CUMBERLAND COUNTY AND DAUPHIN COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA

Last year, I presented a client (Seller), with a fair offer on their property. Their home was on the market for nearly a month without an offer. The offering price was acceptable, but the Buyer, through his Agent, insisted we respond to each, Reply to Inspection demand (counter), immediately, as opposed to handling all Inspection issues after the entire inspection processes were completed. Pest, Home Inspection, Water, the roof was obviously in need of replacement.

After several terse calls from the Buyers Agent regarding these issues, I went to see the Seller to review and propose an acceptable compromise. The Seller was not opposed to the conditions of my compromise but was not willing to negotiate anything until all the inspections were completed and forwarded at one time. He was very willing to walk away from this Buyer.Now this Seller and his wife, wonderful and honorable people are very contemplative, (thoughtful) folks. I thought, I was doing them a service, preparing a fair compromise to an issue forced upon us.

What I learned through these seasoned folks was that they were not willing to do business with a pushy, thuggish, Buyer, as "he will never be done with his demands if we consider a premature negotiation". The Buyers Agent is an excellent and experienced Agent who was being run by her Buyer. I was being run, at least for a while, by him as well hoping to do the best for my client. In the course of my professional life I have been involved in serious, complex, and very expensive negotiations for many years and thought I had been around long enough to have most of the answers. After that meeting with the Informed Seller s, I thanked them for the "Life Lesson", went home waited for the certain, Buyer insisted call, and suggested to the Buyers Agent we cancel the deal as the Sellers don't wish to play with her Buyer. The Agent did her best to plead the Buyers case but realized our firm position. The Buyer was finally controlled, which was in his best interest. Negotiations went forward, after all the inspections were completed, a fair compromise was worked out and the Buyer didn't give us another problem as he finally understood we were willing to walk away.

What have I learned from this experience? At 49 years of age, I still have a lot to learn from those who have been around longer than I have.

NoShotScott

Scott J. Fonner
717-608-8014
sfonner@comcast.net

http://www.valuemypahome.com

http://sfonner.com

Cumberland County and Dauphin County Pennsylvania

We haven’t been spared in Cumberland County or Dauphin County Pennsylvania in this down market, but there is a bright spot. You may be netting less from your sold home but you will be getting a great deal on the next home purchase, paying far less than you would have a year or two ago with a good interest rate.

What is essential in this slow market, for a home to sell, is to have the highest exposure possible. Choose an agent who pays the additional money to have your home showcased on Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Google.com, MSN.com, and all the sites that buyer’s go to when looking for homes for sale. Of course plenty of quality photos, the visual tours, good descriptions, accurate directions, utility cost, and floor plans add to the desireability of homes for sale and will make a significant impact on the number of view your home will receive resulting in a more certain sale of your home.

Feel free to contact me at 717-608-8014 for a confidential meeting to discuss how my marketing plan will benefit your family.

NoShotScott

Scott J. Fonner
717-608-8014
sfonner@comcast.net

http://www.valuemypahome.com/

http://www.sfonner.com/

REALTOR TECHNOLOGY

SELL MY HOME

I have marketed myself as a LISTING AGENT in CUMBERLAND COUNTY and DAUPHIN COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA. HOME SELLER s are looking for the most internet savvy REAL ESTATE AGENT when they are considering BUYING A HOME, or SELLING A HOME. Many HOME SELLER s are much more advanced and educated on the technology available today than AGENTS IN MY AREA. In today’s market we better be doing all that is necessary to efficiently and QUICKLY SELL A HOME or FIND A HOME such as using all the tools available to us.

My BLOG s posted on ACTIVE RAIN, BLOGGER.COM, and other sources, hopefully will be an asset for HOME OWNER s CONSIDERING BUYING A HOME or SELLING A HOME. My blog has featured stories on why FLOOR PLANS, VIRTUAL TOURS, VISUAL TOURS, VIDEO TOURS, well worded descriptions’ & quality photos are other important ingredients in the marketing of a PROPERTY FOR SALE, as well as documenting events that have occurred and what I have taken from the experience. This is just the beginning of what is necessary in today’s market. We must have a significant presence on all the HOMES FOR SALE and HOUSE VALUES search sites.

To my fellow REALTOR s, this is also a test on utilizing meta tags and highlighting key words in an effort to increase my internet presence.

