Scott Morton Real Estate Broker at Coldwell Banker Danforth

04/30/2020

Virtual Staging is a fast-growing part of the list of marketing tools I provide to my home selling clients and the Real Estate Brokers that use me to photograph their listings. Virtually Staged rooms are an amazing improvement over vacant listings by helping potential buyers visualize on-line how a room could look when furnished. These Before and After photos illustrate how dramatic the difference can be. This drives more visits to a home and helps to get a home sold faster and for the highest possible price. It is always important to add under each photo "This photo has been virtually staged".

For more examples: https://www.evoshot.com/Photography/Real-Estate/Real-Estate-Hidden/Virtual-Staging/n-MTQFR2

01/21/2020

I am often asked by homeowners getting ready to sell their home what improvements they should make to increase the selling price. Although not all homes are the same, the chart below, recently published by Home Remodeling Magazine will give you the national average of what you might expect in increased value when selling your home.

Believe it or not, there are very few larger projects that will pay you back more than 100% of what it cost (based on hiring contractors to do the work). Having a nicely updated home will make it easier to sell quickly and for a higher price, but if it cost more than you will get back, it may not make sense to make the improvements. Focusing on deep cleaning, fixing deferred maintenance, decluttering, organizing and yard cleanup is always important. If your home definitely needs a new roof, carpet or paint those items should pay you back more than 100%. Be very careful to select roofing products and carpet appropriate for the price of your home. Exterior and interior paint color choices are very important. If you want information on the latest trends I am always here to answer questions.

12/31/2019

Here is a link to an calculator from Ticor Title that will help calculate the local and State Excise Tax together:

https://dor.wa.gov/find-taxes-rates/other-taxes/real-estate-excise-tax

Cheers to 2020!

12/31/2019

After January 1st the new Graduated Real Estate Excise Tax Rates in Washington will be taking effect when selling your home. Click on the link below to be directed to the Department of Revenue page that outlines the changes. Download the Excel calculator to your desktop. This not bad news for those with homes under $1,500,000. Those over will see some significant increases.

https://dor.wa.gov/find-taxes-rates/other-taxes/real-estate-excise-tax

Cheers to 2020

10/25/2019

The Real Estate Market is finally showing signs of hope for Home Buyers! The past couple of years with low inventory and high demand made for a “Seller’s Market”. In a Seller’s Market, Buyers are often forced to make a combination of crazy high offers, come up with all-cash and/or drop contingencies to compete. If that was you, now may be a good time to get back to your search. Local statistics are showing longer on-market days for many homes and condos. With the holidays approaching some of this slowing is seasonal. While many buyers hunker down and wait for the spring market, consider taking this time of year to have less competition. The high demand for Puget Sound area jobs will keep local housing demand strong. If you would like to purchase a home, I would encourage you to use this time of year when competition is not as active to get active. You may find it to be the best time of year to secure a really good buy. Sellers who have their homes on the market between Thanksgiving and the New Year know that buyer traffic will slow considerably. They may be willing to negotiate more or be faced with a longer wait to get their home sold.

If you have questions I am here for you.

10/18/2019

VIRTUAL STAGING saved the day at my Redmond condo listing! The complex was going through a major exterior renovation making it challenging at best to attract buyers. The condo was vacant and conventional staging was out of the question. Instead, I used "Virtual Staging" which adds the furnishings electronically. This makes the listing photos so much more effective on-line at attracting visits. It also helps buyers visualize how the condo could look furnished. Here are a few Before & After photos. 88 different agents showings! Amazing Traffic! JUST SOLD!

04/01/2019

Want to know how to make this kind of profit on your ?
Here's where the experts say the made the biggest impact.

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This Houston home's design checked all the boxes of bad design clichés of the '90s. These before and after photos reveal how the owners took it from tacky to on-trend.

03/29/2019

From a to clean and simple , immerse yourself in with the perfect .

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Add a splash of refreshment to your yard.

03/25/2019

chatted with the pros to get a sense of how long negotiation takes, what factors can impact negotiations, and how you and your help to keep things moving.

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How long does home sale negotiation take? Read here to see what the professionals have to say about what to expect and how to keep the process moving.

03/24/2019

Some Seattle's best , from with al fresco seats to restaurants that serve entire meals .

Plan ahead for the next sunny day

03/22/2019

There are more and more entering the market every day!

Whether you’re a or a current looking to move-up to your next home, sit with a real estate professional, like me, who can help you with your needs!

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Many homeowners believe that rising interest rates and home prices have scared away buyers and therefore have not listed their houses for sale. However, the truth is that buyers who were unable to find a home last year are out in force, and there are even more coming!