No Property Too Big, No Property Too Small

Well, here it is: the end of October - everyone has settled into their Fall routines and schedules and summer is a thing of the past.  The leaves are changing colors, the rain is back, and with it the school semester, hurrah for education.  (I'm sure many parents have been smiling about school starting themselves) As part of my own continuing education, this month I earned a new designation, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (or CLHMS) from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. To those for whom this is a new term, here's a little background on it:

Laurie Moore, The Institute's founder, is a well known and respected speaker, consultant, and writer in the real estate industry. In her four decades in the industry, she has sold real estate, managed a large real estate office, and managed two divisions of one of the nation's largest brokerage firms. She also co-founded REAL Trends, a research and communications company serving the residential brokerage industry.

In response to the growing need for training and designation in the luxury home market, the Institute was founded in 2003 as a resource for real estate professionals and consumers involved with upper-tier residential properties. Tens of thousands of agents and brokers (of which I am now one) have since gone through its training on the topic of upper-tier marketing, helping them become more successful in working with buyers and sellers in the luxury home market.

The Institute exists to help real estate professionals provide high quality service to the buyers and sellers of luxury homes and in so doing, maximize their own success in the upper-tier residential market. It is the premier independent authority in training and designation for real estate agents working in the luxury residential market and is an independent organization not tied to any real estate brand.

What this means for you is that now more than ever, the adage "No property too big, no property too small" is accurate.  The smaller properties can be tricky, but the larger high end ones can be intimidating to many agents: not so for me and my staff.  We have always been known for our service and we consistently strive to provide it in the highest possible quality to all our clients, regardless of the property price or size. And now I have the tools to bring the luxury market customer service to all our RE/MAX Country clientele.  Large or small, we're here for you!

We wish you all a safe and Happy Halloween - And don't forget to stop by our office and pick up a free pumpkin! (while supplies last!) 

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner 
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475
www.cynthia-online.com

6 Halloween Decorations to Avoid If You Ever Hope to Sell Your House

As Halloween nears, strange things start creeping up in neighborhoods across the country: Zombies hang from trees, inflatable pumpkins pop up on lawns, and front lawns become impromptu cemeteries.

It’s an unquestionably fun holiday to decorate for, but what if you’re trying to sell your house? Just how far can you go with Halloween decorations if you don’t want to truly scare off buyers?

Experts say you don’t have to forgo all festive decorations, but you do have to choose them wisely. In general, decorations should be benevolently neutral: think scarecrows, pumpkins, and hay bales.  

Here are some decoration ideas to AVOID spooking buyers:

1. Blood and gore

Sorry, zombie fans, but gruesome scenes of death and the undead are things to steer away from.  Buyers often have young kids with them and the last thing you want is for a child to cry and refuse to enter your home.

2.  A blood-spattered front door

We’ve already said blood is a no-no, but just in case we weren’t clear, writing scary messages in gory-looking red paint—even something as chipper as “Happy Halloween”—is a bad idea. It’s fine and dandy if you’re just trying to give trick-or-treaters a fright, but to prospective home buyers, this graffiti-style treatment just looks messy, and screams “go away.”

3. Pumpkins whose time has come—and gone

If you’re going to use real flowers, pumpkins, and other perishable decorations, make sure to keep them looking fresh. No one wants to see (or smell) produce that’s well past its prime.

4. Political statements parading as Halloween decor

It might seem obvious, but politically themed decorations are a definite don’t.  Politics is a topic you don't want a prospective buyer to have on their mind as they're viewing your home.

5. Clowns

I think it's safe to say, given what's going on in the world today regarding terrifying clowns, I could go to go out on a limb and say it: No creepy clowns—even if your house isn’t on the market. Talk about the stuff of nightmares…

6. Too many decorations, period

It’s easy to get carried away with decorations as you get caught up in the festivities, but don’t. You’re not trying to impress buyers with your decorating skills; you’re trying to impress them with your house, which can get buried if you’re not careful.

If your Halloween dreams have just been crushed, fear not, you can always put out the gory decor to your heart's content ON Halloween night.  You’re really trying to put your best foot forward in marketing your home, and that means a foot that’s not covered in zombie entrails.

Happy Decorating!!

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner 
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475
www.cynthia-online.com