a commission for your property. A lazy real estate agent that does not market your property and merely puts it in MLS and installs a lock box will get the same amount of money representing your property as a real estate agent that puts in the time and energy to sell your home. Doesn’t it make sense that you would go for the agent that will give you all they have to move your property quickly? Here is how you can market your Ocean Edge condo and sell your condo quickly!

What is Marketing?

Marketing isn’t the listing price of your Ocean Edge condo. The listing price is a basic formula that any real estate agent can determine if they are familiar with the area and the current market. Since Ocean Edge is such a unique area offering properties that are unlike any others in the area with unmatched amenities, you do want to list your condo with a real estate agent who is familiar with Ocean Edge and can price your condo appropriately. Michael Leighton has been named the #1 Agent for Ocean Edge properties since 2004, he and his sales team are experts on Ocean Edge properties and well versed in the amenities available to owners. Click here for a free condo valuation to see what you could get for your Ocean Edge condo.

Marketing is grabbing a microphone and declaring to the world that your property is for sale, it is amazing and buyers need to drop what they are doing to come and take a look because it will not be around for long. Proper marketing says that while there may be competition out there, your property is better, and this is why. There is no one method of marketing that will sell a property on its own, it is best to have multiple methods of marketing in order to sell a property. A skilled real estate agent will have a whole bag of tricks to market their property. Are you working with the right real estate agent? Check out our blog, “5 Reasons to be Thankful for a Great Real Estate Agent” and see if your agents measures up.

Photography

Regardless of a real estate agent’s preferred method of advertising to market a property, the most important thing to keep in mind when selling your home is to get the photography right when you market your Ocean Edge condo. The photographs of the property could make or break the chances of selling the property. So many Americans have smartphones and tablets, where they browse real estate listings online. They scan through thousands of pictures until one catches their eye, then they will stop to find out more about the property. Too often pictures of properties are fuzzy, dark, off center or even use too many filters to try to spruce up the pictures causing it to look unnatural. These photographs ultimately turn buyers away because they do not get a proper idea of what the home looks like and can not envision themselves living there. Photographs need to showcase a home’s key features to draw in buyers.

Many high end properties choose to use a professional photographer because it can be tricky to sum up in a couple of photographs what stands out about your property compared to the competition. Maybe you have a friend or family member that has a good eye for photography or does it as a hobby. It doesn’t hurt to ask and see if they would help you out by taking pictures of your property for you if hiring a professional is not in the budget for selling your home. Keep in mind that Ocean Edge has a number of condo units, and at any time there could be multiple condos for sale at the same time that your property is on the market. Make sure your home starts out strong and makes a great first impression to buyers by taking fantastic photos when you market your Ocean Edge condo. If you have the pictures and you have the marketing strategy but your condo is still not selling, check out our blog, “Your House is not Selling? Try this Now!” for tips to get your property sold now!

Market Your Ocean Edge Condo

When selling your home, make sure you do your homework and find a real estate agent that not only knows Ocean Edge, but also knows how to market your Ocean Edge condo so it sells quickly and for top dollar. Check out local real estate agents in the area and do not be afraid to ask them what their marketing plan is if you decide to list your property with them. Keep in mind when preparing to sell your home how important it is that the pictures of your property are visually appealing to potential buyers to draw them to your condo when house hunting. Pictures that showcase your home’s key features and set your condo apart from the competition are vital in selling your home.

March 23, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

Why Overpricing Your Ocean Edge Condo is Never a Good Idea

After some careful consideration, you have decided to list your Ocean Edge condo for sale. You have made some renovations to your condo, it is in great condition. When you look at the commission percentage your real estate agent would take from your home sale price, along with the commission of the buyer’s agent, you decide it would be a smart option to price your home above the fair market value. There is a difference between listing your home above market value and overpricing your Ocean Edge condo. If you have done some improvements to your home that makes it stand out among the other comparable units, you should price it higher than the others. Find out how you could sell your condo by pricing it above market value by checking out our blog “5 Tips to Sell Your Ocean Edge Condo Above Market Price.”

