Real estate market attracting local and out-of-state buyers
By Linda Bruch
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 12:21 PM MST
"There is a little bit of everything to be found in the Cut Bank real estate market," said Laurie Elhard of Dye, Tavary and Judge. "There are little investment properties, move-in ready, high-end, low-end and fixer-uppers."
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| Cut Bank realtors have plenty of listings to offer buyers who are upgrading, downsizing or are interested in investment properties. They also offer sellers tips on how to prepare to show their home to prospective buyers. Some sellers, like John and Shannon More, opt to list their home with more than one realtor while others list with one realtor exclusively. Photo by Brian Kavanagh
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And while there is a something in the way of a home for everyone, there is also a price range for every budget. "Depending on location, condition and the home itself, we have had houses for sale ranging in price from $15,000 to $350,000," said Elhard. "Years ago it was uncommon to sell a house for over $100,000, but not so anymore."
On the average, Dye, Tavary and Judge have at least 30 homes they list for sale on a monthly basis. Elhard likes knowing they have a good solid listing of properties they can show interested buyers.
"We try and give our buyers lots to choose from," she stated. "With the properties we have, I believe we can meet just about any needs or demands the potential buyers out there might have. We sold over 40 properties in 2007, that's a good number for a town the size of Cut Bank."
Elhard said the market changes over the years as do the needs and demands of the buyers. "We see different jobs and businesses come into Cut Bank and that affects the housing market. Most recently Border Patrol and Homeland Security have become the biggest employers that have impacted our market tremendously."
Sometimes the home sells itself and sometimes Elhard said they do some additional selling beyond the walls of the home, especially when it comes to out of town potential buyers. "We aren't just selling a home, we are selling the community as well," she shared.
Elhard said they do lots of Cut Bank promotion when they have an interested buyer coming here from out of town. "We see lots of people come from bigger cities looking for property here. They want to know what makes Cut Bank so special, so we tell them," Elhard said.
That means telling them about the hidden treasures they can find here. "We tell them about the good school system, the hospital, the fact that we have clean air, a more relaxed environment then they would be used to coming from a city and a place where they can feel safe. Our community as a whole is very good and very easy to sell. We really have a great place here," she stated.
Perhaps you're not in the market to buy, but rather to sell. Elhard said the best advice she can offer to get your home ready to be sold, is to look at your home through the eyes of a buyer. "Look at your house as if you were seeing it for the first time and had an interest in buying it," she suggested.
That means look at all the little things, like the walls that need painting, the floor boards that need washing and the carpet that needs cleaning.
"There are so many simple things you can do to get your house ready to sell. Most of them don't require much money, just some elbow grease and time. Remember, that first impression is huge when selling your home," reminded Elhard.
By LeAnne Kavanagh
Ask Julie Troy what the key is to selling real estate in today's market and she won't hesitate to tell you. "The key is to listen to my sellers, form a team, practice effective communication and then market, market, market." Troy is the broker/owner of Royal Real Estate in Cut Bank.
Last year, Troy and Sales Associate Darryl Omsberg, sold 16 pieces of property in the last 10 months, ranging in price from $9,000 to the "higher end of $300,000 plus."
Today's buyers aren't just from Cut Bank either. Troy has worked with Canadians looking for a second home, out-of-state buyers from states such as California, Texas, and Cut Bank and Montana residents looking to either upgrade or downsize. "Some are coming here for employment opportunities, others like the location," noted Omsberg.
Overcast also advertises her listings and business in the Flathead Valley, in California and Royal Real Estate is linked into a statewide real estate network.
"I feel communication is huge in buying or selling," said Troy. She and Omsberg have developed an informational packet for prospective homeowners and sellers to make the process easier.
For the seller, Royal Real Estate's Omsberg has designed a "curb appeal" checklist to help property owners prepare their home for sale. "Good housekeeping, repair and spaciousness bring top dollars and fast sales," stated Omsberg. In his pamphlet, he shares tips on how sellers can ready their home on the inside and outside.
"One of the best and least expensive ways to improve the look of your home is to open up as much space as possible...Remember, you can't change the size of what you have, but you can try to present it in a pleasing way."
Troy, who is a member of the Montana State Realtors professional organization, is an avid promoter of Cut Bank. She encourages prospective buyers to "Discover Cut Bank" and helps them to do so. Royal Real Estate has surveyed Cut Bank's home improvement businesses and asked them to assist them in compiling a three-page listing of contact information for everyone from builders to handymen, electricians, flooring specialists, painters, landscaping and lawn care, window treatments, decorating and cleaning specialists, local insurance agents and more.
"We also give them a copy of the Discover Cut Bank magazine and a telephone book," she added. Omsberg said clients appreciate having something to look at and read rather than having to surf the Internet to obtain the information.
Troy also includes copies of the legal agreements buyers and sellers typically have to sign so they have time to review them-another sign that communication with her clients is a top priority,
Troy likened selling real estate to putting together a jigsaw puzzle. "I believe there is a buyer for every 'castle'-it just may take a while to find the piece."
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