Jimmy Simien is a real estate agent and Realtor who has lived in the Clear Lake area for nearly 40 years. Throughout that time, Simien has developed an in-depth expertise in the market and uses it to negotiate and work on behalf of his clients even beyond the sale or purchase of their home.
What can people improve within their homes to make them more valuable or marketable?
At the end of the day, your kitchen and your primary bathroom are going to be where you get most of your value. That's where you get the most bang for your buck and where your value comes in. Other rooms are just rooms. If there was one upgrade, I would tell you newer granite or quartz countertops. Appliances are less expensive, but ripping out granite after a sale is pricey and more of a mess.
What effect does having a well-kept yard have on your home’s marketability?
It’s hard to quantify. If someone is maintaining their yard, then they’re probably taking care of the rest of their house. The yard is the easiest thing to let go. It goes to value because of a first impression. It may not add a lot of dollars and cents, but you can’t discount the yard. It’s very much how people feel about things. You only get one shot at a first impression. From the moment they drive up, how do they feel about your house?
If I’m looking to buy a house, what should I focus on?
I think the biggest thing is everyone gets caught up in the “wow” factor. That’s great, but what you really want to make sure is to focus on the roof, foundation, HVAC, electrical and plumbing. Focus on the big-ticket items. It’s a problem if you’re a little cash-strapped going into a house and you need a new roof.
How would you describe the health of the market?
We’ve got a lack of supply. About a month ago, we had about five houses we put up, and they all had multiple offers. I’ve done this for a long time. To me, we're more in a normal market. And what I mean by that is a couple years ago, it was just insane. People were irrational in their offers. But it was also because rates were low.
When rates ran up on us last summer, people kind of came to a screeching halt. Now those rates are the new normal. And I think people have settled into that’s where we’re going to be. Buyers have gotten off the sideline, and now they're back in the game, but there’s less inventory. And that's driving prices.
What factors affect the price of a house the most?
First and foremost, it's going to be location. That's going to be a function of the school district and proximity to jobs. As you make a decision, your area is the first filter.
And then it's going to be based on your family. Large family or small family? Are you a 25-year-old or a 45-year-old? Are you upsizing or downsizing? Those are factors we go through first.
Then we dive into the houses. I don't want to say this determines price, but this determines desire. If you have an updated primary bath and kitchen, those are going to be nice amenities that buyers don't have to remodel. If both of those are dated, people will hold out and spend a little bit more money on updated homes, period.
And that's where we’re at right now. Sellers are getting maximum value on homes that have been updated. That would be my one statement. You're able to get a better price if you have a “turnkey house.” That’s going to get more offers.
Simien Properties
711 W. Bay Blvd., Ste. 500, Webster
281-280-8675
simienproperties.com
