2016 Green Valley News INSIDERS

 Have you ever wondered why some homes sell quickly while others sit on the market for weeks? We talked to our area real estate guru, Scott Chancellor, Associate Broker at Realty Executives Tucson Elite Green Valley, to find out how to avoid common listing mistakes.

Mis-Pricing Your Home – An overpriced home will surely keep buyers away. While an underpriced home could lose you thousands of dollars.

Using Bad Photos – Today’s buyer starts their home search online. They are making decisions on what houses they want to tour while never having to leave their computer. Make sure you put the time and effort into great photos.

Not Cleaning the House—One of the least expensive things you can do to help sell your home is to clear it of clutter. Buyers won’t spend time viewing a dirty home and a dirty and clutter-filled home kills equity, leaving you with low-ball offers.

Overlooking Outdoor Spaces—The yard and patio areas around your home are as important as the living area.

“Being in Arizona, we live outside,” Chancellor said. “The outdoor area and landscaping is an extra living room. So make it nice.”

Trying to Hide Problems—Buyers will find what you’re hiding. When they do, they will wonder what other problems aren’t being disclosed.

Neglecting Necessary Repairs— “Buyers don’t want to be repairmen,” Chancellor said. “They don’t want to buy your problems.”

In all above cases, Chancellor says It is best to use a licensed real estate agent who is familiar with comparable homes in your area. They will set an appropriate price tag, point out easy repairs and upgrades, and focus on curb appeal. A good real estate agent will have your best interests at heart.

 Fall is here, the snowbirds are on their way, and for many Green Valley residents ready to make a change, it’s time to find a realtor. Scott Chancellor, Associate Broker at Realty Executives Tucson Elite Green Valley, is our local real estate expert, and he highlighted some strategies to use when searching for the best realtor to sell your home.

“Choosing a realtor will be one of the most important decisions in selling your home,” Chancellor said. “Interview several agents; treat this like a job interview.”

Here are some key questions to ask:

How long have you been selling homes? You want an agent that has some successful sales experience. That’s not to say there aren’t some great new agents that will work extremely hard for you. But tangible selling experience is important, as most of what agents do is learned on the job.

How many homes have you sold over the past year? And any in my neighborhood? Especially appealing realtors are those known as experts in your particular neighborhood or market. They can be highly effective in their marketing efforts by knowing the niche and how to best reach potential buyers. 

What is your marking plan to sell my home? Each home is different and each one will require a custom sales plan. Their strategy should include advertising, open houses, the sign, and how the home will be shown.  

“Most Important, there are a lot of great agents out there,” Chancellor said. “Find one you that you like and feel comfortable with. You will be spending a lot of time with them and this should be a very enjoyable experience.”

 Looking to buy a home here in Green Valley? With the lack of homes for sale, what’s a buyer to do? It might be time to think about buying a newly constructed home.

There are currently two home builders here in Green Valley and Quail Creek: Fairfield Homes and Robson. Both are quality home builders specializing in the Active Adult market. The new home market has been crazy with the fluctuation on the cost of material and labor, but they do have plenty of inventory.

Benefits of buying a New Home

• Personalize/Customize – make it your way

• Home Builder Warranties - no unexpected repairs

• Very energy efficient, lower energy bills

• “That New Home Smell”

The builder’s site agent represents the builder and not you. But you should be represented, too, so make sure you take your REALTOR® with you on your first visit. This will give you the peace of mind that everything was done correctly from the start.

Green Valley Housing Numbers

There are currently 54 single family/townhomes for sale in Green Valley/Quail Creek; 8 of these have three-car garages and four have swimming pools.

I sold new homes in Green Valley for 13 years for both Fairfield Homes and Meritage, so I know a thing or two about buying a new home in Green Valley. Call me if you need help, your Local Green Valley Real Estate Expert, Scott Chancellor, Associate Broker, Realty Executives Arizona Territory at 520-360-6973, Scott@MrGreenValley.com www.MrGreenValley.com.