The Do’s and Don’t’s of Making Your Home Ready for Sale

Think you know what it takes to sell your home? The Jills share their top 5 “do’s and don’ts” for getting your home in tip-top shape for the market.

Preparing your home for sale takes some effort. By following these tips your home will be ready to hit the market.

Do: freshen up your home so that it shows in the best light possible. A fresh coat of paint, some landscaping and pressure cleaning goes a long way. You want to wow people from the second they lay eyes on the home so curb appeal is crucial. Be consistent from the outside in and make sure every room makes a great impression.

Don’t: overspend on major renovations that may overvalue your property. Be aware of comps and know your limits. You don’t want to spend a significant amount of time and money becoming the biggest fish in a small pond when that fish will still be worth about the same as it was before.

Do: Make your home as inviting as possible- leave a coffee table book open to a random page and a candle burning to give off a relaxed and intimate feel. Flowers are always a plus but make sure they look alive and well.

Don’t: leave out personal items or clutter in your home. Buyers need to imagine themselves living in the home and they can’t do that when all they see is your family and your life. Clearing out and cleaning up will allow them to see how beautiful the home is and will give them the opportunity to envision themselves living there.

Do: listen to advice. You hired your agent for a reason. Let him or her guide you as to when it makes sense to improve and when it  doesn’t. When it does, seek help from a decorator and/or architect. Find the best professional and let them do what they do best.

Market Snapshot - Sept. 2015

Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors Announces General Counsel and Director of Risk Management

(Des Moines, IA – October 1, 2015) – Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors^® President, Robert Burns, has named Kasey Johnson Steen asGeneral Counsel and Director of Risk Management.

“Real estate transactions are becoming increasingly complex and we want to provide our agents with on-demand legal expertise to ensure the best possible client experience,” Burns said.

Steen earned her J.D. and M.B.A. from Drake University.  Prior to joining Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors®, Steen served as an attorney and transactions specialist for Belin McCormick, P.C. in Des Moines where she worked primarily in the corporate and real estate divisions of the firm. Steen was responsible for the management and organization of high level multi-million dollar merger and acquisition transactions and real estate transactions.

Steen and her husband, Adam, are both natives of Des Moines.  In her free time, Steen serves as Vice Chair for the John Stoddard Cancer Center Board of Directors and also serves on the Alumni Board for her alma mater, Graceland University. 

 “I look forward to providing the Realtors® at Coldwell Banker my support and legal expertise,” Steen said, “With my background in real estate law, I hope to be a useful asset as agents grow their businesses and in every day transactions.”

Steen will also manage the dispute resolution process, monitor ever-evolving industry rules and regulations for complete compliance and act as a liaison between the corporate real estate attorney and outside regulatory bodies.

“Having an attorney at our fingertips positions our agents at a clear advantage in Central Iowa real estate,” Burns said, “This allows agents the ability to act quickly based on the market and stay ahead of any legal or transactional changes.”

Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors^® is an Iowa based member of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation.  Mid-America Group, a land owner and developer with over 35 years of experience, affiliated with Coldwell Banker in 1990.  By combining local ownership, market expertise and national support services, Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors^® offers a full range of premier real estate services.

About Coldwell Banker^®

Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker^® organization has been a premier provider of full-service residential and commercial real estate. Coldwell Banker is the oldest national real estate brand in the United States and today has a network of approximately 83,000 sales agents working in approximately 3,100 offices in 50 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker brand is known for creating innovative consumer services as recently seen by being the first national real estate brand to create an iPad application and the first to fully harness the power of video in real estate listings, news and information through its Coldwell Banker On Location^SM YouTube channel. The Coldwell Banker system is a leader in specialty markets such as resort, new homes and luxury properties through its Coldwell Banker Previews International^® marketing program. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker is subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global provider of real estate services.

Senior Life Conference Helps Seniors Find Purpose

Senior Life Conference Helps Seniors Find Purpose

(Des Moines, IA, October 14, 2015) – The Central Iowa Senior Education Network (CISEN), a group of community organizations and businesses focused on educating seniors and their adult children, is holding their 2^nd annual Senior Life Conference on Monday, October 26 at the Prairie Meadows Conference Center.

“Finding Purpose in Retirement” is the theme for the conference and the event is aimed at educating and empowering seniors and those who care for them.  

