But Mr. & Mrs. Seller… You can’t HANDLE the truth!

Here is the cold hard truth about selling a home in this VOLATILE real estate market.

• What you paid for your home, does not affect the value of your home.
• What your neighbor sold his home for last year, does not affect the value of your home.
• Fixing the roof, maintaining the A/C or ensuring the plumbing does not leak - does not increase the value of your home.  You have simply brought the home up to selling standards.  Buyers have a right to expect a roof that does not leak.
• The metallic wallpaper, shag carpet & 1970's Formica is not considered RETRO, it should be updated!
• Bright, Bold colors are not a great selling point. (I love them & have them in my own home... tastefully done of course... but I'm not selling MY home & if I were, I would REPAINT)!  Remember, how we live in it & how we sell it are 2 VERY different things.  We must appeal to the MOST buyers possible.
• Smoking & Pet Odors KILL DEALS!
• If I can only show your home between 2:00 - 2:23 pm on odd days by appointment only with you, your kids, grandma & your yapping Chihuahua - I'm probably going to PASS!
• Please don't follow me from room to room pointing out the kitchen and bathrooms.  I've sold over 1000 homes and can easily identify these rooms on my own.  Please DO NOT Tag Along
• If you have broken down vehicles, old appliances or any unidentifiable objects stored in your front or back yard - this does not highlight the size of the yard, it accentuates the fact that you don't care enough about your property to maintain it.
• IF you HAVE to be home during a showing, please Do NOT volunteer conversation.  Be courteous but don't force conversation with a potential buyer.  They want to inspect your home, not make a social call.

For maximum home selling success I recommend the following: 

1. Price your home according to what is going on in your marketplace TODAY (NOT 12-24 months ago when you WISH you would've sold)
2. Make it available & EASY to show
3. Turn on your lights
4. Open the blinds - let the SUNSHINE in
5. Remove your PETS & your KIDS
6. Clean, Organize, Make the beds & DE-CLUTTER!
7. COOPERATE with your agent... Most agents do not get paid until they sell your home.  Contrary to what you may believe, they have YOUR best interest at heart.

My final thought (for this post anyway) is this... Please don't call me and ask me for feedback unless you are prepared to hear the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth.  Know that my feedback is just that, my opinion (and probably my clients - although the two are not always the same). 

My opinions are not meant to offend you in any way, shape or form.  If what you really want to know is if we will be writing an offer and you'd rather not know our thoughts/opinions - by all means, let me know & I would be happy to answer with a YES or NO!

NOW GET OUT THERE & SELL YOUR HOME!