By Tara-Nicholle Nelson

Last year, we talked you through some surprising selling points – housing hot-buttons that can get your home sold, stat, like having Trader Joe’s market nearby. There’s so much information on the web these days about how to stage a home and create compelling curb appeal that you might think you know all you need to on the subject. Just when you thought you’d mastered the matter, we thought we’d brief you on 5 more things that can get your home sold, some or all of which might never have occurred to you.

1. Your neighbors. Most homeowners contemplating selling their homes understand the importance of well-kept neighboring homes. Many a buyer has pulled up to an amazing house, viewed it, and left shaking their head with woe because they just can’t cotton to buying the place on account of the shoulder-high weeds, car in the yard or crumbling ruins of the house next door.

On the flip side, your neighbors themselves – not just the homes, but the people – can actually help sell your home. Many homeowners know people who want to live in their neck of the woods; this is one reason many seasoned real estate professionals hold their listings open to neighbors and send out postcards to neighbors announcing the listing – the neighbors might know people who are interested in your home! Also, neighbors who are out and about chatting with each other, laughing and playing

with their kids, mowing their lawns or painting their fences, or even who just offer a smile and helpful area knowledge to the buyerto-be they pass on the street can make a very favorable impression on prospective buyers.

It’s a good idea, if and when you decide to list your home for sale, to touch base with neighbors you know and let them know; it’s in their best interests to get good new neighbors, so they might be able to go the extra mile in showing the neighborhood’s biggest asset – themselves – off to its best advantage.

2. The right sights, smells and sounds. It’s no news flash that the view of a used car lot; stinky foods or animal smells; and the siren song of a fire station next door could be deal-killers. What might surprise is some of the right sights, smells and sounds that

can help seal the sale of your home. My experience has been – agents, chime in here! – that the more natural beautiful sights, smells and sounds are, the more favorably they’ll be received by the largest population of prospective buyers.

For example, playing a soundtrack of classical musical is fine, but will cause some skeptical buyers to wonder what noises you might be trying to cover up – especially if you’re in a condo or other potentially thin-walled property where neighbor noise might be an issue. On the other hand, birdsong can be attractive to some buyers. Artificial air fresheners? Not so much. The scent of the jasmine or lavender that grows in your yard? Even allergy victims can appreciate that.

You might be desensitized to the amazing views of trees, mountains or even water outside your window, but pulling back the curtains so prospective buyers can see for themselves is an absolute must.

Home buying is a multi-sensory experience – visual staging of the property itself is no longer a plus, it’s a must. But homes which create pleasant impressions that fire on all of a buyer’s sensory cylinders definitely have the edge on their competition.

3. Your dog. The New York Times ran a piece a few months ago about sweet, well-behaved dogs (and cats!) who reportedly helped sell their owners’ Manhattan apartments. In a departure from the conventional wisdom that dogs should be removed and every trace of their presence erased from the home during showings, the article featured several buyers and brokers attesting totheir belief that the presence of a particular cat or dog “help[ed] sell a property by making the place seem warmer or more

appealing.” And I’m sure you’ve all heard me tell the story of the San Diego buyer who fell in love with a tract home listed at a price higher than all the nearly identical comparables he’d seen and wanted to make a full-price offer immediately – so long as the deal included the dog!

Definitely consult with your agent before you decide to implement leaving your dog at home for showings as part of your plan. I’m a dog lover, and would be concerned that someone might inadvertently let one of “my girls” out, if I left them there while my house was being shown; as well, would-be buyers or their agents may have allergies your pet could set off. Lately, it seems like I’ve seen many brokers attempting to capture the best of both worlds by making sure that the family pet or even the broker’s own pet is captured in a charming tableau in 1 or 2 of the listing pictures, even if they’re not present at the home during showings.

4. Your happiness. Video and even written love letters that extoll all the virtues for which you love your neighbors, your neighborhood and your property are contagious to buyers. I’ve seen sellers help buyers see their homes through their own loving eyes by posting videos on YouTube and including the link on the listing flyer or even by putting a binder containing a letter plus menus and flyers from their favorite neighborhood restaurants, dry cleaners and other local merchants out on the counter during showings.

