Sell Your Home with Keener Team Realty

How We Market Your Home Right

We understand that it is important to get your home sold for the best value and in the least amount of time. Here are some key strategies that can help to achieve this.

Fact—92% of Buyers utilize the internet to search for homes prior to ever reaching out to an agent. As part of the Keener Team Marketing Program we continually search for the most innovative and state of the art marketing tools and services available. Our goal is to provide your home with the most professional presentation and maximum exposure possible. Below are some the key components we use.

• MLS Systems - We use the two largest MLS systems in Colorado — Pikes Peak MLS and ReColorado MLS. This allows access or the sharing of your listing to MLS’s in the Pikes Peak area (El Paso, Teller, Park Counties), Boulder, Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, Loveland/Berthand, Estes Park, Logan County, Steamboat Springs, Central Colorado, Denver and all of its surrounding areas. This allows over 10,000 agents access to the listing information on your home.
• Staging - Statistics show that staged homes which are professionally photographed sell approximately ten times faster than homes without these advantages. Staging is one of the most crucial steps in getting your home ready to sell well. Many aspects of staging can be accomplished by the homeowner, including de-cluttering, cleaning and tidying. Professional staging is also a very powerful option. We have many experienced stagers that homeowners can hire.
• Professional Photography - Professional photography is one of the most essential home listing strategies. The difference between selling a home in eight days versus eight months can simply come down to it. When paired with professional staging, it is extra powerful. Virtual tours can be a fantastic selling tool. For a potential buyer from out-of-state in particular, virtual tours can be very enticing and effective. Even for local buyers, they can draw more serious people to visit your listing in person.
• Aerial Photography - Nothing transforms your marketing like visuals from 300 feet in the year. Soar high above the roofline, and present water features or incredible landscaping. HomeVisit has an expert team of licensed pilots that are fully FAA approved. No team has more experience, and no one is more capable of showcasing the full beauty of your listing, its setting and surroundings.
• Modeling and Floor Plans - 3D Modeling Provide a realistic and immersive online experience covering the interior of any home. Boost online engagement and attract buyers from all over the world. 80% of buyers go inside 3D models when it's available, with visits lasting an average of 6 minutes! Put buyers inside your listings anytime, anywhere - a 24/7 open house! One of our technicians will scan the entire property with 360° cameras and render a full model within 24 hours, so prospective buyers can virtually explore the home at their own pace. 2D Floor Plans — No listing is complete without a standard floor plan to help prospective buyers plan how they might live in their new home. Using the same technology as our 3D modeling, we'll scan every room of the home to capture the specs, including inch-accurate room measurements, to render a complete floor plan.
• Single Property Websites - Create a beautiful, engaging web page devoted entirely to your listing, featuring all of your HomeVisit Visual Media and listing details with our easy-to-use configuration tools. Fully agent and broker branded, with powerful lead tracking and social sharing functionality. Optimized for all browsers and mobile devices!
• Realtor.com — We expand our marketing on Realtor.com by showcasing our listings and uploading up to 100 pictures, virtual tours, and expanded remarks and descriptions of your home or property. In addition, all inquiries from buyers or agents on your home or property from Realtor.com are sent directly to us. Who better to answer those questions than the listing agent?
• Listhub — Keener Team Realty subscribes to Listhub which uploads our listings from the MLS system to hundreds of real estate internet sites, such as Homes.com, Trulia, Zillow, Homes and Land, and others.
• Social Media Campaigns — We run social media campaigns on popular platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram to reach potential buyers and promote your home.
• Buyer Leads — We use extensive lead capture systems, including direct follow-up and email marketing campaigns to notify buyers that your home or property is available. We continuously prepare and qualify prospective buyers.
• Open Houses — When appropriate, we will hold an Open House for your home. Traditionally, Open Houses were almost the only way to sell a home. With modern strategies and technology, they are rapidly being replaced. The sad news is that these days, many Open Houses only draw curious neighbors. For higher-end homes, they can help draw Realtors with specific clients interested in your area and price range. In these circumstances, they can still be effective.

The Power and Strength of The Multiple Listing Service

• Pikes Peak MLS - Primary MLS for Colorado Springs, Woodland Park, Monument, Tri-Lakes, Black Forest, Peyton, Manitou Springs, UTE Pass, Divide, Florissant, Cripple Creek, Park County and portions of Douglas County. This MLS is powered by 4,000 Colorado Realtors, allowing access to over 4,000 agents in the Pikes Peak area.
• ReColorado MLS - (Formerly Denver Metrolist) This ever-expanding MLS covers Denver and all of its surrounding areas, Boulder, Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, Loveland/Berthand, Estes Park, Logan County, Steamboat Springs, Central Colorado, and Fremont County. This MLS association has over 25,000 Real Estate members and allows access to over 25,000 agents, approximately 25-30% of the showings on our listings in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park are shown by agents from this participating MLS. 25% of our second home listings are sold through this MLS system.

Using MLS systems and internet marketing can create buyer interest and showings, thus creating opportunities for offers and sometimes multiple offers.

