Michael Zimmerman just listed apartment 403 at the Anga-Roa condominium for sale.    

 
Anga-Roa
1545 Nehoa Street #403
Honolulu, HI 96822    

MLS #1200525   

Don’t miss this opportunity.  

• One bedroom, one bath
• One assigned parking space
• Living area approximately 730 sq. ft.
• Owner occupancy 47.5% (Dec 2011)

Please contact Michael Zimmerman if you have specific questions about this home.    

 

 
This information is provided as a courtesy, is not a warranty and should be independently investigated by Buyers.  This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Michael Zimmerman just listed apartment 802 at Ocean Vista for sale.    

 
Ocean Vista
3033 Ala Ilima Street #802
Honolulu, HI 96818    

MLS #1200265    

Don’t miss this opportunity.  

• Two bedrooms, two baths
• One assigned parking space
• Living area approximately 1012 sq. ft.
• Owner occupancy 76% (Sep 2011)

Please contact Michael Zimmerman if you have specific questions about this home.    

 

 
This information is provided as a courtesy, is not a warranty and should be independently investigated by Buyers.  This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about staging your home to enhance your sale and it won’t be the last.  I read a recent article on staging and here are the main points:

Many buyers are looking for turnkey homes; they want to move in quickly without doing much work.

Buyers with busy lifestyles pay a premium for homes in magnificent condition.

Staging can shorten the time it takes to sell and the positively influence final sales price.

Financially strapped sellers often have a hard time accepting that they’ll need to invest money to prepare their home for sale.  Don’t lose sight of the ultimate goal; sell your house in a difficult market.

Staged homes show well and often sell quickly, but you don’t need to spend a lot to get their home in shape.  De-cluttering is something every seller must do.  Your stager or I may ask you to remove personal photos, etc.  This may be difficult, but it helps put your home in the best light.

You don’t want buyers focusing in on your belongings; you want them focused on your home.  How you live in your home and how it should look when it’s on the market are two different things.

Some sellers complain that their house looks bare without their possessions.  Less personal property creates more space visually.  When buyers are looking for the most for their money, bigger is usually better.

Your home should be spotless and inviting.  I tell my clients that their home should be like fly paper…encourage buyers to “stick” around for a long time envisioning themselves living in the home.

Last, if you can’t do this together yourself, hire a good stager for a consultation or to provide a full or partial staging proposal.

If you’re considering a home sale, please contact Michael Zimmerman.  Please visit my web site to conduct your own Honolulu condo search or request special reports for home buyers or sellers.

]]> http://michael-zimmerman.com/2012/01/04/staging-your-home-to-sell/feed/ 0 http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/11/20/appraisals-may-derail-your-home-sale/ http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/11/20/appraisals-may-derail-your-home-sale/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:20:35 +0000 Michael Zimmerman http://michael-zimmerman.com/?p=5312 Continue reading Appraisals May Derail Your Home Sale]]>

I read an article about how home appraisals are causing more and more home sales to fail.  Here are the high points:

In the past, appraisals rarely disrupted a home sale, but housing experts say new requirements and a difficult housing market are doing just that.  In 2011, 33% of realtors reported appraisals resulted in buyers and sellers delaying or canceling contracts or renegotiating a lower sales price.  That’s up from just 10% in years prior to 2009.

Lenders are requiring more rigorous home appraisals.  Appraisers determine home values by reviewing comparable sale prices in recent months.  During the housing boom a few years ago, appraisers cited as few as three recently sold homes in their report.  Today, lenders often require at least six comparable sales.  To meet that number, appraisers may use homes that are less similar and may be short sales or foreclosures, though they try to account for what these properties would have sold for if they weren’t distressed sales.

An appraisal helps ensure the buyer isn’t overpaying.  If the appraised value comes in below the agreed contract price, the lender will usually offer a smaller mortgage.  Typical solutions include having the buyer pay the difference out of pocket, lowering the sale price to meet the appraised value or adjusting the price somewhere in the middle.

Below are ways to avoid appraisal complications.

Sellers
Before putting the home on the market, research what similar homes nearby are selling for by looking at online listings, visiting open houses and speaking with real estate agents.  Sellers can also pay for their own home appraisal to get a sense of their home’s value.  The cost of an appraisal varies, but typically ranges from $400 to $600.

Buyers
When buyers make an offer, they may include a contingency clause in their contract that guarantees they’ll receive their initial down payment back if the appraised value is below the agreed purchase contract price.  If the appraisal comes in below the agreed price, buyers have several options.  If they’re no longer interested in the home, they can walk away (if they have an appropriate contingency clause).  If they still intend to buy the house and they can prove the report excluded similar, nearby properties or had some other issue, they can appeal or ask their lender for a second appraisal.  If those strategies don’t work, the buyer and the seller can work out an agreement on their own.

If you have questions, please contact Michael Zimmerman.

