How To Get The Best Price For Your Home

Determining how to correctly price a home for sale is one of the most important factors in selling a home. Statistics show that setting the correct market-determined price the first time will ultimately achieve the best sale price. To find the best price for a market an impartial evaluation of recent market an experienced REALTOR should perform activity.

Why shouldn’t I price my home high at the start then go lower if no bids come in?

Putting a home on the market at a price that is over market value in hopes that a buyer will fall in love with your home and be willing to pay anything is a strategy that rarely works. This type of buyer is extremely rare. Buyers generally want the most home they can get for as little money possible.

Pricing a home correctly the first time captures the momentum a new listing has in the marketplace.

New listings are exciting to homebuyers who have been looking and know what is on the market. If they see your property and find that it is overpriced for the market, they may mark it off their list and move on. Incorrectly priced properties will lose this new-listing excitement among buyers as time goes on.  Marketing time for your home will become prolonged as the initial marketing momentum is lost.

Pricing a home correctly will bring in more potential buyers.

If a home is overpriced compared to the market, fewer buyers will be attracted and fewer offers received. The property will attracts “lookers” and will help competing houses look better by comparison. If a property does sell above true market value, it may not appraise, and the buyers may not be able to secure a loan. Or, the property may eventually sell below market value due to market stagnation and price reductions. 

So how do you correctly price a home for sale?

An impartial evaluation of market activity is the most effective way to estimate a property’s potential selling price. Experienced REALTORs use a Comparative Market Analysis that takes the following into consideration:

·      Properties that have sold in the recent past show what buyers in the market have actually paid for properties similar to yours.

·      Properties currently on the market that will be competing with yours for the attention of available buyers.

·      Properties that failed to sell should be studied to understand why they did not sell as to avoid similar disappointment.

Pick a real estate agent based on reviews and experience, not how much they will initially price your home.

When trying to win your listing some agents may be tempted to offer an unrealistic initial sales price to get your business. These agents know full well they will have to reduce, reduce, reduce – the wrong strategy.   Speak with The Boehmer Team before listing your home. They are highly reviewed, awarded and experienced agents that know the market well. Even if they need to recommend repairs or staging services, the Boehmer Team knows how to get the most for your home sale. 

3 Natural Ways to Rid 3 Common Midwest Insects From Your Home

With the emergence of warmer weather come the bugs. They are climbing out of their hibernating spaces and looking for a summer home – in your house! But don’t fret; there are several easy and natural ways to keep common Midwestern insects out of your home.

Three Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ants

1. Cleanliness. Food dropped on floors or dripped down the side of an appliance will attract ants. Wipe down spills and sweep the floors. Avoid leaving out uncovered food or dirty dishes.
2. Salt. According to James Mouyassar of 2 Nice Guys Pest Control, “use the same rock salt you use to de-ice your sidewalks in the wintertime and make a perimeter around your home along the foundation to keep ants away.” Note: this method will kill any plants the salt comes into contact with. Use a cup with a pour spout or something similar to help spread the salt with more control and less strain than maneuvering a heavy bag.
3. Orange oil. ^1.Citrus oils like orange, lemon and grapefruit contain d-limonene, which is toxic to ants. Spray a mixture of the essential oil and water along their entry points to mask their scent trails or add the citrus oil to a cotton ball and wipe windowsills and doorsteps. Note: Be sure to test any areas you don’t want stained as some orange oil sprays have an orange tint.

Three Natural Ways to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

1. Do not leave molded fruit out.  ^2.According to Todd Schlenke, assistant professor of biology at Emory University, "Fruit flies spend their whole lives searching for the smell of rotting fruit, then get in through cracks in the door or however the smell is getting out of your house." A brown banana peel won’t cause fruit flies by itself but fuzzy or molding fruit will. If you notice any fruit that is molding dispose of it immediately.
2. Unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Create a trap by covering a jar with a tablespoon or two of vinegar with plastic wrap. Hold the plastic wrap down with a rubber band. Punch a few small holes in it. The flies will go in and not be able to come out. Dump when gross.
3. Red wine. A potential cause is also a potential solution. Fruit flies love the smell of wine. So leave an open bottle of red wine out with a little wine in the bottom and the insects will fly into the bottle and not be able to fly out.

Three Natural Ways to Get Rid of Spiders

1. Peppermint. Spiders despise the smell of peppermint. ^3.Spray your area with a mixture of peppermint oil and water to keep spiders at bay. Your home will smell great too! 
2. Vinegar. Already seen a spider in your home? Similar to peppermint, you can make a mixture of vinegar and water and spray your area, particularly in the cracks and corners. Note: This also works for ants as it destroys the smell of their trail and will help eliminate stragglers. 
3. Dusting. Literally dusting away the cobwebs and cleaning in the corners is needed to keep spiders from settling into your home. Go over the corners of the ceiling and floors with the hose attachment on your vacuum at least once a month.

References: 

1. http://www.mommypotamus.com/7-ways-get-rid-ants-naturally/
2. http://www.hgtvgardens.com/pests/a-surprising-way-to-banish-fruit-flies
3. http://www.naturallivingideas.com/9-natural-ways-to-keep-spiders-out-of-your-home/
   
   
   

Green Building and Green Home Retrofitting

This is an exciting time for green home construction and for green retrofitting a home. Green building trends offer some amazing opportunities to ensure a healthful, efficient home, and this year we'll see even more options than we have in the past. Benefits include energy savings through water and energy efficiency, better indoor air quality and reduced construction waste.

Some of the myths about green building and retrofitting are that it is complicated and expensive. It’s true that some go to great lengths to build their own efficient, off-grid home. But many can improve their current home with some of the ideas below.