In regards to overpricing your Ocean Edge condo, you may wonder what could possibly go wrong by asking for more money? In real estate there is always some negotiating on either end and you may end up with more of a profit if you price your home a little higher. Why don’t more people do this? While it seems like a no brainer, overpricing your Ocean Edge Condo is never a good idea. If you want to sell your home quickly and for a reasonable profit, do not list your home for much more than it is worth in the local real estate market. An overpriced home sits on the market longer than a reasonably priced home, which ends up costing the seller in the end. A home that sits on the market for 2 months, which could easily happen to a home that is overpriced, typically sells for 5% less than its asking selling price. Still not convinced? Here are the reasons why overpricing your Ocean Edge condo is never a good idea if you want to sell your home.

Your Agent Knows Best

Anyone could research the prices of condos that have gone up for sale and sold in their area to get an idea of what their unit could sell for. When you consider your renovations and key features of the property, you may feel that you have a good grasp on how much you could list your home for before even meeting with an agent. However, ultimately your real estate agent knows best. They are the professionals in this field and they bring with them not only knowledge of the market, but experience selling properties that can help sell your home. It is easy to overprice your own home as the home owner, because there is some emotional attachment and involvement there. A real estate agent is an unbiased professional that has seen the other Ocean Edge units and knows what is of value to a buyer and what is not all that interesting. When looking for a listing agent, it is important that you know what to look for in a listing agent. Check out our blog, “Selling Your Ocean Edge Condo? Qualities to Look for in a Listing Agent.”

You may feel that the tile choices in the bathroom or kitchen counter top increase the value substantially, but if it’s not the latest and greatest option that buyers are looking for now, the real estate agent will know this and perhaps price your home a little lower than you had expected. When choosing your real estate agent, make sure you go with an agent that is an expert in your area. Ocean Edge is a unique market that requires a real estate agent that is familiar with who buys the condo units and how to market effectively to those buyers. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004, so he is an expert on listing properties in Ocean Edge and how to sell them quickly without overpricing your Ocean Edge condo. Get a free no obligation Ocean Edge Condo Valuation of your property to make sure that you are not overpricing your Ocean Edge condo.

First Impressions Last

When a home first hits the market, a lot of excitement is generated about the property. This is the time when there is the most interest in the home. Typically, buyers look at homes within 5% of their budgets. If they are looking at properties at Ocean Edge, they are waiting for the right property to pop onto the market for them to snag. When a condo comes on the market at an unreasonable price, it will turn buyers off right away. If the home is priced just above their expected price or the fair market price, they may entertain the idea of negotiating their budget. However, a condo that is overpriced will not get any attention from buyers. This is why overpricing your Ocean Edge condo is never a good idea. By the time you drop your price (because it has been sitting on the market for so long), your condo will be old news for buyers. They will think there is something wrong with the property or only solicit low ball offers because buyers will assume you are desperate at that point. It is vital in the success of your listing that you price your condo accordingly when you first list your property in order to spark interest in your condo and sell it at a reasonable price.

Overpricing Your Ocean Edge Condo: Never a Good Idea

When listing your Ocean Edge condo on the real estate market, it is important that you get the opinion of a seasoned professional when pricing your home. A well priced home will move in any market if you have the right real estate agent at your side. Pricing your home well instead of overpricing your Ocean Edge condo could potentially lead to a bidding war, increasing your selling price without scaring off buyers. There are also measures you could take to increase the value of your home that could increase your asking price just above market value without intimidating buyers. In the end, it is important that you seek the assistance of a professional real estate agent when making decisions based on pricing your Ocean Edge condo.

January 9, 2017/by Leighton Team

Selling

Delight Ocean Edge Condo Buyers with our 3 DIY Decorating Tips

Your Ocean Edge condo is on the market and ready to sell. Suddenly you look around and see that some of your neighbors have also listed their properties. How do you set your condominium apart from the competition without spending too much money? You have a nice property, priced appropriately and you don’t want to spend too much of your profit on a home you are not going to be living in anymore. Here are 3 simple do it yourself, or DIY decorating tips that won’t break the bank. Your condo already has the curb appeal to bring Ocean Edge condo buyers to the door. Now you need to make buyers fall in love with your home when they step inside and see these DIY decorating tips you have done to set your condo apart.

