• First Impressions now begin on the internet. 87% of buyers shop first on the internet. Of those, 77% will drive by the home first. Curb appeal and internet photos are critical in todays marketplace.
• According to a 2007 survey of Realtors, staging brings a 369% rate of return for home sellers. This is the highest rate of return of all home improvement investments.
• Only 10% of buyers can visualize a homes potential.
• Statistics tell us that staged homes sell at an average of 10% more than unstaged homes.
• Home buyers make their decision with the first 90 seconds. They want to experience the feeling of “falling in love” all over again.
• Professionally staged homes sell up to 50% faster than homes that aren’t staged.
• Statistics show the longer a home stays on the market, the lower the selling price will be.
• Leaving a home in “As is” condition helps sell the competition
• Its much less expensive to stage a home than lower the price.
• Staging may now be tax deductable as a selling expense. Consult with your accountant.

(As provided by: Best Impressions Staging)

Hey everyone. I came across an article on the web that discussed the predictions for the national real estate market for 2009. Here are 15 predictions:

1. Mortgage rates will drop, then rise, and finally stabilize.

2. Investors will come back into the market in 2009.

3. Buyers will jump off the fence and come back into the market.

4. Sellers will become creative with alternative ways to add value to their home sale (maybe by offering a trip, seller financing, or something else that is creative and unique).

5. Listing inventory will go down as the market absorbs inventory.

6. Market time will decline and remain on the lower end of the spectrum.

7. Real Estate agents who were not prepared for the slowdown (or maybe who are too new) will leave the industry in record numbers. Don’t worry though, we at Willner Properties aren’t going anywhere!

8. Builders will use auctions to sell off inventory.

9. New home inventories will reach record low numbers in the fall of 2009.

10. Consumer confidence will improve in the spring of 2009.

11. Appreciation will be small to nonexistent in most markets as the industry stabilizes.

12. The rental market will boom in 2009. That means it’s a great time to buy that investment property!

13. “In demand” homes will become the “safe necessity” of 2009.

14. Real estate companies will merge in 2009.

15. Second home markets will see far less activity.

This coming year hopes to be a much better year for the real estate market. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you!

-Cody Willner

Give us a few days to get this blog up and rolling. Check out the rest of our site though!