Personally taking on a task at hand is nothing new for consumers, and it's a logical consideration and decision with so many aspects to life.  For example, you wake up in the morning and enter the bathroom to get ready for the day.  Who cleaned that bathroom?  You, or did you hire it out to housekeeping?  You then reach for your business clothing for the day.  Who laundered or dry-cleaned those?  In-house, or out-sourced.  It's now time to prepare breakfast.  Did you go shop for the groceries, or have them delivered?  What about the car you're now getting into for your commute?  Did you build that, handle the detailing, and do all the repairs on it, or do you hire that out?  It's now lunchtime.  Did you bring a lunch to work, or are you hiring that out by visiting a local restaurant?  The point is that every day of nearly everyone's life includes some sort of decisions on what becomes DIY versus paying someone for performance.  

Why do homeowners attempt to sell their home alone?

"Do It Yourself" or DIY in most any aspect of life usually comes down to two reasons:

• In hopes of saving money
• Lack of perceived value and benefit of hiring a professional

As described above, this is not at all unique to real estate.  This is applied by consumers each and every day as they evaluate the decision on whether to hire someone for a specific task.  This includes shopping, dining, construction, landscaping, car detailing, cosmetics, pet care, some aspects of health care, and nearly every facet of life to some degree.  Nearly all services can have a DIY consideration to them.  The decision of whether to hire a professional is often relative to the consumer's means to hire a professional.  Some consumers are positioned such that they may be forced to take on certain tasks as DIY, while others can hire a professional, but have not yet seen the value and benefits, so in an attempt to save money, they actually lose time and money, or don't fully capitalize on the event.

How does DIY relate to selling a home?

The sale of one's home (and also purchasing one) is one of the largest financial endeavors that most people will participate in during their life, so the handling of such large amounts of money is unfamiliar territory to them.  Likewise, the hiring process to handle such a substantial aspect of their life is also unfamiliar, and what do some people do when they're presented with unfamiliarity?  They pull back, and don't proceed.  Rather than push forward, research, learn, analyze, and evaluate, they pull back and steer clear, and the hopes of "saving" money becomes an enabler of that position.  That sums up why many For Sale By Owners end up where they do.  To them, the process of hiring a professional presents a lack of trust, and the sellers have not learned enough about how they will come out ahead by using a professional, so the conclusion is that it's expensive instead of beneficial.  The result is that homeowners conclude "it can't be that difficult", so they go it alone.  Some actually make it to closing, and many others eventually hire a professional after an exhausting trial run on their own.  Those who do make to close may allow that to be perceived as a victory, and never realize the benefits and rewards they left on the table by choosing their path.

For Sale By Owner statistics

Let's take a look at some 2023 statistics from the National Association of Realtors and survey from Clever Real Estate.  As a reminder, FSBO is For Sale By Owner.

• For Sale By Owner accounted for 7% of home sales in 2023
• Typical FSBO home sold for $310,000 compared to $405,000 for agent-assisted home sales.
• Sellers without an agent were twice as likely to say they weren't satisfied with the selling experience.
• Sellers admitted buyers distrusted them because they didn't have an agent (43%).
• 40% of sellers replied they struggled to understand the contract.
• 36% made legal mistakes without the use of an agent.
• Clever Real Estate's survey indicated sellers earned an average of $46,603 more when using an agent in both 2022 and 2023.
• About 1/2 of unrepresented sellers said they wish they had priced differently, and nearly half now believe their home would have sold for more with an agent.
• 50% of sellers without an agent admit to crying at some point in the process, and 52% felt overwhelmed by the entire process.

Is every seller using a real estate agent happy?

Do all those stats mean that every seller who uses an agent was/is absolutely thrilled and raving about the selling process?  Over 4 million homes sold last year (nearly a 30 year low partially due to interest rates), but that's still a staggering number, so to think that everyone out of 4 million people was completely satisfied simply isn't realistic when it comes to human behavior, but the stats show much better of a result the process was when a professional was used.

Selling is hard.  It's often very emotional.  There is what seems like an endless list of decisions.  And then there's the pressure of the money.  Oh, the pressure.  Money will wind people up so tight that sometimes you wonder if they're going to literally snap inside.  All of this contributes to each homeowner's perception of the process.  Stress can outright ruin an otherwise good process and experience.