The event will feature nine breakout sessions including but not limited to, “Social Media for Seniors”, “Veteran Benefits”, “Planning for Medicare and Medicare Open Enrollment”, “Common Pitfalls in Retirement” and “Avoiding Hospitalizations”.

Mary Eikenberry, a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) with Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors® will be presenting the breakout session “A Senior’s Guide to Selling Your Home”.

“Transitioning into a ‘forever home’ can be challenging,” Eikenberry said, “And there comes a time when parents, along with their adult children, consider selling and moving on and taking on that challenge. My session is dedicated to helping guide families through these complex issues and unique situations they may come across during the process.”

The conference also includes a vendor expo, door prizes and a complimentary lunch. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the event concluding at 3 p.m.

“If you are a senior or the adult child of a senior, this day is planned with you in mind as you begin the journey into this next phase of your lives,” Eikenberry said.  “As we age, our needs change and it becomes increasingly more challenging to sort through all the resources available. This conference helps to shed light on those essential topics.”

To register please call 515-985-7707 or visit www.centraliowasenior.com.  

Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors^® is an Iowa based member of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation.  Mid-America Group, a land owner and developer with over 35 years of experience, affiliated with Coldwell Banker in 1990.  By combining local ownership, market expertise and national support services, Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors^® offers a full range of premier real estate services.

About Coldwell Banker^®

Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker^® organization has been a premier provider of full-service residential and commercial real estate. Coldwell Banker is the oldest national real estate brand in the United States and today has a network of approximately 83,000 sales agents working in approximately 3,100 offices in 50 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker brand is known for creating innovative consumer services as recently seen by being the first national real estate brand to create an iPad application and the first to fully harness the power of video in real estate listings, news and information through its Coldwell Banker On Location^SM YouTube channel. The Coldwell Banker system is a leader in specialty markets such as resort, new homes and luxury properties through its Coldwell Banker Previews International^® marketing program. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker is subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global provider of real estate services.

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©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. ®, ^TM and ^SM licensed trademarks to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation, except REALTOR.com®. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity.Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated Except Offices Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated. 

Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors Announces Ankeny, Altoona Manager Brokers

(Des Moines, IA - September 30, 2015) – Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors^® President, Robert Burns, has announced Kimber Powell as the Ankeny office Managing Broker and Jim Ellingson as Altoona office Managing Broker.

“I am very excited to introduce Kimber and Jim as managers in these two productive and unique offices,” Burns said, “Both Kimber and Jim are leaders within our company, their communities and Central Iowa real estate. I am confident that the Coldwell Banker offices in both Ankeny and Altoona will thrive under Kimber and Jim’s leadership.”

Since 2006, Powell served as the Altoona office Managing Broker. Previous to that, she was the Assistant Manager in the Ankeny office from 2005-2006 after joining as an agent in 1994. Powell has lived in Ankeny since 1978 and worked as a Special Education teacher associate in the Ankeny schools while raising four daughters along with her husband Kent.

“I’m thrilled to work with these talented agents in my hometown,” Powell said, “This office is not only one of the most productive in the state but also in the nation and I look forward furthering those achievements.”

In 2014, the Ankeny office was ranked number one in Coldwell Banker’s Northern Region for agents with 35-50 sales associates and was also designated a “Premier Office” which means that every agent in the office met a minimum of 20 sold units and $100,000 in Gross Commission Income.

Ellingson first became involved in real estate as an investor in 1997. He was licensed and worked as an agent in the Altoona Coldwell Banker office in 2011, earning the 2011 Rookie of the Year award. Jim serves on the Altoona Economic Development Committee, supports the Altoona Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of the Eastern Polk County Leadership Program.  Ellingson lives in Altoona with his wife Kelli and son Brandon.

“The Altoona office and community mean a lot to me and I can’t wait to serve both in this new role,” Ellingson said, “We are heavily involved in community events throughout Altoona and the surrounding area and, while we have a lot of fun, the agents are also consistently shattering goals and working hard.”

“As we continue to evolve in the Central Iowa real estate market, it is important to have future-focused, driven leaders,” Burns continued,“Kimber and Jim are committed to long-term growth while staying agile in an ever-evolving market and I look forward to their collaboration on our leadership team.”

Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors^® is an Iowa based member of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation.  Mid-America Group, a land owner and developer with over 35 years of experience, affiliated with Coldwell Banker in 1990.  By combining local ownership, market expertise and national support services, Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, Realtors^® offers a full range of premier real estate services.