Sep 7, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
Selling a home, especially one with sentimental value, is never an easy decision to make. There are many factors that go into determining if the home is ready to be listed and if the seller is actually ready to part with it.
Answering some simple questions can go a long way to help an owner decide whether or not it’s time to try and sell.
How Much Work Does The Home Require?
Some houses and condos are ready to hit the market immediately, but others have serious problems that would need to be disclosed to interested parties. It may not be wise to try and sell until all major issues are repaired.
What Is The Market Like In The Area?
Have similar homes in the neighborhood been selling quickly for a lot of money or have they been sitting on the market for years with no buyers? Any seller should look into the current market trends in their community to determine how much they would be able to sell for so they don’t lose money on the transaction.
When Is The Best Time To Sell?
Every city is different and the time of year can have a major impact on the market. A local real estate agent will have a strong comprehension of the best time of year to list the home, which could provide some valuable time to get it ready.
Will You Be Happier In A New Home?
Sometimes deciding to sell a home can become so overwhelming that people forget to ask themselves whether or not they will be happier in a new home. If the answer is a resounding ‘yes’ then there should be no question about selling.
Should A Real Estate Agent Be Involved?
It may seem easier for sellers to eschew the services of an agent to save a little money, but the nightmare that can follow without the assistance of somebody who has the time and experience to show and promote the home may not be worth it. Talk to local real estate professionals to see if there are any that feel like a good fit.
If you have been debating selling your home but still aren’t sure whether or not it’s the right time, speak with a local real estate agent. They will be able to walk you through the process and provide some insight about what you should expect.
Aug 23, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
It doesn’t matter where you live, what kind of home you have or what time of year it is. If you’re looking to sell your home quickly, you’ll need to do a better job than other local homeowners who are competing against you. Try these top three tips to secure a sale within 60 days.
1) Enhance Its Appearance
When it comes to selling your home, looks are everything. If the appearance of your home is impressive, it will be more inviting to potential buyers. Remove any items that make the home distinctly yours, such as family photos, kids’ toys, or personal items. Ensure that every space is meticulously clean and clutter free to demonstrate that it is a well-kept property.
It is also extremely beneficial to neutralize the design of your home. Maybe you love the red walls in your living room or the fluffy pink area rug in your bedroom, but this doesn’t leave much room for others’ imagination. Make your home a blank canvas upon which buyers can project their own idea of a dream home.
2) Price Wisely
While everyone would love to sell their property for more than market value, inflating your asking price could delay a sale. Research the asking prices of comparable properties in your neighborhood and consult a reputable real estate professional for advice.
There are several other strategies you can use to price your home for a quick sell. Psychologically, certain prices are more attractive to buyers even if there’s marginal difference; a home priced at $599,000 is more attractive than a home that’s priced at $600,000. Although there’s marginal difference between these two prices, the home that’s priced just under the century mark will likely sell quicker.
3) Go The Extra Mile
One of the best ways to make your home stand out from the competition is to offer something that no one else is. Whether it’s high quality photos or a video tour of your home, your listing can provide viewers with a unique look at your property that encourages them to become attached to it right away.
Several other incentives can be offered to help you close quickly, such as including home appliances and transferring your warranties over to the buyer. You can also offer to cover their closing costs, either partially or fully, which is another financial perk that will set your home apart from the rest. Everyone likes a gift-with-purchase, but few sellers offer them.
Need more advice on how to sell your home within 60 days? Speak to your trusted real estate professional today to learn more about custom solutions for selling your home.
Aug 19, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
We all want to sell our homes at above asking price, but what is it that makes a seller succeed at this? Here’s our expert advice on how you can sell your home above the asking price.
Ask For Less
You may be surprised, but pricing your home lower than market value can have an extremely positive effect on the offers you receive. This is because a low-priced listing will stand out and will draw more attention, which boosts your chance of a bidding war.
By attracting more buyers to come and look at your home, you will find more buyers who are willing to make an offer on your property. When they view your home they will see its true market value, and are then more likely to make a higher offer in hopes of outbidding others. It’s all about creating hype, and a low asking price will do just that.
Wait It Out
While it may be tempting to accept the first offer that comes along, in some cases, it may be better to wait and see what other offers come in. If you accept the first offer on your property you have closed the door to competition.
Consider Who You’re Selling To
Is your home better suited towards traditional buyers, or is it a valuable property for investors? If your home could easily be renovated and flipped, has high potential as an income property, or is in an up-and-coming neighborhood, it may be better marketed as an incredible investment property.
