Home Improvements That Sell

Realty Times Feature Article by Broderick Perkins

In a mash-up survey of 450 real estate agents and 1,660 homeowners, homeowners get it - most of the time - when it comes to home improvements that help induce sales and higher prices.

Realtor.com's home improvement survey, conducted online from June 6 to June 13, 2012, tapped agents and Realtor.com users who are homeowners planning to improve their home before putting it on the market.

Given today's home buyers are aware of soft market conditions that can put a drag on values, they want a home that's ready to appreciate and that's a home in the best shape possible.

Nearly 90 percent of real estate agents believe home improvements can help a home sell faster, and nearly 73 percent say home work can boost the price, provided the home improvements are the right home improvements.

Nearly three in four (71.4 percent) real estate agents say sellers too often underestimate the power of simple home improvements - repairs, painting, and cosmetic upgrades.

Not so, say more than one in four (75.21 percent) of homeowners polled. They most certainly plan to repair broken household items before listing their home for sale.

Also, 65.9 percent of real estate agents said another common mistake among homeowners is not making "the right" home improvements for the local market. Like upgrades from home to home help pull up values overall.

Agents, 62 percent of them, also said too many homeowners make specialty improvements based on their own tastes rather than what might appeal to a buyer.

Recommended home improvements

The most common home improvements recommended by real estate agents included:

• The vast majority, 96.5 percent, of real estate professionals surveyed recommend sellers repair household items that are broken before putting a home on the market.

• More than half, 63.8 percent, of real estate agents recommend sellers make kitchen improvements.

• Most, 59.3 percent, of real estate professionals recommend sellers make bathroom improvements.

What sellers improve

Are sellers complying with real estate agents' recommended home improvements? Again, for the most part, yes.

The most common improvements made by home sellers:

• A majority, 75.21 percent, of sellers planning renovations will repair broken household items before selling their home.

• Most, 53.43 percent, of owners plan to add new flooring before selling their home.

• Also most, 53.37 percent, of sellers plan bathroom improvements before selling their home.

Homeowners appear to have dropped the ball on kitchen work, but they aren't pinching pennies when it comes to home improvements that sell.

Home improvement budgets were $2,001 to $5,000 for 24.1 percent of home sellers planning improvements; $5,001 to $10,000 for 22.23 percent and $10,001 to $20,000 for 16.63 percent.

To learn more about home improvement ideas, or for a free estimate of your home's value, please visit us at www.prucalhomes.com, or call 888-352-1652

Oxnard Couple Wins Prudential Gas Card Giveaway

Oxnard Couple Wins Prudential Gas Card Giveaway

Every season throughout the year, Prudential California Realty sponsors a contest for clients and local residents. Prudential sales professionals distribute contest entry forms to past clients and local neighborhoods. Prudential sponsored the giveaway for a $200 Chevron gas card, with a “Summer Roadtrip” theme. The lucky winners of this season's contest were Vince & Ruthie Tovey. The entry form was brought in by agent team Carrie Stanton & Cathy Thomas from Prudential California Realty's Oxnard office location.

The winners, Vince & Ruthie Tovey had previously worked with Carrie & Cathy on their recent purchase of a Hueneme Bay Condo. “We would like to thank Carrie & Cathy for helping us find our condo. Ruthie and I are 'Silverstranders' and have been for many years. We love the culture, the Port Hueneme and Oxnard area, the climate, and most importantly the local people.”

Originally from the East Coast, Vince Tovey was stationed at Camp Pendleton in the 60s and visited the area several times with a friend. “I had a US Marine buddy who was from Ventura and we would swoop up here on a weekend pass. After the military, I decided to come back to this area and stay for good - it was a great decision.” Ruthie was born and raised in the Port Hueneme area, and Vince likes to call her his “True California Girl.”

Carrie Stanton & Cathy Thomas sent out over 200 contest entry forms to communities throughout Oxnard & Port Hueneme, and personally delivered entry forms to past clients. “We are thrilled that Vince & Ruthie won the $200 gas card. They are a great couple with a wonderful story and they have been some of our best clients,” said Thomas.

Prudential Survey: Americans Increasingly Confident About Market Recovery

           Prudential California Realty's parent company, Brookfield Real Estate & Relocation Affiliates recently announced the results of their second quarter Consumer Outlook Survey.  The national survey results indicated that Americans are increasingly optimistic about homeownership and their confidence levels are rising from both the first quarter and the previous year.

·               Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents have a favorable perception of the U.S. housing market, up from 60% in the first-quarter survey and 52% in first-quarter 2011.

·               69% believe that real estate is a good investment despite the market volatility of the past few years, up 6% from the first-quarter 2012 survey and 17 percentage points from first quarter 2011.

·               72% expressed confidence that the real estate market and property values will improve during the next two years

       Similar to the national sentiment, signs of growing confidence are apparent among local residents as home prices in Ventura County continue to rise.  According to DataQuick, the median home price was $365,000 last month in Ventura County, up more than 3% compared to the same time last year. 

       “The American Dream is clearly on the mend,” said Bob Majorino, Broker/Owner of Prudential California Realty. “Americans are feeling better about homeownership and the ongoing recovery taking place in residential real estate. Many are increasingly optimistic about their personal circumstances and with housing affordability near all-time highs here in Ventura County, they want to act on the opportunity.”

       With five offices throughout Ventura County, Prudential California Realty is an independently owned and operated member of BRER Affiliates, Inc.  For additional information about Prudential's outlook survey, please call (805) 496-0555 or visit www.prucalhomes.com.

Prudential 2012 consumer attitudes survey q2 findings final from Prudential Snyder

Prudential to Launch New International Marketing Program

       

        Prudential California Realty recently announced the implementation of Proxio, an international listing and networking service. Proxio's Global Real Estate Network is a powerful global marketing and networking service that empowers real estate professionals to market themselves and their listings globally, in over 100 countries, in 19 languages and 30 currencies.  The announcement, made last week at each of the five Ventura county office’s weekly sales meetings will benefit agents and clients alike, providing international exposure for all of Prudential’s listings.

       According the National Association of Realtors 2012 Profile of International Home Buying Activity, home sales to international buyers have increased 24% since last year, with international sales making up 9% of the total residential market. Presently, Prudential California Realty is the only real estate company in Ventura County utilizing Proxio’s services to globally market property listings. 

     “With the influx of international buyers looking for a great investment, it is now necessary to have every property accessible in multiple languages to be viewed by potential buyers across the globe.  It is a major priority for Prudential to have the most advanced marketing tools available, and no other real estate company in Ventura County offers the same level of exposure for our property listings,” said Gina Lipari, Marketing Director for Prudential California Realty. 

      The partnership with Proxio enables networking opportunities between Prudential agents and over 400,000 real estate professionals across the globe.  Westlake Village / North Ranch agent Jeff Johnson believes the partnership with Proxio will be a valuable tool for home sellers who want maximum exposure. “I already an extensive local network of qualified buyers and listing agents with which to promote my listings, but now I am able to broadcast every listing to the entire world and tap into a whole new market of homebuyers” said Johnson.

      With five offices throughout Ventura County, Prudential California Realty is an independently owned and operated member of BRER Affiliates, Inc.  For additional information about Proxio’s global listing service or Prudential California Realty, please call (805) 496-0555 or visit www.prucalhomes.com