Why do homeowners think they can successfully sell their home?

Keep in mind that "successfully" is a relative term.  Making it to the closing table can be considered a success to some, but that is not synonymous with making the sale the most efficient and rewarding as it could have been.  The reason people often tackle monumental tasks can be summed up by:

"You don't know what you don't know."

This one statement alone allows people to journey down a path of unknowns that can later become intense, extensive, and costly.  In the case of selling one's home, most homeowners with limited exposure to the process will not be familiar with the entire document process, the legal language, contingencies, industry protocols, negotiating, and the expectations and reactions from buyers, so they unfortunately often end up relying on the representation of the buyer to help guide them.  Remember though, it is the buyer's representative's job to get the best deal for the buyer.  They are not hired to work in the best interest of the seller, but the seller often ends up in this situation because they are in very unfamiliar territory, so it becomes a situation of grabbing any life-lines available without admitting defeat or reversing course.

Why do homeowners get overwhelmed while selling by owner?

The answer to this is why most people get overwhelmed with anything.  It usually comes down to knowledge,  experience, and confidence.  Should average homeowners have excessive levels in those areas when it comes to selling real estate?  In most cases, no, not at all.  The reason is that those characteristics come hand-in-hand with dedication to a subject or craft, so performing something once or even a few times will never approach or equate to the level of someone who has repeatedly dedicated him/herself to the task.  That is what experience is, and why it is so important in any profession.  The same applies to everything from sports to stock-trading to auto-repair.  Regular performance builds experience and skill that cannot otherwise be attained.  The lack of experience often leaves loopholes which invite failure, and the greater the stakes the more potential for substantial loss and/or damage.  Repeatedly hitting the wall of "not knowing" after the perception that it would be easy is what increases stress, frustrates, and exhausts homeowners while trying to sell on their own.

What are homeowners unaware of while trying to FSBO?

This list is nearly endless and continues to evolve just as any industry does.  It would be like trying to compress a decade or two of real estate experience and put it into a small punchlist of items.  To provide some insight though, here are a few things that sellers probably do not adequately anticipate:

• Objectivity - It is nearly impossible for a homeowner to be objective about their home, its value, and the selling of the asset.  This eventually causes them complications during marketing, negotiations, and offer acceptance.
• Time - Depending on the market conditions and marketing strategy, home sales can take hours or months to go under contract.  Sellers often do not consider the latter and become frustrated with the time aspect not only for securing a buyer, but also for the entire timeline between contract to closing.
• Home Prep - For the optimum outcome and reward, selling isn't simply putting a sign up.  An objective review of the home is performed against the current buyer preferences/demands in order to form a plan to put the home into a proper marketing condition.  Unwillingness and lack of objectivity of one's home contribute to the avoidance or failure of this step.
• Negotiations - People may have negotiated some car sales, and have seen an episode or two of some real estate shows, but negotiating real estate includes much more.  Predicting human behaviors in specific scenarios is a key element and that comes from experience of having conducted many transactions under different circumstances.
• Documents - A real estate transaction is never short on documents.  Rarely will a homeowner understand them all without some consultation.  Reluctancy to seek that can be costly.  While real estate agents are not lawyers, they are able to assist clients with the legal document process.
• Marketing - Economics 101 says that demand helps drives price, so a proper marketing strategy increases the reward to the seller, but simply putting a sign up and a small social media post on a personal account underwhelms homeowners when they believe that's all it will take to get their desired outcome.
• People - This is probably one of the top factors of the entire process.  It's the skill and talent of being able to manage people while also reading their actions and reactions during the real estate selling process.  If someone is not a veteran in the industry, they simply will fall short in this area as they will not have the experience in this exact situation.  Management includes calming people, sometimes nudging people, cooperating, and even sometimes being demanding... all while keeping agreements together and maximizing the reward.

The selling process has many moving parts, and nearly always includes a number of personalities which have to be balanced in order to make the most of a seller's "win". 

Should homeowners sell on their own?