Green ideas for retrofitting the inside of a home:

• Adding extra insulation
• Using energy-efficient appliances
• Installing energy-efficient windows
• Highly programmable thermostat installed
• Using recycled or up-cycled items for remodeling and décor (check out this article - includes shutter table pictured)
• Bringing in plants to filter the air in your home (best plants for air filtration)
• Turning off lights and unplugging electronics when not in use

Green ideas for outside the home:

• Utilizing a rain barrel to water your garden
• Diverting storm water to be infiltrated into your yard or landscaping instead of directly into storm sewers
• Planting trees that shade the building to alleviate some of the need for air conditioning
• Composting keeps your garbage scraps out of everyday waste and creates food for your garden
• Using worms instead of chemicals to fertilize your garden

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) now requires new constructed homes to meet the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code in order for potential homeowners to be eligible for a conventional FHA-insured mortgage.  So purchasing a newly built home means getting more green features in your home. Plus builders want to work with green-minded individuals in the home building process.

Green home construction practices:

• Building solar panels into the home during construction
• Utilizing roofing materials such as slate, terra cotta, white tiles, special membranes, and metal roofing reflecting the sun’s energy away from the roof, cools faster at night and holds less heat for less time to help reduce energy costs and usage (see roof types)
• Geothermal power is an option that involves a substantial up-front investment, but with it via the earth (think heat pump) you can heat and cool your home. (How it works)
• Use of recyclable and sustainable materials
• Green practices instilled in every phase from design to construction

We hope this article give you some ideas for ways to add more green features to your home. The Boehmer Team can connect you with a local green builder or find an existing green home for sale. Visit www.TheBoehmerTeam.com or call us today for assistance.

Sources:

• http://www.imt.org/news/the-current/innovations-in-energy-efficiency-finance-new-fha-rule-points-the-way-ahead
• http://www.stlhba.com/PageLoader.aspx?PageId=93
• http://stlouisgreen.com/blog/category/green-building/

The Boehmer Team Awarded Third in the Country at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices National Convention

HSF Affiliates LLC hosted its annual Sales Convention March 22-24 in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Linda and Kelly Boehmer of The Boehmer Team appeared onstage Tuesday, at the Mirage Hotel & Casino event, where they waited to hear their team rank out of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 35,000 agents from 1,100 offices in 47 states. Excitement grew as they continued to wait while 97 other of the top 100 teams in the nation were announced.

Finally the announcer called out, “the number three team in the nation is The Boehmer Team from St. Charles, Missouri.”

Several dozen Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties agents from the St. Charles and St. Louis area could be heard cheering loudly above the rest in the audience as The Boehmer Team crossed the stage.

After the event Kelly Boehmer said, “We are honored. Each day our team enjoys working together to successfully assist our clients and builders. To be awarded for doing a job we love feels amazing.”

Rick Colburn, Co-Broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties St. Charles County office of The Boehmer Team said, “I can't begin to explain how proud I am of this team. Congrats to Linda, Kelly and the entire Boehmer Team.”

Several thousand real estate professionals and guests from all over the country attended the three-day event titled, Revolution 2015, to gain insight from motivational speakers, hear market observations, attend panel discussions, preview the network’s latest tools and resources, and watch the best of the best be awarded.

What's Your Paradise?

The Boehmer Team wants to know, "what's your paradise?"

To find out, The Boehmer Team is holding a "My Paradise" Contest to win two tickets to see Jimmy Buffett in concert at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater on June 4th, 2015!

Is your paradise the beach? Your Garden? Motorcycling? Canoeing? A favorite meal at your favorite restaurant? We want to know.

Anyone can enter by doing the following:

1. Like The Boehmer Team on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter 
2. Post a picture of your paradise on Facebook or Twitter
3. In the description type #MyParadise and tag @The Boehmer Team (To tag us start typing “@The Boehmer Team” and then click The Boehmer Team from the drop-down options.)

The winner will be picked May 1st, 2015.
The winner will be chosen at random. Anyone can enter and win.

 

The Boehmer Team honored for donation to The Sunshine Kids

The Boehmer Team with Prudential Select Properties Real Estate has recently been recognized for the fifth consecutive year for being among the top contributors, companywide, to The Sunshine Kids.  The Sunshine Kids is a not for profit organization dedicated to children with cancer. Established in 1982, they are committed to providing positive group activities and emotional support for young cancer patients. The Sunshine Kids provides a variety of programs and events, free of charge, for kids who are receiving cancer treatments in hospitals across North America.

March is the red carpet season for real estate.  Among all of the awards and accolades that we have been blessed to receive this year, this is the one that means the most to us.  We make a contribution for every closed sale, both listings and buyers, to The Sunshine Kids.  It is a privilege to be affiliated with an organization that has made, and continues to make, a difference for these amazing and brave children.

 

If you are considering a move or have questions regarding real estate in St. Charles County or the St. Louis Metropolitan area, contact The Boehmer Team at www.TheBoehmerTeam.com.

We are Proud to be Honored

The Boehmer Team is proud to announce that we have been named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s Highest Selling St. Louis Real Estate Agents.  We are grateful to our many clients, friends and family for their business and their many referrals.  Without them this amazing achievement would not be possible.  With the greatest increase in sales volume on the list and the fewest years in the business, we take this accomplishment very seriously and are humbled to be in the company of the fine agents listed.  We are full time, full service real estate professionals who utilize the newest marketing techniques when marketing our homes. We work with buyers, sellers and have extensive knowledge of new construction.  If moving is on your mind and you are considering buying or selling a home in St. Charles County, MO give The Boehmer Team a call or visit us on the web at www.TheBoehmerTeam.com.