HOLIDAY GLOW: Help your sellers add an inviting holiday
ambience to their home that will entice winter buyers.

Selling a home in December, January or February in frigid climates can be a tough task with a slowdown in market activity and chilly weather.

Typically, buyers searching in the winter months are more serious. And sellers who are motivated to close quickly can make it happen with your help this winter.

Here are five tips from RE/MAX Associates in Northern Illinois that you can share with your clients:

1. Let those lights shine. "Turn on all interior lights for a showing – even in closets and utility/mechanical rooms – and make sure all the bulbs are working. Stock up on all the right bulbs for your lamps and fixtures so you can replace burned out bulbs immediately. Also, it's a great idea to keep front exterior lights on even if no showings are scheduled.  Open drapes and blinds to let in light and show visitors the view."
– Marlene Granacki, RE/MAX Exclusive Properties, Chicago

2. Make entry easy. "Winter showings can get off to an awkward start if prospective buyers arrive with snow or salt on their shoes.  Make it easy for buyers to deal with their shoes when they arrive by putting out a nice, festive area rug at the front door so visitors can wipe their feet, and have slippers or disposable booties available. Also, put out a bench, if there's room for one, where visitors can sit and remove their shoes."  
– Barbara Hibnick, RE/MAX Showcase, Long Grove

3. Keep odors under control.  "Homes can be stuffy in winter when windows are rarely opened, and that can allow odors to build up, which is a huge turn-off to buyers. Pet odors can be especially worrisome in winter. Use a room fragrance if needed, but nothing too strong, and clean more often (especially cat litter, which should be changed daily). Consider using an air purifier and adjusting your thermostat so that your furnace fan runs throughout the day to move air through the house and dissipate odors."
– Mike Mondello, RE/MAX Team 2000, Orland Park

4. Make it festive. "Appropriate holiday decorations can give your home a cheerful look during the winter months – and even help homes sell, however, don't go to extremes. Small, decorative white lights on trees and bushes are OK through the winter season, but other decorations should be taken down quickly once the holiday passes."
– Starr Zook, RE/MAX on Track, Aledo

5. Keep it comfy. Adjust your thermostat so the temperature is warm, but comfortable; you don't want it too hot or cold. "When it comes to keeping heating bills under control, don't use plastic sheeting to insulate your windows. You may save a few hundred dollars on heating costs if you cover the windows with plastic, but it could cost you thousands on the sales price because buyers might believe they will have to replace the windows," Hibnick says.

© 2010 RE/MAX, LLC. RE/MAX Affiliates may share this article, provided they do not charge for it and this notice is included. All other rights reserved.

Residential housing transactions continued to level off in November and many areas are showing positive signs. Statewide closed transactions increased by 4.4 percent over the October number. This is unusual since November accounts for a smaller percentage of annual sales than October. Especially strong sales were recorded in the Southeast Region which includes Rochester, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Austin, Red Wing and Winona.

"Gains in the number of closed transactions helps reduce inventory levels and in turn will help boost home prices," said Russ Portele, 2011 President of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS^®. "Housing affordability remained strong in November due to low interest rates and stabilizing incomes."

Median home prices indicate the mid-point with as many homes priced above and below the indicated price. The year-to-date price statewide is $150,000 through 11 months. This is exactly where the median was a year ago when sales activity was being fueled by the Federal First-Time Buyer Credit. Some parts of the state have shown positive signs as move-up buyers take advantage of historically low interest rates.

"We're anticipating a stabilizing market in 2011 as employment increases and people become more comfortable with housing," said Portele. "Interest rates are the real wild card as a 1% increase in the interest rate can reduce buying power by $10,000. This is very noticeable with first-time homebuyers who are very impacted when affordability changes."

Now you can take RE/MAX University with you on the go, whenever and wherever. A must-have for all tech-savvy agents, the RE/MAX University Mobile App is free and available right now for download to your Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

After a long night’s work, you can bet even Santa will be watching.

This Christmas, sit down next to the Yule log with some eggnog and enjoy the broadcast of the 2010 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship.

The Dec. 25 telecast starts at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) on ESPN2. The following day, ESPN will broadcast the show at 2:30 p.m.

Other channels will deliver the show to fans around the world in 2011 - watch Mainstreet in the coming weeks for programming details.

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Copyright 2010 | RE/MAX International, Inc. | 5075 S. Syracuse Street | Denver, Colorado 80237

As part of our participation in the Shared Association Services and Information (SASI) statewide data sharing effort, all participating Associations agreed to a common set of MLS rules.  Because most MLS Rules
are determined by the National Association, there are very few changes we needed to make for NorthstarMLS. 

Those that we did make are minor but important.  The following rules changes are effective immediately but will not be enforced until Monday, January 3rd to allow everyone time to get used to the changes:

• Listings must be entered into NorthstarMLS (or withheld) within 2 business days of contract effective date (was previously 3 calendar days). Fine is $25.00 per day for each day late (was previously $100 regardless of number of days late).
• At least one property photo must be uploaded to the listing within 2 business days of the input date (was previously three calendar days).  Fine if not uploaded within 2 business days is $25.00 (was previously $15.00).
• Status changes must be entered within 2 business days of the change (was
• previously 24 hours).  Fine is $25.00 per day for each day late (was previously $100 regardless of number
• of days late).
• If you have an IDX/Broker Reciprocity Website, the listings must be refreshed at least once a day (was previously once a week).

Note: Calendar days include weekends and holidays.  Business days do not include them.


For more information please view the home page of NorthStar MLS which provides you with a link to a PDF that goes more in depth about these changes.

First Quarter MLS Invoices were sent out via email on December 6 from billing@spaar.com.  If you do not see your MLS Invoice in your Inbox, please check your SPAM and Junk folders so you do not miss out on this important information.  As a reminder, payment must be received on or before January 1, 2011 to avoid suspension of MLS access.  If not paid on or before January 1st, you will incur a $25 reinstatement fee.  To access your online account, please click here.  If you have questions regarding your first quarter MLS invoice, please do not hesitate to contact the Association at 651-776-6000.