Real Estate BUZZ: Caldwell, North Caldwell and West Caldwell

This Week’s Real Estate Buzz:

The first week of February saw an increase in listings and homes under contract this week—perhaps the Spring rush is starting early this year.

For the week of 01/30/12 - 02/04/12:

New Listings: 6 (3 Caldwell, 2 North Caldwell, 1 West Caldwell)

Under Contract: 6 (2 Caldwell, 1 North Caldwell, 3 West Caldwell)

Price Changes: 5 (4 North Caldwell, 1 West Caldwell)

Homes Sold: 3 (2 Caldwell, 1 West Caldwell)

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Tip of the Week:

What’s That Smell?

How do you WOW every buyer that walks in your door? By pleasing their human senses. Today we are going to talk about one of the most sensitive ones—smell.

Let’s face it, all of our homes have distinctive smells. Whether we have pets, love to cook with garlic or have teenage boys, our house takes on the smells of our daily life. Fortunately for us but unfortunately for others, we tend to get used to these smells and stop smelling them.

My parents had two adorable Golden Retrievers (both named “2 dogs”—long story) and their house had a wet dog smell that would make your eyes water, yet when I mentioned it to them they had no idea what I was talking about.

I have walked into open houses that had overwhelming awful smells and the agent many times will shrug their shoulders and say “How do you tell them?” While it seems trivial, a smell—such as cigarette smoke, dog or cat odors can make a prospective buyer turn around and walk right back out the front door.

Before putting your house on the market, invite over several of your most honest and best friends and ask them to please tell you what they smell in your house. Or ask your real estate agent to give you an honest assessment. Many times you will be surprised by what they tell you, but don’t take it personally, use the information to help you get your house sold.

Don’t believe for a moment that buyer’s will overlook anything—they won’t. A nose knows what a nose knows.

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