Northwest Indiana Real Estate

Words of Wisdom for Sellers in the Market

2012-02-01T08:21:00.000-08:00

Sellers: Don't overdo it on home improvements

Staging Tips

2012-01-24T08:04:00.000-08:00

Put Your Best Features Forward: Simple Staging Solutions

Is That Fixer-Upper a Good Deal?

2012-01-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

How to Assess the Real Cost of a Fixer-Upper House

When you buy a fixer-upper house, you can save a ton of money, or get yourself in a financial fix. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Eco-Friendly Kitchen Design

2012-01-20T07:39:00.000-08:00

Staged Homes Spend 83% Less Time on Market

2012-01-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

Staging Reduces Time on Market: Pass Along 7 Staging Tips

Now Really IS The Time To Buy

2012-01-11T08:14:00.001-08:00

Fireplaces Provide a Warm Glow to a Home on the Market

2012-01-10T08:05:00.001-08:00

By Larry Hitz

Prudential Executive Group Real Estate

With winter weather gripping most of the country the fireplace takes on greater importance in the sale of a home.

The National Association of REALTORS^® recently conducted a survey that found nearly two-thirds of homebuyers had a fireplace on their wish list. The fireplace has become a coveted amenity and homes boasting this feature see its benefits during resale.

“The fireplace is a focal point when people come to see your home,” said Hillary Staats, an interior designer for Sanctuary on Church in Vienna, Va.

That’s why it’s important to make sure that the look of your fireplace has been updated and is working properly. An older looking fireplace that seems an eye-sore can be easily updated.

“There is a lot you can do to enhance the fireplace before a sale. A lot of times, if it has older brick, I will re-stone a fireplace. Other times it could be as simple as changing mantels, adding a fancier screen or placing a beautiful piece of art above it.”

Transformation materials that are inexpensive and easy to work with are tile, manufactured stone, granite, marble and wood. Sometimes even painting over old, ugly brick will make a huge improvement.

“A masonry fireplace can really set a home apart from the rest and significantly improve resale value,” said Larry Kett, owner of Kett’s Hearth and Home in Grand Rapids, Mich. “Adding a mantel also helps. An engaging fireplace and mantel can provide grandeur for an otherwise ho-hum room.”

Keeping the mantel clean and uncluttered is also a must. “You want the fireplace to look inviting but not cluttered, so keep the mantel clear of all photos and knickknacks,” Staats said. “It’s fine to decorate with accessories, but they shouldn’t distract from the fireplace itself.”

If you want to add a fireplace to improve your home’s resale value, consider an electric fireplace as it’s often the least expensive option and reasonably easy to install.

Gas fireplaces are more common today and easy to use, plus they can be installed just about anywhere. There is no need for a chimney, wood or even matches with this type of fireplace and there is no mess to clean up either. Ceramic log kits are efficient and look like the real deal, without ashes to clean up.

Finally, regardless of the season, a fireplace should be kept clean and in working order. “You want your buyer to go home feeling really great about that room and knowing they can move in and sit in front of that wonderful fireplace and hearth,” Staats said. “There are few things as warm and inviting as a burning fire on a wintry day.”

Larry Hitz can be reached at 219.464.8521). Prudential Executive Group is an independently owned and operated member of BRER Affiliates Inc. Used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential. Equal Housing Opportunity.

5 More Reasons to Buy

2012-01-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

Top 5 tax breaks for homeowners

Pending Sales Hit 19-Month High

2012-01-05T07:49:00.000-08:00

2012 Home Sales: Positives on Many Fronts

Energy Savers: Lighting Choices to Save You Money

2012-01-04T11:43:00.000-08:00

Energy Savers: Lighting Choices to Save You Money

Setting the Stage for a Home Sale

2012-01-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

By Larry Hitz

Prudential Executive Group Real Estate

“You never get a second chance to make a great first impression.”

This saying strikes a chord in the real estate industry, where many buyers are quick to jump to a conclusion about a potential home after just one glance. That’s why an increasing number of homeowners are employing professional home stagers to prepare their homes for sale.

“Much of what staging accomplishes happens on a subconscious level,” said Carla Grammatica, a consultant with Stage Setters in New York’s Westchester County. “You are trying to create a positive association between your house and the prospective buyer. Anyone can change a paint color after they move in, but first impressions are difficult to undo.”

With 91% of buyers searching first on the Internet for homes, MLS photos and virtual tours are extremely important in the selection process. Staging, as a priority instead of as a last resort, will give sellers key advantages.

Stagers help eliminate clutter, give advice on adding colors, help in rearranging furniture and bring in various items to help spruce up a home.

“One of the most important things is getting rid of things that look messy,” Grammatica said. “Life can get messy, especially with kids and storage issues, but you have to pretend that’s not how you live. You have to pretend your house is [always] neat and well maintained.”

That means picking up shoes from the hallway, removing papers from tables and furniture and even taking down personal items—such as diplomas, pictures and trophies.

—that clutter the walls.

Professional stagers take into account buyer demographics and buying psychology, and they use design elements in planning out the rooms, space and lighting. “Some people think that staging is simply cleaning and packing up some of your things, but it is so much more than that,” said Linda Barnett, a certified staging professional with Indianapolis–based Home Matters. “Understanding traffic patterns and highlighting the positive attributes of a home while downplaying its negative features, all go into play.”

One tip homeowners can do to stage their home themselves is to pack away unneeded items—such as seasonal clothes and old books—and put them in storage.

It’s also important not to overwhelm potential buyers with wild colors and furniture, even if you think it makes your home “special.”

Remember, making your home look like a model rather than lived-in can make all the difference in selling a home.