Investors expect a return on the money that they spend so are often more willing to make a higher offer – they know those funds will come right back to them.
Rock Your Renos
There are several simple renovations that can add a huge amount of value to your home. The return on investment for a few small upgrades is often very worthwhile when your goal is to receive more than asking price.
Make sure the flooring, kitchen, and bathrooms in your home are updated and appealing, and if not, consider upgrading these areas first. If you’re targeting investors, adding an income suite to your property may be the best investment you can make. Consider which kind of buyer you’re targeting and what areas of your home need the most TLC, and choose accordingly. Speak with your trusted real estate professional today to learn more.
Aug 5, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
Selling your home can be an extremely emotional process, but it’s important that you don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Learn which common mistakes emotional sellers make when selling their home so that you can identify them during your own sale and overcome them before it’s too late.
Price Paralysis
You love your home, you know the value it provides to its owner, and you think it’s special compared to other houses on the market… and that it should be priced as such!
Be wary of this thought pattern though, as sellers who are emotionally attached to their home tend to overprice their listing, ignore market data, and be stubborn in negotiations.
It is perfectly normal for your emotions to cloud your judgement when first listing, but it is important that you listen to your real estate agent’s advice and stick to reason, or you may find your home failing to close.
Pricing Based On Need
Your home has a market value, and you can’t ignore that. It’s a fact.
When moving to a new property, it is essential that you understand that you cannot price your current home based on the amount of money you need to purchase your desired next home. This mindset is unrealistic, and can drag out your home sale.
If the purchase of a new home is contingent upon how much you make from selling your current home, be sure that you do not celebrate too early. Wait until you have closed the deal before gauging what you can afford to buy next, or stick to a property that is definitely within your budget.
Maintain An Open Mind
While you may love the way your personal items and interior design pieces make your home feel, it is best to stage your home very impersonally for showings. This may require re-painting rooms to more neutral tones, taking down your favorite family photos, and using professional staging furniture rather than your own. Doing so isn’t admitting that you have bad taste, but rather accepting that buyers have a wide variety of taste themselves, and you want to appeal to them all.
You should also keep an open mind when it comes to who you sell your home to. You may have an idea of what you consider to be the perfect buyer, but ultimately the goal is to sell your home. What the buyer does with it after the fact is up to them.
To avoid these emotional home-seller mistakes, work with your trusted real estate professional who can guide you through the process and keep you on the right track.
Jul 22, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
Selling your house can be hard. Emotionally, because it’s become your home, but also economically. If your home isn’t selling, there are usually specific reasons which means there are ways to amend them and make your home more appealing to potential buyers. Here’s a short list of reasons why your home might be stalling on the market.
You Didn’t Spread The Net Wide Enough
No longer is it enough for a sign on your front lawn and word of mouth to carry the brunt of your marketing. With the world moving increasingly online, you need to address social media when advertising your home. Think Facebook. And be sure to use professional photos of your house whenever advertising it, so that it is properly and engagingly represented.
You Didn’t Make Your Home A Blank Slate
People on the hunt for a new home want to be able to picture themselves in the house (or apartment, or condo) they’re being shown. This means your house needs to be a blank slate. If there are idiosyncratic rooms, paint them neutral colors and keep the furnishings simple. Remove personal items from all areas being shown photos, achievements, etc. Open up the space by moving furniture out first.
You Are Not Available Enough or Are Too Available.
Potential buyers can be easily discouraged before they even get into your home. Make sure your house is accessible for as many viewings as you can manage even at odd hours to accommodate them. But you should not go to the showing itself. Having the previous owner around hinders people’s ability to assess the home objectively because they know it’s not objective for you. That discomfort can lead to them not asking the questions they needed to, and being deterred from the purchase.
You Didn’t Talk To The Buyers That Walked
It’s inevitable there will always be buyers that are interested but unwilling to make the final commitment, so use those buyers to your advantage. If you can, reach out and ask what made them turn away. There could be external factors (literally, elements outside your home) that negatively impact a buyer’s decision. If you learn that from almost-buyers, or even from your neighbors you’ll be able to find a fix or adjust the price accordingly.
If your home is listed but not selling, sometimes it can feel like it’s the universe rising against you. But often there are concrete reasons and simple solutions to get your home’s appeal up. And remember, in the end, the best way to find out why your house isn’t selling is to talk to your local real estate agent, who has the expertise to help.
