Jason Shumway with RE/MAX Star Valley stepped into the SVI Radio studio to discuss the real estate market locally and provide some tips to help you price and sell your home.

(0:00) Heading into our guest interview segment this morning (0:02) on the Weekday Wake Up, Swift 98 in the Spur (0:04) and the monthly real estate report with Jason Shumway (0:07) with REMAX Star Valley in studio today. (0:10) Jason, first off, right out of the gate, (0:12) gotta give a shout out to REMAX Star Valley (0:14) for helping us and the Star Valley Chamber of Commerce (0:16) put together that Mother’s Day weekend shopping event (0:19) and it was a great event and appreciate your guys’ help (0:23) with it at REMAX Star Valley. (0:24) Yeah, we appreciate it.

(0:25) We were excited to help and I don’t know (0:28) if we played a very big role in it at all (0:30) but we’re glad to be part of the downtown community (0:33) and it seemed like it was a good event for everybody (0:35) so it’s awesome. (0:36) So your downtown location officially open. (0:39) Remodel’s all done, right? (0:40) Yeah, remodel’s all done, we’re officially open.

(0:42) We are basically there Monday through Saturday (0:46) and there’s a few little things that we’re working on (0:49) but we’re there, we’re there, we’re in business. (0:52) Perfect, so Jason Shumway with REMAX Star Valley (0:54) in studio this morning. (0:56) All right, we’re into May.

(0:57) People may be looking at homes (0:59) and especially, let’s talk specifically to those (1:02) who may be in the market to sell their home right now (1:06) and let’s talk pricing first right out of the gate (1:09) because you have what your bank feels like it’s worth, (1:14) you have what the tax assessor feels like it’s worth (1:16) and then you have what the seller feels like it’s worth (1:18) and sometimes those are very, very different things (1:20) and so when someone’s getting ready to list their home, (1:23) what’s a good way to start out with an evaluation? (1:25) Yeah, no, it’s a great, I mean there’s that old meme (1:28) that’s kicking around that has that image of the assessor (1:31) and the bank and the appraiser and it’s wildly different (1:34) and so we offer like a free market analysis (1:39) which is similar to what an appraiser would do. (1:42) It’s the same database or whatever (1:44) but what we like to do is we kind of cast a wide net, (1:47) we pull in as much data as we possibly can (1:49) and it eliminates kind of the outliers, right? (1:51) And so, and it pulls in as much information (1:55) based on sales as is available. (1:59) You know, you always hear, (2:00) well, my neighbor’s house sold for this (2:01) or the guy’s house down the street sold for that (2:04) or whatever and those are one-offs (2:05) and so yes, those might be valid comparables (2:08) but we wanna make sure that we get (2:09) a big picture of everything and so it’s complimentary, (2:12) it doesn’t cost anything.

(2:14) If you’re just curious, you know, I mean, hit us up, (2:16) we’re happy to do it but yeah, (2:18) there’s a lot that goes into pricing it (2:20) and making sure that it’s priced correctly (2:21) and the market moves all the time, up and down (2:23) so it’s, you know, you gotta, (2:26) just because something sold a year or two ago (2:27) doesn’t mean that’s what it’s worth today. (2:29) And why is it important to have a competitive price point? (2:33) Right, a lot of times a seller’s gonna say, (2:35) well, I can just list it for this (2:37) and if it doesn’t go for that, that’s fine (2:39) but this is what I wanna list it for. (2:40) Yeah, that is probably the most common thing that we hear, (2:43) you know, is well, I can start high (2:45) and we can always come down or I can start high (2:47) and so and so, whoever the buyer is, can make an offer (2:50) and you know, we’ll go from there.

(2:51) So, and you can and your home can unfortunately (2:55) be on the market a little bit longer than it needs to be (2:58) because what happens is that first two to four weeks (3:02) is that’s prime time for your house to be on the market. (3:06) That’s when all eyes are on it, (3:08) that’s when it’s new to the market (3:09) and so if you start out high, (3:12) you’re really just kind of shooting yourself in the foot (3:14) because those prospective buyers (3:17) that might be say $50,000 lower at a price point, (3:21) they’re just not gonna look at it (3:22) and then it sits on the market for a month, (3:24) maybe two months and then you get around (3:25) to that price adjustment and then all of a sudden, (3:28) you know, those buyers have purchased something else (3:29) that came on the market at a better price. (3:31) So you missed your buyer, you kind of missed the boat (3:33) and so that’s, it’s really critical to do that, (3:37) you know, there’s a lot of homes on the market (3:39) and you wanna be competitive, you don’t wanna just, (3:42) there’s more homes than there are buyers right here today (3:44) so you don’t wanna test the waters on that high end (3:49) and just sit there and wait for nothing type thing.

