People always want to know, “what kind of market is it? A buyer’s market? Or a seller’s market?”
Right now in almost all of Philadelphia the answer is we are in a strong seller’s market, which is great news if you’re a home seller looking to maximize your profits, avoid making repairs, and even minimize your closing costs. No matter where you list your house, it’s going under contract quickly AND for over asking price.
But believe it or not, now it’s more important than ever to list your house with a proven professional, here’s why:
A lot has changed in the past few weeks, and real estate is no exception. You’ve no doubt seen your fair share of how real estate has gone virtual. But what does that really mean? Keep reading to hear our listing marketing plan and how we’re selling houses now.
How we’re selling homes now
Strategy
What sells homes in today’s market?
Strategy is #1
What does that mean?
Market data driven pricing
Positioning the time of entry to the market for optimal results
Leveraging the technology we have available to determine when and how to enter the market
Positioning your house to show in it’s best light by utilizing Compass Concierge
Multiple Stages of Listing
Market data supports the conclusion that release a listing throughout several stages generates stronger offers with shorter time on market
We stand behind these 3 stages
Private Exclusive (5-7 days)
Only visible to Compass agents
Sharable directly one-to-one to our clients and other Compass agent’s clients
per MLS regulations, no marketing to consumers or agents outside our office at this stage
Give us the advantage to market without a price to test the market
Gives us valuable feedback on market perception of your property and how to best leverage those perceptions in the live listing
Coming Soon (21 days)
Visible online to both consumers and agents
No showings allowed
Test the market without being in the market (days on market are not accrued)
The feedback and traffic we receive will allow us to determine when is the right time to go live
Allows us to ramp up interest, run targeted ad campaigns and drop mass emails
Pre-market and pre-register guests for virtual open houses coming the first weekend of listing live
Listing Live in MLS
All the pre-marketing has generated strong interest and numerous virtual showings
Virtual Open houses have been highly publicized and are well attended
Marketing and pricing are on target thanks to market data applied to listing prior to making consumer facing
What do these virtual open houses and showings look like?
1. High Quality Imagery
It starts here. By investing in high quality imagery: photos, videos and 3D rendered scans we allow buyers to walk through the property as if they’re really there.
2. Virtual Showings
On demand Zoom calls where we take buyers one on one through the listing virtual tour room by room, just like an in person showing.
3. Virtual Open Houses
there’s a science to getting these right. We put a time on the calendar as far in advance as possible, create a customized Zoom meeting room that gathers every entrant's info for follow up later, and publicize everywhere. Although we encourage participants to join us in the Zoom meeting to ask questions live, we also stream each open house live to our social channels.
The actual open house is very similar to the in person open houses you might be familiar with. We tour the home together, talk about the unique features and neighborhood, and open the call for questions.
4. Face to Face Follow Up
Instead of texting or emailing, we’re video calling at every opportunity. We find that the best way to work with any potential buyers and help answer their questions is to meet face to face.
Does it work?
Yes. We’ve been seeing our listings under contract as quickly as ever, and been able to generate offers over asking prices for many of them.
We’re happy to share our detailed marketing plan with you that we’ve fine tuned over the past few weeks to get our clients results. Give us a Zoom call now, and let’s talk!
A while back US News put together this great resource for learning for free. There’s no better time than right now to set aside some time for learning or personal development in areas you’ve always had an interest or desire to grow.
Here are a few of our favorites from US News, and a fresh idea from us at number 5 on the list.
1) Open Education Database for online college courses.
Take your pick from over 10,000 free online classes on a variety of subjects hosted at Open Education Database to round out your education and professional career. From math and engineering courses from MIT to health and medical courses from the University of Michigan, you can pick and choose from several degree levels, categories and subjects to learn in-demand skills while staying relevant in the workforce.
2) Skillshare for soft skills training.
You can register for free for access to thousands of online classes that can teach you everything from how to become a professional Instagrammer to tips for working with watercolor and mixed media. The courses are video-heavy which is ideal for visual learners. The free account gives you access to 353 free classes, the community and the mobile app. You'll pay just $8 a month for access to 2,890 classes and offline access.
3) Duolingo to learn a new language.
Turn learning a new language into a game with the help of Duolingo, a free app and learning platform that gives you a chance to earn points for correct answers and move through different levels. All lessons include speaking, listening, translation and multiple choice challenges to help you absorb the material quickly and you can instantly view your progress as you get graded along the way.
4) The Culinary Cook to learn how to cook.
In addition to the step-by-step guides, the site features articles on choosing the right type of cookware and tips on how to cook like a professional chef.
5) Your Local Library
Even though your physical local library may be closed right now, most libraries offer vast collections of e-books and audiobooks online, for free to library card holders.
Enjoy the learning journey!
If you’re like most of us, quite likely sometime this past week or earlier you read what felt like the thousandth, “5 tips to ____ during quarantine” post full of optimism and cheer and something in your mind snapped. All the articles and posts and helpful resources are just becoming noise, in the face of the reality that we can’t do it all.
Restaurants in Philadelphia are closed for sit-down dining, but many of our favorites are still open for take-out and/or delivery. Check them out and if you aren't ready for a meal now, perhaps purchase a gift card to use in a few months.
We’ve included a few of our favorites from Northwest Philadelphia as well for our friends in that area!
