Animals of the MLS

This weeks featured guest on Animals of the MLS seems a bit perplexed as to the whereabouts of the agent snapping photos of their domain. It would appear our canine companion is unaware of the perched photographer overhead. He was most assuredly very welcoming at the front door when the agent arrived. He probably did his typical investigations of the visitor and then proceeded on about his doggy business only to realize the company had vanished. This breed appears to be of the retriever variety and those types sure do love to search out what it is their owners want them to rescue or reclaim.  Maybe his animalistic instincts have kicked in and he's on a search mission to find the foreigner.  

His ears and tail are perked up showing he is definitely intrigued as to what is going on. Perhaps the real estate agent taking this photo was uncomfortable around our four-legged friend and didn't want to risk sharing the same backyard space. This type of dog is usually very family friendly, however, you just can't predict what an animals reaction will be when a stranger enters their midst. It is always better to either have a pet kenneled or taken out of the home altogether if possible when showing a home that is listed for sale. Some buyers and even some real estate agents will not view a home with a pet present...read more. 

AZ Division I - II Friday Night High School Football 10/2/15

Friday night is almost here. During this time of year that can only mean one thing to Arizona residents: High School Football! There are some great local Gilbert school matchups this week as well as other tough Division I and Division II games on the schedule. Get out there and support your local high school teams this weekend! Here are this week's games:

Division I

Chandler vs Basha 7:00pm at Basha

Centennial vs Boulder Creek 7:00pm at Boulder Creek

Chaparral vs Horizon 7:00pm at Horizon

Pinnacle vs Liberty 7:00pm at Liberty

Desert Ridge vs Mountain View(Mesa) 7:00pm at Mountain View

Hamilton vs Perry 7:00pm at Perry

Highland vs Red Mountain 7:00pm at Red Mountain

Division II

Sandra Day O'Connor vs Apollo 7:00pm at Apollo

Tucson vs Buena 7:00pm at Buena

Poston Butte vs Corona del Sol 7:00pm at Corona del Sol

Deer Valley vs Desert Mountain 7:00pm at Desert Mountain

Mesa vs Dobson 7:00pm at Dobson

Williams Field vs Higley 7:00pm at Higley

Canyon Del Oro vs Ironwood Ridge 7:00pm at Ironwood Ridge

Campo Verde vs Marcos de Niza 7:00pm at Marcos de Niza

Gilbert vs Mesquite 7:00pm at Mesquite

Willow Canyon vs Millennium 7:00pm at Millennium

Queen Creek vs Mountain View(Marana) 7:00pm at Mountain View

Mountain Ridge vs Saguaro 7:00pm at Saguaro

Cienega vs Sahuaro 7:00pm at Sahuaro

Sunnyside vs Salpointe Catholic 7:00pm at Salpointe Catholic

Westview vs Shadow Ridge 7:00pm at Shadow Ridge

Westwood vs Skyline 7:00pm at Skyline

Tolleson Union vs Valley Vista 7:00pm at Valley Vista

5 Tips on selling your home in the Fall and Winter

Summer is over and Autumn is upon is once again. Cool nightly temperatures, changing leaves, and the sun going down earlier each day signify the coming of Fall. What most consumers don't realize is that real estate also ebbs and flows with the changing seasons. Real estate markets around the Country are beginning to wind down their busy Summer buying and selling season.

Children are in school and busy with Fall sports meaning parents have been turned in to taxi's once again. Some retirees are beginning to prepare for their annual migration towards warmer climates. Seasonal holiday parties and celebrations will start to distract would be buyers and sellers who once had thoughts of moving in to a new home. There's just so much happening during the Fall and Winter months that real estate can take a backseat and get lost on most people's radar. 

Life has a tendency to throw us a curve ball when we least expect it. What if you're a homeowner that has found themselves in a unique position of needing to sell your property even though the real estate market in your area is starting to slow down? How do you make your property stand out among others when potential buyers are dwindling and more houses keep popping up for sale increasing your competition? Here are Five tips on selling your home during the Fall:

Price your home to Sell

This should go without saying but a well priced home will sell faster than most any other home on the market. Fall and Winter is not the time of year to test the open waters of the market to see if you can get top dollar for your home. During the Fall and Winter, most real estate markets will see an overall decrease in number of homes sold and overall property value. It will also see an increase in the amount of time it takes to sell your home due to a decrease in buyer interest. Now is not the time to take a stand and hold out for that full price or above asking price offer you think your home deserves. If you absolutely need to sell then list your home at a competitive price that closely matches that of other homes which have recently sold in your neighborhood. 

