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How to Sell Your Home FAST

In the digital world we live in, many buyers never leave their house when they start their home searches!  Online search tools and databases put house hunting in the palm of a buyer’s hands! Home sellers have to make their first impressions on the small screens of smart phones!  The best way to stand out in a sea of photos is through home staging.

According to the National Association of Realtors®, 49-percent of buyers’ agents feel home staging affects their buyer’s view of the home. Both the International Association of Home Staging Professionals and StagedHomes.com say on average, staged homes sell in 11 days or less and for 17-percent more money.

Staging depersonalizes a home. It also features the home’s assets and selling points while minimizing any potential negatives. For example, a professional home stager’s strategies make small rooms look larger and give even the most awkward of spaces purpose, making it easier for buyers to picture themselves living there.

Which rooms should I stage?

The living room, kitchen, master bedroom, dining room, and bathroom are the top areas to stage. These are the rooms in your home that you want to shine.

If you can’t stage every room, start with the living room and master bedroom. Those places are most important in a buyer’s eyes.

Ready for some home staging tricks with real before and after photos?

Staging a well-lived-in home

The problem for many sellers is that they lived in a house for years, maybe even decades.  It’s tough for them to envision switching up the furniture arrangement or swapping out items in favor of  different decor.  But even those sometimes subtle changes can have a huge impact on showings.

Here’s great example.  Take a look at this picture of a home we staged in Blue Springs.  Here’s the BEFORE photo:

In this living room, the furniture was great– but needed some “refreshing”.  The space was heavy on decor– and the large rug weighed down the vibe of the space and seemed to suck the light out of the room.

Now,  take a look at the AFTER photo.

We removed the rug to open up and brighten up the room.  We added lighter pillows to contrast the dark sofa and reflect more light.  We deleted some of the decor to declutter the area.

The result?  A lighter, brighter, clean & open space that suddenly appears larger, too!

How to stage a small space

Speaking of size — some homes simply have small living spaces. While we can’t change the physical dimensions of the room, we can make rooms FEEL larger than they are.

Check out this BEFORE photo of a home we recently staged:

This room has too much furniture and clutter for its size.   Plus, the curtains seem to shorten what should be a fabulous feature: the oversized windows widows flanking the fireplace.

Now– take a look at AFTER picture!

Can you believe this is the same home?  We used our staging inventory to bring in lighter and brighter furniture and arranged it to open up and create a more welcoming space.  We added long sheer curtains to accentuate the oversized windows and let in maximum light.  We added a light rug to make the flooring and fireplace “pop”.

These changes allowed buyers to focus on all the fabulous features of this home!

Staging Grandma’s house

We all love our Grandparents, but do we love their decorating styles?  If the vibe of a home is stuck in the 70’s & 80’s or 90’s, buyers get easily overwhelmed. They automatically start calculating how much it will cost to renovate the property to something that fits their style.

Adding insult to injury, many families are left with the task of selling these outdated homes when a loved one passes away.  It’s often an emotionally painful process, but a home staging professional can lighten that load by providing while brightening the space. They’re unbiased and can objectively decide how to freshen up the look.

The truth is, many dated homes can be instantly updated by utilizing some simple staging strategies.

Here’s another BEFORE photo to prove that point:

Now– Here’s the AFTER:

Simply switching out the furniture with more modern decor on a smaller scale suddenly makes this room feel brighter and more youthful.  No walls needed to be painted, no floors needed to be replaced.  Even if sheet vinyl and oak trim aren’t among today’s buyers first choices, the space is super clean and inviting and 100% move in ready!  That’s what buyers really need to see– so they can envision themselves moving in without a pile of projects awaiting them.

How to stage a vacant home

Home staging WORKS WONDERS in selling vacant homes.  Studies show less than 10% of buyers can envision the true size of an empty room.

Here’s a great example. This open concept floorplan is notoriously challenging for buyers to figure out furniture placement.

The BEFORE photo:

And here’s the AFTER:

New home construction

Staging works magic in new homes, too.  Even though everything is BRAND NEW, buyers still struggle to get a feel for true room sizes, and with today’s open concept floor plans, they really struggle with trying to imagine where they will put all their furniture.

