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Seller Tips
1. Commit to the Process
· The smart home seller makes a conscious decision and
commitment to sell, plans carefully what to do when the sale
occurs, chooses the timing carefully when possible, prices the
home in accordance with recent comparable sales, keeps emotions
in check and out of the way, listens to the advice of and lists
the home with a professional and allocates adequate time off
from work to handle all of the above.
· In any market there are homes that go up for sale and just
don't sell. Believe it or not, the number of homes not selling
(called expired listings in the trade) can be as high as 40-60%.
Why? The reason is simple - commitment on behalf of the seller.
Too often homes are listed for sale to "test the market", or to
"see if we can get our price". At other times, the homes are
just not in condition to be sold - at any price. Seller
commitment, not to a listing, but to a sale, is critical.
2. Hire a Seller's Agent (Listing Agent) to Represent You
· Industry estimates vary but it is generally thought that
over 90% of homes are sold with the assistance of a real estate
agent. Unless you have significant home selling experience and
current knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and market
conditions it just makes good sense to hire a professional.
After all, you would go to the Dentist for a toothache and visit
an Attorney for your will. Why would you try a home remedy for a
significant financial transaction like selling real estate?
· Most home buyers today are choosing to be represented in the
transaction by a Buyer's Agent. This means that they are
choosing to have someone on their side in the hope that it keeps
the playing field level or perhaps tilts it in their direction.
The prudent home seller will also choose to obtain professional
assistance and representation. Visit the Seller's Page for
further information on how to choose a Seller's Agent.
3. Clean Up / Fix Up / Inspect
· When selling a car or boat most people will fix it up,
clean it up, wax and polish it, buy new tires for it, etc., etc.
However, those same people often set out to sell their home with
the idea that they should just be able to put a sign in their
front yard and get ready to move. On the other hand, people that
buy homes want a clean well kept place in which to live. They
don't welcome taking on the task of correcting someone else's
problems and neglect.
· It also pays the prudent home seller to arrange for an
inspection prior to listing the home for sale. A licensed home
inspector will turn up many issues which merit correction in the
areas of structural integrity, repair & maintenance or safety.
Since the home buyer will be sure to have his own inspection
done prior to finalizing the deal it just makes good sense to
find out these things early and take care of them up front. The
result is a faster sale for more money.
4. Price It Right - The First Time
· If the first rule of real estate is location the second
rule is price. One of the principle reasons homes do not sell in
a reasonable period of time is because they are priced
incorrectly - usually too high. Problem is, after a home has
been on the market for a while without selling buyers become
wary. . . "it has been for sale forever, there must be something
wrong with it."
· "But we can always come down on the price" say the sellers.
Yes, you can - and should. The problem is that homes that are
priced too high to begin with usually don't receive a price
reduction soon enough and eventually sell for less than they
would have had they been priced properly to begin with.
Solution: Hire an honest, competent Seller's Broker and follow
his advice on pricing.
5. Time It Right
· Granted, not everyone has the luxury of being able to plan
their move around the "selling season" and there is no doubt
that homes are sold all year long. Problem is, too often
discretionary sellers wait to get motivated until the season has
passed them by. Then they spend time and effort getting the home
fixed up, price it at (or above) the level where homes were
selling during the "active time of year", put it on the market
during the worst time of year and - wait, wait, wait.
· If the timing cannot be controlled, other things can. The
astute seller will seek counsel with a trusted Seller's Broker
as to market conditions and timing - and then act accordingly.
6. Market It Right
· It just makes common sense. If you want to sell a property
it must be available to be seen by the prospective buyers - when
they want to see it. Often this means short notice on showings.
It also means that all agents need to have the easiest access
possible to get their buyers in the door. In most markets this
means a key box on the property.
· There is a general belief that advertising is the principle
key in obtaining showings of homes for sale. Advertising is
needed. In fact, the most effective advertisement is the
professional For Sale sign in the yard. But, what is not well
known, is that the next best advertising is not as readily seen
by the general public. It is the Multiple Listing System. MLS is
seen by those who actually sell real estate, RealtorsÒ / brokers
/ agents. Unless MLS does not exist in a given market the seller
should depend on his Seller's Broker to properly display the
home in MLS.
· In today's market it is also critical to use the latest
technology. This means that you must have internet exposure and
a Realtor® willing and able to manage your listing and sale
accordingly.
7. Know Where You Are Going
· If you are selling it usually means that you will be
moving. Not only will you be moving but the buyers will want to
move in once the transaction is closed. Sounds easy enough.
Problem is that sometimes sellers think that they can sell but
there should be no urgency on their move out. Wrong. Buyers
almost always want Possession at Closing and usually expect to
close within in a reasonable period of time following an agreed
Contract to Purchase - typically 30 to 45 days.
· There are many options for the seller, the easiest of which is
already having another home purchased. If this is not feasible
there are other possibilities to be explored but this needs to
be done prior to beginning the selling process. An experienced
Listing Agent can assist the home seller in evaluating these
options and can usually represent the seller as a Buyer's Agent
for the purchase or rental of the new property.
