Thursday, February 17, 2011

What Are Home Buyers Looking For Today?

As we enter the spring selling season (generally the busiest time of the year) for home purchases sellers are asking what do I need to do to get my home sold. Well as always price matters. If you are over priced for your neighborhood or comparables out there you are not going to generate an offer; let alone any showings. However; in a newsletter sent out to Coldwell Banker Agents there were some interesting things that came up in a recent survey.

Coldwell Banker surveyed people who purchased a home in the past 12 months. They asked what was important to them and why they chose the home they did. I will admit the number one reason was a little suprising to me. The survey was conducted to home buyers who had purchased their first home. Considering they make up over half of all sales right now; it made sense.

Well, everyone reads from the news that people want foreclosures. They do not mind doing the work to fix a home or make it their own. Well according to the survey 87% of first time buyers want a home that is move in ready. Now, move in ready means different things to different people. The genral thing is you do not mind changing the color of paint on the walls, or doing a little cleaning. However; they do not want to undertake a list of repairs to a home or updating. They want it done before they move in.

In addition the other items that rated imprtant to first time home buyers were: 78% wanted it close to shopping and services. 75% said it was important to be close to where they worked. 67% said it was important to be near highly rated schools.

While those other items would be on just about every Realtor's list of what home buyers want, the first one probably would not have been on many people's list. Considering the average home buyer now looks at an average of 11 homes before making a descision. That s a lot of homes to look at. You need to make sure your home stands out from the rest. And apparantly condition does matter now over price.

Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com

No comments:

Post a Comment