Here’s the BEFORE picture below.  How would YOU would arrange YOUR furniture in this family room?

Now– take a look at the AFTER photo:

Are you SOLD?  We are!  We feel so strongly about the power of home staging, we are happy to share our top 10 home staging secrets!

These powerful examples illustrate why we are so passionate about providing professional home staging to our seller clients, at no extra cost! With the Sally Moore Real Estate Team, it’s always “On the House”!

FREE Kansas City area home staging

Accredited Staging Professionals, like Sally Moore, have the experience and extensive training to stage homes and sell them faster and for top dollar. Ready for her to work some home staging magic on your home?

Contact us today!

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December 2023

U.S. existing-home sales rose from a 13-year low, climbing 0.8% from the
previous month and breaking a five-month streak in which sales declined,
according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Despite the
increase, sales were down 7.3% compared to the same period last year, as
affordability challenges continue to hinder prospective buyers. Most of this
period’s closed sales went under contract in October, when mortgage rates
were at a two-decade high. With rates having dropped more than a full
percentage point since then, existing-home sales may continue to pick up in
the months ahead.
Closed Sales decreased 5.9 percent for existing homes and 17.7 percent for
new homes. Pending Sales increased 7.6 percent for existing homes and 25.0
percent for new homes. Inventory decreased 6.2 percent for existing homes
and 14.4 percent for new homes.
The Median Sales Price was up 6.4 percent to $266,000 for existing homes
but decreased 6.5 percent to $503,061 for new homes. Days on Market
increased 3.3 percent for existing homes and 54.9 percent for new homes.
Supply increased 7.7 percent for existing homes but increased 7.7 percent for
new homes.
Low levels of inventory continue to impact U.S. home sales, offering few
options for aspiring buyers to choose from. Going into December there were
1.13 million units for sale, down 1.7% from the previous month but up 0.9%
from the same period last year, for a 3.5 months’ supply at the current sales
pace. As a result, sales prices remain high nationwide, with NAR reporting the
median existing-home price rose 4% annually to $387,600 as of last measure,
the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year price gains. Homebuyer
demand is picking up, and without a significant increase in supply, experts
believe home prices will likely remain elevated for some time to come.

Data courtesy Kansas City Association of Realtors – Monthly Indicator Report

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Sell your home quicker

It’s not just the Groundhog who says spring is coming early, housing data shows this trend too! Buyers are taking advantage of lower interest rates, and of course the warmer weather after a cold and snowy winter. In several markets across the country, real estate activity is picking up!

In Kansas City, the temperature is finally warming up. The weather impacts the real estate market locally and nationally. Despite a cold and snowy winter, sales only dipped slightly, which is setting us up for a strong spring real estate market in the KC area.

“Weather-related events have hampered some of the necessary machinations of making home sales during February 2019, yet buyers have shown determination toward achieving their homeownership goals,” the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors® (KRAR) wrote in its recent KC real estate market report.

While there’s no doubt spring is a popular time to buy and sell a home, why wait? If you sell before the official start of the busy real estate season, you get several advantages. You’ll have less competition. So, you’re more likely to sell your home faster.

With our team, we’ll make sure you sell your home quickly no matter the time of year with FREE home staging. Plus, staging will sell it for more money too! Statistics show a staged home leads to a sales price worth 17-percent more according to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals and StagedHomes.com.

May 1 is traditionally the busiest day of the year for listing homes for sale. Think about it, by May 1, spring has sprung. Get a jump start on the competition, and consider selling before the busy season. Now is the time you have fewer neighbors to compete against, and with limited inventory still, homes sell quickly.

We recently sold two in less than 24 hours, and we’ve seen this trend all winter. It’s continuing this spring. We recently sold a home in Blue Springs before we even had the photos back! Curious what all these sales mean for your home’s value? Find out for FREE instantly!

Sales prices are up

Also, the average sale price is up this year. The average sales price in the Kansas City real estate market in 2018, was $215,592. This last month, it was $228,138. That’s nearly a 6% increase!

So, how much can you get from your home? Find out instantly and for FREE! Just type your address in below.

When priced right, which you’ll get with an experienced real estate expert team, Kansas City homeowners are selling their home for 96% of the original list price.