Larry Hitz can be reached at 219-464-8521. Prudential Executive Group Real Estate is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Some Good Signs for the Real Estate Market

2011-12-29T07:16:00.000-08:00

Daily Real Estate News

Sales ticked up for existing homes and new homes, several real estate market indicators revealed last week, pointing to a housing market that may finally be entering recovery mode.

In the most recent report, the Census Bureau reported that the new-home market continued its rebound, with sales of new houses once again inching up last month. New-home sales rose 1.6 percent from October to November to an annualized rate of 315,000, and sales were up nearly 10 percent compared to November 2010.

The median sales price of a new home in November was $214,100, the Census Bureau reported, and the inventory of new houses nationwide decreased to a six-month supply at the current sales pace.

"Inventories of new homes are very low: There's nothing on the shelf, so any increase in new home sales will translate directly into new housing starts," Bob Denk, senior economist at the National Association of Home Builders, told CNNMoney. "That means putting people back to work."

Other recent good news for the housing market: November sales of existing homes increased 12 percent year-over-year, new-home building starts were up nearly 21 percent year-over-year, and mortgage rates reached new record lows last week, pushing housing affordability even higher.

Source: “New Home Sales Edge Up,” CNNMoney (Dec. 23, 2011)

Our Exciting New Parent Franchise whose DNA is Real Estate

2011-12-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

BROOKFIELD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SERVICES ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF PRUDENTIAL REAL ESTATE AND RELOCATION SERVICES

Yesterday Brookfield Residential Property Services (“Brookfield”), a Brookfield Asset Management Inc. affiliate, announced that it has purchased Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, a recognized leader in global relocation and real estate brokerage from Prudential Financial, Inc. Prudential Relocation Services operates as Pricoa Relocation in Asia and Europe.
The addition establishes Brookfield as North America’s third largest residential real estate brokerage business and the world’s second largest global relocation services provider.
For Prudential Real Estate’s more than 600 affiliates operating across North America and their clients, the news means “business as usual.” Under a licensing agreement, Prudential Real Estate affiliates will continue using the Prudential brand based on the terms of their franchise agreements. The expanded scale of the combined businesses will ensure that the network remains at the forefront of the industry, positioned with leading-edge tools and technologies to best serve their clients.
“We are thrilled to join Brookfield, a leader in residential real estate franchising and employee relocation services and a brand name that is synonymous with strength, stability and growth,” said Larry Hitz, Broker/Owner, Prudential Executive Group. “In the past 30 years, I have been through many corporate acquisitions…Pan American Airlines, MetLife, Hospitality Franchise Services, Cendant, and Realogy, among others. However this is the first time that a real estate corporation, a company whose sole purpose is real estate, has purchased the parent franchise. This means a much stronger alignment in services provided including marketing, relocation and business development.” Hitz added, “The fact that they have made this aggressive purchase in this economy demonstrates their belief in the Prudential brand when others are retreating from the industry.”
Through its various brands, Brookfield’s residential real estate franchisees are now present in all 50 U.S. states, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and Portugal, with a network of approximately 80,000 real estate agents, 2,800 real estate brokerage locations and more than $150 billion in annual residential real estate transactions.
Brookfield’s parent company, Brookfield Asset Management, is a global asset manager with approximately $150 billion in assets under management. Brookfield is co-listed on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges under the symbol BAM and on NYSE Euronext under the symbol BAMA.

About Brookfield Residential Property Services

Brookfield Residential Property Services is a leading global provider of real estate and relocation services, analytics and knowledge. The company’s portfolio consists of leading brands, including Brookfield Global Relocation Services, the second largest provider of global relocation services, Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Brookfield Real Estate Services, Royal LePage, Real Living, Via Capitale and Centract. Through its real estate brands, it has nearly 80,000 real estate professionals in more than 2,800 locations, who transact over $150 billion annually. Its global footprint spans North America, the United Kingdom, France, China, Singapore, India, Brazil and Australia, and includes more than 2,500 employees worldwide. It is a division of Brookfield Asset Management, a global asset manager with approximately $150 billion of assets under management.

About Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services

Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services is a leading real estate brokerage franchise and relocation services business. Prudential Real Estate is one of the largest real estate brokerage franchise networks in North America, with more than 1,600 franchise offices in its Network. Prudential Real Estate franchises are independently owned and operated companies selected based upon outstanding performance records, high levels of customer service and business values. Prudential Relocation Services is a leading provider of global relocation services to Fortune 500 corporations. With locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Hong Kong, Singapore and China, Prudential Relocation – which operates as Pricoa Relocation in Asia and Europe – offers a comprehensive suite of services to its worldwide clients and their transferees.

About Prudential Executive Group

Prudential Executive Group, a full service brokerage with its corporate office in Valparaiso, became an affiliate of the Prudential Real Estate Network in 2007. Since its founding 29 years ago by Larry Hitz, Executive Group has earned its reputation for being the leader in Northwest Indiana real estate by attracting, training and supporting top-producing agents. Visit Prudential Executive Group online at www.HousesAreSelling.com to discover all of the resources available to you through Prudential Executive Group.

Northwest Indiana Real Estate

Words of Wisdom for Sellers in the Market

Staging Tips

Is That Fixer-Upper a Good Deal?

How to Assess the Real Cost of a Fixer-Upper House

Eco-Friendly Kitchen Design

Staged Homes Spend 83% Less Time on Market

Now Really IS The Time To Buy

Fireplaces Provide a Warm Glow to a Home on the Market

5 More Reasons to Buy

Pending Sales Hit 19-Month High

Energy Savers: Lighting Choices to Save You Money

Setting the Stage for a Home Sale

Some Good Signs for the Real Estate Market

Our Exciting New Parent Franchise whose DNA is Real Estate