As the weather heats up (please, oh please), so too (again, please!) should the Indianapolis real estate market. Sellers will face serious competition, which is why serious sellers should pay close attention to…

Setting the stage. Sellers who take advantage of professional Indianapolis home staging services can expect to have more showings and a higher list-to-sell percentage than those who elect to do without staging. Staging doesn’t have to be super expensive. According to a Keller Williams Realty study, the average cost of home staging including the stager’s fee and any items rented or purchased is less than $600. That’s a minimal price to pay if it means your home will beat out the competition and attract the interest of buyers.

If you simply can’t pay a professional, don’t panic. You can reap the benefits of home staging yourself by heeding the following:

Keep it clean—Nothing turns away buyers more quickly than dust and grime. Give your home a deep cleaning BEFORE you put it on the market, and then maintain the spotlessness with routine cleanings as often as needed until it sells. A pain? Absolutely, but no one said it would be easy. If cleaning isn’t your thing, consider hiring a professional to do the dirty work!

Keep it neutral – Chili Pepper Red may be the latest and greatest in color trends, but it doesn’t appeal to everyone. And when you’re selling a home, you want to attract as varied an audience as possible. Terrific Taupe may sound like dullsville to you, but neutral colors help buyers envision their own belongings in a home and make them think there is less work to be done when they move in! Check out potterybarn.com for popular paint colors that everyone will love!

Keep it appealing – Statistics show that buyers make up their mind about a home within the first few minutes. That means every second counts, including the time it takes buyers to get from the curb to the front door. Weeds and sloppy landscaping (or no landscaping at all) do not a good first impression make. Cultivate curb appeal by mowing the lawn, edging the walkway, trimming the bushes, sweeping the porch, setting out flower pots and doing anything else you can think of to create a welcoming entry! Visit HGTV.com for tips on curb appeal!

Keep it simple—Never is less more than when your house is on the market. Buyers don’t want to know how many pieces of furniture you can artfully wedge into one room. They want an unobstructed view of exactly how much space is in that room. Of course, we all have belongings that are too precious to part with. That’s what storage units are for!

Keep it up—Does that dripping faucet you’ve learned to live with annoy you? Rest assured, buyers will be doubly annoyed. Putting off minor repairs will only cost you in the end when buyers demand that they be fixed prior to the purchase. And in some cases, those repairs may deter buyers from making an offer to begin with. After all, if you haven’t taken the time to address the small things, what larger repairs might be lurking? If you’re not sure exactly what needs to be done, consider having a home inspection BEFORE you put your house on the market. That way there are no surprises when the right buyer comes along.

Keep the price right –According to statistics provided by Keller Williams Realty, sellers who list their home at the price originally suggested by their real estate agent sell the property 38 percent faster, for 2.25 percent more and with one less price reduction than sellers who don’t follow their agent’s recommendation. There’s no point wasting your time trying to guess what’s behind door #3! Before deciding on a list price for your home, ask your agent for a comparative market analysis (CMA), which will give you information about comparable homes for sale in your area.  Get a CMA!

About Indianapolis Real Estate

Once an active military post, historic Fort Harrison is now home to a state park, world-class golf course and some of the most beautiful and unique Indianapolis real estate you’ll find!

The Early Years
Fort Benjamin Harrison has played an important role in the history of Indianapolis Indiana and the United States since the early years of the 20th century. In 1904, the U.S. Congress approved the purchase of land and the establishment of a military fort about 12 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The fort was named for the 23rd United States president and Indiana native, Benjamin Harrison. Construction on most of the buildings was completed in 1908. In the early days, travel from the fort to Indianapolis was via the interurban train station. During World War I, the fort became a mobilization center for national defense and a training center for 10,000 railroad specialists.

Between the World War I and II, the fort served as a Civilian Conservation Corps center for reforestation and soil conservation work. At the onset of World War II, the fort became a Midwest induction and logistical support center. In 1944, Italian and German prisoners of war from Rommels Afrika Korps arrived for detention at Fort Benjamin Harrison. The Midwest Disciplinary Barracks ultimately housed 6,200 prisoners. The fort was abandoned in 1947, but soon reopened as the Fort Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base. In 1949, Fort Benjamin Harrison became the Administrative and Training Center for the Army. The Defense Finance Center was dedicated in 1953 and the Defense Information School in 1966.

Today
Fort Harrison real estate is like nothing else in the Indianapolis area. Many of the charming residences, home to military families for more than 90 years, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wide wrap-around porches, elegant moldings, exposed brick walls, built-in bookcases and cabinets, and a fireplace in every room are just some of the historic features of Fort Harrison homes. Most of these properties have been recently restored to include all the modern amenities buyers want without compromising the vintage beauty of the homes.

Although the fort is now known simply as Fort Harrison and is no longer an active military post, it continues to serve as the location for Defense Finance and Accounting Services, which manages payroll and services for the men and women serving in our nation’s armed forces. It is also home to a state park where visitors can enjoy horseback riding, miles of public hiking trails, and a championship golf course.

Football’s over until Super Bowl weekend, the weather is, well…frightful, and last I checked no blockbuster movies are set to premiere this weekend. Think there’s nothing to look forward to? Think again! The 2010 Indianapolis Home Show opens Friday, Jan. 29 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and runs through Sunday, Feb. 7. Whether you’re considering a remodeling project, in the market for a new home, or just looking for somewhere warm to go, there will be plenty there to capture your attention. Prepare to dream big as you tour the 2,600-square-foot centerpiece home that’s fully landscaped and decorated, or chat with one of the numerous professionals on hand to offer advice on home improvement and decorating projects. Home and garden celebrities such as Paul DiMeo of HGTV’s Extreme Home Makeover will give special presentations throughout the show. Tickets are $12 ($9 if purchased online) for those 13 and older; $5 for children 6-12. For more information, visit www.indianapolishomeshow.com.
For information on Indianapolis real estate and Indianapolis homes for sale, contact your Indianapolis REALTOR:
Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
317.840.7555
Pat@HaddadTeam.com