Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Contributing Editor

Melissa Dittmann Tracey is a contributing editor for REALTOR® Magazine. She can be reached at mtracey@nar.realtor. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @housingmuse

Content by Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Buyers love spacious homes. They also love to look at online property photos. But it’s not always easy to squeeze square footage into a camera shot—and sometimes furniture arrangements or floor coverings actually do a disservice to the way your listing is presented online or in marketing photos, says Debra Gould, president of home staging company...

August 1, 2010

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

To protect you and your clients, educate yourself about mortgage fraud and be on guard for any warning signs in a transaction. You can start by reviewing these five scams.

August 1, 2010

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Size does matter when it comes to the perception of space in a home. That’s why it’s important to make sure you show off every square foot of your listing so that buyers can...

July 1, 2010

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Turquoise can instantly add a pop of color to any space, and the versatile color — which is often associated with forms of escape, such as a tropical paradise — often elicits pleasant and inviting feelings as you step into a room. That's why Pantone, the Carlstadt, N.J.–based color company, selected it as color of the year for 2010.

Long a favorite for...

June 1, 2010

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Is your buyer a Margo, an Elise, a Claire, or a Maggie? By knowing which of these personas your female buyers most closely align with, you may be able to narrow that huge inventory of homes for sale and help her find the place that’s perfect for her.

Margo wants to "wow" others with her unique home, Elise tends to prefer the traditional, Claire is so detailed...

March 1, 2010

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

The transaction has made it through almost every hurdle, but a potential deal breaker still lurks—the property has to make it past a home inspector. Buyers typically request an inspection to determine the condition of a home prior to closing, and what is uncovered during the examination may force costly repairs upon the seller, or, in cases of extreme neglect, cause a deal to...

January 1, 2010

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Termites cause an estimated $5 billion in property damage a year in the United States, according to the National Pest Management Foundation, making these pesky insects even more of a threat to wood-based structures than fire, flood, or wind.

Yet, many home owners know very little about the danger that termites pose to their property.

"You don't usually...

September 1, 2009

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

So what would a staging professional do if faced with a less-than-perfect room in a listing? Get ideas for your own listings by viewing some of these staging professionals' best room makeovers.

A Room That Lacks Warmth

...

July 1, 2009

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

A home has only one chance to make a first impression on potential buyers, and a poorly designed room can be a quick turnoff. REALTOR® magazine asked readers to send in stories of how they took action against their listings’ trouble spots. Borrow some ideas for sprucing up your own listings. You can also view more room transformations at the...

May 1, 2009

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

REALTOR® Magazine asked readers to send in their best tips for sprucing up listings on the cheap. Here are some of the quick, creative ideas that poured into our inbox.

March 1, 2009

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Longevity knowledge is key on all sides of the deal. Buyers want to factor in replacement costs for aging components when they make an offer. Owners use the information to decide whether to replace a component before a move. Here's what to tell your clients.

February 1, 2009

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Take care when giving color advice to home sellers. Their color choices might be sending the wrong message to potential buyers.

Many salespeople and stagers say neutral beige or off-white walls are what sells listings—but a touch of color may be just what you need to revive buyers' interest in a languishing listing. And although beige may offend no one, the right...

February 1, 2009

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Tired of showing up an hour early to tidy up before showings? Learn how and when to hire a house sitter to boost security and handle the upkeep at your vacant listing.

January 1, 2009

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

This smart home can practically operate itself. The 2,500-square-foot, three-story, prefabricated home, built on the grounds of Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, showcases how...

December 1, 2008

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Here are a few other ways you can save gas and improve mileage, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

November 1, 2008

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Three of the latest technology tools that can help you succeed in real estate.

September 1, 2008

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

If the snapshots you're taking of your listings are unflattering, lack detail, or are simply too boring, you could actually be doing a disservice. Here, an expert solves some of the trickiest problems in property photos.

July 1, 2008

Melissa Dittmann Tracey