Just as we began this article, there is a trade-off for everyone on which services they wish to hire out versus going the DIY route.  Most homeowners can eventually get their home sold on their own if they give it enough time and are willing to concede to the market's conditions, however, they will be missing out on the aspects that bring the most reward (and may never know what they missed).  This includes the actual sales price and net take-home (money kept after the process) which is usually one of the most important aspects for homeowners/sellers.  Additionally, going it alone will most assuredly cause more stress and dissatisfaction which is supported by the stats above from NAR and the survey.  To help have a more rewarding experience in nearly every aspect, hiring a professional to handle what is usually the largest asset transaction in one's life is the more solid plan for selling real estate.

To discuss how we can make the difference with your sale of real estate, reach out by voice/text to 615-513-1577 or by email here, and we'll start sharing how your journey can be the most rewarding process for you.

If there is a Brentwood park that serves as a hub of activity, it has to be Crockett Park.  This park located at 1500 Volunteer Pkwy Brentwood TN 37027  is on the east side of I-65 between the Concord Rd and Moores Lane exits, and neighbors Woodland Middle School.  The park's size is approximately 160 acres with a blend of open spaces and wooded areas throughout the park, and it connects to the Brentwood walking / biking path, so traveling to nearby communities, and even up to the Bentwood Library and Concord Rd YMCA can be done from Crockett Park.  If you've not had a chance to see how much Brentwood is connected with the city's bike trail, that is also something to definitely look into.

What type of activities are available at Crockett Park?

As mentioned, Crockett Park is definitely a hub of activity for much of Brentwood.  Some of the activities are seasonal while others are available year round and not dependent on weather.  Let's go through all the options available to the public at Crockett Park.

The Cool Springs House

Like many of our local parks, there are some historical elements to Crockett Park as well.  Upon entering the park, visitors are greeted by a prized possession of the city which is the Cool Springs House.  This home has quite a history in Williamson County, but while many homes become centerpieces for a park built on the land original to the home, the Cool Springs House is an exception.  This home was actually moved TO this park to serve as a welcoming landmark.  Originally built in the 1830's, the Cool Springs House was originally located on the west side of I-65.  During the 1980s with the development of what is now called the "Cool Springs" area on the horizon, an agreement was made that resulted in Brentwood moving and making the home a part of Crockett Park.  It's a very interesting history that can be fully read on the Cool Springs House's website.  Today, the home is used for events and can be reserved through the city.  Options include daily rentals for lunches, meetings, corporate gatherings, as well as multi-day rentals for wedding events.

Indoor Soccer Complex

After entering the park and passing the Cool Springs House, just to the east, two sports options are presented.  One is the amazing indoor soccer complex, and the other is the outdoor disc / frisbee golf course that begins near the soccer complex and continues through the wooded areas of the park.

Pavilion

Needing a place to have a family/friend get-together, party, or picnic.  This may be just the place.  Heads-up though that while you may be able to drop by and use it (if empty), if you're wanting to be assured of its use, Brentwood does now operate this on a reservation system.  It's a great location near the parking lot and adjacent to one of the playgrounds.

Playgrounds

As if 160 acres wasn't a playground in itself, Crockett Park offers additional options for the playful.  There are two playgrounds positioned on the eastern side of the park.  One is conveniently positioned near the parking lot and adjacent to the pavilion which makes it ideal for get-togethers or parties in the pavilion.  The next playground is located off the eastern end of the first set of football/soccer fields which is conveniently positioned for children playing while siblings may be involved in sports games.   The third playground is shared with Woodland Middle School. This expansive play area is like a wooden fantasy land with lots of climbing, sliding, and swinging.  

Football & Soccer Fields

Crockett Park is a mecca for playing sports.  With two rows of sports fields totaling 11 full size fields (which can also be divided for smaller age play), Crockett Park is a busy place on the weekends during sports seasons.  The first row is adjacent to the parking lot and easily accessible by paved walking paths.  The second upper level is also easily accessible with a short walk.  This set is also adjacent to (and connects to) the Concord Hunt community.

Disc Frisbee Golf

One advantage to having so much green space is that it provides enough room for sports that require space.  Disc golf is one such sport, and Crockett Park is the perfect place to play.  Along the west side of the park near the indoor soccer complex, the park includes a course that begins in the open field and takes players through the shaded wooded area making it a wonderful and challenging play.

