Strategies for Short Sale Properties in Gilbert, Chandler and Queen Creek AZ - Part 3

Strategies for Short Sale Properties in Gilbert, Chandler and Queen Creek AZ. In part 3 of this series of common mistakes of short sellers – I want to talk about the marketing plan needed to sell a short sale home.

Just because you are upside down on your home does not mean that an inferior marketing strategy should be used... should it?

Some believe pricing alone will sell a home when listed as a short sale, and this is the foundation of their marketing plan. Many times it's the only thing done and nothing can be further from the truth. I believe in advertising a home all the ‘usual’ steps need to be followed in selling a home regardless of what type of listing it is. I believe a home should be marketed to the widest possible pool of buyers. When I list a home as a short sale – I focus on the home, not the fact that it is a short sale. I will ask homeowners to do what they can to make the home ‘sparkle’ and take as many pictures as possible with my wide angle lens camera. A virtual tour will be created to show case the home. The property will be "showcased" on Realtor.com as well as all the major websites including the direct email marketing plan I run. The home will be featured on my website along with other agent websites - that I have ‘handshake’ agreements with to feature my listings. I pay particular attention to providing the best remarks about the home in the Multiple Listing Service. I will state the home is a short sale in the area prescribed per the Multiple Listing Service rules and regulations; however I refuse to make that the only aspect of my description of the home.

Too many times I see the verbiage ‘short sale opportunity or ‘take advantage of this short sale. I feel that is doing an injustice to the home. I believe the price should be reasonable and the home deserves the same type of treatment as any other listing, after all the bank will be looking for the most amount of money possible and if the home is presented in a "good light" then it will attract more buyers to it who see value in the place.

Once the paperwork is all together for the short sale – my clients home will be put in to my marketing machine which is to get the news of their home to potential buyers. Because when it is all said and done we need the buyers purchase offer so I can begin dealing with the banks to work towards getting an answer on the short sale approval of their house. Yes we can and will lower the price of the home to procure a contract in a "reasonable amount of time" if required and get the process started with the bank, however with the correct marketing and presentation of the home we may not have to wind list price back to far in order to find a buyer.