When I say "TOP DOLLAR", I'm talking about TOP ACHIEVABLE DOLLAR in today's market. Just what today's TOP ACHIEVABLE DOLLAR is depends upon where you live - your marketplace.
In many pockets of the country there is still a glut of inventory with more homes popping up all the time. If you plan to sell your home this year, you can't afford to make any mistakes. Mistakes can cost you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in lost profit.
Avoiding these mistakes is easy, and can pay you back in BIG DIVIDENDS. Here are FIVE TIPS that can help:
1. PRICE IT RIGHT from the get-go. Your home is one of your most valuable possessions. Pricing it right from the very beginning will keep the buying public excited about viewing your home. Overpricing it only hurts its chances of getting your home
If you price your home too high, it languishes on the market and tends to become "shop worn". We are often asked, "Well, can't we just test the waters and see if we can get the higher price? Sounds reasonable, but the fact is that almost invariably that is a huge and costly mistake. You're missing that all important window of time when your home is fresh on the market, and more than likely all that happens is that you're helping the guy down the street sell his home.
Our best advise to you is to go ahead and price your home competitively from the very beginning, and your chances of a faster and more profitable sale are much greater. A professional Realtor you know, or who has come highly recommended and who knows your marketplace will give you a well-researched and unbiased opinion of value.
2. MAKE YOUR HOME BUYER FRIENDLY. Buyers will want to view your home on their timetable. Unfortunately, the Buyer's schedule does not always coincide with yours. It pays to be flexible and (as best you can without driving yourself insane), keep your home show ready and, with reasonable advance notice, be willing to head out the door and allow the Buyers to come in and tour your home. If you say "no" (and sometimes you may need to), just remember that the Buyer who couldn't come in may have been your buyer.
3. PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD. Prospects make up their minds about a home, giving it a "thumbs up" or a "thumbs down" within minutes. First impressions can make all the difference in selling your home. Make sure they fall in love with your home from the street by making the outside as "curb appealing" as possible. Inside, is your carpet looking old? Spending $1,200 on new carpeting might add another $4,000 to the price of your home. Get an objective opinion from your Realtor. He/she can provide you with a list of items that will maximize the amount of money you'll walk away with at the closing table.
4. TAKE EMOTION OUT OF THE PICTURE. It can be very frustrating, and downright insulting to have to deal with a low offer. Again, this is where an experienced Realtor with great negotiating skills can become invaluable to you. Your Realtor will help you keep your focus and make a sound counter-offer back to the Buyer. As much as you may love your home and have raised a family in this home, you now need to start viewing your home as a product you are selling.
This is a key reason you'll want to hire the best professional in your area instead of going the FOR SALE BY OWNER route. Someone who has written hundreds of contracts knows how to be the "glue" that holds the sale together, and can walk you through the many steps toward closing.
5. CHOOSE CAREFULLY. Sellers often pick a friend or family member as their agent. That's fine, as long as you don't choose them ONLY because they are a friend or family member. Since you're selling something as valuable as your home, you must place your family family's future above the potentially hurt feelings of a friend. Let her/him know that you will be interviewing several agents,
Make sure you choose an agent with a strong track record of sales in your area and an aggressive marketing plan. A top producer will know his/her market well, is connected in the community, and should easily be able to generate Buyers who will want to see your home.
During the interview process, ask a battery of questions: How long have you been selling real estate? Where is your niche market? How many homes have you sold in our neighborhood? What kind of advertising can we expect? How many websites will showcase our home?
A top professional should have a marketing strategy designed for your home, and you'll want someone who is affiliated with a company that utilizes every possible marketing tool available. By aligning yourself with a top agent, you are ensuring that all the details are being taken care of and that nothing will fall through the cracks. Choose someone who knows how to work smart, and who knows how to shift with a shifting market.
And here's the bottom line: Look for someone who cares about your bottom line!
Jacki and Jerry Shafer with The Shafer Team and KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY LOUISVILLE EAST are Mega Agents with over 20 years of experience selling homes in Louisville and Oldham County in Kentucky.
