April 30, 2012

Let's Talk "Shark Talk" with Debbie Cobian

Posted to Debbie Cobian

Barbara Corcoran was on the Nate Berkus show and I liked several of her Real Estate tips and since they apply very well to the Lake Geneva, WI homes for sale, I thought they were worth repeating.

Tip No. 1- The “8 Second Test”

If you’re thinking of putting your house on the market, give it the “8 second test.” Barbara was saying that the average buyer makes a decision within eight seconds as to whether or not they like the house they are looking at. It is important the front porch and entryway are clear of debris. A fresh coat of paint and clean flower beds to greet your buyers while we’re getting the keys out of the lock box and door open are great start and then approach the inside of your house as if you’re the prospective buyer walking in. What can you to do improve the sights and scents as they get a first impression of your home.

Tip No. 2 – Hire the agent who gives you the lowest price!

Barbara suggests having three agents come through your house and to hire the agent who gives you the lowest price! I love hearing that advice and as difficult as it can be to be the agent giving you an honest opinion of the values of the homes in our local Walworth County housing market, the days of pricing above what you need to ‘net’ from the sale or what you’re willing to accept, is no longer the proper way to price your home. In a buyer’s market, in order to reach your goal of selling, you really need to listen to what the market is saying. Appraisers need three comparable sales in order for the buyer’s loan to be approved, the buyers are looking for “great deals” and the interest rates are staying low making it a great time for you to take advantage of the great pricing available once you’ve sold your existing home. Price your house for exactly what it’s worth. Don’t add on wiggle room or overprice your house in a buyer’s market.

Tip No. 3 – Drop it like it’s HOT!

If your house is on the market and either you aren’t getting any activity or you’ve had several showings and aren’t getting offers, it may be time to drop your price. As Nate Berkus says, “Drop it like it’s Hot!” Buyer’s shop in price brackets. They are looking at houses between $200,000 to $250,000; $250,000 to $300,000 etc. Instead of doing several small price reductions, make a statement and drop your price and get it to the next lowest bracket. Instead of scheduling several small price reductions, do one large drop and get into the lower bracket. I also like to make sure, when we adjust the pricing on your house, that if we are at one of the target numbers such as $200,000 or $250,000 that we price it at a round number instead of saying $199,900 or $249,900. Most real estate search engines allow buyers to input their price ranges. If your house is in the $250,000 price range and we price it at $249,900, we may miss out on the buyer that is looking from $250,000 to $300,000. That $100 difference in your asking price can make the difference of finding the buyer for your house.

Tip No. 4 – You need great pictures on line

When a buyer is looking for a house for sale in Lake Geneva or the surrounding areas, they are looking at the major real estate websites such as realtor.com, zillow.com and trulia.com. I love my iPhone and it has a great camera, but it’s not sufficient for interior photos of houses. You’ve seen those pictures….are you selling your big screen TV?  No, you're selling the room that the TV is in. Great interior photos require a wide angle lens. Most websites allow between 13 and 25 photos and some sites even give the houses with the most photos preferential placement on the site. I also like to create custom virtual tours for all my listings.

Tip No. 5 – Inspect your own home

Have a home inspection before you list your house? Pre-inspections are not a common practice in our area but it does make sense. Barbara’s point was that sometimes a buyer doesn’t know the age of your roof or a water heater and when the inspector mentions it in their report, they come back asking for price concessions. By having a written inspection available to your buyer and making repairs to items in advance of the buyer writing their offer helps to assure the price you agree to is going to be the final sale price of your house.

To see Barbara on last week's Nate Berkus show – Click Here

Let’s get together and get your house on the market today! The deadline for the next Keefe Glossy magazine is May 15th. Call me to make sure your house gets the marketing it deserves.

Posted by:  Debbie Cobian



February 14, 2012

You are the sweetest part of my Real Estate business!

Posted to Debbie Cobian, Geneva Lake Area

Click Here to view my Home Sweet Home Valentine wish for you.

I appreciate you and your referrals. You are the “sweetest” part of my business!

Thank you for making 2011 such a successful year. Please continue to pass on my name to anyone I might be able to help with real estate in Lake Geneva or the Walworth County area. I’m now on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. You can also find me on Instagram and Pinterest and there will likely be more social developments throughout the year. Keep me posted on what is new in your life or business. I love staying connected in person and through technology.

Your Lake Geneva Realtor!

Posted by:  Debbie Cobian



February 10, 2012

Yogeeze Frozen Yogurt downtown in Lake Geneva

Posted to Area Attractions & Events, Debbie Cobian, Geneva Lake Area

There’s a new yogurt shop in town! My son and I picked a snowy day in Lake Geneva to check out the new Yogeeze Frozen Yogurt shop and we’re glad we did.