Second Impressions for Ocean Edge condo buyers

A home’s curb appeal is a home buyer’s first impression of a property. Ocean Edge landscaping crews maintain the grounds. Ocean Edge condo buyers have a positive first impression of your home already without you having to do anything to increase curb appeal. The second impression is made when the buyer walks into your condo. To increase a buyer’s second impression, some DIY decorating tips include creating an entrance way to your condo that will appeal to the buyer.

Regardless of the size of your condo, you can set the tone for your home by decorating your entrance. A small entrance with little room would benefit from a mirror to make the space feel larger and a nice entry floor mat. If you have more space in your entryway, a small table with flowers or potted plant and tasteful decorations would be appealing. Make sure that your entry is free of clutter during the time that your condo is listed on the market. You never know when someone might call for a tour of your home and you want to be ready. For more on how to make your condo stand out from the competition, check out our blog “7 Tips to Becoming the In Demand Condo at Ocean Edge.”

Give Your Home Character

One of the first pieces of advice your real estate agent will probably give you to get ready for showing your home to Ocean Edge condo buyers is to depersonalize your home. While it is true that you should take down personal pictures and momentos that might appear as clutter to people who do not have any sentimental attachment to them, make sure not to rid your home of its character. A home completely void of all decoration and accessories could make the condo appear cold and not inviting to the home buyer. You want the home buyer to feel comfortable in your space, so make your home look attractive but expensive at the same time. The little touches add value to the condo in the buyer’s eyes. The impersonal touches will still allow Ocean Edge condo buyers to visualize themselves living in the space, and maybe even give them ideas as to how to decorate the space once it is their own home.

Small details such as an ornamental throw pillow, candles and accent rugs are all small details that can raise the home buyer’s perception of the home’s worth. Choose a throw for your couch that is the same shade as one of the colors in a painting in the room. Attention to those small details will appeal to a home buyer’s emotions, drawing them in to the property and making it more desirable. Careful not to over do it. You want these small details throughout your space, sprinkled here and there and not overwhelming your home. It’s a delicate balance making a home look well decorated and not cluttered. So definitely remove any personal pictures in your condominium as your real estate agent suggests, but maybe invest in some accessories to decorate your condo. Pintrest is a great place to look for DIY decorating tips.

Small Renovations

Typically Ocean Edge condo buyers are looking for an updated kitchen and/or bathroom because it is one less thing that they have to do once they buy the home. Outdated bathrooms and kitchens are often deal breakers for home buyers. You do not want to break the bank and lose out on your profits by investing in a major remodel of your bathrooms and/or kitchen, so consider some cost effective DIY decorating tips to make your rooms feel less dated. In the kitchen, change out old knobs and paint or stain the cabinets to give your room some character. Check out our blog “5 Tips to Sell Your Ocean Edge Condo Above Market Price” for more tips on how to increase your home’s value in a competitive market.

Take a look at some home improvement magazines to see what is trending in kitchen remodels now and how you can inexpensively mimic the design in your current kitchen. Put in a back splash if you do not already have one that is on trend. In the bathroom, make sure your shower curtain liners are fresh or if you have glass doors on your shower that they are cleaned. Painting and switching out some outdated fixtures can go a long way. Get rid of Hollywood lighting because it is dated and replace it with something more modern. Large sheet mirrors in the bathroom are also considered very outdated, so if you are hesitant to remove and replace it, consider putting a frame around the mirror. Depending on the type of framing, it will set the tone for the room. A new sink or even faucet can make a difference in the room for very little money.

DIY decorating tips

You do not need to break the bank in order to invest in your home to make it stand out from the competition. Try these three simple DIY decorating tips and your home will instantly become more appealing to Ocean Edge condo buyers. To get an idea as to what other Ocean Edge condos have done to make their units more appealing, go with a realtor that knows Ocean Edge and has the experience selling condos in this one of a kind place on the Cape. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004. Contact Michael and his team today to get their expert opinion on your condo and what you can do to maximize your profits and sell your home fast.

December 9, 2016/by Leighton Team

Selling

Selling Your Ocean Edge Condo? Qualities to look for in a Listing Agent

When selling your Ocean Edge condo, it is important that you seek a professional and qualified real estate agent to list your property. Think of it this way, if you needed to have heart surgery, wouldn’t you do your homework to find the best possible care? You wouldn’t choose a doctor straight out of medical school to perform your life or death medical procedure. Instead, you would choose a surgeon who has been practicing for years with a phenomenal track record. It is your life after all. Selling your Ocean Edge condo is not a life or death decision, but it can be a stressful situation with thousands of dollars of your money on the line. The home selling process is so much easier when you have a skilled an experienced real estate agent on your side going through the whole process with you, telling you what to expect and guiding you in the right direction. Here is a list of the qualities to look for in an Ocean Edge listing agent so you do not waste time and miss out on potential sales.

