Detroit Real Estate

EVER METRO DETROIT HOME SELLS!  That is just a fact.  It doesn't matter if the home:

• backs up to a landfill
• next to an autoplant
• on a busy road
• has a swamp in back
• is need in major repair
• has a poor layout

You see there are three factors in a Metro Detroit home sale

1. location
2. price
3. condition

So sometimes it takes a great presentation of your home if you want to get the best price or to overcome the location.  Yes you heard me right!  A updated, well kept home usually gets the best price and sells faster.  

Staging your home means basically arranging your home and doing little touch ups to present your home to potential Metro Detroit home buyers.  It takes a little time and some money to stage your home but it is worth it. 

Every home that the homeowners have staged the home has sold quicker for me.  Think of it of "putting your house one stage"  We sometimes try to camouflage that outdated flower couch.  Put a lamp in that dark corner.  Remove excess furniture.  Paint neutral colors.  Those are just some of the items you may have to do to help sell your home.

If you are thinking of selling your Livonia MI home, Plymouth home, Northville home or any Wayne or Oakland County home give me a call or email me,

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent

My quote of the day:

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Maya Angelou

I write about home inspections quite a bit because I feel they are very important to a home buyer.  But I am going to look at it from a sellers stand point.  I have heard people recommend that a seller get a home inspection.  My thoughts on this is don't waste your time and money.  Why would any home buyer take your word or your inspectors word that the house is good.  They won't.

My thoughts on preparing your home for a home inspection.  My thoughts are to wait and see what the buyers home inspector comes up with. Then see what the buyer ask for.  Sometimes they ask for it to be fixed, sometimes they ask for money, sometimes they don't ask for anything, or sometimes they don't want the house.

Most times a problem that kills a deal is a major issue.  If you know of a major issue it may be wise to fix it before the home inspector comes.  But what ever you do, don't cover it up or disguise it.  Plus if they ask the question on the seller's disclosure DON'T LIE.  TELL THE TRUTH.   If you get asked about the problem tell the truth otherwise you are opening yourself up to a lawsuit.

Remember a home inspector is trained to find problems.  I am always amazed at what they find that I never noticed.  If you have a problem like a basement leak or plumbing issues it may be wise to fix it before the metro Detroit home inspector comes over. 

 Repairing a poured basement wall is usually easy.  And shouldn't cost an arm and a leg.  Call a basement wall company they are usually more reasonable in price for the repairs.  I have reasonable plumbers, electricians, and basement wall repair people.  Feel free to call me for these people.  

Bottom line is let the home inspector do his job.  Then do what you need to do to sell your home.  A major issue needs to be fixed in order for you to sell the home so you might as well get it fixed.  Do what you need to do.  Negotiate but don't kill the deal over simple repairs.

Good luck

Russ Ravary your metro Detroit realtor

Livonia and Wayne County home selling tips

Metro Detroit home selling advice

My quote of the day:

Let us never negotiate out of fear.  But let us never fear to negotiate.

                                                                 John F. Kennedy

With the current economic downturn many retirees retirement accounts have been devastated.  Some retirees have lost up to 50% of their value of their retirement funds.    So it is really tough for them to take that their home values have dropped so dramatically.  Many retirees planned on selling their Metro Detroit homes and moving to a warmer area.  Now their moving plans may have to be put on hold because of their losses. 

I have sat down with 3 retirees lately going over the latest Metro Detroit area comparables to determine what they would net out of their house.  What I have told them is they have determine what they really want.  Are they willing to wait or stay here in Metro Detroit suburbs.  I myself think it is going to take 9 years for home prices to come back to their highest levels.

So what am I telling them is do is figure out if they are willing to put their life, their retirement on hold.  Do they want to enjoy their golden years right away?.  I ask them can they afford to take the loss.  Home prices across the country have taken a beating.  So if they have taken a loss on their home value they should make a little bit up on their purchase of a new home.

What each retiree must determine their finances, their future plans, their future budgets.  I can't determine that.  I can only show you what you home is worth. 

What I can tell you is that it is going to take time to sell your Metro Detroit real estate.  And you are going to be insulted by home buyers trying to get a deal.  So before you jump into this buyers market be sure you want to sell and then price your home right.  

Well you sent over a written offer on a Novi home for sale.  The seller countered back and you counter back.  And the seller accepted.  Great you say.

But hold your enthusiasm.  A real estate transaction is not done until the contract is signed.  It is not done until it is bottom lined and all changes have been initialed.  It doesn't matter that a purchase offer has been verbally agreed upon.  In the court of law a verbal real estate deal doesn't mean anything.  A real estate transaction must be in writing to be enforceable.  A real estate agreement must be in signed by both parties and in writing to stand up in court.  A verbal agreement doesn't mean squat.

Another offer could come in and the seller can go with them.  The seller could change their mind and their is nothing you or I could do about it.  I always want the signed documents back as soon as possible so there are no changes.  A fully signed deal is piece of mind for you as my home buyers or home sellers.

So if you are signing documents get them signed as quickly as you can.  That's the best advice I can give you.  Whether you or your spouse is out of town, working or in meetings get the documents signed and faxed back.

In this age of technology you have a FedEx Kinko's within 20 miles, you have a friend with a fax or scanner.  Get the documents back as soon as possible.  It's in your best interest.

Search Metro Detroit foreclosures and real estate

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate specialist

My quote of the day is:

... As we, the leaders, deal with tomorrow, our task is not to try to make perfect plans.
...Our task is to create organizations that are sufficiently flexible and versatile that they can take our imperfect plans and make them work in execution. That is the essential character of the learning organization.
- Gordon R. Sullivan & Michael V. Harper

Pricing your Metro Detroit Home

A few weeks ago one of my first time home buyers put an offer in on a Novi home.  It wasn't a Novi foreclosure.  We looked at all the comparables for the home and my clients made a good decision on offer price.

But the problem was that the Novi home sellers were chasing the market down.  They were always over priced for the Novi real estate market and they still are a little.  My buyers offer was a reasonable offer.   But now the Novi home sellers were digging their feet in the sand.  They have put a list of $215,000 out there and they didn't want to sell it for less than $215,000. ( price has been changed to protect the identity of the seller)..

We were $5000 apart when we stopped negotiating.  If you call it negotiating.  My buyers kept coming up in price and the other side didn't budge.  My buyers were willing to pay a little over market for the home.     But when we tried to negotiate they were firm on their stance they weren't going to take less than $215,000.  NO WAY, NO HOW  WERE THEY GOING ANY LOWER.  My new Novi home buyers moved on, and bought another Novi home, and the seller's home still sits for sale.

There are three mistakes the seller is making.

1. Not being realistic for the market.  Look at the recent sold prices and accept them.  You want to sell your home right?
2. Not being flexible.  You can't dig your heels in and not negotiate most of the time in this market.  It is still a buyers market.  You will have more buyers walking away than selling the house.
3. Pricing the Novi housewrong.  The seller should have priced the house $5000 higher.  You have to give the buyer the feeling of getting something off list price in the market.

For more Metro Detroit home sellers tips feel free to visit my other website if you can't find enough good information on the right side of the page in the category sellers tips

Livonia Real Estate Wayne County homes for sale

Russ Ravary your Novi relocation specialist

It was sunny here in the Metro Detroit area so my quote of the day is:

Blest power of sunshine!--and genial day,
  What balm, what life is in thy ray!
    To feel there is such real bliss,
      That had the world no joy but this,
        To sit in sunshine calm and sweet,--
          It were a world too exquisite

Thomas Moore