15 Features That Help Listings Sell Faster

According to the National Association of Realtors, some renovations pay off more than others -both in the time a home takes to sell, and in the money you can recoup.

“That means a quick transition into your dream home,” advises Jessica Lautz, managing director of survey research at the National Association of REALTORS®. But which renovations are the best?

Hardwood flooring remains the biggest draw among buyers of all generations according to an analysis of popular home features. Listings with hardwood floors have appreciated 14.8 percent since 2015.

Realtor.com® looked at 40 of the most common home features and analyzed applicable listings to find which homes sold in the fewest number of days. For this study, researchers used days on market as an indication of demand for a home feature. The following were the top features uncovered in the survey:

1. Smart-home features (smart thermostats, refrigerators, and locking systems)
2. Finished basements
3. Patios
4. Walk-in closets
5. Granite countertops
6. Eat-in kitchens
7. Hardwood floors
8. Laundry rooms
9. Open kitchens
10. Front porches
11. Dining rooms
12. Energy Star appliances
13. Two-car garages
14. Fireplaces
15. Security systems

To see the full report and learn more about each of these features and why they’re great for resale, visit realtor.com

Ridgefield’s Main Street Voted One Of The Best In The USA…Again!

With big-box stores, megamalls, and online sellers dominating the retail landscape, the pleasure of shopping at mom-and-pop stores in a quaint, small-town Main Street shopping district is getting harder to find. But every state has a few such homespun settings left. Ridgefield was voted number 8 on the list of the best downtown shopping districts in the country — each in a town with a population of fewer than 90,000 residents.

In an article dated Nov. 11, 2017, Andrew Lisa, writes, “The colonial town of Ridgefield is only an hour’s drive from New York City, but visitors will feel far removed strolling through the cozy, 300-year-old town tucked away in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. Main Street and Danbury Road are adorned with shops and boutiques, as well as an art museum, an agricultural historical center, a theater, and a playhouse.”

Not bad considering how many Main Street’s there are in America! If you haven’t already, remember to Shop Local and support our fabulous resident owned-and-run businesses. You are guaranteed to find what you’re looking for.

To see our competition, view the slideshow

Ridgefield Market Report November 2017

Looking at all indicators, the Ridgefield real estate market is basically flat compared to November last year.  Year-to-date numbers also reflect very little change since 2016. This is actually good news considering some Fairfield County towns have seen decreases in both property values and the number of sales they have experienced. The under $700,000 market is still very busy, and we have seen steady sales in all other price categories, which is encouraging. The luxury market is struggling slightly with decreased sales compared to last year in the over $1 million categories.

To see an overview of how November looked, you can click for a snapshot of the market, or a breakdown by price.

MEDIAN SALES PRICE and CLOSED SALES
The number of closed sales was up over the same time last year with 23 properties selling in November 2017 as compared to 21 in 2016.  Overall, 347  properties have sold compared to 325 by the same time last year, which represents a 6.8% increase. The Median Sales Price decreased this month from $732, 500 in November 2016 to $645,000 in November 2017. The year-to-date median value is on par with 2016 sitting at $640,000, as compared to $643,500 last year at this time. Overall, all indicators point to the fact that it has been a steady year for real estate when compared with 2016.

PROPERTIES UNDER CONTRACT
The number of properties that went under contract increased over last year with 41 properties under contract compared to 25 in 2016.  This represents a 64% increase and could possibly be attributed to the very mild fall we have experienced. Overall, in 2017 we have seen an 8.1% increase in buyers jumping into the market, with 360 properties going under contract since the beginning of the year, compared to 333 last year.

DAYS ON MARKET and INVENTORY
We are still dealing with a shortage of properties available for sale this month.  The months of inventory has decreased to only 7.1 months compared with 13.2 months last year. Forty-one new properties entered the market this month, compared with only 25 in November of last year, while the average days on market has decreased by 11.9% over October 2016 with homes spending an average of 171 days instead of 194 on the market before selling.

Overall, November posted decent sales for the time of year and we hope to see that trend continue into December. Feel free to contact me to discuss your buying needs, or for my complimentary Comparative Market Analysis to find out what your home’s worth in today’s market.

We continue to lead the market with the most comprehensive, proven marketing initiatives allowing your home to be in front of the widest audience possible on a local, regional, national and global level.  We recognize your home is your biggest asset and both Buyers and Sellers experience an unparalleled level of customer service when working with us. Contact us today! 

Snapshot of November Market Report