]]> http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/11/20/appraisals-may-derail-your-home-sale/feed/ 0 http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/11/12/who-says-you-shouldn%e2%80%99t-sell-your-home-during-the-holidays/ http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/11/12/who-says-you-shouldn%e2%80%99t-sell-your-home-during-the-holidays/#comments Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:12:42 +0000 Michael Zimmerman http://michael-zimmerman.com/?p=4849 Continue reading Who Says You Shouldn’t Sell Your Home During The Holidays?]]>

You’ve probably heard someone say it’s hard to sell your home during the holidays, right?  After all, who wants to move their household as we ring in the New Year?  Let’s examine some facts.

The Honolulu Board of Realtors statistics show the number of homes originally listed for sale in December is often distinctly lower than the number of homes initially listed in any other month of the year.  When a home first comes on the market, there is a surge in buyer excitement and interest for 10-15 days.  After that, interest typically falls off rather quickly as other just-listed homes capture the buyers’ attention.  So, by putting your property on the market in December, your home will compete with a significantly lower number of newly-listed homes.  That’s always good news for a seller.

As of this writing, many Oahu neighborhoods and condominiums are facing a difficult market and national economy.  If owners want their home to sell quickly, they must differentiate their home from those of the competition.  Professional staging is a relatively easy and cost effective way to increase your home’s appeal and to set it apart from other homes listed for sale.  Nicely staged homes generally sell at higher prices and spend less time on the market than comparable homes that are not staged.

Staging works because people frequently make purchase decisions based on emotion rather than reason.  Nearly everyone would agree that buying a home is a deeply emotional decision because it is often the largest investment most people own in their lifetime.  Knowing this, motivated sellers would be wise to seize the opportunity and increase their home’s appeal to potential buyers.

This is where listing your home for sale in December has another advantage.  The holidays provide sellers with an ideal reason to attractively decorate their home.  An immaculately staged home, cheerfully decorated for the holidays is going to appeal to the potential buyers’ emotions much more than a vacant or undecorated home. Furthermore, high-spirited buyers may pay more for your home.

In summary, don’t dismiss the opportunity to sell your home during the holidays.  As always, it’s best to develop a strategic sales plan.  Please contact Michael Zimmerman when you’re ready.

]]> http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/11/12/who-says-you-shouldn%e2%80%99t-sell-your-home-during-the-holidays/feed/ 0 http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/10/03/home-staging-is-no-substitute-for-intelligent-pricing/ http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/10/03/home-staging-is-no-substitute-for-intelligent-pricing/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:03:50 +0000 Michael Zimmerman http://michael-zimmerman.com/?p=5210 Continue reading Home Staging is No Substitute for Intelligent Pricing]]>

I read what would be an amusing, if it wasn’t so true, article written by Arizona Realtor Paul Pastore.  Times are tough for many home sellers, but the thoughts expressed about pricing and staging, while tongue in cheek, are spot on.  The entire article is below.

“Home staging is not a substitute for proper pricing.  It is only one leg of the ‘home selling stool’.

Pricing, staging, and marketing all must be correct for a property to sell.

This week I viewed a property owned by a seller who thought he could fool ‘all of the people all of the time’ with home staging.  He hired a local expert and a stager from California to ‘cutify’ his property.   The seller felt he could overprice the house by 50k after spending a few grand on staging cosmetics.

The seller purchased the property about a year ago for 390k & rolled his costs into a VA loan.  His balance is around 400k.  The current market value is 375k. After costs he is about 50k under water.  He could short sale the house, bring cash to closing, or ‘doll it up’ and ask 425k in an effort to break even.  He foolishly chose the latter strategy.

A sage once said that you can put lipstick on a pig, but you still have a pig.  An agent can stage an overpriced home, hold open houses every day, give out free hotdogs on the weekends, dress up in a clown suit and spin a sign on the nearest corner, have the Boy Scouts hand out flyers, have the 13 dogs that set the Guinness book of records jumping rope for the neighbors, have the Blue Angels do a fly-over, use the property for a charity Christmas boutique, offer a free petting zoo in the back yard, free car washes in the front yard by scantily clad cheerleaders, and have the home featured at half-time on Monday night football.

If the home is overpriced it still will not sell.

Home staging is to selling as red robes are to Catholic cardinals.  They both look great.

Few people buy a book based on its dust jacket.  Few home buyers overlook relevant comps because the home looks great and smells like vanilla extract.”

The following article was kindly contributed by Catherine Pitts, Vice President, 360 Island Tours.

There is no question the importance of photos for your property listing, people are visual creatures, much of their stimulation comes from non-verbal communication, and businesses of all types rely on visual communication to engage potential consumers. 

A great photo garnished with a soothing beat has become main stream for Realtors to show case their properties.  And a good photo can bring a property to the front of the running.  Where as a poorly taken photo can completely fool the viewer into thinking the property is not quality they are interested in.

A good Virtual Tour can simulate the environment to make it seem real.  Allowing the viewer to become virtually immersed inside of them, as if they were standing right in the middle of the scene!  The fast advancement of technology has and continues, to produce some amazing features that can be added to a virtual tour.  Flash, Audio, Embedded Video…all of these features can make a Virtual Tour seem real, much like a Video Tour.

