For Home Sellers: Understanding The Home Buyer

As the seller, you can control three factors that will affect the sale of your home:

* The home's condition
* Asking price
* Marketing strategy

However, it's important to note that there are numerous other factors that influence a buyer, and you need to understand these consumer trends when you enter the sellers' market. The more your home matches these qualifications, the more competitive it will be in the marketplace. Your real estate agent can advise you on how to best position and market your home to overcome any perceived downsides.

Location
Unfortunately, the most influential factor in determining your home's appeal to buyers is something you can't control: its location. According to the National Association of REALTORS(r), neighborhood quality is the No. 1 reason buyers choose certain homes. The second most influential factor is commute times to work and school.

Size
While some buyers want to simplify their lives and downsize to a smaller home, home sizes in general have continued to increase over the decades, nearly doubling in size since the 1950s. Smaller homes typically appeal to first-time home buyers and "empty nesters," or couples whose children have grown up and moved out.

Amenities
Preferences in floor plans and amenities go in and out of fashion, and your real estate agent can inform you of the "hot ticket" items that are selling homes in your market. If your home lacks certain features, you can renovate to increase its appeal, but be forewarned: That's not always the right move. Using market conditions and activity in your neighborhood as a gauge, your agent can help you determine whether the investment is likely to help or hinder your profit margin and time on the market.

Bridal shows in Akron and Cleveland Ohio Area

If you are one of the happy couples who recently got engaged during the holidays, there are a few upcoming events that may help you get your wedding plans started.

More than 200 local and national vendors will take part in upcoming bridal fairs and fashion shows in Akron and Cleveland, giving brides and grooms to be a wide array of choices for their special day.

Today’s Bride will be having shows on Sunday, January 6 from 10am to 5pm at the John S. Knight Center located at 77 E. Mill St. in Akron; Saturday, January 12 from 2 to 8pm at the International Exposition Center at 6200 Riverside Drive in Cleveland; and Sunday, January 13 from 10am to 5pm, also at the I-X Center.

Jennifer Fyffe, Vice President of the shows, says that Today’s Bride shows are amongst the largest in the state. Last year’s event in Akron was attended by more than 1,000 bride-to-bes, while over 2,500 attended the show in Cleveland.

Visitors to this year’s events can expect to see fashion shows that will highlight current trends in wedding gowns, tuxedos, bridesmaid gowns, flower girl dresses and different hairstyles and bouquets.
“We cover the whole entourage,” Fyffe says. “You’ll get to see 90 gowns in 40 minutes. It’s a really fun atmosphere to see the trends.”

Tickets to see the shows are $10 each, and each bride will receive a free pink tote bag, as well as a recent issue of Today’s Bride Magazine and an exciting chance to win an all-inclusive vacation to Real Resorts in Mexico from UnlimitedTrips.com.