When you are thinking about selling, be sure to contact the Scott Hollinger Team at REMAX of Bigfork to discuss the current market and any of your concerns about the selling process. A full listing presentation can be sent to you that will introduce the team and explain effective pricing strategies and our successful marketing plan.

NEW!  Suscribe to the Scott Hollinger Team Facebook page for relevant real estate articles, statistics, photos and news! 

Good Article links:

The Secret to Pricing Your Property to Sell. Simply one of the best, concise articles ever written about the process of pricing and how time is an inherent element.

How to Sell in tough times.   Comprehensive article on pricing and seller strategies when the market isn't being nice.

Staging:  With competition the way it is in today's market, proper staging can give your listings a major advantage. And that means each room should be staged effectively. Trish Pachak of We Stage Colorado says that every room has a natural focal point that you should stage around. In this short RE/MAX University video  she and her staff choose the fireplace as the focal point in a family room. They re-arrange furniture and artwork to draw the eye to that point.   Another short video from the HGTV network on staging has some great overall tips.

Should Sellers have Home Inspections?  Another article helps sellers understand why Home inspections are an "Essential Tool for Buyers".  

Three tips for getting your home "staged" and make the most out of showings with buyers.

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About RE/MAX:

Cable Television!  The monthly RE/MAX Real Estate Showcase  highlights select properties throughout the Flathead Valley.  This real estate show is shown on local cable television with properties rotated on a monthly basis.

Who is looking at the RE/MAX website right now?  See national mapping - its pretty cool!   With over 89,000 agents in the RE/MAX network, we can help you connect with a qualified agent virtually anywhere in the world.

What has Sold? Explore a sampling of property the Scott Hollinger Team has sold in the last several years. Waterfront Tour

How quickly are properties selling in the Flathead Valley? Absorption Rates give us an indication of how long it will take for Listed properties to be fully sold out based on last year’s rate of sale. In other words, if no new properties came on the market, we could predict how many months it would take to have all of the properties sell in each price class given consistent rates of sale.
Residential Absorption Rates 2006-2011

Land Absorption Rates 2006-2011

Good photography is key to increasing perceived value of real estate for sale, that is why the Scott Hollinger Team spends so much time carefully and thoughtfully photographing our listings and creating quality visual tours.

Words of Advice in a Tough Market (taken from blog by Janet Guilbault- California Mortgage Advisor, San Francisco Area - March 9, 2009).  She writes:

1. You don't "start high"
2. You don't try to sell something that is dirty or needs repair
3. You don't expect to "sell quickly"
4. You understand that if you hold on for too long to get the "better price", you can shoot yourself in the foot.
5. You don't try to "do it yourself". You need professional help and marketing NOW more than you ever did before.
6. You don't take offense when your buyers low ball, or ask for a discount.
7. You don't cling to the idea that the price 6 months ago has anything to do with the price today.
8. You understand you must get over your emotional attachments to the thing you want to sell.
9. You make it EASY for a buyer to buy.
10. You show compassion.

Someday, sellers will rise up and once again, make all the rules. Until then, sellers must understand this: It is exhausting for buyers to constantly dog paddle. And scary. Even if it is in a sea of ridiculously low prices.  The water still seems awfully cold, and those lifeboats are taking FOREVER to arrive.