I’ll get right to the point. I hate hosting an Open House. Statistics show that less than 2% of homes are sold via a public Open House. However, many sellers think that Open
Houses are a sign that their realtor is working hard to sell their property. National Open House weekends are a rite of spring, and sellers are quite demonstrative in their demand
for an Open House to showcase their house. Open Houses bring “traffic” through the listing. Sometimes it’s the traffic that’s the problem.
I would usually prep for my Open Houses the preceding day. I would print out some brochures in other price ranges, and other locations to have available for the hordes. Personal hygiene on the day of the big event was linked to the price of the listing. Minimum price for a morning shower was $200,000. Clean, pressed clothes went for $350,000. For half and million and up, I’d shave my legs. My laptop would be loaded with a variety of property searches. Low end to high end with a mix of lots, condos, homes and commercial property. I wanted to be ready for anything. Maybe Donald Trump will stop in today! Next, make sure the place looks OK. Stash the trash and dirty laundry; put out the balloons and signs, and open the door. That’s when my nightmare would start. What do you do down the Shore in the summer when it’s raining? You look at houses. Next thing you know you have a family of 8 who just got off a bus. They are eating hoagies and dropping bread crumbs all over your client’s home. Hold the onions, please. One of the primary responsibilities of a Realtor is to screen and qualify potential buyers. Instead, when this crew leaves, I count the silverware
Then comes a wave of newsy-body neighbors looking to find out what “Joe” wants for his house. I got to know some of the neighbors at Open Houses so well, they would bring me food. Of course they were looking for information, gossip or both; for that they’d spring for lunch. A public Open House is a good way to introduce yourself to a community, and often an enterprising Realtor will connect with other people on the block who want to discuss their real estate needs. This results in future listings. Again, this may not do the seller any good, but it works for the agent.
Somewhere between the bus people and the neighbors, I’d find time to meet the couple looking for some design ideas for their kitchen or maybe someone looking for a floor plan idea for their new home. That’s how my wife and I spend rainy days in the Dominican Republic. We can’t come up with any ideas on our own so we go to Open Houses. Now we have a Dominican-style master bath.
Open Houses near the beach can be particularly eventful. I could girl-watch from the front porch and tell the Goths to wash the sand off their feet before entering. Motels with pools that were being converted and sold as condos were prime for this type of activity. People in towels looking for a bathroom walk in. When they come in groups, things did not always go as planned. Crowd control would be next to impossible. Security can be an issue both for the seller’s property and for the agent. I got concerned they might find my lunch. I struggle to gain any kind of information about them. “What price range are you in?” “Are you working with a lender?” “Are you pre-qualified?” “Is that your dog?” Joggers stop in. Occasionally they would sweat on the furniture. I suggest clear plastic slip covers to the seller. A code enforcement officer tells me to take down the signs. By day’s end it sinks in that none of these people will ever remember me. They don’t even remember the houses. I’m just another anonymous Realtor; I’m “Open House number 43.” On a “beach” day no one would stop by the Open House. Never one to waste a moment I would do next week’s lesson plans and practice Spanish.
I’d take a break and flashback to those days before cell phones and the internet when people actually came into your office and talked about real estate with you personally. You could qualify your buyers, and coherently interact with your sellers. You had much more control over the situation. Back then we relied on a “listing book” for information. It was about the size of a Volkswagen. In the case of particularly obnoxious client, you could use it as a weapon. Now I scare them with a wireless mouse and the listing price. As technology became more common, less people actually came into a real estate office. Armed with misinformation and knowledge born of ignorance, they ride down the street wasting their time calling the number on every “for sale” sign they see. They’re so busy rubbernecking that they don’t even know what street they’re on. You ask them to ride to the closest intersection and read the street names to you. They stop at every Open House along the way. A good Realtor could save you hours of time and a lot of gas. He could email you everything in your price range, with the right number of bedrooms and all the features you want in the neighborhood you desire. He can give you up to the minute prices of everything that has sold there and how long it took to sell it. That’s why this stuff was invented. But that’s too easy. Instead, every weekend this summer thousands of unpaid real estate agents are watching strangers walk through your living room. Hide the jewelry.