8. Insist on Pre Approved Buyers Only
· When a home seller receives an offer to purchase there
should be one primary factor that is always considered first -
and it is not price. This factor is whether or not the buyer is
financially able to conclude the transaction. As a seller you
have limited knowledge about who the buyer is or how reliable
they may be. However, you do have the ability to insist that
they demonstrate their financial ability.
· Many buyers require financing when they make a home purchase
and the financing approval process is quite intense. When a home
buyer has made the effort up front to get pre-approved a
statement from the prospective lender regarding the buyer's
pre-approval status can be provided.
9. Negotiate Smart
· So, you did most everything right and now have a written
purchase offer in hand. What now? A lot depends on the price,
terms and conditions of the offer and the strength of the buyer.
There is no pat formula as to how to respond to an offer but
some general negotiating principles usually apply.
· Try to understand the buyer's needs and reasoning. For
example: Is the offer low because the buyer thinks excessive
repairs will be needed? If so, does the buyer have a valid
point? Now's the time to get realistic if you haven't already.
· Try to respond to the offer so that a Win/Win agreement can be
reached. For example: It might be foolish in a strong seller's
market to be relentless in extracting every possible dollar and
concession from the buyer in the negotiation. After all, without
this buyer there might not be a sale at all and the worst thing
that can happen is "buyer's remorse" at the last minute and
refusal to close.
· Sometimes an offer is just not acceptable or even worthy of a
response and sometimes multiple offers are received at the same
time. Your agent sees a lot more offers than you do and should
be a key player in helping you make the right decisions in
handling negotiations. If you haven't gotten a Listing Agent yet
please visit the Seller's Page.
10. Be Pro-Active
· This may seem to be a given to most people but it is truly
amazing how many home sellers think that all they have to do is
sign the contract and everything else will magically occur
without their participation. The fact is that there are many
details that only the seller can resolve to assure a timely,
trouble free sale and closing. The Seller's agent will counsel
and assist throughout the process but the seller will have the
best overall result by being fully aware of all aspects of the
process and asking as many questions as possible along the way.
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Pricing a home
If you're planning on selling a house, you'll have to decide what price
you're going to ask for the home. This is one of the most important and
difficult decisions you'll have to make. Buyers select by comparison shopping,
so your home will have to have a fair market price in order for it to sell. A
real estate professional can help you determine the market value of your home
while still obtaining the top-dollar price for your piece of property.
Some of the things to consider when choosing your home price are:
What is the age & condition of your home?
Does it need updating?
What have similar homes in your area sold for?
Have homes in your area been increasing or decreasing in value?
Are there a lot of homes for sale in your area?
Remember, your home is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. By
working with a qualified real estate professional, you can ensure that your
property will receive the needed exposure to attract interested parties who are
willing to make an offer.
Making Your Home Look Its Best
When you're selling your home you'll want to put forth the very best
product. Buyers aren't coming for just a quick look but for a careful
inspection. Keep the exterior neat by painting the trim, clipping the hedges,
mowing, edging, and weeding the lawn and you may even want to plant a few
flowers.
Inside you'll want to lighten up the darker corners, perhaps add some fresh
paint and put the clutter away to give the rooms an open feeling. Make sure
there are no "stale" odors in the home. This can be especially important for
remote areas such as a basement or attic. On the day of your open house, you may
want to consider baking some cookies or bring in some fragrant fresh flowers.
This will add a cheery and pleasant scent to your home. These little things just
may help you sell your home a bit more quickly.
Marketing Your Home
When selling your home, you must realize that it's not likely that the right
buyer will simply walk through your door on their own. Generally, you have to
bring your home to the buyer, and that means counting on a real estate
professional to put forth a successful marketing campaign. You'll want an agent
who will make the best use of television and newspaper advertising, and one who
uses state-of-the-art techniques such as an interactive voice-response system, a
front end MLS system and the internet. And, you'll want to have a number of open
houses to expose your property to a wide variety of "window shoppers". Make sure
your agent is trained not only in the financial aspect of a real estate
transaction, but the marketing aspect as well.
An Offer!
When you have a home for sale, eventually a prospective buyer will "make an
offer." As the seller, you basically have three options: you can accept the
offer, reject the offer or give a counter offer. A counter offer usually will
encourage a buyer to continue their negotiations. You may also receive multiple
offers. You may prefer to take slightly less for your property from someone who
is willing to pay cash, versus someone who needs to sell their current home
first. Contingencies, move-in dates, and financing are all things to consider
when weighing an offer. If things seem a bit overwhelming, rely on your
experienced real estate professional, who can go over the various points with
you, and help you choose the best offer.
The Closing
Once you've accepted an offer on your property there's a number of details
that still need to be finished. There will probably be an inspection of your
home by a professional who will determine the condition and integrity of your
property for the buyer. The buyer's mortgage company may choose to send out an
appraiser who will assure the lender of your property's worth. The title company
will warranty that there are no liens or existing encumbrances which would
inhibit a transfer of title to the buyer. Either you or the buyer may chose to
be represented by an attorney. First time sellers and buyers often feel more
comfortable to have the paper work reviewed prior to signing. Rest assured that
you can always rely on your real estate professional to make sure the entire
home selling process proceeds smoothly.
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