4 Ways to Boost Your Curb Appeal for the Fall Market

If you’ve recently decided to sell your home, a lot of people will tell you that the best time to list is spring or early summer. While the real estate industry does tend to be busier this time of year, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a great sale during the off-season!

Just like in any other season, one of the most effective ways to attract buyers to your home in the fall is by upping your curb appeal. Take a look at how you can take advantage of the season’s unique beauty to score an offer!

1) Keep up with falling leaves.

Buyers may love the vivid colors of fall foliage, but they won’t love looking at how much raking they’ll have to do if they buy your home. If your home will be on the market this fall, make sure you’re raking your front and back lawn regularly. Oh, and don’t forget to remove leaves from your gutters too!

2) Clean your home exterior.

Fall is the perfect time to give the exterior of your home a good wash before winter weather (and the grime that comes with it) sets in. Wash your siding, shingles, front door, windows, and your exterior lighting too. Sparkling windows will maximize your home’s natural light, while freshly cleaned landscape lighting will keep your property illuminated when darkness starts to set in earlier.

3) Embrace the season—but don’t overdo it.

A little fall color, décor, and a few cozy touches to your entryway will help buyers see your home as a place they can curl up in when the seasonal chill sets in. Too many fall decorations, however, will just distract from your home’s features and overwhelm the senses. A few potted fall flowers, a simple seasonal door wreath, and a flannel blanket draped over a rocking chair is as far as you need to go.

4) Don’t fall behind on landscaping.

Leaves aren’t the only threat to the appeal of your landscape this time of year. There’s a lot of dead plant growth during the fall that you’ll need to keep trimmed back and out of sight. Also, just because it’s colder doesn’t mean you can let your lawn grow wild. It’s important that you still maintain a freshly mowed and edged lawn to give your house a clean, well-kept look.

The seasons may change but one thing that will always remain the same when it comes to selling your home in Woodward, OK, is that Smith & Co Real Estate is your number one resource for the quickest, most valuable sale. Contact us today to get started with one of our local agents!

How to Score a Bargain at a Live Auction

Live auctions can be both exciting, and intense. They’re incredibly fast-paced events, where auction-goers bid against one another in a format that can be dizzying if you’re new to it. But actually, live auctions are a great place to find a deal—it’s where the real value of an item can be appraised and debated. That’s if you know how to score a bargain!

Prepare for the auction ahead of time

One of the best things you can do before a live-auction is research so that you know what to expect upon arrival. Browse through the items being sold at the auction ahead of time; that way, you can do your proper market research, find out what the item’s value is, and be able to plan your bids accordingly.

Early bird gets the worm, or should we say bid?

If you’re planning on placing bids, then arrive at the live auction a half hour or so before it’s set to start. By doing so, you’ll be able to see the items you’re bidding on, assess their condition, and adjust your bid plan, if need be. Get a bidding number the minute they start handing them out, so you’re first on the list!

Get ready to bid

Listen closely for announcements and think on your feet. Account for any unexpected costs, like buyer’s tax and other hidden fees. A live auction is quick and can be over in the blink of an eye, so you’ll need to move fast.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be set to score a bargain at any of the upcoming auctions from Smith & Co. Auction & Realty. If you have any inquiries, feel free to give us a call at 580-254-3975 today!

Watch for These Signs That Your Home Is Priced Too High

After taking all the right steps and following all the best tricks to prep your house for the market, you expected to be closing within a matter of weeks. Fast forward a month or two later and you still haven’t had anybody want to buy it. What gives?

There are plenty of reasons your home might not be generating interest on the market. One of the most common rookie mistakes that first-time sellers make though is pricing their property too high. Take a look at these signs of an overpriced home and ask yourself if your property fits the bill.

Your offers are nonexistent.

Most homeowners who put in research, time, and money to get their house ready for the market will receive a competitive offer within a few weeks of listing. If you’ve passed that threshold and haven’t had a single offer, then it might be the price tag that’s putting people off.

Similar homes in your area are selling, but yours is not.

It can be frustrating to see buyers pass on your home again and again while a new house on the block seems to sell every week. Different factors can impact different home sales, even in the same neighborhood, but if nearby homes are constantly selling and yours hasn’t seen any movement, you’ve probably overpriced. Check out listings for comparable homes in your area. Are most of them priced lower than yours? Even the newer ones? Then it might be time to take it down a few dollars (or more!).

Showings are few and far between.

Have you had no showings at all in the first few weeks after listing? Or has the number of interested calls you receive been dwindling? Limited interest in seeing your home in person can often mean you’re listed way over the price range of your ideal prospective buyers. Try asking those who do attend a showing for some feedback. If your price is too high, they’ll probably mention it.

