Are You Ready for Some Football?

One of the biggest sports weekends of the year is almost here -- Super Bowl LII will be played February 4th at 5:30 pm in Minneapolis between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles! Around the office, as we have followed our teams and recapped games, we are a mixed bag as we start predicting the winner, but we all agree that we can't wait to get together with friends and family for a day filled with food, drinks, and fun.

Whether you've hosted an annual Super Bowl party for years or are gathering everyone at your home for the first time, (great housewarming idea if you've moved!) we want to offer a few ideas about how to throw your most festive football gathering.

This week, we are sharing our Top 5 Tips if you're watching the game at your house (no need to travel to Minnesota!), plus we are sharing a couple crowd-pleasing recipes, and a few party decor ideas as well.

So, if you're getting things in order to have all your loved ones over next Sunday, here are a few things we recommend (and even better if you can get a head start on your prep):

1. If you haven't already, send invites! An e-vite is super easy and free to send, and they look really nice when your guests open the emails. If you've already sent your invites, follow up with a casual text, email, or phone call next week to make sure everyone has your party on their calendars. Plus, you want to know how many people to prepare food for.

2. Prepare ahead as much as possible. Rearrange furniture, clean your house, put up decorations, and buy your groceries before Super Bowl weekend. Use game day Sunday to prepare food as needed and be ready to greet your guests as they arrive. You want to be able to enjoy the festivities with them, right?

3. Let guests bring something if they offer. A lot of people really do enjoy preparing a dip or fun appetizer for parties, so if they are willing to help, let them! That should give your "spread" of food a nice variety, and it will take some of the stress off you as the host.

4. Plan some activities for kids. Many kids will not sit and watch the entire game. They will get bored or tired, so it is a nice idea to have some games, coloring books, a craft, or another available room where they can go watch a movie if they want.

5. Play a few games with the adults too! Honestly, not everyone will be into the game, so try a game like Commercial Bingo that everyone can participate in. You could even have a few small prizes available for the winners!

Next, we have asked around and found a couple recipes that we just might have to "test" before game day!! Super Bowl parties are synonymous with great food, so here are a couple ideas to take your food game to the next level!

Buffalo Chicken Dip -- This one is a classic, and there's a reason for that! This delicious dip goes fast everywhere we take it! Serve with tortilla chips, veggies, or crispy bread.

Brownies -- the perfect pick-me-up before the second half of the game. These are filled with caramel and you can add pecans if you choose to take them up a notch! Full disclosure: If you don't have time to mess with baking from scratch, Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies from the box are outstanding, especially mixed with about 1/2 cup of Nutella -- no one will no know the difference. 😄

Chile Con Queso -- You've got to use your crock pot on game day! This dip is so easy & feeds a crowd. We like it prepared with either ground beef or sausage!

You can't go wrong with these. Throw together some sliders, chicken wings, and any form of pizza for a delicious Super Bowl feast. Your guests will leave very happy...and full.

 If you want to go all out, put up a few decorations to really show off your house! Stop in at Target, Walmart, or Dollar General to check out everything they have to offer, and we also found a ton of easy DIY projects on Pinterest.

What are you cooking up for the biggest weekend in sports? Share with us!

My Home Isn't Selling: Now What?

Selling a home is stressful. It’s almost always a task that is met with at least some anxiety by homeowners, investors, and even realtors. Selling a home is a major upheaval that can disrupt daily life and is often emotional as well (as we discussed in last week's blog). When a home is put on the market, there is always hope that it will sell quickly, which is pretty common in today’s market. There have been listings that go under contract the day of listing or the weekend after listing, and on the flip side…months after listing. You just never know what buyers will see or not see in your particular home that will make them take the plunge and make an offer.

We know that is not necessarily comforting, but it is realistic. However, there are certainly things we can do to make your home as appealing as possible to as many buyers as possible. Go back and look through our many blog articles focused on staging, curb appeal, and valuable home updates for more advice than you might actually want regarding preparing your home for sale! Now, what if we do all of that and after listing, days, weeks, and even months go by without an offer? Then what? 

Our focus in this blog is sharing four strategies that have worked in some cases when something about the property just isn’t clicking with buyers. It’s so hard to take a step back and reevaluate a listing. Everyone involved puts a lot of time and energy into the preparation for the sale, and when it doesn’t happen as quickly as anticipated, frustration, doubt, and of course more anxiety can set in. Our advice is to stay positive and concentrate on what you can do to make a sale happen.

