House Hunt: Ask Your Healdsburg Realtor For Advice

 Open Houses: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday (unless noted).

$599,000.
1003 Sunset Dr, Healdsburg, 4Bdrm, 2Bth+cottage, Wine Country Group

$325,000.
205 Prune Tree Dr, Healdsburg, 2Bdrm, 2Bth, Wine Country Group

$349,000.
324 March Ave, Healdsburg, 5Bdrm, 3Bth, Full Spectrum, 1-3 PM

$525,000.
1532 Oak Leaf, Healdsburg, 3Bdrm, 2Bth, Healdsburg Sotheby’s

Healdsburg is lucky to have a lot of great Realtors.

I have asked three of them to contribute their thoughts this week to answering this question: "How do you sell your homes in this tough real estate market?"

1. Dave Roberts. Roberts, of s real estate office, has been a licensed agent and Realtor the past eight years. He also has a background in building construction including a stint teaching homebuilding at the Owner Builder Center in Berkeley. He spent 25 years as a computer consultant and internet specialist before deciding to hang out full time in Sonoma County.

Roberts: "Make it easy for the buyers to say, "Yes."      

"As complete strangers wander through your home and garden, you want them to imagine moving in without having to change a thing. Everyone will eventually remodel, change paint colors, or swap out carpet, so it's not decorating for them, but cleaning.

"What you can do in the short term is keep your house uncluttered, spotless, and as free of your identity as you can make it. When a buyer, particularly the spouse that is in charge of the cleaning detail, sees an immaculate house, it is much easier for them to visualize
themselves moving in than if they are confronted with stains, cobwebs, dustballs, and random clutter. 

"Keeping your house immaculate is hard, but a spotless house that's priced a little too high is going to sell more quickly than a lower priced home that presents a cleaning challenge to buyers."

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­2. Beth Robertson. Robertson is a broker associate with in Healdsburg and has been a licensed Realtor the past 40 years. With that much experience, Robertson has seen every type of market there is. She handles homes, ranches and vineyards, as well as commercial real estate.

Robertson: "If they are already on the market there is only one answer -- price!"

"Pricing according to what the buyers are willing to pay at this time is not always something sellers want to talk about.

"Many sellers have an inflated opinion of the value of their homes. When a property is clean and neat, has been marketed properly with an agent that provides quality signage, some print advertising, great local exposure to other agents, and has given the subject property really good and complete exposure on the Internet (the most effective form of advertising these days) --if the price is right it will be sold!

"No showings? Your price is perceived by the local Realtors to be too high or they would be showing it!

"No offers? Buyers feel your price is so high that you will not be realistic even if they do make an offer.

"New comers to the market this winter will experience a mixed bag. Interest rates are low but not everyone can qualify. Lenders have swung to the opposite extreme where the only small down loans are FHA and come with a higher mortgage insurance rate than ever.

"Self-employed individuals who take high deductions on the their tax returns cannot qualify at all, even with high credit scores. All cash investors want a “steal” not just a “deal.”

"And the middle man who used to purchase the move up homes in the $500K to $800K range do not have the confidence to liquidate the safe-haven homes they already have (even if they are under water) and move up.

"Finally, interview at least two and preferably three agents that have been recommended to you or have good name recognition here in Healdsburg and a higher level of education in the real estate field.

"Pick the agent who will give your home the best exposure, especially on the Internet. Don’t just listen to their presentation, get on your computer and see which agents properties and websites show up when the potential buyers search for homes on Google and Yahoo."

3. Mike Downs. Downs has been in the real estate industry for 22 years and is a broker associate with in Healdsburg. Having been a prior trainer/instructor  and branch manager, Downs brings many years of experience to the table.

Downs: "Just like in all situations, in the real estate world, there are many factors that have to be considered as each situation is so very different."

"In general: With winter coming, we have about 45 more days to make our last push to get your home in escrow and closed this year.

"My best advice is to meet with your Realtor and have your Realtor bring you an updated CMA(Certified Market Analysis) with properties that are currently on the market, in escrow and SOLD.

"The SOLDs should be from the last 60 days or less, as this will give you the BEST idea of what your property might be worth in today’s market.

"Listen to what your Realtor suggests to you: Doesn’t mean you’re going to like it, but at least listen and make an informed decision from there.

"Selling in today's market is not for the light-hearted. If you’re not committed to sell at a realistic price, then now might not be the right time to sell."

Thanks to our guest Realtors for being so generous with their ideas and suggestions. 

For more information, either contact them directly at their respective offices, and contact me at www.healdsburgrealestate.com