Tennis Courts

Located on the west end of the football/soccer fields, the park has 7 tennis courts.  Parking and restroom facilities are nearby, as are concessions on certain game days.

Baseball / Softball Fields

Keeping America's favorite pastime alive, Crockett Park includes 8 diamonds where the crack of the bat can be heard, and the cheers of the crowds follow.

Walking / Biking Trails

Residents of Brentwood are extremely fortunate to have such an extensive bike trail that is paved and includes miles of run.  This includes connecting many neighborhoods together along with some key stops such as Smith Park, Crockett Park, the YMCA, and the Brentwood Library.  This trail continues through Crockett Park, so visitors get to walk through wide open green spaces along with pleasant wooded paths with bridges crossing over small creeks.  It is an absolutely wonderful place to get your step-counter going.

Eddie Arnold Amphitheater

Brentwood just wouldn't be Brentwood without this celebration-oriented addition to the park.  This amphitheater nestled inside the park includes a grass "bowl" seating arrangement with a performance stage that is a visually pleasing as it is practical.  Each summer, Brentwood hosts the Summer Concert Series which consists of approximately 4-6 concerts by bands that fill the park with popular songs of today and yester-year.  Food trucks are usually on site making it a wonderful family evening event.  Concerts are usually on Sunday evenings with exception of possibly two times.  Brentfest is usually held on a Saturday, and the July 4th concert is traditionally held actually on the 4th each year.  This celebration includes a concert followed by the fireworks display after dark.  It is one amazing evening, and Crockett Park is the perfect place for it.  For those new to this event, it should be known that some streets surrounding the park are sometimes turned into 1-way streets after the event in order to allow traffic to exit the park most quickly, so plan ahead, or you may be required to take a slightly different way home.

One visit to Crockett Park will confirm that it's a wonderful asset to the city of Brentwood.  The park is surrounded by plenty of neighborhoods that each have easy access.  Some of these include:

• Concord Hunt
• Crockett Hills
• Montclair
• Witherspoon
• Indian Point
• Raintree Forest
• Raintree Reserve

Schools Near Crockett Park

• Woodland Middle School
• Crockett Elementary
• Ravenwood High School

Looking for a home near Crockett Park?

Proximity to activities, sports, and exercise options are often a factor when people are considering their next home.  Crockett Park is such a great environment for activity as well as decompressing.  Plus, if you're close enough you get a front seat to July 4th fireworks.  Along the routes leading to Crockett Park, there are premium luxury residential options, and we would be thrilled to assist you with learning more about those. 

Connect us today by voice/text to 615-513-1577 or contact us here by email to learn more!

Located at 1825 Wilson Pike in Brentwood TN, the park that is locally referred to as "Smith Park" has become one of the THE most treasured green spaces for the city of Brentwood.  In 2010, the city of Brentwood acquired 320 acres of what was known as the Ravenswood Farm (with an "s", but the high school's name is without an "s") which was at that time the single largest land purchase by the City of Brentwood, and another 80 acres were acquired in 2013 which was an option provided to Brentwood as part of the original agreement.  For those of us local to the area, we witnessed quite a transformation.  

The Ravenswood Mansion was one of the few homes whose driveway still directly crossed the railroad tracks that parallel Wilson Pike.  With this not being conducive to the high traffic that a park receives, an overpass was designed and constructed to provide efficient and safe access to the park.  This entrance now starts at the intersection of Split Log Rd and Wilson Pike and provides visitors a beautiful and welcoming introduction to the park while gradually easing them to an elevation for passing over the railroad below.

Ravenswood Mansion

The main attraction of Smith Park and positioned at nearly the center of the park is the Ravenswood Mansion that was once the home of Marcella & Reese Smith.  This home with an initial construction date of 1825 has an enormously interesting history that is well-documented and worth the the read at the website bearing its name:  Ravenswoodmansion.com  Between 2010 and 2015, the home went through a tremendous renovation and modernization to make it more practical for hosting events such as corporate gatherings, social parties, and weddings.