Creativity

Sometimes home sales are easy and straightforward, other times they are messy and complicated. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell how your home sale is going to go until you are in the thick of selling your Ocean Edge condo. One of the qualities to look for in a listing agent is creativity. Sometimes out of the box thinking is required to sell a home. The ability to come up with creative solutions when problems arise is an invaluable skill. There are so many things that can come up when in the process of closing a sale. The loan underwriter can ask for last minute paperwork, buyers back out, appraisals come lower than expected, or an inspection could uncover hidden issues. A seasoned and creative real estate agent will come up with a solution that will resolve the issue instead of floundering under pressure. With all of the competition at Ocean Edge, we came up with a list to make your condo unit stand out. Here is our list of the “7 Tips to Becoming the In Demand Condo at Ocean Edge.”

Experience needed when selling your Ocean Edge condo

When talking about qualities to look for in a listing agent, one can not overlook the real estate agent’s experience. The number of years that a real estate agent has been practicing does not matter, their record matters. It is important to choose a real estate agent with a deep understanding of the area, the generic market and metrics of the local Ocean Edge condo market instead of someone who has a general idea of how to sell a home and has been merely holding a license for a long time without much success in selling. When you’re working with a real estate agent who knows Ocean Edge and knows how to sell your property quickly for a profit, you will be grateful for the experience. Check out our blog, “5 Reasons to be Thankful for a Great Real Estate Agent” to see if your real estate agent is really working out for you and your property.

Open and Honest

Great communication skills is one of the most important qualities to look for in a listing agent. If your real estate agent is not open and honest with you, how can you trust them to sell your condominium? It is not fair to you as the seller for your real estate agent to let you believe your home is worth more than it actually is just because that’s a number you as the seller want to get for your Ocean Edge condo. It’s important for the real estate agent to listen to you and your needs, but if the price is not realistic you need to trust your agent to give you realistic expectations. It is important that you have a good relationship with your real estate agent, and it is equally important that your listing real estate agent is able to have tough conversations with you because it’s in your best interest when selling your Ocean Edge condo.

Level Headed

When problems arise, creativity is one of the qualities to look for in a listing agent, but just as important is the ability to maintain a level head during crisis. It is easy to panic when you have set up your home for an open house, spent the money on staging and the offers do not come rolling in. Instead of panicking or freezing up unsure of what to do next, a level headed real estate agent will take the feedback they received from the Ocean Edge open house and present it to you calmly with some suggestions on how to bring in offers. It is your real estate agent’s job to work as the middle man between you and the potential buyers. Check out our list of “5 Tips to Sell Your Ocean Edge Condo About Market Price.” This will help you anticipate suggestions that your real estate agent might have in how to increase the desirability of your Ocean Edge condo to buyers.

Responsive

It is important when you meet with your real estate agent for the first time that you discuss how you prefer to be contacted and how often you would like to be in touch. If one of the qualities to look for in a listing agent includes the ability to meet with your real estate agent once a week to discuss progress on selling your Ocean Edge condo, it is best to discuss this with the listing agent upon meeting for the first time. It is important to be on the same page in this regard in the very beginning so that you are not frustrated because your expectations differ from what is acceptable in their opinion. Perhaps your listing agent can not meet with you once per week, but on the days that the real estate agent can not meet you, you can meet with one of their associates who is working with them on selling your property. Another quality to look for is an agent who is eager to answers your questions. It is important that you do not feel like you are inconveniencing your real estate agent by asking questions.

Qualities to Look for in an Ocean Edge Listing Agent

Listing your home for sale can be stressful, so it is important that you take your time and choose the right real estate agent to selling your Ocean Edge condo. Save yourself the stress and aggravation that comes with working with an inexperienced real estate agent and do your homework to find the right real estate agent. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004 and the #1 Agent in the town of Brewster since 2007. Check out his testimonials page to see what clients have had to say about Michael and his team of professionals.