Reprinted with permission of Cape May Magazine. Past issues of Cape May Magazine are available for purchase online. To read this article in its entirety visit capemaymag.com and follow the link for “back issues.” Published in Fall, 2010 issue.

Sales of the Saint Joseph Home Sellers Kits have been brisk of late. One mid-West hardware store reports last year’s sales up over 50% to over 120,000 units. A Modesto California mortgage broker and statue distributor reports a 100% annual increase in sales for three consecutive years. His best customers are Realtors and Real Estate Auctioneers.

For those who shop locally, a short ride takes you to Lamb’s Book Store in North Wildwood. I asked proprietor Joseph Olwell if sales of the home seller’s kit have picked up since the real estate market tanked. He said sales have been “steady” but about 20 years or so ago, at the height of the last bear market in the Wildwoods, sales doubled after an article appeared in the local press about the use of the kit. Mr. Olwell, who has a business degree from Villanova, stocks two versions of the kit: the 3 1/2 inch basic, plastic “Chevy” and the taller full-color “Cadillac.” Apparently, General Motors has a commanding market share in religious statues. My editor is selling her house. For $4.40 I bought her a “Chevy.” As far as Saint Joseph is concerned, size does not matter. One should not buy a bigger statue for a larger home, or a smaller one for a one-bedroom condo. Beware of ads that promise better results using a bigger statue.

By Wayne Piersanti, Reprinted with permission of Cape May Magazine. Past issues of Cape May Magazine are available for purchase online. To read this article in its entirety visit capemaymag.com and follow the link for “back issues.”  Published in June, 2009 issue.

Every week, as part of my profession, I get to explore a wide variety of homes, everything from beachfront mansions to budget priced mobile homes.   Every so often I encounter a home that tugs at my heart and shifts my imagination into overdrive. Right now, there is a home in Cape May Point that is having this effect on me. Many times I have ridden my bike or walked my dog past this slumbering Grande Dame. I have paused and perused the classic Queen Anne elements of this big, beach, beauty. I have heard the sounds of the waves and seagulls coming over the dunes behind me and I imagine lingering on the wrap around front porch with a good book and ocean breezes. Slowly turning my head, I take in the neighborhood of beautifully restored homes; such as, “The Gray Ghost” and “John Wanamaker’s Cottage”.  Even though the home can be enjoyed in its current condition, I have wondered when it will be her turn to be restored to the lovely beach “cottage” she was and can be once again. Finally, a few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to step inside and to explore the house. Before entering, I experienced trepidation. What if all the potential I saw on the outside was dashed by what I found on the inside? I slowly turned the key in the lock, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door. Wow. I fell more in love. I found large, airy rooms with big windows that let in lots of light; intact details like stained glass decorating the windows; and water views from the third floor. Plus, there was that good feeling that a beach house acquires, over time, when it has been well loved and enjoyed through generations. At some point in its history, the home was divided into 3 apartments; however, the attractive central staircase is still in use and it is easy to imagine returning this historic house to a large single family home or perhaps arranging the layout to accommodate two or more units.

Along with the luxury of being located across the street from the sand dunes and lovely beaches of Cape May Point, this home has the luxury of size. Cape May Point currently has very strong restrictions on the size of homes that can be built in the borough. On a standard 50 x 100 lot, the maximum size home that can be built, including decks and porches is 2100 square feet. This home that I am writing about, at 300 Cape Avenue, Cape May Point, is roughly 3000 square feet on a corner lot.  This is a much, much larger home then could be built today. There are buyers that I show homes to in Cape May Point that struggle with the idea of fitting their family and friends into a 2100 square foot home. This home solves that problem. There is plenty of room for everyone, and the entire clan will only be steps from some of the prettiest beaches on the east coast.

The front yard is another space to let your imagination fill with beauty. The way the home sits back on the lot allows ample room for beautiful gardens and outdoor seating. This is a romantic setting with this large Victorian, Queen Anne style home across from the dunes and surrounded by beautiful historic homes. It is easy to imagine beautiful roses spilling over a trellis and a yard filled with lilacs, foxglove, daffodils, and landscaped areas in which to relax and enjoy the summer, sea washed air.