Deciding on a listing price for your home can be tricky. You don’t want to price it too high and scare off potential buyers, but you also don’t want to price it too low and leave money on the table. With the expertise and experience of Smith & Co Real Estate Marketing Professionals on your side though, you’re sure to hit the bullseye perfectly! Let our agents guide you through your home sale and share with you all their secrets for selling at top dollar.

Contact us today for a quick and profitable sale for your Woodward area home!

What’s the Difference Between an Auction and an Estate Sale?

Judge Holding Gavel With House Model At Desk

An estate sale and an auction are two different ways to sell the contents of your space when you’re planning a move or selling a home. Sometimes these circumstances arise when the death of a loved one occurs. Typically, the easiest way to take care of the family members’ items is to hire a team to manage an estate sale or auction for the home.

While the general purpose of estate sales and auctions is the same—to sell all of someone’s belongings—the method of sale is different!

Estate Sales

 If you decide to have an estate sale, you rely on the company and its employees to determine the value of every item you own. The estate sale company will charge you a commission. They want the most accurate estimate possible to get the most return for their work, but there is always the risk that the company prices items too high and no one buys anything, or too low, and you don’t get the full value for your estate. You also have to trust that your estate sale company can accurately value everything from common household items to antique artwork.

Estate sales typically work on a model that reduces prices as the sale goes on, and even if you’re the first one in the door, you don’t always have time to fully evaluate the worth of an item before you purchase it for fear of losing it.

Auctions

Unlike estate sales, auctions allow you to find the true market value of any item you own because the bidder’s set prices. True market value is what someone is willing to pay at any time for any object. This is largely contingent on the crowd, so auctioneers are very good marketers who draw the right buyers to the right sellers. On top of that, the pace, excitement, and competition aspects of an auction mean bidders are sometimes willing to pay more in the heat of the moment.

Auctions give bidders time to assess the value, condition, and authenticity of any item up for auction before raising their hand or paddle. This allows buyers to bid confidently, and everyone has the same chance to bid on any item.

If you’re looking to find the largest, most qualified buyer pool, auctions will find you those buyers. Many auctioneers are required to be licensed in their state, requiring continuing education. Many others are members of their state association or the National Auctioneers Association, which holds members to a high standard and educates them on best practices. There are no such requirements for estate sales.

At Smith & Co Auction & Realty, we pride ourselves on being a full-service auction and realty company with a niche for marketing. We are Northwest Oklahoma and Kansas’s choice for all your land auctions and real estate needs!

Contact us today at (580)254-3975 to learn about our services and view our current auctions online.  

What to Look For in A Virtual Home Tour

With the help of technology, we are able to access a wealth of information with the swipe of a fingertip. These technological advances have helped reshape many different businesses, including real estate.

Potential homebuyers can view the entirety of a home through the convenience of their smartphone or laptop. While virtual tours have become increasingly popular, it is essential to know what to look for in a quality home tour.

Here are a few tips for taking a virtual home tour & its advantages:

Not All Virtual Tours Are Created Equal

3D Walkthrough/ Rendering

Typically a 3D walkthrough is a virtual tour created with a 3D digital rendering of the property. It is more of a digital drawing of the home, which gives the viewer a sense of the space and how they can manipulate it. The downside to this type of tour is that it is not exactly realistic. Viewers will not be able to see the details that make the house stand out.

Video Tour

A video tour refers to a video that is shot by the real estate agent or cameraman. This type of tour is a video walkthrough of the house which will show the house but may not give the viewer all aspects. Because the viewer cannot control or navigate through the house on their own, they will have to view the home through the eyes of the cameraman.

360 Virtual Tour

This tour provides potential home buyers with a 360 view of the home. They are able to navigate the house and view it in great detail. By clicking the navigation cues, they will be able to “walk” through the property at their own pace and get a view from all angles. The 360 view provides panoramic viewing as well as a variety of other angles that help the viewer genuinely get a feel for the home. This is one of the best types of virtual tours because of the detail and ease of use.

Advantages of virtual tours:

Buy From Anywhere

Gone are the days of traveling all the way to a property only to find out it is not the right one. With the use of virtual tours, potential buyers are able to view homes in great detail to ensure they like the house before ever setting foot on the property. This is also great for out-of-town home buyers. Moving to a new area can be hectic; the help of virtual touring can help you find the right home before you make a big move.

Save Time

Home buying is a very time-consuming task. In today’s world, most people are busy juggling a variety of tasks like work, school, and balancing home life. Virtual tours give home buyers access to view homes from anywhere at any time, so they don’t have to worry about fitting a showing into their already busy schedules.