NoShotScott

SCOTT J. FONNER

http://www.valuemypahome.com

http://www.sfonner.com

HOME IMPROVEMENTS, Return for Remodeling

KITCHEN Job Cost Resale Value Cost Recouped
National Average $17,928 $15,278 85%
Harrisburg Average $17,444 $12,632 72.4%

BATHROOM Job Cost Resale Value Cost Recouped
National Average $12,918 $10,970 85%
Harrisburg Average $12,270 $8,278 67.5%

HOME OFFICE Job Cost Resale Value Cost Recouped
National Average $20,057 $12,707 63%
Harrisburg Average $19,089 $9,368 49.1%

BASEMENT Job Cost Resale Value Cost Recouped
National Average $56,724 $44,685 79%
Harrisburg Average $52,717 $34,700 65.8%

SUNROOM ADDITION Job Cost Resale Value Cost Recouped
National Average $49,551 $32,854 66%
Harrisburg Average $47,371 $27,974 59.1%

REPLACEMENT MIDRANGE Job Cost Resale Value CostRecouped
Roofing $16,056 $11,536 71.8%
Siding $9,483 $8,748 92.3%
Window (wood) $11,610 $10,095 87%
Window (vinyl) $10,682 $9,523 89.2%

SELLERS KEEP YOUR INSURANCE CURRENT

Sellers,

For the love of God don't cancel your insurance. I have seen it happen more than once with very bad consequences.

In the past year, one out of state home owner, had a radiator freeze and blow out, cost $2,700.00. Lost a buyer with that one. Same home all the copper was removed about a week before settlement, cost $1,900.00. This was on a $59,000.00 home.

NoShotScott

SAVY SELLERS

Recently, I presented a client (Seller), with a fair offer on their property. Their home was on the market for nearly a month without an offer. The offering price was acceptable, but the Buyer, through his Agent, insisted we respond to each, Reply to Inspection, demand immediately, as opposed to handling all Inspection issues after the entire inspection processes were completed. Pest, Home Inspection, Water, the roof was obviously in need of replacement. After several terse calls from the Buyers Agent regarding these issues, I went to see the Seller to review and propose an acceptable compromise. The Seller was not opposed to the conditions of my compromise but was not willing to negotiate anything until all the inspections were completed and forwarded at one time. He was very willing to walk away from this Buyer.

Now this Seller and his wife, wonderful and honorable people are very contemplative, (thoughtful) folks. I thought, I was doing them a service, preparing a fair compromise to an issue forced upon us. What I learned through these seasoned folks was that they were not willing to do business with a pushy, thuggish Buyer, as "he will never be done with his demands if we consider a premature negotiation". The Buyers Agent is an excellent and experienced Agent who was being run by her Buyer. I was being run, at least for a while, by him as well hoping to do the best for my client. In the course of my professional life I have been involved in serious, complex, and very expensive negotiations for many years and thought I had been around long enough to have most of the answers.

After that meeting with the Sellers, I thanked them for the "Life Lesson", went home waited for the certain Buyer insisted call, and suggested to the Agent we cancel the deal as the Sellers don't wish to play with her buyer. The Agent did her best to plead the Buyers case but realized our certain position. The Buyer was finally controlled, which was in his best interest. Negotiations went forward, after all the inspections were completed, a fair compromise was worked out and the Buyer didn’t give us another problem as he finally understood we were willing to walk away.

What have I learned from this experience? At 48 years of age, I still have a lot to learn from those who have been around longer than I have.

NoShotScott

STAGING YOUR HOME

I have found from experience that the activity during the first two weeks a home is on the market tends to predict how long it will take to sell. Potential buyers eagerly jump on new homes on the market.

Here are some “staging” tips you might find helpful:

* Keep your home in “show shape.” Make sure that beds are made, dishes are in the dishwasher or put away, everything is picked up, and the kitchen and bathrooms sparkle.

* Decorate with fresh flowers. Many home sellers use potted flowering plants that last much longer than cut flowers. Place them inside and out. They really add cheer!

* Turn on lights; replace all burned-out bulbs. Open blinds and draperies. Let the natural light in.

* Confine pets and keep them out of sight when possible. They can be distracting, and some people have allergies.

* Create a relaxed atmosphere with soft background music.I'll stay in touch. In the meantime, if you have any questions don't hesitate to call or email me.

NoShotScott