Home Staging Is Powerful

• The Home Staging Facts
• Forty-nine percent of buyers’ agents cited that homes staging had an effect on most buyer’s view of the home. (Source: National Association of Realtors)
• Seventy-seven percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. (Source: National Association of Realtors)
• Staging the living room for buyers was found to be most important (55 percent), followed by staging the master bedroom (51 percent), and staging the kitchen (41 percent). (Source: National Association of Realtors)
• About one-third of buyer’s agents said that staging a home increased the dollar value offered between one and five percent compared to other similar homes on the market that are not staged. (Source: National Association of Realtors)
• Most buyers form an opinion about a home within the first 7-10 seconds of arriving. (Source: National Association of Realtors)
• A staged home will sell, on average, 17% higher than a home that is not staged. (Source: US Housing and Urban Development)
• The average staging investment is between 1 and 3% of the home’s asking price, which generates a return of 8-10%. (Source: National Association of Realtors)
• Staged homes spent 83% less time on the market than non-staged homes. (HomeGain.com)
• Staged homes sell in 1/2 the time of non-staged homes.
• When it comes to the return on investment for home staging, “when staging a home, 22% of sellers’ agents reported an increase of 1-5% of the dollar value offered by buyers, in comparison to similar homes. 17% of respondents stated that staging a home increased the dollar value of the home between 6-10%.

Home Staging Tips

• Focus on curb appeal. The outside of your house can be the source of a very good first impression. Keep the grass well-watered and mowed. Have your trees trimmed. Cut back overgrowth. Plant some blooming flowers. Store toys, bicycles, roller-skates, gardening equipment and the like out of sight. Have at least the front of your house and the trim painted, if necessary. Sweep the porch and the front walkway. After dark, turn on your front porch light and any other exterior lighting.
• Clear out the clutter. Real estate agents say buyers won't purchase a home they can't see. Buyers want to be able to imagine themselves in your space; seeing your personal collectibles and storage prevents them from doing so. If your home has too much furniture, overflowing closets, crowded kitchen and bathroom countertops or lots of family photos or collectibles on display, potential buyers won't be able to see your home. Get rid of anything you don't need or use. Leave only necessary furniture, keeping in mind that you want the space to look big, clean, spacious, and uncluttered. Fill up your garage or rent some off-site storage space if that's what it takes to clear out your home.
• Small furniture equals big space. Downsize your furnishings to upsize the room. If the room looks tight to you it likely will to potential buyers as well. Take some of the furniture out to create more visual space.
• Use your nose. Many people are oblivious to scents, but others are extremely sensitive to offensive odors. To eliminate bad smells, bathe your pets, freshen the cat litter box frequently, shampoo your carpets, dry clean your drapes, and empty trash cans, recycling bins and ash trays. Place open boxes of baking soda in smell-prone areas, and refrain from cooking fish or strong-smelling foods. Introduce pleasing smells by placing flowers or potpourri in your home and using air fresheners. Baking a fresh or frozen pie or some other fragrant treat is another common tactic.
• Make all necessary repairs. Buyers expect everything in their new home to operate safely and properly. Picky buyers definitely will notice-and likely magnify — minor maintenance problems you've ignored for months or even years. Leaky faucets, burned-out light bulbs, painted-shut or broken windows, inoperable appliances and the like should be fixed before you put your home on the market. These repairs may seem small, but left undone they can lead buyers to question whether you've taken good care of your home.
• Introduce lifestyle accessories and make your home as comfortable and attractive as possible. Set the dining room table with your best dishes. It's easy to do and makes a big impact. Buyers walk in and instantly feel welcome, like as if they're coming over for dinner. Light non-scented candles, place plush towels and fancy soap in the bathrooms, set out a breakfast tray on the bed, or a pretty book on the coffee table with fresh flowers in the living room. Make up the spare bed. Hang some fresh curtains. Put some logs in the fireplace. Use your imagination.
• Smart accessories. Clear the kitchen counter of appliances, spice racks, towels, and cooking utensils. Leave only a few things, for example: a cookbook, a shiny teakettle and a bowl of lemons.
• Play with texture. Wallpaper, pillows, rugs, blankets, baskets, and other tactile accessories can add texture to the look of any room. Aim for a style that most buyers would like, even if it’s not your favorite. Furnishings that seem homey and comforting. Neutral colors work best, creams, light greys, and white. Add colorful touches here and there in your accents such as pillows, a well-placed vase, or piece of art.
• White is nice. When in doubt, use white in the bathroom. It spells clean, and that’s what buyers want in a bathroom.
• Create vignettes. Setup small “scenes” that help buyers visualize their potential life in this home. A quiet reading space with a comfy chair in the bedroom or a lounge chair under a tree in the backyard, give some thoughtful ideas to buyers as they walk the property.
• Don’t forget the details. Set the table. It’s easy to do and makes a big impact. Buyers walk in and instantly feel welcome, like as if they’re coming over for dinner. Light non-scented candles, place plush towels and fancy soap in the bathrooms, set out a breakfast tray on the bed, or a pretty book on the coffee table with fresh flowers in the living room.
• Don’t be afraid to paint. Paint is the most impactful change you can give any house for the least amount of money.
• Get a buyer’s-eye view. Walk up to your home and pretend you’ve never seen it before. What do you notice? How do you feel about what you see? Does the home seem inviting? Well-maintained? Would you want to buy this home? Your answer should be an enthusiastic yes!
• Don’t forget the outdoor areas. Those spaces add as much interest for the buyer as the interior rooms. Add an outdoor rug, small table and bistro chairs, a few plants to your backyard and a well-placed urn or small tree on the front porch. Remove all dead plants and trim all overgrowth. Remove any broken chairs, tables or unsightly play structures.
• Replace the front door. Studies have shown that replacing your front door has the largest return on investment and adds instant curb appeal.