CONSIDER IT SOLD.....

We can't predict the future with any real certainty.... but we can exercise our control over our own actions which may very well lead to the results we intend. How do we know it was our intention once we get the desired result? It's the desired result that proves our intention! In short ... It was your intention to sell the house based on what you did to sell the house. Make sense? It does to me when you consider some of the reasons that the house doesn't sell.

Speaking in general what are three things we as realtors can do to assure the house will be sold... in a timely matter meeting the expectations of our clientele? Lets consider #1 Price the house right! This involves doing your homework and getting the comps from the area (rely more on the sold listings for accuracy) and communicate clearly your findings to the seller while taking their considerations in mind. It is your responsibility as their trusted adviser to point out in a creative manner the advantages and disadvantages of pricing the home for the market. This method will give your client the appropriate information to make a clear decision on the selling price, and in turn the market will respond positively once you place the house on the market.

#2 Now that you and the owner have decided on the true market value. You can now prepare the home for public preview. This should include making the front and backyard presentable and inviting (you know, sweeping clean, cut grass, trim bushes and strategically placing potted plants,if necessary). Then the inside of the home should be "staged" to create spacing and easy access through each room (removing obstacles is critical to easy traffic flow). Assist the owner by providing and going through a checklist of preparing the home for public preview is a plus. Updating is a positive if possible but is not always necessary, especially if the home is made to be "public presentable". So realtors should brush up on their staging knowledge or confer with someone who stages homes and perhaps work a reasonable deal for their services. It can only help in the long run. And doing the little things like cleaning windows, walls, dusting, changing air filters are positive. Your public previewers will be scrutinizing the details. So explain these topics carefully with the sellers to get their cooperation.

#3 Market the home to the best of your ability! Their are many media sources available to the Realtor and as many as humanly possible should be used. The more you market the more the market will notice you! Take many photos to illustrate the entire home such that anyone previewing online will be enticed to visit and preview in person. For your photos be sure to present clear photos that actually show the viewpoints of the rooms presented. Personally I like to arrange the photos in "tour" mode, showing the rooms in the house in the sequence that connects each room in the order of a "walk through". Open houses should be scheduled for at least the first few weeks if not longer. And as the listing Realtor you should always make yourself available to answer inquiries and considerations prospective buyers may have. While at all times representing the best interest of your client.

Make sure you maintain routine and constant contact with your client during the entire process. If clear communications are made during the entire process and you and the seller remain on the same page as far as considerations and decision making are concerned.... You may indeed ...."Consider this listing ... "SOLD".