If you’re even remotely considering selling anytime soon, act quickly! This chart shows you how high home prices are climbing compared to just a few years ago. We can’t predict the future, but man I wish we could! So, take advantage of the increase while it lasts.

Look at that growth! Sellers need to act now! Here are more reasons why this is one of the best times to sell in years!

It’s still a seller’s market

So, how long will it take you to sell your home? We’re seeing some homes sell very quickly, within days! The average time is 62 days in the KC area, according to KCRAR data.

The resale market still favors the seller. However, it’s unknown how long this will last. We may shift to a buyer’s market this year.

Right now, inventory is up nearly a percent year over year according to the latest data from the KCRAR.

While we’re seeing more homes on the market year over year, resale properties went down 1.2% last month. That trend should reverse course as we know inventory typically surges in May. So take advantage of the market now before all your neighbors list their Kansas City area homes.

Plus, think about your buyers. They’re looking at resale and new construction properties. There aren’t as many options on the resale market, so they’re looking at new construction.

Inventory increased 7% for new construction last month, compared to the slight dip for resale properties. As a seller, of course, you’re competing against the strong new construction market. However, if your home shows well, which we’ll make sure it does with our FREE home staging, you’re in a great position to attract buyers who are looking at new construction and resale properties. Undoubtedly, your home will offer a better value to a buyer! See before and after pictures of how home staging works.

Interest rates are low

While interest rates are not top of mind for sellers, they are important since they fuel the real estate market. Plus, if you’re buying once you sell, interest rates will affect you.

According to recent Freddie Mac data, the average 30-year fixed rate is 4.41 percent. That’s national data. Statewide, the rates are a little higher. You can check out the going rate statewide, and see what that means for the cost of your mortgage through this interactive tool from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

While rates went up slightly, they’re still below year-ago levels for the fourth week in a row. Plus, they’re down from the national average of 5-percent in mid-November. Rates are still incredibly good, offering significant savings over the life of a loan. Buyers pay attention to these numbers.

For example, if a buyer puts a 10% down payment on a $250,000 house and pays 4.75% vs a 5% rate from the fall, they’re saving $2,792 in the first five years, according to the CFPB’s interest rate tool.

The lower mortgage rates compared with the fall and last year will have more buyers shopping for homes, helping you sell your home quickly!

Are you ready to sell? Our team is happy to answer your questions! Remember, we offer FREE Kansas City area home staging for all our sellers.

The post Here’s a Quick Way To Sell Your Kansas City Home Fast appeared first on Sally Moore Real Estate Team.

Sell quick with “Upstage Studio”

“Upstage Studio” is a 1,600+ square foot combination consultation center / home decor warehouse located in Blue Springs. It’s the brain child of Realtor® and Accredited Staging Professional Sally Moore, who has had a career-long commitment to the proven power of home staging.

“We wanted to create a space where we can interactively work with sellers to conceptualize a plan to stage their homes,” Moore explains. “Being able to tour our inventory and visualize the transformation we are proposing is a powerful tool in getting sellers to buy in to the power of home staging.”

Of course, the “buy in” is made even easier given the fact that Moore and her co-listing agent, Dee Harding, offer the staging service absolutely for free.

Home staging sells homes fast

While a quick internet search shows prices for home staging range from a few hundred dollars for a consultation to thousands of dollars for full staging service, it is complimentary for clients of The Sally Moore Real Estate Team. It is the team’s unique value proposition that sets them apart from the competition.

“The statistics speak for themselves. Staged homes sell faster and for top dollar compared to non-staged properties.”, explains Harding. Moore wholeheartedly agrees. “We want our clients to net the most money they possibly can on the sale of their homes. Simply put, we designed the Upstage Studio to help our clients upstage the competition!”, Moore says.

A tour of the “Upstage Studio” helps sellers understand the arsenal at their disposal. As the purpose of home staging is to depersonalize a property and help buyers envision themselves — not the sellers — living in the home, the warehouse is fully stocked with a rotating supply of furniture and decor in the styles and trends most popular with today’s buyers. This takes the pressure off sellers, letting them focus instead on simply cleaning and decluttering their homes in preparation for staging day. The transformations often stun the sellers, themselves.

