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Secrets for selling

There’s no such thing as “LUCK” in Real Estate!

Real Estate is most likely one of the largest investments many of us will ever enter into, and there is BIG MONEY at stake. The Real Estate market is continually changing ­— it is not the same market it was just 5 years ago. The times when you could put a sign in the yard and multiple offers would fly in the door are gone. Today’s market is much more complex than it has been in the past, with the explosive use of the Internet, changing economic times, job employment, and the supply/demand factor. The easy sale days are in the past.

Selling with or without a REALTOR®

You can save money simply by being an informed seller. Selling a home is complicated enough, but when you lose or leave money on the closing table…well, it just shouldn’t happen to nice people who work hard for a living. Here are a few tips to help you avoid making critical mistakes.

9 Tips For Selling With Or Without A REALTOR®

  1. You need accurate, up-to-date market values.
  2. Understand the overall marketplace before you start to sell your home.
  3. Increase the price of your home to offset debt, improvements, or extra money needed to sell the home.
  4. Don't expect to be able to ask Top Dollar without dressing up your home for the sale.
  5. Be prepared to track visitors in order to avoid opening yourself up to potential crime.
  6. Don't fall pray to an agent feeding your ego with an over-inflated price.
  7. Make sure you understand how to work the financing for you or the buyer.
  8. Hire an agent who is willing to educate you on the entire Real Estate process from start to finish and after the sale.
  9. Research your options prior to your sale. Yes, it is true about 5% of all unrepresentative sellers will sell their home, but in most cases, as reported by the National Association of REALTORS®, real estate agents produce between 15% - 21% higher values on average when selling homes versus unrepresentative sellers.

Be informed before you put the sale sign in your yard. How do you know if you are avoiding all the headaches if you aren't prepared?

Tip: Ask about "Average days on market" in your neighborhood.

The number of statistics on overpriced (expired) homes and why they end up not selling are staggering. Selling your home doesn’t just happen by putting your home on the MLS and pounding in a sign.

How You Can Save Thousands With The Right Price…

If you remember anything, remember this: ”DON’T OVERPRICE YOUR HOME”. Don’t be fooled or enticed to list your home at a higher value because someone tells you it is worth more than all of the other homes sold in the neighborhood. The market value for your home should be comparable to all the homes sold in your area. A home all the way across town does not necessarily hold the same value to a buyer as the homes in the immediate area surrounding your home. The practice of overpricing will nearly always backfire. It will cost you a pretty penny, as my Mom would say, if you are not successful in finding a buyer that has not done their own homework. Don’t get me wrong — it's said that there is a sucker born everyday ­— but this ends up in the risk versus benefit category: How much do you want to risk?

Agents Don’t Get Paid For Showing Houses...They Get Paid For Selling Them

Sellers that overprice their home have more than one thing working against them. Agents don’t get paid for showing homes. When your home is overpriced, that is what they are doing: just showing it. Agents know that buyers don’t want to work with unrealistic sellers. They also feel that they will be offending the seller if they offer what it is really worth. So, your home will just sit there losing credibility, market time, and ultimately losing money. It will take several price reductions to excite a buyer to reconsider the thought of working with you. That is, only once the price of your home is reduced to $10,000 - $20,000 less than the market value of other homes in your neighborhood will wary buyers return. It is easy to see how important it is to know what you’re doing before you get started.

Living In A Home And Selling A Home Require Very Different Things…

We all have a different idea on how we live in our homes. When it comes time to showcase your home for sale, it must look very different than when you live in it.

Here are a few things to consider before you put your home up for sale:

  • Curb Appeal/First Impressions

    Go to the opposite side of the street from your home. Look at it as a buyer would. Is the paint peeling? Do the bushes need to be trimmed or cut back? Are there oil stains in the driveway? How does the lawn look? Buyers perceive a well maintained lawn and yard with value. The cleaner your home and yard look, the more money a buyer will pay you to own it.

  • The Color

    The color of your home may affect if a buyer will be drawn to it for a visit. Are the colors outdated? Is the color scheme very personalized (ask your friends)? How does the roof look? Is the exterior in need of repairs?

  • Use the Four Senses

    Walk in your home just like a buyer would. Use your senses. How does your home smell? As you enter your home, look around. Are there hand prints on the walls or light switch cover plates? Does the carpet look clean & tight? Are there dust bunnies or cob webs in the corners? Do all the light fixtures have the appropriate light bulbs and are they working?

  • De-clutter

    Take the opportunity before you sell to get rid of those unneeded items you have been holding on to. Have a yard sale. Pack up and move out all out of your seasonal items and clothes. You are going to be moving soon, and getting started sooner will get you more money for your home. Limit the amount of furniture in rooms: They will feel bigger and more comfortable to be in.

  • Clean Your Home

    Hire a professional to come in to clean. Clean the windows, walls, lighting, ceiling fans and carpet. Have those cosmetic repairs taken care of. The return on your investment can pay off by as much as $100 for every $10 you invest.

  • Pets

    Your pets are very personal to you, but not everyone is comfortable around pets that they do not know. This is a distraction no matter how friendly your pet may be. Whenever possible during showings, remove all pets and pet odors. Most people enjoy and love pets, but don’t risk it.

  • Bright And Cheery

    Is your home bright and cheery? Natural light is always a favorite. When you leave for work in the morning you should open all the blinds. At night, keep your home illuminated. When you are selling your home it is not the time to be penny pinching and turning off the lights. Your visitors do not know your home like you do and will discredit the value when they stumble around looking for light switches.