kaulat

Sorry for the delay in new posts, but travel to the Carolinas, an infuriating computer meltdown, and a mini-vacation to Nicaragua have kept me away. But I'll soon be back home refreshed, sunburned, and ready to indulge in some RE in the LBC action.

There's not a lot on paper going on, but I can assure you homes are selling! I had a brokers' open today at my lovely Highland Ave home (open Saturday , 12:00 to 2:00 during Winterfest) and everyone was talking about what's selling and what great homes are for sale. There are currently 117 active listings in the Skaneateles area. This does not include those listings in the Skaneateles School District that the agents, for whatever reason, have listed solely in surrounding towns like Spafford and Sennett. One new listing came on this week: new construction in Butters Farm for the amazing low price of under $400,000. Not large, but a ranch. Interesting. One home officially has been marked contingent this week, a new listing that came on since the first of the year and was scooped up by a lucky buyer who apparently beat out other offers. Another that was never marked contingent went immediately to pending. Both are in the higher range (above $400,000). Not a single home ...

Now the Realtor arrives! You've done your best, the house is immaculate, and you have set aside a couple hours without the TV and minimal distractions to speak with a professional. This is an important moment - to go forth and sell or back off and think some more. But if you've done what I suggested up to this point then you will more than likely continue the process. I can only speak for myself about this part. I know some Realtors come in with the list of what they've sold, tell you what to do and sign you up on the spot. They tell you the price your house will sell for and for the life of me I don't know how they do that. It always seems odd to me that anyone can know, but many Realtors say they do. Not getting that price 99% of the time doesn't seem to faze them. If you've decided that I am The One, I will tour the house, make suggestions minimally (because after all, you probably have done it already) and listen to your suggestions. If you are will...

All right - so I'm late a day....there was this historic inauguration and I stayed glued to the TV... then wrote an offer, took a listing...little things like that....but I apologize! There are currently 121 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. An amazing 10 of them are new this week - well, 8 are brand new, 2 are re-lists. A further breakdown shows three in the village and the rest in the town, with one of these in the Marcellus School District. If you come from outside upstate New York you might be surprised to see this overlap, but it exists everywhere. You could be in Cayuga County, Skaneateles Schools, Town of Sennett and have an Auburn (or Skaneateles) phone exchange. There were no new sales in either the contingent or pending areas, but thankfully my lovely 11 Onondaga is now officially pended because the commitment came through to everyone. I can say with good conviction that the sellers and buyers and agents involved are thrilled! W...

There's a scene in Die Hard when Hans Gruber, after noticing during his first encounter with John McClane that our erstwhile hero was barefoot, orders his henchmen to "Shoot zee glass." Hans knew if the bullets couldn't stop the gruff New York cop then the glass certainly couldn't, but he was fully aware that at the very least, it would make Officer McClane's life miserable should he manage to avoid being riddled with hot lead. John makes it out alive, but as Hans calculatingly predicted, McClane's feet became so plugged with jagged shards of glass that he was unable to walk on his profusely bleeding feet. He drags himself into a Nakatomi Towers bathroom and, much to the audience's gut-wrenching horror, begins slowly pulling out huge chunks of glass as he winces from the incredible pain. Brutal. I bring this up because pulling postage stamp-sized shards of glass out of your flesh reminds me of what it must be like trying to sell this house: Jul 07, 20...

I just got back from a fun night at Legends featuring lobster rolls, cold beers, and good company...what more could you ask for? Well, I guess a Belmont Shore house walking distance from 2nd Street would be a good start. Which reminds me, the perpetually awesome KatyinLBC updated us on the never ending saga of the Problematic Puke Palace on Park: Just in case you are looking for a place to rent, you are in luck, they put this one on craigslist: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/apa/999475600.html And it's still on redfin. lol Not only are they so delusional that they're still asking $2.25 Million after 523 days on market, but now they believe they can get $6750 per month in rent. In this economy. For this eyesore. Hilarious! The problem with sellers offering to lease their home while simultaneously trying to sell it is that they show all their cards. They just revealed to any potential buyer with access to a Texas Instruments calculator that purchasing this house, as opposed...

This isn't really part of the "How to Sell a House" series, but it fits in well. I have to write it tonight because of its timeliness, but remember it when we get to that section of the series. I listed a home this week that is about as close to being staged and decorated as you can get. It's not really staged because the people live there and enjoy the comforts of the home while they readied it for sale. The difference between this home and a newer home is that the owners took an early 60s split level and transformed the interior, but left the primary structure of the house. To see it from the outside you wouldn't imagine the interior being as warm and inviting as it is. And colorful! I don't want to describe it and set up either false expectations or diminish the emotional impression it will make on you. Just come and see it on Sunday, 12:00 to 2:00 (the Eagles play at 3:00 - go Donovan!) during the open house. The basics: 4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, hardwo...