Wide-open curtains that let light stream in, light and bright paint and decor colors and other home features that science has proven make residents more happy and functional also create this thought process in a buyer’s mind: “Hmm, these people seem happy here. I could be, too.”

Similarly, indicators that you invested a lot of love in your home, by keeping it in immaculate order and pristine condition, by tending a well-cared for kitchen garden, lovingly furnishing and making comfortable (if not overly customizing) your kids’ rooms, all create the feel that a home was happily lived in – it’s like staging your home with a life well-lived, not just paint and tile.

5. The freeway or subway you thought was too close. There is such a thing as a freeway or elevated train tracks being too close to your home; if your place rattles or roars, for example, every time the train passes, chances any buyer will view that as a selling point are pretty slim. However, homebuyer attitudes toward being located near freeways and subways or bus lines are ac hanging. Every upward click of gas prices renders buyers a tiny bit more interested in a location that is more commutable.

Where yesteryear’s buyers were all about the posh exclusivity of far-out suburbia, today’s buyers are more interested in financial and ecological efficiency and convenience. I’ve never heard so many homebuyers looking to own homes that will allow them to ditch their cars entirely as I have in recent years!

What might once have been seen as too close to the freeway has gotten a new spin, lately, as a highly convenient, commute friendly location.

Posted by David Marine

For many people, finding a new home is more than a matter of personal taste and individual finance – it’s a family affair. I’ve bought a house as a newlywed couple and then again with a child, but buying one now with my three boys would certainly be a different experience. For those buying a new home to accommodate a growing family, it is an exciting step in one’s life, but it can also be a balancing act.

A recent survey released by Coldwell Banker Real Estate found that 65 percent of homeowners who are also parents purchased their first home before becoming pregnant or within one year of their child’s birth. Wow, that’s a lot going on in a person’s life at one time, but it makes sense. It isn’t until you have a child that you realize just how much space this tiny, little person takes up so that apartment or condo you bought won’t cut it with a munchkin crawling around.

For those consumers who are in a position like this, Coldwell Banker has put together five tips for buying a home with a family in mind:

Proximity to family. Nearly half of the homeowner respondents in a recent survey from Coldwell Banker reported that they live less than 10 minutes from extended family members, with 72 percent choosing to live within 30 minutes. Buying a home that is close to family members can provide support, help and guidance that can be a great benefit both emotionally and financially. With extended family nearby, families have the opportunity to spend more time together and even save money on occasion. The cost of babysitters and long distance travel to visit relatives can really add up!

Existing floor plan. Each family has its own unique dynamic and should take its distinctive needs into consideration when exploring different floor plans. While having a master bedroom upstairs and the other rooms downstairs may work for some families, others may prefer to have all of the bedrooms on the same level.

Surrounding neighborhood. The neighborhood looks different from the eyes of a parent. It’s wise to get an idea of what the neighborhood offers for children, such as local recreational centers, parks or playgrounds as well as the school system, before deciding on an area to live. Coldwell Banker recommends home buyers utilize online tools such as Coldwell Banker On Location or local neighborhood sites that can offer consumers a wealth of local market information.

Future lifestyle needs. They say children grow up in the blink of an eye, and while you don’t believe at first, it’s absolutely true. Make sure the home you purchase leaves growing room and will still fit your family’s needs a few years down the road, especially if there are plans for more children.

Budget. One of the most important things for all potential homeowners to consider is their personal budget. Growing a family and having children usually means a growing list of expenses as well. Estimate monthly expenses along with a mortgage payment to ensure all financial commitments can be reasonably met.

These are just 5 simple steps for buying a home with a family, but there’s so many details involved that it certainly helps to have a trusted agent by your side to guide you through the process. Don’t just take my word for it though.

Check out this testimonial video from a family in Rockwall, Texas that used trusted Coldwell Banker agent, Evan Matteson, to help make their move into a bigger place a smooth and enjoyable experience.