Billings Montana Homes for Sale

Sell-Ability Tips


Ok, A Realtor Calls You To Make A Showing Appointment, Now What?

"Hello, this is Jessica Billings from Apex Realty and I'd like to show your home to my clients later today, would 6pm work for you?"  You respond "yes that will work great, thank you for showing".

Tips for a good showing, and you're not even there when it happens!

  • Always leave the home prior to and during showings.  This showing is not about you, it's about the home, the one you're leaving for whatever reason.  We use lock boxes for your safety.
  • When you leave, if you have animals, take them with you.  Nothing stops a buyer in their tracks and distracts them more than a barking dog, either in a kennel or running around in the back yard.  I love pets, but let the buyer focus on your home, not your dog.
  • You have been prepared for showings, meaning you know that your home should be in show condition at all times.  If you need the afternoon to clean the house, you need to postpone that showing until you have your home in great shape. 
  • Buyers decide if they want to look any further  within 10 seconds of driving up to the property (curb appeal baby), and within about 30 seconds once they step through the front door.  Presentation is like a well rehearsed stage show, give the audience what it wants and they'll beg for more!
  • Open the drapes (your windows are clean) and let the light shine in.  Lighting is great, various kinds are a good mixer.  Please no burnt out bulbs.  And while I love the compact flourescents, make sure that they fit the fixture you are using them in so they don't look mismatched.
  • The use of soft music, very light in volume can be a nice accent as well as a hint of a nice smell.  Never overpower with any perfume type candles or plug in scents, people think you're trying to cover something up.  If you have time you can bake some bread or cookies a few hours ahead of time.  I will do this during open houses sometimes, just feels homey.
  • Make sure the sprinklers are not on during a showing. 
  • If the weather is wet or snowy, make sure the visitors have an entry rug so that they can remove their shoes easily.  Snow removal is a must for your entry and driveway. 
  • If the Realtor is still present and showing, don't return to the home until they are finished.
  • If a Realtor asks you questions when they phone about your selling price position, or anything else personal or prying, kindly ask them to call your listing agent for further details (this is inappropriate).
  • Don't expect feedback on the showing from the buyers Realtor unless they have more interest.  Believe me, if they want to bring an offer, you'll hear about it. 
  • Realtor feedback can be constructive or nonsense, sometimes it's hard to know the difference, if their buyer is not interested in your home.
  • I may have left something out, but these tips can help sell your home, good luck!

Upsize, Downsize, Check My Crystal Ball!

Not too long ago, ok maybe a long time ago (35 years seems like just a while back), my MOther In Law had a 6.25% 30yr fixed mortgage on her home.  I said "don't ever pay that off, you won't get money any cheaper", the going interest rate on a new home loan was somewhere in the vicinity of 12%.  This is a new day.

The lenders are shouting with joy right now, because after being called the scum of the earth for helping people get into toxic loans (not the case around here, 3rd lowest rate of foreclosure), they are now the HEROES of the hour with rates at 4.5% to 5% 30 year fixed mortgages.  $$$ cha ching!  More dollars for you in your pocket, more dollars for them in transaction fees.  Even more interesting are the folks coming out of the woodwork wondering if the bottom is here.

Should I upsize, downsize or buy more for investment?  Since our local sales volume is down 20%, you would think our prices would be going down.  Not so, we actually increased by about $3,000 for average sold price on an average in the $196,000 range.

crystal ball

Anything that is priced right around here is selling in less than 30 days, overpriced stuff still sits and waits.  People who are wondering where the bottom of the market is should come over to my office and check my crystal ball!  If you knew the stock market had peaked and was headed down, did you pull all of your stocks or loose 25% to 50% of your 401K like I and a lot of my friends did?  Can you live in your 401K?

Buyers are missing out on really good deals because they get burned out trying to find the desperate price instead of the best house for the money!

We just had a homeforecasters.com report come out that "forecast" the Billings Montana market will appreciate 3.1% for 2009.  Humm, I wonder.  I'll just have to check my crystal ball. 

Selling your home shouldn't be a stressful ordeal. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your investment in your home pays off. Our services and experience allow you to focus on your move while we manage your home sale from our initial consultation to the closing deal, and beyond. We pride ourselves on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.

Recent Home Sales

What are homes selling for on your street? Feel free to contact me to find out what neighborhood homes are selling for, free of charge, or to receive a more detailed analysis of the value of your home.

Montana Homestead Brokers LLC