Behind the Scenes - The Listings

I promised you a behind-the-scenes look at what The DEN Collab has been up to for the last few months.... drumroll please ....

The "Extra"

A few of the houses we sold this past quarter were homes that had been lived in for 30+ years and the homeowners needed our help downsizing. That meant bringing in boxes, bubble wrap and tape and organizing what went where. Important keepsake items were set aside and donation piles sprang up throughout the house. We leaned on our vendor list and community to make sure the right items went to the right places.

For example, did you know that you can donate books in bulk to DreamBooks and they'll distribute them to schools, libraries, shelters and more? There are charities like Recovery Works that will take everything for a starter home, including kitchen utensils and laundry soap that's still mostly full. The teachers and daycare owners in our network were so excited about the office supplies we were able to donate and the homeowners were so glad to know that their beloved items would have a wonderful second life. We even found a retirement home that wanted all of the elderly care items that needed to be rehomed.

Weeks went by with all hands on deck and eventually we were ready to start our "normal" marketing process: deep clean, staging, photography, etc. All of which, combined with expert pricing strategies, led to the sale of these homes happening extraordinarily quickly for our sellers - the best win!

And while yes, while this is a bit "extra" from what we "normally" do to list a home, it's important to say that it's not just the homes that are full of left-behind items that need extra attention - every home needs extra love before going on the market! That includes:

• Guiding our sellers on best projects to bring in that good ROI

• Helping them choose a trusted and affordable vendor to get the job done right

• Buttoning up honey-do items that new buyers don't want to see (ie. loose doorhandles and faucets).

And again, once the floors are refinished and the new paint has finished drying, we bring in the same crew: cleaners, stager, photographer and BAM! We're slapping the market with the best deal in the neighborhood, whatever neighborhood that may be.

Pricing strategy is key!

The key elements in pricing a home correctly are to consider the following:

• Location - neighborhood, access, street type, views

• Condition - internal system vs. aesthetics - don't forget the yard!

• Size - how many bedrooms, baths and sqft are we working with?

Once I consider these factors, in comparison with the homes in the neighborhood, I am able to come to a realistic price range to present to my sellers.

From there, I coach them to list at a price that they would be comfortable accepting in the case that we get an offer at 'asking'.

We also want to list at a price that's not the absolute top number they hope to receive and instead, price competitively and let the market decide.

Under Contract - FAST!

All of this put together is like a magic recipe for success. Trust from my sellers is the number one most important factor in getting them under contract quickly! We put our magic in motion and with a bit of luck were able to close seamlessly.

SOLD!

I'd like to thank the following people who's hard work, late nights and creativity helped make these listings come together and sell without issue:

Richard Coite - Quality Control Specialist - TDC

Austin Coite - Assistant QC - TDC

Paige Gebbia - Transaction Coordinator - TDC

Chris Venne - Managing Broker - Resident Realty

Michael Barker - Fellow Agent & Comrade Painter- Remax

Meg Self - Photography + 3D tours - Roost Imagery

Kevin - Lightspeed Appraisals

Jennifer - MLS Appraising

Steve & Leah - Roofing - Added Value Pro

Traci - Farmer's Insurance

Adan - HVAC Master

Max - Floor refinishing - Max Flooring

John - Painting - Cunningham Painting

Kyle - Inspections - Pillar to Post

Geoff - Sewer Expert - Drain Brain

Homestead Title

& of course, Hendrik, my sweet husband who has extra hands to offer, always

It takes an absolute village to sell a home, let alone several homes back-to-back! I am eternally grateful for the kind folks who help me shine up a home, brainstorm solutions to sudden hiccups and hop in on a dime to get the job done quickly. Thank you to each and every one of you for your dedication to a higher level of service! The DEN Collaborative is glad to have each of you in our corner, and so are our clients!!