Sellers, it's a Price War and a Beauty Contest, Are You Prepared to Win?

As a Realtor I hear the same 2 questions over and over from home sellers, "What is my home worth?" and "What do I need to do to get my house ready to sell?" Obviously valid questions, especially in the face of a declining market, unfortunately sometimes sellers just don't hear the answers. Or maybe they don't really understand the answers...

In a housing market like we're in today buyers get to be very choosy. The criteria of location is less a factor for many buyers because they are out to get the best looking house for the absolute lowest price. When you add the high inventory of houses on the market there certainly is no rush to buy...unless of course, you, Seller, give them a reason. The power to sell isn't in anybody's hands but your own.

If you truly want to sell your home there are only 2 things you need to do; price it right and polish it up! By pricing it right I mean price it to sell. How do you know what that price is? Your Realtor should be helping you with that by showing you competing homes on the market. Your Realtor should also show you homes that have sold recently as well as homes that didn't sell because they were over-priced. An over-priced home will not sell regardless of how long it sits on the market! How do you know if your home is over-priced? Simple; it hasn't sold.

When I say "polish it up" think of it this way; your home is about to go on a blind date with a prospective buyer, what kind of impression do you want it to give? Will your home be in the kind of condition that a prospective buyer will immediately be drawn to? Or will the prospective buyer think to themselves, "It sure could use a bath and a little make-up?" Buyers are not desperate in this market and they will keep looking until they've found "the one."

By polishing your home I don't mean you have to go out and spend thousands of dollars on a face-lift or a tummy tuck! The best thing to do is ask your Realtor what you should do to improve the condition of your home. In many cases there are very simple and cost-effective remedies that can bring the sparkle and shine your home needs for that new buyer!

If you're not currently working with a Realtor and you'd like some more information on preparing your home to sell and pricing it right I'm more than happy to help. Choose your method of contact; call, e-mail or text and I'll get back with you immediately!