Weddings at Ravenswood Mansion

With the spacious grounds all around, Ravenswood Mansion makes for a spectacular location for weddings and events.  From naturally providing wonderful scenery for wedding portraits, to having all the necessities for setting up event tents and facilities, this property is truly a treasure for Brentwood.

Mountain Biking

At this moment in time, mountain biking is one of the most recent additions to Smith Park.  Resulting from the efforts of several different groups starting early on with the suggestion of the idea, the planning of it all, as well as the actual implementation, mountain biking is now available at Smith Park.  The entrance is on the left side of the mansion at the rear-most corner of the parking lot.

Hiking at Smith Park

On the other side of the rear lawn area of Smith Park (right side of the mansion) is the trail head for all the hiking which has proven to be one of the most popular attractions of the park.  Located in the right-rear corner of the park, the trail entrance includes restroom facilities, bike racks, relaxation zone, and miles of trails that are enjoyable in all seasons.

Soccer, Playground, Pavilion at Smith Park

Smith Park has something for everyone.  In addition to the event facilities, hiking, and mountain biking, Smith Park also includes beautifully maintained soccer fields, a playground, and pavilion which provide residents opportunity to connect with friends and family in the beauty of the natural surroundings.

Photography at Smith Park

With all the natural surroundings, it's no wonder that Smith Park is a magnet for photography.  The many aspects of landscapes draw photographers to capture the wonders along the trails.  The scenery also serves as the perfect background for portraits which is why you'll see plenty of wedding and family portraits being done on the grounds.  This is especially true during prom season and when families are having fall and holiday portraits done on the old driveway lane.  In that vicinity, visitors also take advantage of using the red & white barn in their images.  This one you see currently is a replica of the one that once stood in the same location but reached the end of its useful life, so it was replaced not long ago.

Reservation Information

Ravenswood Mansion and the grounds are managed by the City of Brentwood.  For more information about making any reservations, contact them here.

Homes Near Smith Park

The location of Smith Park is nearly centered in a residential area.  Many neighborhoods along with schools are near Smith Park making it only walking distance from home.  Some of the subdivisions nearby are:

• Inglehame Farms
• Cross Pointe
• The Laurels
• Morgan Farms
• Glen Abbey
• Sonoma
• Tuscany Hills
• Avalon

Schools Near Smith Park

• Kenrose Elementary
• Ravenwood High School
• Jordan Elementary
• Woodland Middle
• Crockett Elementary

Looking for a home near Smith Park?

Proximity to activities, sports, and exercise options are often a factor when people are considering their next home.  Smith Park is such a great environment for activity as well as decompressing.  Along the corridors leading to Smith Park, there are premium luxury residential options, and we would be thrilled to assist you with learning more about those. 

Connect us today by voice/text to 615-513-1577 or contact us here by email to learn more!

Where are all the parks in Williamson County?

It's presently summer time here in Middle Tennessee, and while many people are in home search mode as part of relocating to the Nashville area during the summer, others are looking for activities to do because they're already local or they're needing additional activities during their home-buying visits.  

Now, it should be noted that "park" includes a wide variety of definitions when it comes to Williamson County. 

What do parks in Williamson County include?

• Walking & Hiking
• Mountain Biking
• Sports - soccer, baseball, football, tennis
• Splash Pad
• Swimming Pools
• Fitness Facilities
• Dog Parks
• Playgrounds
• Historic Grounds & Gardens

There is literally something for everyone with the collection of parks across the Williamson County cities of Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, Fairview, Spring Hill, so whether you're wanting to cool off at that splash pad in Brentwood, bike through the forest at Smith Park, or see some historic importance at some of the Civil War parks, Williamson County offers everyone plenty of opportunity.

To show you some of the awesome locations you can enjoy, here is a linked map that will allow you real-time interaction to learn more about each one.  Map

Although the map includes city parks within Williamson County, here is a link to Williamson Parks & Recreation for more information.  Have fun out there this summer, and beyond!