 

We were kindly greeted by the owners, Jan and Kurt Carlson, who gave us a tour of the self-serve yogurt flavors and toppings. They offer a large selection of yogurt flavors and allow you to sample the various flavors before you fill your cup with one of the yummy flavors. I had some pomegranate and raspberry along with a low sugar vanilla, but that’s only the first decision to make. You then get to choose from over 40 different toppings that include candy and nuts, granola and cereals, mochi and boba balls or my favorites which were the strawberries and red raspberries.

 

Once you’ve created your frozen masterpiece, it is weighed and purchased at 44 cents an ounce. We enjoyed two big desserts for under $7.50.

 

Yogeeze Frozen Yogurt has just been open since December but with healthy alternatives to your sweet cravings with non fat and low fat yogurts and sorbets and no sugar added choices as well, I’m sure they will quickly become a regular stop with the local folks and a special treat for our out of town guests. They are located just North of Starbucks on Center Street in downtown Lake Geneva. I’ll be visiting often on my way to work at the downtown Keefe Real Estate office!

Posted by:  Debbie Cobian



February 08, 2012

Should you hire a Buyer’s Agent to purchase your Lake Geneva, WI home?

Posted to Debbie Cobian, Geneva Lake Area

Inventory is up, sellers are motivated, interest rates are remaining low and this is a great time to purchase a home in the Walworth County area. Have you consider hiring an agent that is licensed to represent you as an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR)?

Today’s real estate market presents challenges that didn’t dominate the market in past years. Since the "great deals" often involve negotiating a short sale or quickly acting on one of the new bank-owned listings in Lake Geneva, working with an experienced, full time Lake Geneva Real Estate agent is more important than in the past.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that 89% of all buyers are working with an agent to buy their homes today which is up from approximately 69% ten years ago.

Buyers are choosing to work with buyer’s agents that can not only help them view properties and write an offer but an agent who can also provide them with local market information including median sale prices, neighborhood and school information as well as a price analysis to make sure you’re getting the best deal out there.

As a full-time, Lake Geneva REALTOR ® and an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I would be happy to represent you in the purchase of your next real estate investment in Southeastern Wisconsin. With buyer’s agency representation, I am able to act on your behalf in all negotiations. I will be committed to being your advocate in finding and purchasing your next home, and at no cost to you.

To view 1000’s of local listings, visit my website.

Posted by:  Debbie Cobian



January 30, 2012

Day 219 of 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI: Winterfest

Posted to 365 Things to Do in Lake Geneva, Area Attractions & Events, Geneva Lake Area

What do you get when you combine a 9' cylinder of snow with some talent and imagination? 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI can tell you.

Posted by:  Bob Webster



January 27, 2012

2012 Lake Geneva Winterfest & Snow Sculpting Competition

Posted to Area Attractions & Events, Debbie Cobian, Geneva Lake Area

The 17th Annual Winterfest and US National Snow Sculpting Competition is about to begin in Lake Geneva. Scheduled for February 1-5, 2012

 

Starting on Monday, the Riviera Park will be building nine foot blocks of snow which will soon be tranformed into beautiful, artistic sculptures. The snow sculpting begins on Wednesday, Feburary 1st and it is fun to watch the work in progress and to stop by and meet the teams competing in this National event.

 

The public is invited to vote in the “People’s Choice Awards” which will take place on Saturday, Feburary 4, between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Be sure to be there to place your vote for your favorite sculpture. The details and imagination displayed in these sculptures are amazing.

 

The official judging criteria is based on Creativity, Technique and the Visual Message and Gold, Silver, Bronze and Spirit Awards will be presented to the competitors.

 

There are alot of other Winterfest events to check out as well. There will be helicopter rides, magic shows, live music, food and refreshments. Click here for the times of all the scheduled events.

 

On Saturday, the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa will be offering a day of fun at The Mountain Top ski hill which will include a three-legged race, treasure hunt, face painting and ski & snowboard competitions during the day and a torch light parade in the evening followed by 8 p.m. fireworks.

 

And, if you haven’t checked out the Zipline Adventure at Lake Geneva Canopy Tours  yet, you’ll want to make time for that as well!

 

Take a look at this video compliments of Matt Mason Photography from a past competition.

 

It’s going to be a great weekend in Lake Geneva! If you’re interested in finding a place of your own, please visit my website www.DebbieCobian.com.

Posted by:  Debbie Cobian



January 20, 2012

Day 218 of 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI: It's a Grand Time to Learn to Ski

Posted to 365 Things to Do in Lake Geneva, Area Attractions & Events, Geneva Lake Area

Take a look outside. It’s snowing! This is the moment that many of you have been waiting for, so check out 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI for great deals to help get you out on the slopes.