Keep your home clean and show ready

First impressions are everything. Now that the leaves are starting to fall and some areas of the country will start to see their first snowflakes of the year, it's imperative that you keep your home tidy and clean. Floors and entryways should be swept of mud, dirt, leaves, and debris every day. Children's backpacks, shoes, and homework should be neatly put away instead of being strewn about the house. Front porches should be tidy and yards should be raked of leaves. If you reside in a cold weather climate, clear your sidewalks of ice and snow so that buyers can access your home with ease. 

Be available for showings

As a home seller, your schedule is most likely just as busy as everyone else's including potential buyers. Every real estate market is different. Some homeowners prefer to be present for showings and others would rather their agent take buyers through the property on their behalf. If you are a homeowner that desires to be present for showings then ensure you are available when your phone rings from an interested buyer. Selling your home is certainly not a convenient endeavor but if you're in a situation that leaves you no choice but to put your home on the market then you must take advantage of the buyers that are looking to purchase. You can't afford to miss a showing. It only takes one person to fall in love with your home. Don't let that one person fall through the cracks because they were unable to view your property.

Don't go overboard on the holiday cheer

If you absolutely must put out your holiday decorations resist the urge to overpower your home with holiday cheer. Keep them minimal and tasteful. Buyers won't necessarily be turned off by seasonal adornments, however, your home can appear cluttered and busy when there are too many ornamentation's on and around the house. These decorations can also become a distraction to a potential buyer. Instead of focusing on the high ceilings, crown molding, and upgraded cabinets they're eyes can instead be drawn to the dancing Santa and Reindeer hanging out on the fireplace mantle.  

Hire a professional Real Estate Agent

A local real estate professional will be able to develop a marketing and sales strategy to get your home sold as quickly as possible. Every city, state, and neighborhood is different. As consumers, it's nearly impossible for you to be able to keep up with every trend in the housing market. A real estate agent will be able to assess your home and situation to determine the best course of action for selling your home. Should you send out flyers to surrounding communities or form an on-line sales and social media campaign to sell your home? Do you hold an open house? What works best for your area? A local real estate agent will know and they'll be happy to explore any and all options available. 

Around the Country during Fall and Winter, real estate has a tendency to hit the brakes when it comes to buying and selling homes. There are still individuals looking to purchase and sell new homes but the numbers are much less between October and February.  If you find yourself in a situation that requires you to relocate at this less than opportune time of the year then you need a strong, aggressive, and purposeful approach to selling your home. You need to show buyers your house is head and shoulders above others on the market. Follow these five tips, sit back, and reap the benefits of being ahead of the crowd when it comes to selling your property. 

If you are looking to purchase or sell real estate in the Arizona market then contact us. We are your Arizona real estate experts. We know how to help you buy or sell homes no matter what time of year. 

The Most Expensive Home sold in Arizona last week

The most expensive home that sold in Arizona last week is a gorgeous new construction property in Scottsdale. If you're going to purchase the home of your dreams what better way than to build it yourself! Being able to customize every detail of your home is certainly a benefit most of us would enjoy. Every aspect of this home is modern, stylish and exactly what you'd expect from a high-end luxury property. The attention to detail is weaved throughout and includes custom built cabinetry, coffered ceilings, imported wood flooring, a dual island kitchen, a steam shower in the master bathroom, and so much more. The new homeowners didn't just stick with a boring and bland color pallete either. The use of soft greens, bold reds, and modern wallpapers give this home a custom and personalized touch...read more. 

How long will it take to sell my Gilbert, AZ home? - August 2015

It was bound to happen eventually. The amount of time it was taking to sell a home in Gilbert had been steadily declining since March until now. Gilbert saw it's first increase in five months in the Days on Market statistic. It was a minor increase but an increase none-the-less. Homes in Gilbert, Arizona were taking an average of 60 days to sell in July and in August we saw that number move up to 61 days. This number is still significantly better than August of 2014 when it was taking an average of 79 days to sell a home in Gilbert.  There are still some homes in price ranges around $200,000 which are selling almost as fast as they are being placed up for sale, and yet some other homes in higher price ranges are taking longer than the average to sell...read more. 

Animals of the MLS

We went from featuring three canine companions last week to only one in this weeks Animals of the MLS. Who doesn't like a good afternoon nap? This little guy seems to be enjoying exactly that when his slumber was interrupted by an impromptu photo shoot. He was probably dreaming of chasing cars, barking at cats, or playing tug-o-war with his owner when his world came crashing down by being awoken to a stranger coming in to his house. Can't a worn out pooch get any rest around here?  

His cute little ears are perked up showing he is definitely intrigued as to what is going on.However, he's not inquisitive enough to move off of his cushy and inviting dog bed. Trust me, I feel the same way when I wake up sometimes! These small breeds of dog can be deceiving when it comes to showing a home with an animal present. They may seem small in stature but at times they can be the most distracting with their incessant barking. No matter the size of the animal it's always best to either remove them or kennel them for showings. You never know what potential buyer will be hesitant to view your property if they know an animal is at the premises...read more.