If you, or someone you know, has an interest in touring this historic Cape May Point home. Please contact me. Starr Taylor starrstarr@comcast.net or cell 609-827-2965.

To View this fine Property, Click on the Link below:

http://www.wilseyrealty.com/property-details.php?property_ID=127 

Ben Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.   This is certainly true when it comes to your home.  Proactive maintenance is essential to preserving the value of your home.  If you ignore this task, your home could actually lose 10% of its value over time.  Even if the task has been avoided and you dread  spending your weekend doing home maintenance, the routine task if done consistently, can maintain the value of your home.

Keeping your home in decent shape can give you benefits when selling.  For one, your curb appeal is improved just by simple acts of routine upkeep.   Budgeting for home repairs each year will prevent them from being a financial burden when the time comes to do the repair.

Focus on a room a year.  If your home is in good order, target a room, inspect each and every item in that room and know where improvements can be made.  This prevents an overwhelmed feeling of where to start.

Contact me anytime with your real estate questions.

Rosemary Jones

There has been a massive shift away from two or three story homes to the single family one level.  This trend is fueled by several reasons but let’s start with “No Stairs”.  Stairs can become a burden at some point for many people but also safety concerns for children can enter into the stairs conundrum.  One style preference for a single level home has the master suite on one side of the house with the other bedrooms on the opposite side. An open kitchen and great room and at least two and a half baths will complete this impressive new style of living.  The utility costs for maintenance will decline as most of the heat or air conditioning will not have to travel upstairs.  It is also much easier to keep an eye on the children or grandchildren when everything is focused on one floor.  Many new purchasers are also creating “Outdoor Recreation” areas with spacious decks, barbeque’s, unique pools, and fire pits.  These leisure areas not only add to the quality of life but seem to expand the existing square footage of the home.  Whether you are downsizing, preparing for retirement, or looking for your first home and starting a family consider “Having it All on One Level” as you head into your next housing selection.

Happy New Year!

Jim Ridgway

Wilsey Realty

609-827-4320

Are December, January, February, and March a good time to sell or buy a home? With the holiday season and the cold and quiet months of winter approaching, this is one of the most common questions that a Cape May area Realtor® will be asked.

First, let’s look at this question from the seller’s perspective.

A seller who is selling a primary residence often will start to feel the stress of having their home on the market during the holidays. They may have special events planned and guests coming to visit along with all the holiday demands of work and children. Having to accommodate house showings and always having to have the house look picture perfect is more than they can endure. In this situation, the seller should probably save their sanity and remove the home from the market until after the holidays. However, I would give the opposite advice to many sellers.

It is common in our Cape May resort market for a seller to not use their home in the winter. The vacation home seller’s concerns are not about the inconvenience of showings. This type of seller is concerned that the Days on the Market will continue to increase and this will taint the home and that there are no buyers out looking anyway because they believe that buyers do not come to the seashore to buy a house in the winter.  First let’s address the Days on the Market fear. When a sale listing expires or is withdrawn from the market, all the listing date information is still in the MLS and is available to all member agents. Any good buyer’s agent would provide the Days on the Market listing history of the home to their buyer. There is no hiding how long a home has been on the market.  But are there buyers out looking in the winter? According to the Cape May County Association of Realtors MLS, between the beginning of January 2010 and the end of March 2010, 23 properties sold in the city of Cape May. Given that it normally takes between 30 and 60 days to close on a property, it is most likely that these properties went under contract in December, January, and February. Even with the terrible weather in Cape May County during the winter of 2010, these 23 properties sold in the city of Cape May. According to the same source, between the start of January 2009 and the end of March 2009, 14 properties sold in the city of Cape May. These statistics tell me that it is worth keeping your home on the market during these months. Yes, there will be fewer showings, but the buyers looking in the cold months of winter are often serious buyers and investors.  Plus, there will be sellers taking their homes off the market for the winter “to give it a rest”, which reduces the inventory and gives your home a better selling position if your home is priced correctly. Pricing your home correctly is crucial to the positioning your home in the market place, even in the winter.

Now, let’s look at this question from a buyer’s perspective.

