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Jean Hedren - Northwest Wisconsin

Why selling your home on your own generally doesn't succeed - reason #1

Why selling your home on your own generally doesn't succeed - reason #1

I am a Realtor. I sell real estate. I can certainly understand a home seller's reasons for wanting to save a commission expense. We all like to save money especially in these challenging economic times.

While commission rates are negotiable, in NW Wisconsin you are likely to pay 5-7% commission on the sale of your property. On a $200,000 home a 6% commission is $12,000. That's a chunk of change.

Selling a for sale by owner (FSBO) is not a simple task and that is why most home owners hire a Realtor to get the job done. Nationally the success rate of a FSBO is very low. More than 80% of all FSBOs end up hiring a Realtor after unsuccessfully trying to sell on their own.

There are many reasons why selling FSBO is a difficult talk to pull off.

#1 - The wrong listing price

Whether selling FSBO or with a Realtor, pricing is the first and most critical factor. If your home is not priced correctly you are not likely to sell in a challenging real estate market. More than 75% of marketing a home is about the price. Overpricing a home makes it almost impossible to sell.

Choosing the right price involves thorough research of similar properties that have recently sold in the local area and using the data to correctly set the selling price. The data may not be easy to find in more rural geographic areas.

Sometimes owners may have made recent improvements to their home, and therefore feel justified in setting a higher price. Unfortunately, most home improvement projects do not have a high return. Even improvements like replacing a roof or a septic system will not have much of a payback on the investment.

If you are thinking of selling your home, I welcome the opportunity to be interviewed.

What's so special about the communities of NW Wisconsin? Gordon, Wascott, Solon Springs, Barnes, Minong

The communities of Douglas, Bayfield, and Washburn Counties offer a quiet, relaxed place to live or to visit. Gordon, Wascott, Solon Springs, Barnes, Minong, and other area communities are resort destinations with their own distinct personalities, and all offer recreational opportunities within a stone’s throw.

    • Canoe, kayak, or boat the streams, rivers, and lakes
    • Fishing in all seasons
    • Swim or sunbath on sandy beaches
    • Play a few rounds of golf on a variety of greens
    • Hike, bike, ATV, or snowmobile on an extensive network of trails
    • Enjoy the quiet woods on cross country skis or snowshoes
    • Hunt large and small game
    • Participate in a wide variety of community family events
    • Simply enjoy the uncomparable beauty of the clear, deep lakes, tall pines, and amazing wildlife

Looking for a home, lake home, cabin, or hunting land in Gordon, Wascott, Solon Springs, Barnes, Minong, or other area communities? Start your search on my website www.JeanHedren.com

How to help your home sell faster

Tips for selling in a buyer's market, or how to help your home sell faster.

Highlight the energy-efficient and money saving features of your home.

  • solar panels
  • solar water heaters
  • geothermal heat pumps
  • spray foam insulation
  • high-performance windows and doors

Smaller homes vs larger homes. A 2011 study by the National Association of Home Builders showed that smaller homes sell faster then larger homes because of the smaller price tag and lower monthly costs.

Offer incentives to buyers.

  • buyer's closing costs
  • home warranty
  • turnkey - include all furnishings

Appropriate pricing. Do your homework on what homes in the community are listing and, more importantly, selling for.

Write great descriptions. Words can really make a difference.

  • Move-in or turnkey condition
  • Beautiful, gorgeous
  • New landscaping
  • Avoid motivated, must sell, or words that connote desparation
  • Professionally staged
  • House paint looks fresh
  • Yard is green and mowed
  • Yard is free of toys and clutter
Selling a home in NW Wisconsin? Send me an email or give me a call. I'll be happy to provide a current price analysis to give you an idea of what your home will sell for in the current market.

First time and repeat homebuyers: Down payment assistance is available in Wisconsin

Down payment assistance is available to first time and repeat homebuyers. Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) have several programs that help first-time and seasoned homebuyers with a down payment and other home buying costs.

Start your home search on my website www.JeanHedren.com. Look for the Down Payment Resource (DPR) icon on listings. Give me a call for more information and to get started on your home search in NW Wisconsin. 218-590-6634.

Investors and buyers: Douglas County WI offers great values in lake homes, getaway cabins

Here in NW Wisconsin, land of clear, deep lakes and big woods, there are many real estate bargains; properties that may be overlooked because they are located on a smaller lake, near but not lakefront, or may be an older cabin that has been lovingly maintained.

A real estate sleeper can be an exceptional bargain that has been overlooked. It’s a great property, location, good to excellent condition, and priced appropriately but simply has not sold. There is a significant inventory of homes but few buyers.

The home may have been initially overpriced and now priced appropriately, but because it’s been sitting on the market for several months buyers have moved on.

Buyers may be going after that elusive perfect up north chalet or log home on the big, deep, full recreation and fishing lake with perfect level sandy beach front, priced under $250,000, overlooking many fine properties on smaller lakes.

There are some great homes sleeping on the market simply because there’s so much inventory.

It’s still a great time to come look at properties in NW Wisconsin. If you’re sitting on the sidelines waiting for another price reduction, don’t wait. Buyers and investors are out now snapping up these sleepers. If you are watching one of the properties, now might be the perfect time to make your move. Make sure you have your pre-approval from your loan officer ready to go. Then make your move! Or someone else might beat you to it!

Sleepers available in Douglas County, Wisconsin (just 2.5 hours from the Twin Cities, 1.5 hours from Eau Claire, 45 minutes from Superior/Duluth):