“We’ve had clients walk in after we’ve staged their homes and not want to move!”, laughs Harding. Moore adds, “Or they ask us if we come back and stage their new homes, too! We love that reaction. Next to receiving multiple competing offers on the properties, it’s the highest compliment we can receive!”

Transforming Kansas City homes

“Upstage Studio” features literally thousands of ways to transform a home.

This inspiring collection continues to grow daily! Plastic storage bins stacked to the ceiling hold everything from throw pillows, rugs and bedding to towels, shower curtains, table runners & placements. Rows of shelving units display an array of accessories, while paintings, prints and mirrors adorn the walls. The center aisle is lined with furniture arrangements, from family rooms to dining rooms to offices and bedrooms. It’s like walking into your favorite home decor store and furniture showroom all at once!

Until now, this treasure trove of home decor and furniture collections was stored in boxes in garages spread across the city. Now, it’s painstakingly arranged and organized by color and function, making it quick and easy for Moore and Harding to find inspiration to stage their sellers homes.

How we increase home values — a message from The Sally Moore Real Estate Team

The Sally Moore Real Estate Team sells homes in any condition! Our team understands life happens. We are here for you whether it’s a divorce, sick parent, or a home that needs repairs. Our treasure trove of decor transforms homes, increases values, and takes the stress out of selling.

Sometimes, sellers just want a quick and painless sale. We understand that, but caution them to not undersell the value of their home.

Here’s a prime example: We often hear from sellers after they talk to a home investor who promises to sell their Kansas City home quickly. They call us because they know their home is worth far more than the investor has offered. That’s exactly what happened to Debbie.

We sold Debbie’s home for
$79,000 MORE than an investor offered.

• 

• 

• 

How did we do it? We staged her home, priced it competitively and quickly received 15 offers!

Here’s Debbie’s breakdown:

Investor: $106,000.
Our listing: $159,9000
Sold: $185,000
————
Difference: $79,000

Sell your KC home fast

Bottom line, our team can stage any home, no matter the condition. We’ll use our proven staging strategies to get you tens of thousands of dollars more than signing a contract from an investor.

That’s because while investors promise a quick sale in just 7-days with little or no fees, what they’re NOT telling you is that they offer far less than fair market value.

Why settle for less? We can sell your home in as little as 30 days, PLUS, you’ll pocket tens of thousands of dollars more — even after paying real estate fees.

Out-of-state seller

Here’s another example of how we helped a seller who was given a low-ball offer by an investor. This seller lived out-of-state. An investor offered her $105,000 for her father’s home.

The challenger for the seller: her father had recently passed away, and she lived all the way in California. We put boots on the ground to help coordinate the clean out of the property, and the ensuing clean up. Even though the seller chose to sell the property in “AS-IS” condition, by helping to coordinate those two simple steps, we sold the property FAST for more than $20,000 over what the investor had offered her.

You should get the full value of your home even if you need to sell quickly. That’s the Sally Moore Real Estate Team difference! We value you and your home — no matter your circumstance and or its condition.

Let’s get you started with a quick and instant home value! It’s free!

Complimentary home staging increases home values for everyone! We also work with vacant homes.

Vacant homes

With vacant homes, our team has a few options. We can add a little decor, stage the entire property, or virtually stage the home to capture even the most discerning buyer the moment they see the photos online.

Here’s an example of how we transformed a vacant home by fully staging it with our furnishings.

The house had failed to sell after being on the market for a year with another real estate team. We staged it and sold it the first day on the market!

Take a look at the dramatic before and after difference!

We sell homes quick for clients

• Out-of-state sellers. We’re the on-the-ground contact to coordinate clean-out and minor repairs.
• Family members with older parents who are downsizing or moving to a nursing home.
• Property owners who have homes that need some work.
• Families who need to sell quick due to illness, divorce, a new job or other life circumstances.
• Vacant homes.
• Owners who haven’t been able to sell with other real estate agents, or For Sale By Owner.

One of those For By Sale Owner failures turned success story comes to us from Virgil and Loretta of Independence. They came to an open house of ours, and it’s a good thing they did!

They tried selling their home on their own — no luck. Tried selling with other realtors — same disappointing result.