November 22, 2016/by Leighton Team

Selling

Ocean Edge Brewster – How to sell your condo ASAP

Selling a condominium at Ocean Edge Brewster can be an intimidating task for most home owners, whether it’s their first condo or their tenth. Their primary concern is how to sell their home, which is a multi leveled question. What part of the sale are you most concerned with? Do you want to know how to sell your Ocean Edge condo quickly? Do you want to know how to walk away from the home making the most money? Or do you just want to know how to best prepare your home for the real estate market in general? Your real estate agent will work to get you the best price for your property by comparing your home to other condos in the area that have sold. That is how your real estate agent will help you walk away from your home with the most money in your pocket. To sell your Ocean Edge condominium ASAP, your agent can help you by using some basic best practices in real estate.

Timing

Is it a seller’s market or a buyer’s market in your area? A buyer’s market is when there is more of a housing inventory than the number of people that are buying homes. In this market, the price of homes will be lower because the inventory is so great and people are desperate to sell. A seller’s market is the opposite. In a seller’s market, there are more buyers looking to buy a property than properties on the market. A seller’s market means bidding wars and high prices for the buyers because there are so few houses on the real estate market. Your real estate agent should be aware of the real estate market in your area to help you make an educated decision when to sell your home.

One thing to keep in mind is that Cape Cod is a whole different animal than the rest of the state, so you need to look at regional trends instead of state trends. The market can be different in the Boston area or western part of the state than on Cape Cod.

Price your Ocean Edge Brewster condo well

Condos at Ocean Edge Brewster that are not priced correctly will not sell. A home that is priced too high will just sit on the market, which does not look good to potential buyers. Unfortunately, these home owners typically turn down early offers that are below their asking price because the seller believes that their home is worth way more and the bigger offers are just around the corner. This is not usually the case. The more time a Ocean Edge Brewster condominium stays on the market, the less interest buyers will have in the home. An overpriced home that has been on the market shows buyers that there is little negotiating on the price, and so why bother. If you choose the right real estate agent, they will help you price your home competitively so you are able to walk away feeling good about your decision. Do you have the right real estate agent for selling your home? Find out in our blog, “5 Reasons to be Thankful for a Great Real Estate Agent.”

Season

It was once believed that the only time to sell your home was in the spring and summer months. This was due to the fact that the majority of buyers were young families with children that needed to find a home and move into it before their children started school in the fall. While it is true that many buyers with young families try to buy homes during this time of year, they are not the only audience buying homes. People are putting off having children until later in life, so many unattached millennials and child free empty nesters are buying homes throughout the year.

Use the old fashioned mindset of only listing in the spring and summer months to your advantage! If you list your home during the fall and winter months, you could be one of only a few other Ocean Edge Brewster condos that are on the market at the time. This creates more of a sellers market because your home is only competing with a few other condominiums. How do you make your home stand out among others and capture the millennial and empty nesters’ attention? Check out our blog “How to Appeal to Buyers of Every Generation.”

Fix it Up

It sounds like it should be common sense to say that you should clean your Ocean Edge Brewster condominium and fix anything that is in need of repair. However, sometimes those details are overlooked or not taken too seriously. You may be used to the chipping paint on the baseboard or dust above the cabinets, but a buyer is not. It is worth having a professional cleaning service come in and do a thorough cleaning of your Ocean Edge home before it is shown, because first impressions matter. They matter when you’re meeting someone new, and they matter when buyers see your home for the first time. If something is broken, take the time to fix it before a potential buyer turns away from your property. If you have carpeting, invest in a company or a professional carpet cleaner to make it look brand new for buyers. For more tips on how to sell your home, check out our blog “Your House Not Selling? Try this Now!”

How to Sell Your Ocean Edge Brewster condo ASAP

Selling your home is a stressful time for anyone, whether it is your first home or your fifth. If you have the right real estate agent, they will help you get the right price for your home and sell it for you in a reasonable amount of time. If you are thinking of selling your Ocean Edge property, give Michael Leighton and his professionals a call today. Michael Leighton has been the #1 agent at Ocean Edge since 2004 and the #1 agent in the town of Brewster since 2007. He will price your condo appropriately and do everything he can to sell your home quickly.

October 25, 2016/by Leighton Team