It's that time again!  Yes, July 4th is on the horizon, and everyone in Middle Tennessee is making their plans.  "Where to watch fireworks in Nashville?" is on everyone's minds.  The Nashville area definitely is not short on options when it comes to watching fireworks and joining in on some July 4th celebrations.  Some areas hold their celebrations on an alternate date for better logistics, and in case residents want to attend the "big fireworks show" downtown Nashville which is held at Nissan Stadium and best viewed from First Avenue downtown Nashville.  There are of course all the establishments on Lower Broadway that can also be enjoyed on the 4th, and 1st Ave usually has an extensive collection of vendors as well, so food, drink, and entertainment are everywhere.

Whether you are heading downtown Nashville, or choosing a more relaxed fireworks display in the surrounding areas, here is some event information that is certain to help you find an option on where you can enjoy your July 4th fireworks.

• Nashville - July 4th downtown Nashville waterfront.  Chris Young, YOLA, Girl Name Tom, Blessing Offor, and more perform at 1st Ave and Broadway.  After this concert, the Nashville Symphony will perform at Ascend Amphitheater.  I'm not sure that Nashville actually posts a time for the fireworks anymore.  In my experience over the years, the show has started sometime between 9:15 and 9:45.  Even when times are posted, I found they usually started 15-30 minutes after that time.  For the first time, this year's display will include drone lighting elements in combination with fireworks (2020 included drone only).  It's an incredibly popular event, so go early to secure your spot, and plan ahead for exiting.  Parking farther away (and not in a garage) and walking a few blocks may actually get you out quicker after the show.
• Red, White, & Boom - This even is being held at Cumberland Science Museum on July 4th from 6:30-10:00pm and will offer a great viewing location for the downtown fireworks.  Additionally, themed activities, food trucks, and laser shows will be included.  This is a paid event - $30+.
• Brentwood - July 4th - Brentwood blends their July 4th fireworks and celebration with their Summer Concert Series which is often held on Sundays at Crockett Park's Eddie Arnold Amphitheater  The event is from 7 pm to 10 pm with the fireworks beginning at 9 pm.  This park often fills up.  It should be noted that Brentwood often converts 2-way streets to 1-way after the show to empty the park as efficiently as possible, so plan accordingly.  As you exit the park, you may only have one choice on direction.  Parking along Wilson Pike for viewing is not permitted.  For great viewing options, the baseball fields up from the amphitheater make great viewing locations.
• Franklin - Franklin's celebration is somewhat of a 2-parter.  The celebration begins on Franklin's Main St where during the day there will be food, entertainment, arts, crafts.  Then, later in the day, Friends of Franklin Parks, in conjunction with the City of Franklin and City of Franklin Parks Department, will be hosting a Fourth of July Celebration (music, food, and kids games) at the Tractor Supply Co. Arena at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. The Tractor Supply Co. Arena will be open to the public for prime fireworks viewing. The event will be held on Thursday, July 4, 2024. The park will open at 5pm and the fireworks show will begin at approximately 9pm. Live music will be provided from 6pm- 9pm. Food trucks will be on site and the concession stand at the Tractor Supply Co. Arena will be open for beer and wine sales. Attendance is expected to range from 8,000 - 10,000 people.  Please no outside coolers allowed in the TSC Arena and Paddocks. No alcohol is allowed to be brought into City Parks, as mentioned previously food and drinks are available for sale. Fireworks and sparklers are illegal within Franklin City limits and are strictly prohibited in City Parks.
• Murfreesboro - 1500 Medical Center Parkway - Live music begins about 7:30 and fireworks around 9:00 p.m.  Personal fireworks, alcoholic beverages, pets, and grills are not permitted.
• Smyrna - 110 Sam Ridley Parkway E - July 1st from 5 to 9 pm.  Live music, food, inflatables, and train rides.  Fireworks will begin at dark.  If weather creates delay, event will be held on July 2nd.
• LaVergne - 115 Floyd Mayfield Drive - Festivities begin at 5:30pm including live music, food, and activities.  Personal fireworks, are not permitted.
• Rockvale - July 4th at the Rockvale Community Center located at 9920 Rockvale Rd - Event takes place 10 am to 2 pm and includes music, hayrides, smash-a-car demolition, food, and corn-hole tournament.
• Nashville Shores - July 3 - Beginning about 8:45pm, fireworks will dazzle the sky and reflect off the water of Percy Priest Lake making a spectacular display seen from all around the lake area.  Water park activities do close at 8pm on this day.