Sellers who leave their homes on the market throughout the holidays and winter are usually serious about selling. They do not take their home off the market because they do not want to miss any opportunity to sell. And in a resort area like Cape May, they usually want to sell prior to the start of the spring / summer season. Once an owner has made the decision to sell, they often do not look forward to getting the house opened for another summer season. Emotionally, they have already started to disconnect from the home and would rather it sells before those spring homeowner projects begin.

Buy before the season and capture the summer rental income. If you plan to rent out your newly purchased home to vacationers, the winter is the best time to buy. It is common for the rental deposits from any reservations in place at the time of sale to transfer to the buyer. This is income from the property placed in your pocket at closing. What could be better? Rental properties are usually not completely booked until closer to the season. So buying a rental property in the winter gives you the opportunity to reserve your favorite summer weeks for you and your family to enjoy your new home.

It is much easier to schedule showings to see homes. Many Cape May area homes are not occupied in the winter, which makes them so much easier to see, especially on the weekends when most buyers are available to come down the shore. The owners often occupy homes on spring and fall weekends and in the summer the homes are filled with vacationers, owners, or owner’s guests. 

In the winter, buyers have less traffic and tourists to maneuver around. Spending the weekend in Cape May in the quiet of winter is a great way to relax and find that perfect vacation, retirement, or primary home.

Is winter in the Cape May area a good time to sell or buy a home? I give a definite yes to both.

Starr Taylor

Sales Manager, Wilsey Realty

On the Way to Cape May!  When I first came to Cape May, Carney’s on Beach Dr. was Sid’s, the houses in the now historic district were mostly painted plain white, and the Washington Street Mall was just Washington St.   Many years later my husband and I have made the decision to make Cape May our home.

Change can be a challenge!   My husband Tom and I were born, educated, and raised our family in Phila. and the near suburbs.  We would spend much of our free time being  “city people” attending sporting  events, museums, and dinners at various restaurants were a large part of our free time.    Now I need to figure out what to do with my Macy’s coupons, Bloomingdale‘s Premier discounts, and my very treasured Barnes and Nobel membership.

Think “Angela Lansbury and Cabot Cove”!   Living in Cape May offers historic small town living with water on 3 sides, friendly residents greeting you on the streets, some lovely gift shops, great restaurants, and charming Boutique’s where the owners and sales people really try and help you.  One thing Cape May lacks is shopping for the men in our lives, leaving Tom to take a road trip and use my valued Macy’s coupons.

Come visit Cape May and enjoy the Holiday Season!

Rosemary Jones

Jim Ridgway

       “The Wilsey Difference”: Professionalism, Resources and Expertise 

Come to Cape May for a weekend and it may change your life.  Wilsey Realty, in the heart of the Pedestrian Mall District, is equipped with a host of professional realtors who are ready to let you experience the “Wilsey Difference”.   The “Wilsey Difference” will start when you park your car in our spacious new downtown lot adjacent to our recently remodeled and refurbished office complex.  Upon entering Wilsey you will be greeted by Peggy Lindsay or Cookie Wilsey who will direct you to one of our many professional realtors.  Our team is managed by Starr Taylor and our Owner/Broker, Gail Wilsey Morrison, who is “hands-on” and has attention to detail. 

It is certainly what many consider a bizarre market but it is also a very vibrant market.  There has never been a more opportune time for buyers.  Value is as important now as location used to be and Cape May has both value and location.  Informed sellers might take a little less, so buy well and appreciate that value increases over time. 

Your choice of a Real Estate professional is a very important decision.  At Wilsey we are a full service real estate office.  We work with many mortgage consultants who can help you get approved for financing.  We will guide you throughout the arduous process of finding value at the best price.  We work exhaustively for our clients and take pride in returning all calls and e-mails in a very timely fashion. 

The extensive business backgrounds of our Realtors prove to be an added asset to all our buyers.  From first homes to hotels or restaurants, Wilsey Realty has the staff to get the job done, due to our extensive backgrounds in high-powered business negotiations.

The Wilsey Difference: Professionalism, Resources and Expertise.  The best Cape May Realtors and Brokers working together and earning you incredible results in a timely fashion is what we’re all about.

Make It a Great Day in Cape May.  Jim Ridgway, Licensed Realtor, Wilsey Realty