(3:52) So you mentioned that you guys offer the free analysis. (3:57) If someone just wanted to get a real quick, (4:00) I think my home might be worth this ballpark, (4:03) what’s the best way to just get a real quick (4:05) shot in the dark on that? (4:06) Yeah, it’s super easy. (4:08) Really, for the most part, (4:09) it’s like a five minute visit to someone’s house, (4:12) just to kind of see if they’ve done any updating (4:13) or whatever, again, it’s no obligation.

(4:16) It doesn’t cost anything and then we just perform, (4:19) you know, the CMA and give it to them (4:21) and it’s just, it’s no strings attached (4:25) and the whole process is, you know, a day or two long, (4:28) like, you know, from the time they would call, (4:30) go out, take a quick peek at their property (4:32) and then put it together and it’s like a 10 to 15 page (4:35) report for them to look at, so. (4:37) Other than pricing, what are some other things (4:39) that people need to be aware of (4:41) or maybe some things that you’ve seen work really well (4:43) and things that have not worked really well (4:44) when someone tries to sell their home? (4:46) Yeah, absolutely. (4:47) So, you know, in a, like a COVID market a few years ago, (4:52) I mean, you could, you didn’t have to worry (4:54) about your curb appeal or your landscape (4:55) or your, you know, you could have the cupboards (4:58) could be cluttered or the counters could be cluttered.

(5:00) We’re kind of back into a more stable market right now (5:03) where your presentation really matters (5:04) and, you know, we tell all of our sellers (5:07) that the first showing is online, you know, (5:09) that’s when everyone sees it. (5:10) They see it from their home with their iPad (5:12) or their iPhone. (5:13) So that is the first showing.

(5:15) So whatever pictures you’re putting out there (5:16) on the internet, you know, that’s the, (5:18) that’s the first impression that you’re giving. (5:20) And so it really does matter. (5:21) We’re very picky about our photos.

(5:23) We do a lot of, you know, digital editing, (5:25) make sure things are in the right lighting. (5:27) They represent the true representation of the house. (5:31) And, you know, the day of cell phone pictures (5:33) and some of that just, they don’t work anymore, you know.

(5:35) And so having your house clean, clutter free, (5:38) fresh smelling, you know, all these things, (5:41) they all contribute into it when you’re in (5:43) a little bit more of a balanced market (5:45) versus such a high selling market (5:47) we have previously been in, so. (5:49) So you can, you mentioned the pictures, (5:52) the cleanliness and everything like that. (5:53) How much, how much is it worth to invest (5:56) in a little more curb appeal like you talked about? (5:58) Maybe some landscaping, that kind of stuff.

(6:00) At what point do you think, okay, (6:01) I can maybe put in a little more here (6:03) to make it look better from the street (6:05) and with opposed to, maybe that’s (6:08) not as necessary as it should be? (6:11) Yeah, I think you can go an awful long ways (6:14) with paint and elbow grease, you know. (6:16) And so you don’t necessarily have to spend (6:17) a pile of money to make these huge improvements, (6:22) but just overall cleanliness, you know, (6:24) a little bit of touch up, some paint, (6:25) some curb appeal, whether that’s just (6:27) a few basic, you know, pops of flowers (6:30) or something near the front door, (6:31) freshly mowed lawn, all these things contribute (6:33) and it doesn’t necessarily have to be items (6:35) that will break the bank, but they’re critical. (6:37) You know, they’re critical and, you know, (6:40) spray for your dandelions and, you know, (6:41) little things like that that aren’t necessarily (6:43) big cost tickets make a big impact.

(6:46) Jason Chumway, REMAC, Star Valley Inn Studio this morning. (6:48) So if someone’s looking to potentially (6:51) put their home on the market, best way to start, (6:54) how do they get in touch with your office? (6:55) Yeah, so you can give us a call at our office, (6:58) 307-885-1001 or stop by. (7:02) We’re literally right underneath the Antler Arch (7:05) on the east side of town here in Afton.

(7:07) Like I said, we’ve got agents there all the time (7:09) that are willing to help and it’s no obligation, (7:13) you know, we just, it’s a service that we provide (7:15) and that would be the best way. (7:17) Reach out to us on social media as well, (7:19) you know, just message us and then yeah, (7:22) we’re happy to help. (7:23) Perfect, Jason Chumway, REMAC, Star Valley.

(7:24) It’s our monthly real estate report this morning (7:27) on the Weekday Wake Up, SBI Radio.