Are you venturing downtown Nashville for your 4th of July fireworks?  If so, you may be interested in some specialty events being held by some local establishments.  These may including dining, drinks, and rooftop experiences.  For a great list of these options, check out NashvilleGuru.com

To see where you can see fireworks on July 4th, see our Google Map for location details.

Have you ever noticed that as you travel that the real estate varies in so many ways?  The style and size of homes varies, as does the construction techniques and materials.  For example, when home buyers relocate to Middle TN, they often comment on the amount of brick used in our area (which relates to access to brick manufactured in the South).  If you travel northward, you'll see that siding has often been a common exterior material.  With cement board/siding like Hardie Board having become so popular, you're now seeing more of that being used in many regions.  That's just one example among many aspects to how real estate and construction techniques/materials vary per region.

You don't have to travel that far to see differences though... including differences in pricing as well.  Right here across our own state of Tennessee, you will see a diverse collection of home styles for sale.  For example, in the more urban areas of Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville, you will most likely see smaller lots and home designs that are more vertical - often referred to "tall & skinnies" which help resolve building on costly land.  Those homes can sometimes take on a commercial building look of more glass and fewer elevation design elements.  This not only keeps the structures aligned with their surroundings, but also maximizes what may already be a small piece of land to build on.  As you move outward even just a short distance to the suburbs surrounding each urban hub, homes often take on a more traditional look and tend to have a larger footprint.  The lots allow for on-site garages and design elements to the elevations that are more visual pleasing than functional.

As you take your next road trip, take a look around you and see how the real estate changes as you go.  Until then, here's a map that shows you real estate listings for sale per city throughout the state of Tennessee.  Take a look at a few areas and see how homes compare to your area.

It's that time of year... it's Parade of Homes time!  This year six wonderful luxury homes are each positioned on about 2 acres of prime land along Sunset Rd in Brentwood, TN.  This marks the introduction of the new Rosebrooke community that will soon be home to many more homes in the community that is currently under development on Sunset Rd across from the Brookfield community.  The Parade runs Oct 8-23 and does require tickets for entry.  If you would like to take a look at some of the homes being featured, here are those listings. 

SEE PARADE OF HOMES 2022 PHOTOS

Everyone loves home showing days when the temps are just right, the sky is blue, and there's not a cloud in the sky, but what about all those other days when those conditions are not the case.  Let's take rain for example.  The day is overcast - not dangerous storms - and home showings are on the schedule.  Is it a good day to see homes?  Well, maybe.  While we all enjoy what we consider beautiful days, the not-so-beautiful days can be helpful too.  One of the major issues an inspector looks for on a home is if it has issues with water.  Those are usually related whether water properly drains away from a home, and if a home takes on water from any flooding or rising of water levels.  Well, what better time to see that then when it's been raining.  So, yes, seeing homes in the rain can be very beneficial.  Sure, it's an inconvenience navigating from car to home each time, but buyers get to see how well each lot drains and that may help with the decision if each home is a potential candidate for purchasing.

It's often thought that a home (or anything else for that matter) is worth what someONE will pay for it.  Well, there is some truth to that... if you're willing to wait for that ONE buyer and that buyer is paying 100% cash.  In real estate, "worth" or "value" is determined on a broader scale and much of the reason for that is homes are often financed - meaning they're being purchased with someone else's money and that person or entity wants to be reassured that they not unknowingly lending more than the collateral (the home) is worth in case is needs to be liquidated to recover the borrowed funds.  The best way to determine the market value of real estate is through historical data that shows a track record of how buyers valued similar (or comparable) properties.  The word "comp" is often used much more loosely than it's actual definition.  A "comp" is a property that extremely similar to the subject property, and where differences occur there have been financial adjustments to make them similar.  This is done through a formal appraisal process and often during a comparative market analysis.  There can also be adjustments to the determined value based on how the market is trending.  To determine the value of a property, research is done within databases (usually the local MLS) to discover the most similar properties (including location) that have sold in the recent past followed by making financial adjustments for the differences.

Can I (the seller) set my price?