1. Offer a selling bonus to the agent who brings the buyer. This is a great motivator for agents who might have overlooked the property or showed other properties ahead of yours. Depending on the market, price of the home, and length of time for sale, determine a monetary amount you’re comfortable offering. Locally, we see bonus amounts from $1,000 - $5,000, and agents are always very willing to bring clients in to tour the homes for which the bonus is offered.
2. Price reduction. This strategy can be painful. We always try to price a home competitively and net the sellers as much as possible, but if a home is not getting offers, it might be priced too high for the current market. Agents typically ask for feedback on the listing from other agents who bring clients for a tour, so that is a great way to gauge whether the price is right for market conditions. Reducing the price could open the listing to more buyers and potentially bring buyers back who toured and considered the home previously. 
3. Offer an allowance for updates. This strategy is only effective for properties that are older or maybe a bit outdated. We have written many times about the plight of buyers who are unable to see beyond what the home looks like at first glance. If you know your home needs fresh paint, new flooring, new fixtures, etc., then offer an allowance instead of reducing the price. Allow the buyers to choose the contractor, make their own choices, and simply set a budget. This tactic could really help buyers see what the home “could be” with them as the owners.
4. Get creative with marketing. There are certain markets that showcase listings with an event or party. This idea can be risky and ineffective in a lot of places, but think about it. In big cities, it’s common to invite agents, investors, and certain clients to a cocktail party, dinner, or brunch at a listing. If you’ve ever watched Million Dollar Listing, you’ve probably seen the most extravagant events of this type. It’s basically a glamorous open house. A scaled-down version might be a nice broker’s open or marketed luncheon that serves as an open house by invitation or for the public. The point is to garner attention for this listing that is not selling for whatever reason. Do something different. Get new people in the home to increase the potential of a sale. Your ERA First Advantage agent can be a tremendous help if you consider this strategy.

We hope these ideas have both eased your mind and given some realistic options to try if you are struggling to sell a home. We’ve been there, so we understand how difficult this process can be. Again, we encourage you to do what you can to take action and see what happens in time. As always, feel free to drop us a line or comment on social media with questions or comments!

Photo credits: southernliving.com

When It Gets Real: The Emotional Side of Real Estate

We are taking a bit of a different approach to the blog in this post. Typically, we stick to informational posts about the process of a real estate transaction, home improvement, and financial matters. But this week we want to talk about the emotional and sentimental side of home ownership because it really can have an effect on all parties involved in the transaction.

Buying or selling a home truly is a milestone in life. Buying a first home is incredibly exciting and often a little scary. (Hello, 30 year mortgage commitment!)  Selling a home usually means we are moving on to a new chapter in life — upgrading, downsizing, relocating, family changes, etc. The reason we want to take time to chat a little about this aspect is because it can make the process difficult for many of us.  However, if we can change our perspective a bit, it will be helpful for all of us -- real estate professionals and our clients.

For buyers, our usual advice is to prioritize what you really need and understand that you’re probably not going to get everything you want if you need to stay within a budget. This was actually a hard lesson for your resident blogger to learn when my husband and I bought our home. My own “wish list” included many items that are not in our current home, nor in our budget at the time. Some of them have been added by us or we have created a version of what we wanted, but there are still things that I would change. However, I could not love our home more. In fact, the thought of selling our home (which we are doing, coincidentally)instantly makes me emotional. It’s our first home as a family.  When I think about all the memories associated with this house, none of them include the color of our kitchen cabinets or our lack of hardwood floors. Despite a few cosmetic “flaws,” I am incredibly attached to this house. — Please tell me some of you also feel that way about your home?

These feelings make it very difficult for many to make the leap to sell, and when they do, their emotions so color the issue that their asking price is astronomical and simply not realistic for the property. How many times in the past year or so have you heard agents and investors say “it’s a great time to sell.” In terms of our local market and the financial aspect, yes, it has most certainly been an excellent time to sell. There are so many ready buyers and a shortage of homes on the market.

 However, crunching numbers isn’t all that goes into making the decision to sell and move. The business side of the decision is the easy part! The difficulty begins when an offer is accepted and the reality of leaving a home sets in. Most of us have been through the moving process for one reason or another, so if you’re an agent, try to be sensitive to your clients’ feelings as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

 As realtors, this is what we want to be able to say to our sellers when they get emotional:

I understand that you’ve celebrated birthdays, hosted holidays, and gathered for family dinners in your home. I understand you have spent countless hours painting rooms, mowing your yard and nurturing that flower bed to get it just right. I also understand that your home may be the place where you brought your kids home from the hospital after they were born.  I know that front porch is where you took their pictures on the first day of school. Your home has been so much more than those “wish list” items you checked off when you first bought it. I get it…truly....because I have been there too. Now, let’s give another family the opportunity to make some memories here too. Meanwhile, you get to move on to your own new adventure.

