Selling Tips for Success in a Tough Market
When the housing market is less than kind to a seller and you have to sell, it is time to outsmart your competition. Of course you want the best possible price, but may have to sell in a hurry, especially if the mortgage has become a burden, or the moving day is marked on the calendar.
The key to success is to make your house the most attractive deal without giving away too much.
Here are suggestions how to make your home more attractive and sweeten the deal to generate extra interest in your home:
•· Price it right, don't be greedy. Your want to put your house IN the market, not ON the market. Your real estate agent will be your key ally in determining the price range in which your home will likely sell. Don't be greedy.
•· Use a knowledgeable, seasoned real estate professional. A veteran has already been through price wars, knows how to handle tough situations and stays calm when nerves are frayed and emotions run high. You will need that person to guide you to the finish line: signing the deed transfer at the title company.
•· Have your home inspected by a professional home inspector and heating system inspector (perhaps a pest and roof inspector, too) before listing the house - and then take care of health, life, and safety repairs. Buyers won't have excuses not to buy.
•· Stage your home - be critical about how the house might look to a prospective buyer. A professional stager can transform an empty or cluttered house into a welcoming home.
•· Don't move out before it sells - or if you have to - be sure the house is staged and a buyer can see and feel how nice a home this is. Not everyone has the ability to "imagine" what the house might look like when it is lived in.
•· Be willing to pay at least some of the closing costs for the buyer. A buyer may be able to handle the monthly mortgage payment, but is strapped for cash and may need your help. Help the buyer, and sell your house.
•· Give your agent copies of all improvements, inspections, or guarantees for items like a new roof, furnace, or hot water tank.
•· Ensure that your agent markets your home on at least eight to ten Internet sites, including Craig's List and Backpage.
•· Consider offering your agent a higher than the commonly paid fee. Don't ask your agent to cut the commission, you wouldn't think of asking your doctor or lawyer to do so. Your agent works hard and has expenses and only gets paid when the house sells. Consider offering a success bonus to your agent.
•· Keep your house in ready-to-show condition at all times. Do not require a 24-hour notice. You want to make showing your home as easy as possible. Don't lose a prospective buyer.
•· Focus on curb appeal and making a good first impression. You will not get a second chance.
•· Be open to negotiate on personal items like appliances, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and the like.
•· Take your first offer seriously, even if it is lower than what you expected or thought you were willing to accept. A second offer might not come along for a long time. Your seasoned agent will negotiate a contract that you can live with and that will get your house SOLD.
Now call your agent and get going today!