Sellers always set the price they want to list their home for - hopefully after appreciating the counsel of their real estate professional.  Listing for a price and selling for that price are not always the same thing though, so it's wise to list a property for the genuine value rather than attempting to shoot for the stars.  A careful look at past sales of comparable properties (not just properties nearby) in combination with market conditions will allow for calculating a projected value for the home being sold.

Should I price high to allow for negotiations?

Sellers often tend to have emotional connections to their homes which causes them to over-price, so if a seller wishes to price highly on top of what may already be an inflated price the seller could be doing themselves a disservice.  It's always best to price a home based on the factual information provided by historical sales combined with the current market conditions.  Pricing too highly may cost the seller exposure of the home by discouraging buyers from even coming to view the home.  Pricing appropriately is justified by research and will bring the most applicable buyers for the home.

The summary to the question about how to price a home is complex and does not have a one-size-fits-all answer, but with proper research in historical data combined with an analysis of the current market conditions, proper pricing is attainable to net the seller the most without the listing becoming stale.

When homeowners are considering selling their home, there are nearly an endless list of questions.  Questions that a real estate professional should be happy to and well-qualified to answer.  While there are so many and usually relate to specifics about the specific property and market, here are a few very common questions that homeowners ask before actually listing their home on the market.

When is the best time to sell my home?

This is a very individual question because so many aspects come into play to determine "best".  You have the personal side of the home sale process and the market side of things including buyer and conditions timing.  When it comes to the personal side of selling your home, it includes timing situations that may include job transitions, a school year calendar, personal preference of holiday interruptions, personal celebrations, and sometimes any long-term situations a family may be encountering.  Those need to be considered so that the personal lives of any family members can best be synced up with the transition.  On the market side of things, this can depend on where the real estate is located.  For example, a home or property being sold in a vacation area may have peak market times that differ from an area more concentrated with full-time residents.  Another aspect is the property type.  Some property types (single family home, condo, farm, etc.) may have seasonal trends to them that may affect the best time to sell.  The fact is that homes sell all year round and more traditional urban/suburb areas have a more stable trend through the year that people would think.  There is often a rise in activity during mid/late spring, but it's really something that is answered after some analysis of the property type and area it's located in.

What are the market conditions like?

With how much information society has pushed in front of them today, many homeowners have a preliminary feel for the real estate market is like before asking this question.  The more refined question is "How do the current market conditions affect me?" which is very logical question and varies with each property.  For example, a real estate market may be hot, but it may include a transition where buyers are moving outward from urban cores and to the suburbs.  In this case, the market is performing well, but if a seller owns a property in the urban core, the answer to them may be different than the answer to a seller in the suburbs.  So, much like the timing of a sale, market conditions can be relative to the property type and its location.  In general terms though, sellers are looking to know if the market is strong and that can be answered by studying statistics like absorption rates, progressions of list and sales prices, days on market, and percentage of list price that sellers are receiving.  Those can be indicators of the overall market conditions for a specific area.

How should I prepare my home to sell?

Just as every home is unique, so is the preparation for market.  What needs to be done, will there be a positive return on the investment, and a sellers willingness to perform those tasks are all things to consider when preparing a home to sell.  In an ultra hot market when homes regularly receive multiple offers, it's often though that no or little prep is needed, however, the principles of economics still hold true.  Demand will help drive price levels, and what helps create demand is perceived value by buyers.  In the home selling process that is often done by having a home in great condition with top presentation to buyers.  This includes having a high level of curb appeal through proper care of the lawn, landscaping, and concrete/hardscaped areas.  First impressions may determine if the buyer even comes inside for the showing.  The interior of the home should be ultra clean and decluttered.  The condition of the interior should be at a high level that often includes a level of repair that has been deferred over the years along with some freshening of finishes such as paint and carpet.  Perceived value will also rise to another level if home components are all functioning without the need of repair, and are of a relatively young age.  Every case is different.  Some homes go on the market when they're only a year or two old and if taken care of they may need very little effort.  Other homes that are older or that may have had less care may need a higher level of investment of time and cost to appeal to buyers at a price level sought by the seller.  A real estate professional and sometimes their team of resources can analyze each home and project the optimum level of attention for each home in order for the seller to not only get the highest price, but also to net the most in their pocket.