Easily Accessible

Buying a home is a significant purchase and milestone for many people. Many home buyers want to revisit their potential new home a few times before making a decision. While most real estate agents won’t host multiple viewing for one buyer, virtual tours provide instant accessibility. Buyers are able to view the home as frequently as they like.

Smith & Co. Real Estate Marketing Professionals LLC has been providing real estate and auction services in Northwest Oklahoma and surrounding areas for over 30 years. We offer 360 virtual tours on many of our listed properties. Browse our available residential properties and contact us to learn more!

Online Auctions: All Your Questions Answered

Happy young couple winning online auction

When you hear “online auction,” you might think of eBay or Facebook. However, thousands of large online auctions run by highly experienced auctioneers happen worldwide on a daily basis.

You probably have a few questions if you have never participated in an online auction, so let us answer some of the common one’s for you!

Can I Preview an Auction Item?

Most likely, yes. This largely depends on the item you are interested in and the online auction platform. For online auctions, the preview could be limited to online only. Contact the auctioneer and ask for a preview if you don’t see a preview time. In most cases, they’ll get one scheduled for you. The closer to the auction’s closing date, the less flexibility, and availability there might be.

Why Was I Immediately Outbid in an Online Auction? 

When bidding in an online auction, you can set max bids. By indicating how high you’re willing to go, you automatically outbid anyone who bids lower than your max and vice versa. If someone else’s max bid is higher than your current bid, the online auction system will automatically accept the higher max bid.

Are Online Auction Items Guaranteed?

Items at auction are typically sold as-is, where-is. It is up to the buyer to inspect the item and take it in the condition and location it is sold. There may be exceptions to this on a case-by-case basis. Your best bet is to read the auction company’s terms and conditions or reach out to the company directly.

Are Your Items Shipped to You?

Be sure to check the terms and conditions for the auction before bidding. Some companies ship items, and some don’t. If you’re unsure, reach out to the auctioneer, they’ll be happy to provide you with additional information. In cases where the auctioneer does ship, expect to pay the shipping cost, including reasonable handling and packing fees.

At Smith & Co Auction & Realty, we host a wide range of online-only auctions and simulcast auctions. We pride ourselves on ensuring the process is stress-free and simple for people to participate in an auction from the comfort of their homes! 

View our “How to Bid Online” instruction guide for an in-depth understanding of the registration process and check out our current online auctions.

Unique Items That Sell Well at Auction

selective focus of auctioneer holding gavel and pointing with finger at buyer during auction

It’s fair to assume that common auction items like antiques, cars, artwork, or land will see fast sales at auction, but what about those not-so-common items, the rarities that attract curious eyes and a heaping profit? Items that leave you scratching your head, wondering how people got their hands on these interesting finds. 

Here are a few unique items that guarantee a nice and profitable sale at auction! 

Skeletons

A surprisingly large number of people look for animal skeletons or bones in online auctions to add to their collection of creatures that once roamed the earth. Collect enough individual bones for a species, and you could complete a skeletal puzzle right at home. If you feel a little weary by such a purchase, rest assured that many people use these unique auction items for education and research purposes!

Celebrity Belongings

There is a large market for anything to do with celebrities because of our society’s obsession with the rich and famous. Some of the most sought-after items include locks of celebrity hair, articles of clothing, and other personal belongings. You can even find items that celebrities briefly interacted with, such as bus tickets, hairbrushes, or toenail clippers.

Taxidermy

While preserving the body of a dead animal may or may not be something you’re interested in, there’s no denying the high demand for taxidermy pieces in auctions. The people who buy these items look for the most realistic recreations of living wildlife available. Whether you’re looking for a fierce bear or a graceful deer, you can find one that’s preserved forever at auction.

Ancient Alcohol

A rare, well-aged wine, beer, or liquor can go for thousands of dollars at an auction. One source for these beverages is the sea floor — shipwrecks can be a treasure trove of liquid gold, and some alcohol found is still drinkable!

No matter what unique items you choose to sell at auction, Smith & Co Auction & Realty is the place to go. We hold hundreds of auctions a year, from online to in-person, selling everything from land and minerals to personal property. 

Contact us today at (580)254-3975 to inquire about buying or selling some unique and profitable items at auction!  

A Guide to Live Auction Etiquette

Planning on attending a live auction but unsure of the proper etiquette? Read on for some helpful tips so that you’ll be ready to start bidding!

People putting up bids at an auctionDo: Bid for what you want

Only bid for items you really want to win. Try not to get caught up in the excitement and bid on something you’re not interested in knowing that someone will bid after you; it will only raise the price higher for the people who really want the item. If you respect other bidders, they will be more courteous when you place your bid on your item of interest.

Don’t: Bid just to raise the price

Like stated above, it’s rude and bad etiquette to bid just to raise the price. Bidding to hurt someone else’s bank account will only cause resentment.

