Lee Morof's Real Estate Blog

Not everybody is dealing with the worry of buying or selling Southeast Michigan real estate in Oakland County. Some are quite happy where they are, have no intention of moving, and selling is the last thing on their minds.

However, there are a lot of incentives out there to do something in Southeast Michigan real estate, and many are itching to dip into those incentives. So, if you’re not selling or buying, what can you do? Here are a few ideas:

Upgrades
Upgrades are something you can do to your home at any time. However, with the many government incentives out there, you can upgrade your home to be more energy efficient for less. For example, thanks to federal tax credits, you can install solar panels or a geothermal heat pump and get 30% back once you file your federal taxes.

Instead of just jumping in on upgrades, it’s best to start with an energy audit. An energy audit will tell you where your problem areas are in order of priority, as well as what incentives and credits are available to help you compensate for the cost.

In addition to getting you incentives and credits, these upgrades will raise the resale value of your home.  They’ll also lower your utility bills – sometimes by as much as 70%, depending on the size of the problems and the upgrades you make.

Remodeling
If you’ve always wanted to remodel, now is a great time to do it. Contractors and remodelers aren’t as busy as they have been. For you, this means the chance to save money. Bargains are available on materials, labor costs and overall remodeling costs. Be aware that there are some shady companies, so make sure you investigate before signing a contract with anyone.

Refinancing
Although home refinancing isn’t the best thing to do for everyone, it’s something to look into if you’re struggling with mortgage payments. Talk to your lender and see what your choices are. If you can get better financing than you currently have, this may be a great option for you!

Just because you aren’t selling your Southeast Michigan real estate doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the down market. Look around, investigate, and see what options you have open as a homeowner to increase the property value or get the best out of the home you do have.

If you’re looking for the best upgrades and remodels to increase your home’s resale value, I can help. Call me at 248-514-2640 or email me at info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com for more information.

Lee Morof
RE/MAX Showcase Homes
Birmingham, Michigan
www.NorthWoodwardHomes.com
info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com
Call:  248-514-2640

In this real estate market selling your Southeast Michigan real estate requires more than just signing a listing agreement with a real estate agent and placing a sign in your front yard. It requires a great deal of preparation to impress buyers. In fact, preparing your home to sell is much like designing a stage for a play. Here are some tips for staging your Southeast Michigan home to sell faster and for Top Dollar.

• DO complete simple home repairs. Ripped screens, squeaky doors, and broken cabinets can quickly turn away buyers. Go through your home making minor repairs so that everything is in its best condition.
• DO get rid of clutter. A cluttered home is more difficult to walk through and looks smaller inside. Box anything you plan to move but don’t need immediately and put it in storage. Give or throw away anything you can no longer use.
• DO learn all you can about staging your home from professionals.  Order my no obligation, FREE Book for sellers, “Staging Tips to Prepare Your Home for Market.”  This book will help you pinpoint what needs to go and what will appeal to most buyers. 
• DON’T spend money unnecessarily. If you have to replace your carpet, choose one that’s moderately priced. De-clutter and neatly arrange your clothes in your closets instead of investing in expensive organization systems. These items are going to stay in your home after you sell it, so it’s like throwing money away.
• DON’T paint rooms to match your furniture. A fresh paint job is a great way to bring new life to your home. However, you should only use neutral paint colors. They will go well with your current décor and will help buyers picture themselves in your home.

Buyers are you thinking about purchasing Southeast Michigan real estate in Oakland County?  I can help you find and buy the right home for your needs and budget.

Sellers do you want more suggestions on how to sell your home quickly and for the most money?  Drop me an email now at info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com or give me a call at 248-514-2640.  I’d love to tell you about my exclusive 30-Day Marketing Plan that gets results!

Lee Morof
RE/MAX Showcase Homes
Birmingham, Michigan
www.NorthWoodwardHomes.com
info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com
Call:  248-514-2640

I just received this email from a potential seller of Southeast Michigan real estate. The email and my response are well worth posting. First the email:

We are interested in listing a single family residence in Birmingham.   We are not in any rush to sell the property and fully realize the market is currently depressed.   We do not want to give the home away in the currently depressed market but thought we should list it at this time.   We want to avoid wasting your time or our time if you are not genuinely interested in listing it with an asking price of $450K which may well be $100K over current market value or appraisal.   If interested please respond to this email

Now, my response:

Wow! Very interesting email. First, if you don’t need to sell at this time then don’t. We are experiencing a severe buyer’s market and homes listed at the top of the market are not selling. Realtors who list properties at the top of the market are either incompetent or using their sellers to attract buyers to sell other home to. Moreover, by listing a home they know or should know will not sell, they are only perpetuating a buyers market.I don’ t want anyone to give their home away either. As you know, youi cannot sell a stock on the New York Stock Exchange for a price above market. The same is true for a home in a buyer’s market. If a buyer falls in love with your home and agrees to the above market price, the transactioin will fail because the home will not appraise and the buyer won’t ge the financing. If you are certain that the $450,000 amount is $100,000 above market, then I respectfully am not able to help you. If you are not certain, I would be happy to do a market analysis of your Southeast Michigan real estate in Birmingham free of charge.

Lee Morof
RE/MAX Showcase Homes
Birmingham, Michigan
www.NorthWoodwardHomes.com
info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com
Call:  248-514-2640