While being sensitive to our clients’ emotions, we also have to put our business hats on and remember that we must help them think logically and rationally about their homes because they are an investment — a major investment. As much as many of us tend to be sentimental, we also resolve to help my clients make smart financial moves so they can reach new milestones.

 As hard as it may be to leave a beloved house, it might be the best decision right now, in six months, or two years down the road. We hope you all can trust and confide in your ERA First Advantage realtor and know that he or she will act in both a sensitive and logical manner when the selling process begins. Here’s to taking on new adventures!

Ready to Refresh Your Nest?

For many of us, this new year brings an opportunity to get some indoor projects done around the house. It's frigid outside, kids are back in school, and many of us are back to our normal work schedules after some time off to enjoy the holidays. But now, the humdrum winter season is here and we have to do something to liven it up and make it through to spring! To get through the often-dreary Tri-State winter, we thought it would be nice to share a few of our favorite local hot spots to find some fabulous decor options to liven up your home, no matter your budget or style!

Shopping Local:

The Barefoot Cottage: Be sure to check out their beautiful location in Downtown Newburgh. A great mix of small accessories, furniture, rugs, gifts & much more! Some newer additions this past year have been more Magnolia and Annie Sloan paint, plus tons of clothing (if you still need any new pieces after Christmas). Some items are definitely pricier investment pieces, but there are plenty of budget-friendly options to add to your favorite spaces. Another tip? Check out their sale room upstairs! There are always amazing finds! This is a must-stop on our list, and be sure to stop by our ERA First Advantage office a few doors down and say hi!

Serendipity Designs & Decor: One of the newest additions to the Tri-State home store scene, this gorgeous shop has definitely made a splash. The shop, located on Lincoln Avenue, has a range of stylish wall accents, furniture, candles, and other interior design needs. Their customer service is outstanding too! If you haven't been in to visit yet, we recommend getting in there asap.

The Red Poppy: Another locally owned favorite, The Red Poppy is the perfect place to find farmhouse-inspired furniture, accents, & much more. The Red Poppy moved locations in 2017 and now resides across Lincoln Avenue from Barnes & Noble book store. They have expanded and improved (if that was even possible), and the shop is lovelier than ever. There is always a treasure to be found to that perfect nook in your home.

Honeysuckle Finds: This addition to Downtown Newburgh is a beautiful little shop with unique vintage finds, painted pieces, and handcrafted gifts. Prices are reasonable and you will certainly find items that no one else will have! The owner of the shop does an outstanding job sourcing unique items that are a blend of antique and still current. Also be sure to ask about customized pieces with a name, single initial, or special date.

Tracy's Attic: This west side shop headed to Franklin Street earlier in 2017, so be sure to visit! Tracy is usually in the shop and can offer great advice on how to decorate your home based on what you have and what you need. She carries furniture, gifts, rugs, lighting, accessories & great seasonal additions.

Sweet Peony Gift Shoppe: Another favorite on Franklin Street is Sweet Peony, owned by the same family that runs Milk & Sugar ice cream. Sweet Peony is so beautiful and right on trend with their farmhouse-inspired inventory. It's like an extension of Magnolia Market in Waco, TX if you've had the pleasure of going there, or picture some of the original remodels Joanna Gaines did on early Fixer Upper episodes. It is such a fun stop, and difficult to leave empty-handed!

There are also many more OUTSTANDING local shops around the Tri-State, particularly in Jasper, Henderson and Owensboro. They are well worth the short drive from Evansville or Newburgh to spend a day enjoying finding the perfect items for your space. If you'd like to hear about some of them, just send us a message and we'll be happy to pass along recommendations.

Another idea? Venture out to the numerous consignment shops around the Tri-State for some amazing bargains -- just know that you will have to search a bit for that treasure to take home. This is the perfect time to try your luck because many people really clear out their homes after the holidays.

Be sure to share your favorite local shops from your town with us. Our clients are always eager to hear recommendations on where to find furnishings for their new home or to stage when selling.

Have a great week and stay warm!!