Do: Organize and prepare your budget

Know what you are willing to spend and conduct some research before attending the auction. This way you’ll be prepared with money in hand to get a good price on the item you want to bid on. This is especially important when it comes to real estate auctions where money may be due at the time of purchase or within the next few days.

Don’t: Talk badly about items

Often at auctions, sellers are nearby to witness what their items sell for. Don’t be disrespectful by bad mouthing the items.

Smith & Co. Auction & Realty sells everything from farm machinery to 3100-acre ranches. Browse our upcoming auctions or give us a call at 580-254-3975 to learn more!

Top Mistakes that First-Time Homebuyers Should Avoid

Looking for your first home is a beyond exciting process. You have narrowed down exactly what you want, from the number of bedrooms and bathrooms to the important must-have features like a large backyard and a two-car garage.

However, before you plan your weekends around the next string of open houses, keep the following in mind to avoid the top mistakes typically made by first-time homebuyers!

Starting your home search before pre-approval

As you begin your search, you will find that looking for available homes through online galleries and walking through potential homes in person becomes an obsession, as you get more involved in your quest for finding your dream home. You may stumble upon the perfect home quickly, which is great until you find out the home is one you cannot afford.

Beginning your search without getting pre-qualified or pre-approved for a home loan is one big mistake that first-time homebuyers should avoid. Pre-approval gives you a realistic price range to shop within, so you avoid falling in love with a house way out of your limit. Sellers also like to see pre-approval, as it shows you are serious about buying their home.

Making a big purchase before closing on the home

You finally found your first home and as you wait for the closing, you start thinking about new furniture and shiny new appliances. Maybe you go shopping around and charge a large purchase to your credit card, or perhaps open a new credit card in the process. Then, near closing day, you find out your lender has increased your interest rates, or worse, withdrew their offer.

Wait, what happened?

Making substantial purchases and applying for new credit can negatively affect your credit score and result in new debt, which lenders check before the final closing. These factors affect whether or not they want to offer you a loan. Try instead to hold off on big purchases and keep your credit score the same until after closing.

Settling for the first lender

Many first-time homebuyers stick with the first lender they talk to and settle for whatever mortgage rates they offer. By doing this, though, homebuyers miss out on possibly finding an even better rate.

Shopping around for the best mortgage rates gives buyers a better chance of finding a deal that suits their budget. Interest rates and fees like closing costs differ from lender to lender, and applying with multiple lenders gives homebuyers options to compare. Look for experienced lenders from large banks, smaller credit unions, and online to see what offers exist in different mediums.

With these concepts under your belt, it is time to start searching for your first home! And with an experienced realtor from Smith & Co. Real Estate Marketing Professionals at your side, you’ll be settling into your first home in no time. Check out our featured listings and give us a call at 580-254-3975 today to speak to a member of our real estate team!

Why Do Properties Go Up for Auction?

A row of coins on a small house model and a law auction hammer

While it’s true that some homes that go to auction are a result of a foreclosure or bankruptcy, most of the property sold at auction has no financial distress and is direct for sellers who have chosen the auction method. For many years, auction has been a preferred method for selling agricultural and rural properties, estates, and senior transitions. Across the United States, more and more pieces of residential, luxury, commercial, farm and ranch, and investment property is trading at auction.

Here are a few reasons properties are sold at auction and why many buyers prefer purchasing through auction.

Level Playing Field

An auction allows all buyers to participate under the same terms and conditions. No buyer has an advantage over another based upon if they are getting financing, asking for inspections, home warranty, early possession, or any other contingencies. Auction eliminates the closed-door negotiations that can leave some buyers at a disadvantage.

Transparency

When buying at auction, you know exactly where you stand. You’re the top bidder, or you are not. In markets where sellers are experiencing multiple offers, the buyers are usually left in the dark. When you make an offer on a property in the traditional market, you don’t know how you compare to the other offers on the table, but it is very clear at auction if you are in the lead.

Clearer Understanding of Price

We have all heard the term “market value,” but how do you determine true market value? Is it what the real estate agent says? An appraiser? Tax assessor? Those are all professional estimates and tools to give an approximate value, but true market value is what the public is willing to pay for a property. When marketed effectively and open to all members of the public, an auction is a true form of price discovery. Buyers can feel comfortable they didn’t overpay for a property when they know there are others in the market just one bid away.

At Smith & Co Auction & Realty, we hold over 100 live auctions a year for land, agricultural, business liquidation, residential real estate, and more! We are professionally trained to make your auction the best that it can be, and we even offer online-only auctions

Contact us today at (580)254-3975 to learn more about our auction and real estate services!