“We had 2 real estate agents before The Sally Moore Real Estate Team. God brought us to your open house because we could not get rid of our home and Sally and Dee staged it and sold it in a short time!“

Virgil and Loretta ended up calling on us again to sell their next home! We staged it, SOLD IT, and got them moved into their new property in just a few short weeks. Its a time and time again testament to the power of home staging!

Ready to sell your KC home fast? Contact our team today to see how we can increase your home value and find you a buyer quickly.

Sally Moore and her partner, Dee Harding, are both Accredited Staging Professionals (ASP). They offer sellers complimentary home staging, transforming homes so they sell faster and for more money. “Upstage Studio” is their latest innovate investment setting their service apart to “upstage” the competition.

The post Proven Results Show This Is How You Sell Your KC Home Fast appeared first on Sally Moore Real Estate Team.

Kansas City Holiday Light Displays

We want your help! Let us know about neighborhoods with must-see holiday light displays in Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Lee’s Summit, Oak Grove, Independence and of course Kansas City. Together, let’s spread the holiday spirit.

Looking for more than just holiday lights? There are still quite a few Christmas tree lightings in the Lee’s Summit area, tree farms that are open, and holiday events in-person and virtual. Check out our ultimate list of holiday events in the area.

Submit a neighborhood with holiday lights

Drive-Thru Lights

There are NEW and returning drive-thru light displays that offer a safe and fun holiday experience.

Winter Magic

Get ready for a drive-through light display, featuring the longest animated tunnel in the Midwest. Winter Magic is a contactless holiday light display synchronized to music on the transformed Oakwood Drive (next to the KC Zoo) in Swope Park.

You’ll see one-mile worth of light displays, grouped into nine themes including a stained-glass nativity, a toy workshop, spinning trees, zoo, and the KC Proud section.

It costs $20 per car and prices go up for commercial vehicles. Winter Magic benefits KC Park’s Summer Camp Scholarship Fund.

Santa will make a visit every Monday from 6-8 p.m. You can also drop letters to Santa in his mailbox.

Enjoy Winter Magic in Kansas City through January 2, 2021. Purchase tickets in advance for a scheduled visit between 5 and 11 p.m.

Liberty Light Show

It’s a little bit of a drive from the Lee’s Summit area, but well worth it. Enjoy a live-musical performance choreographed to a holiday light display all from your car.

The 2020 Liberty Light Show at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty is free. The live shows run the first two weekends of December at 6, 6:45, 7:30, 8:15 and 9 p.m. Get there early to line up for the next show and grab your complimentary glow sticks!

Automated shows run December 14th through the 23rd from 6 to 11 p.m. each night.

The performance focuses on a message of hope.

Christmas In The Park

This is a family tradition for many people and this year it will likely be busier than ever! With more than 500,000 lights and hundreds of animated displays, there’s a lot for your eye to take in at Christmas In The Park.

It’s a free event, but donations are accepted for area charities.

Enjoy Christmas In The Park Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.

Walkable Holiday Displays

Several traditional holiday light displays are back for another year in the Kansas City area. These include added safety precautions, including social distancing and in some cases masks.

Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens

Visit the holiday light festival, Enchantment, at Powell Gardens. Walk a mile-long path through the Gardens to enjoy the light displays that showcase the architecture and landscaping in the exquisite gardens.

Santa’s Workshop is new this year! The jolly old fellow will be available for photos Friday and Saturday nights from 5 to 9 p.m.

The event runs through January 3, 2021 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from 4 to 10 p.m. It’s closed on the holidays including the days before like Christmas Eve and open a few additional nights to make up for the holiday closings.

Tickets are $12 for adults, children aged 5 and over are $5, and seniors are $10.

Pick a date and schedule your visit.

Luminary Walk at Overland Park Arboretum

This is a classic holiday event at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. For three weekends, the pathways are lit so you can explore the Gnome and Fairy Villages, winter woods, and the Children’s Garden.

There are musical performances throughout and horse-drawn wagon rides.

Tickets are time-sensitive to allow for social distancing and hours are extended. Masks are required.

This event starts Friday, November 27^th and runs Friday and Saturdays through December 12, 2020.

The cost is $14 and children 5 and under are free.

Purchase tickets for the Luminary Walk.