Posted by:  Bob Webster



January 13, 2012

Day 217 of 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI: Tuscan Tavern and Grill

Posted to 365 Things to Do in Lake Geneva, Area Attractions & Events, Geneva Lake Area

Are you looking for a new place to go for lunch, dinner or a drink and an appetizer? Check out 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI for details.

Posted by:  Bob Webster



January 06, 2012

Think Spring in January! List your Lake Geneva Home for sale today

Posted to Debbie Cobian, Geneva Lake Area

Can you believe the weather we’ve been having in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin lately? I am excited to say that it’s the first week in January and with the temperatures being in the 40‘s, I’ve been out with buyers looking at acreage and have shown more than ten properties this week to four different buyers.

A lot of sellers take their houses off the market for the winter months and there were over 350 listings that expired on December 31st in the Walworth County real estate market which leaves less choices for the buyers who are qualified and looking now to take advantage of the low interest rates.

 

We always have to plan ahead and meet company marketing deadlines and I don’t want you to miss the opportunity to be included in the Spring Edition of the Keefe Lake and Country Magazine! The deadline to be included in the next publication is only a week away, January 13th.

 

The good news is that we can still get great marketing photos, the buyers are out looking and the inventory is lower than it will be over the next few months.

 

Let’s get together and review your needs and my marketing plan to make your anticipated move in 2012 a reality!

 

Check out my current inventory, my blog and connect with me on facebook or twitter by visiting my website. Call or text me at 262-949-9818.

 

Let’s not wait until Spring! Let’s get to work today.

Posted by:  Debbie Cobian



January 02, 2012

Day 216 of 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI: The Giving Tree

Posted to 365 Things to Do in Lake Geneva, Area Attractions & Events, Geneva Lake Area

Are you finding yourself with just a little more to give this Holiday season? If so, 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI has found a place in need.

Posted by:  Bob Webster



December 28, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Lake Geneva, WI Lakefront Home Priced at $9.4 Million

Posted to Wordless Wednesday

Posted by:  Theresa Larsen



December 28, 2011

Day 215 of 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI: Polar Plunge

Posted to 365 Things to Do in Lake Geneva, Area Attractions & Events, Geneva Lake Area , Williams Bay, WI



Looking for a way to jump start 2012? Check out 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI for details.

Posted by:  Bob Webster



December 27, 2011

Sales in 2011 Equal Success??

Posted to Debbie Cobian

The end of the year tends to be a time to set goals for the new year and reflect on all our accomplishments of the prior year.

As I realized the amount of work I’d done this year in participating in over 30 real estate sales including everything from lakefront homes and condos to bank owned and foreclosures in Walworth County and the surrounding area, I started doing a little research on the definition of "success."

 

I reflected on several of the sales and there were many bittersweet transactions with much emotion attached to them. It’s difficult to attend a closing where the seller is bringing funds to closing or there are no proceeds. Several of the foreclosed homes made me wonder about the memories of the family who once called this piece of real estate a home. Of course, being in a great tourist area, there is always the joy of finding the perfect vacation home on Geneva Lake, Twin Lakes or the Delavan Lake areas.

 

According to the Mirriam-Webster dictionary, success is defined as: “a favorable or desired outcome; also: the attainment of wealth, favor or eminence.” I also came across a great article on the internet entitled: “Five ways to define success” by Dr. Linda Seger, which explains that Americans often define success by money and by what money can buy and that we are known around the world to be materialistic but there are many other ways to define success as well.

 

I’ve heard a lot of depressing stories throughout the year, yet still helped many clients to get out from under the declining real estate values in their homes. I also enjoyed spending time with some great buyers looking for bargains, trying to deal with short sales in Walworth County and generally getting very discounted prices on investments and homes in the area.

 

I went through all the photos of the properties I sold in the Walworth County area over the past year and decided they can be defined as “success” as they did had favorable outcomes to the parties involved. I put together a video in my sincere appreciation to all my clients who helped me to have a successful year.

 

I also noticed the long list of inventory of homes I have to sell which begins my list of goals for the new year! I still have a lot of clients relying on my expertise, compassion and advice.

 

Thank you to all of you who have made me successful throughout the past 12 years in real estate and especially through the recent adjustments in the market.

Posted by:  Debbie Cobian



December 27, 2011

Day 214 of 365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI: The Mountain Top

Posted to 365 Things to Do in Lake Geneva, Area Attractions & Events, Geneva Lake Area

365 Things To Do in Lake Geneva, WI is asking… Are you looking for some of the season’s first skiing and snowboarding?

Posted by:  Bob Webster



December 21, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Fontana, WI Fishermen

Posted to Fontana, Wordless Wednesday

Photo credit to Terry Mayer and Walworth County Today

Posted by:  Theresa Larsen