The difference between a 360 Spherical Panoramic Virtual Tour and a Panoramic Video Tour is the feature of navigation.  A video is static to how it was recorded and produced.  But a Panoramic Virtual Tour, uses a series of shots taken from a single vantage point, that have been “stitched together”, with software to give it the immersive appearance, allowing the user to control the movement, direction and speed.  Navigating through hotspots, they get to choose where they want to see next, and can easily revisit a room or area.  And they have the ability to look at all of the features the property has to offer at a speed they are comfortable with, giving them complete control of their experience. 

When I browse Real Estate sites, I am one of three things:
1) Disheartened by the poor photos and lack of photos
2) Enticed by the quality photos, curious about the listing and wishing I could see more without the hassle of contacting the agent and waiting for a reply.
3) Satisfied with a virtual tour and either excited to contact the agent, or excited to look for another property.

From the first moment I ever came across a Virtual Tour I was awed by them.

And I saw the importance they hold for Real Estate (and businesses).

They Hide nothing!  The viewer does not have to guess if you are only showing them the “good” photos, Interactive 360 Panoramic Virtual Tours allow the visitor to navigate the property and see each room for what it really is.

They are convenient!  Allowing the visitor to view the property 24/7 and also to share the property with those who may be big decision makers in their purchase choice.  Open Houses that can be a hassle for the busy potential buyer, or trying to explain details to those who will give important feedback in their choice can be eliminated through the use of a Virtual Tour.

They are interactive!  An interactive listing or site holds the visitors attention, making a longer lasting impression.

Vision becomes Envision!  A Virtual Tour creates a scene for the viewer, in which they are able to get a sense of the dimensions of a certain listing, making it easier for them to “see themselves” in your property.  Navigating around rooms, the viewer has a better opportunity to visualize their furniture, their art, their life in the Virtually Showcased listing.

The information age has provided some very amazing tools for both companies and consumers alike.

Catherine Pitts
Vice President
360 Island Tours

Michael Zimmerman just sold Harbor Square apartment 1005.

Sold for $384,900 Fee Simple

Harbor Square
700 Richards Street #1005
Honolulu, HI 96813
MLS #1014962

A little TLC will transform this apartment into the home you want.  Desirable location just steps away from Aloha Tower, Restaurant Row, Iolani Palace, State Capitol, Macy’s, Long’s, the downtown business district and neighboring historic Downtown/Chinatown.  The apartment is on the cool and quiet side of the desirable Harbor Tower.

Don’t miss your unique opportunity to own this two bedroom condominium.

• Large windows and natural light brighten each room
• Plenty of in-home storage
• Exterior storage locker
• Convenient access to public transportation
• Living area approximately 1031 sq. ft.
• Lanai approximately 149 sq. ft.
• One covered, assigned parking stall

This information is provided as a courtesy, is not a warranty and should be independently investigated by Buyers.  This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Are you looking for your very own high floor condo with a spectacular view?  Contact Michael Zimmerman or visit my web site to perform your own specific Honolulu condo search.

]]> http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/07/24/just-sold-harbor-square-two-bedroom-condo/feed/ 0 http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/06/25/just-sold-kinau-lanais-one-bedroom-condo/ http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/06/25/just-sold-kinau-lanais-one-bedroom-condo/#comments Sat, 25 Jun 2011 10:25:03 +0000 Michael Zimmerman http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/06/25/just-sold-kinau-lanais-one-bedroom-condo/ Continue reading Just Sold: Kinau Lanais One Bedroom Condo]]>

Michael Zimmerman just sold Kinau Lanais apartment 1405.

Sold for $265,000 Fee Simple

 
Kinau Lanais
775 Kinalau Place #1405
Honolulu, HI 96813
MLS #1104014    

• One bedroom, one bath
• One covered, assigned parking space
• Living area approximately 520 sq. ft.
• Lanai approximately 169 sq. ft.   

 

This information is provided as a courtesy, is not a warranty and should be independently investigated by Buyers.  This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Are you looking for your very own high floor condo with a spectacular view?  Contact Michael Zimmerman or visit my web site to perform your own specific Honolulu home search.

]]> http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/06/25/just-sold-kinau-lanais-one-bedroom-condo/feed/ 0 http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/04/15/open-house-parkglen-at-waikele-two-bedroom-townhome/ http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/04/15/open-house-parkglen-at-waikele-two-bedroom-townhome/#comments Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:15:18 +0000 Michael Zimmerman http://michael-zimmerman.com/2011/04/15/open-house-parkglen-at-waikele-two-bedroom-townhome/ Continue reading Open House: Parkglen at Waikele Two Bedroom Townhome]]>

Michael Zimmerman will conduct an open house at Parkglen at Waikele apartment M204 on Sunday, April 17, 2011.  The hours will be 2-4pm, so please stop by and take a close look at this beautiful townhome.  

Parkglen at Waikele
94-618 Lumiaina Street #M204
Waipahu, HI 96797    

MLS #1103890    

Key features:    

• Two bedrooms, two baths
• Two assigned parking spaces
• Laminate floors
• Washer and dryer in the apartment
• Convenient access to shopping outlets, the freeway and military bases
• Living area approximately 830 sq. ft.
• Lanai approximately 92 sq. ft.

Please contact Michael Zimmerman if you have specific questions about this home.    

 

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