Breakfast and Coffee Shops
- Ants Pants Cafe
- Fitzwater Cafe
- Front Street Cafe
Pizza Joints
- Gigi Pizza
- Pizza Plus
- Pizzeria Vetri
Italian Restaurants
- Cry Baby Pasta
- Fiore
- Little Nonna's
American Fare
- American Sardine Bar
- Bud & Marilyn's
- Hungry Pigeon
Asian Cuisine
- Baology
- DanDan
- Fat Salmon
Markets and Grocery Stores
- Di Bruno Bros.
- Giordano's Market
- Matt & Mike's Deli
Breweries and Distilleries
- Philadelphia Distilling
- Stateside Vodka
- Triple Bottom Brewing
Breakfast and Coffee Shops
- Chestnut Hill Coffee Co. (Chestnut Hill)
- Night Kitchen Bakery (Chestnut Hill)
Pizza Joints
- Nonna's Pizza Tavern (Mt. Airy)
- Santucci's Pizza (Roxborough)
Italian Restaurants
- In Riva (East Falls)
- Trattoria Moma (Mt. Airy)
American Fare
- Campbell's Place (Chestnut Hill)
- Earth Bread Brewery (Mt. Airy)
Asian Cuisine
- @Ramen (Manayunk)
- New Leaf (Manayunk)
Markets and Grocery Stores
- East Falls Farmers Market (East Falls)
- Market at the Fareway (Chestnut Hill)
Breweries and Distilleries
- Chestnut Hill Brewing Company (Chestnut Hill)
- Mount Airy Tap Room (Mount Airy)
Other Local Favorites
- Cresheim Valley Grain Exchange (Mt. Airy)
- The Nile Cafe (Germantown)
Support local businesses and buy local!
As an overwhelmed parent who suddenly found myself running a school from home this month, the first thing I did was turn to my mom for help. A veteran homeschooling parent, my mom homeschooled my 6 siblings and I from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and I knew if anyone had advice for us parents who are suddenly blindsided by homeschooling, it would be her.
In recent times, a lot more of us are working from home. While working remotely may be the norm for some, many individuals are having to adapt to new environments and workflows to accomplish daily tasks. Dealing with distractions, relying on technology, and staying productive are typical concerns when it comes to working from home. We know how difficult it is to separate work life from home life when the two coincide. That’s why we’ve compiled our top five WFH tips that will impress your employers and keep you on your A-game:
Most of us are planning to stay close to home in the next few weeks, and the days without our regular routine may seem daunting to fill. Make the most of this rare opportunity and capitalize on your new found time.
Get Outside
The weather is getting warmer, and now is the time to start working on your spring garden. Don’t have a garden? Take a walk around the block or to your local park.
Get Organized
Go through your junk drawers, closets, attic and basement and get rid of the junk you’ve always meant to throw away.
Deep Clean
Wash your windows inside and out, dust everything, and sanitize frequently touched surfaces.
Learn a New Skill
In this digital day and age, a new skill is only a youtube video away, whether it’s learning a new language, a complicated recipe, or management techniques.
Spend quality time with your family
Break out a board game, make a batch of cookies, go for a family walk.
Check in on your extended family and friend
We’re all feeling the physical distance right now, but we don’t have to be isolated. Feeling alone? Reach out to a friend. Catch up, and make plans for later in the spring.
Just as Punxsutawney Phil predicted, an early spring is upon us in Philadelphia. With the warmer weather comes nurturing your wintered-over garden back to life. Anyone who has seen a yard in full bloom knows how a beautiful garden can elevate any property. Here are a few tips for early spring gardening that will lighten your load and ensure that your seeds thrive.
March is upon us which means flowers in bloom, warmer weather, and the dreaded phrase… “spring cleaning.” Digging up the dirt and grime that has sat for the past few months can be tiresome if not disgusting. Even if you do tackle all of your desired tasks, your home is often left with an undesirable, chemical scent. To save you some time and frustration, we’ve compiled a list of chemical-free, deep-cleaning hacks that will have you wondering why you’d never thought of them in the first place.
While only a few of our team members are home-grown Philadelphians, everyone at the Q & U Team has a special place in their hearts for the city of the Liberty Bell, the Eagles, and of course, Gritty. We asked each of our team members to name exactly what it is that they love most about the city of Philadelphia.
It’s Friday night and you find yourself at the local dive bar… again. If the bar scene is getting a little tired, you’re in luck. Philadelphia may be the birthplace of the citywide, but it’s also a hub for live arts, exciting community events, and seasonal celebrations.
If you’re looking to shake up your normal weekend routine, we have a few suggestions to get you started:
Being a landlord in Philadelphia can provide a steady source of income… when you know what you’re doing. If it’s your first time renting out a property, however, making sure that you are staying compliant with city regulations can be an involved process. In order to avoid any bumps in the road, it is important to work with a trusted real estate partner who can guide you from start to finish.
As the month wraps up, and the cold weather continues, there are some preventative measures you can take to make sure your home is in shape for springtime. Whether you’re looking to sell your house in the near future or seeking to save money on the back end, this January checklist will make spring cleaning a breeze.
So you’ve resolved to eat healthier in the new year...excluding special circumstances. What is Philadelphia Restaurant Week if not a special circumstance? Until January 24th, enjoy all of the diverse cuisines the city has to offer for a fixed price of $35 a plate. While all participating restaurants technically promote the same discount, a few newcomers and standbys go above and beyond the template to give you the most bang for your buck. Skip the juice cleanse for one day (week?) and enjoy this new year’s gift from the Center City District. Our gift to you? Letting you know the hottest deals on the list:
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