How to sell your home in today's market
I've heard agents recently indicate the frustration many of their clients feel in endeavoring to sell their homes. Some have mentioned they can't get any traffic thru the house, others tell of Open Houses that are poorly attended, while sellers often feel frustrated about the price they have to offer their home for. Although many sellers have even dropped the price, the house is still not selling.
The tendency on the home owner's front is to blame the Realtor. True, if the agent hasn't fulfilled the commitment that was agreed on up front of what he/she would do, then perhaps the home owner needs to look over the fence to another Realtor when the present contract expires. On the other hand, if the Realtor has fulfilled the commitment of the contract and what was agreed upon, perhaps the blame should be placed on the market - NOT the Realtor. Then, both agent and seller need to get together and re-examine critical areas and adjustments necessary that work with the current market and thereby, expedite a faster sale.
Here are five important steps to follow in selling your house.
- Choose the right Realtor - Interview at least three agents. Ask them questions about their experience, references, are you full time/part time? Other concerns to inquire about: Do you enjoy your work? What is a typical work day like for you? In an average day, how much time do you devote to your sellers? Do you return every phone call?
- Set the proper price - An overpriced house in this market will seldom have any traffic thru it. You really need to price competitively. Here is my definition of competitively: "Price your home so as to beat others". A good agent will help you do this.
- Examine your curb appeal - Walk out to the curb in front of your house with your agent and even a friend who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you might want to hear about your home. Take a good hard look at the outside appearance of your home. Often there are simple things you can do to spruce up and help the drive by buyers to want to come into your house. You must make a good impression here. Failing to do so, can prolong your effort to sell your home.
- Take a long look and include a deep smell inside your house - Perhaps your home should be professionally cleaned, grout should not be discolored; caulking should be fresh and have its original color. All stains should be removed from carpet and clutter MUST be dealt with. Do you smoke? Do you have pets? Deal with odors and again ask your agent or a friend to give you an honest answer about smell. Odors can be a real turn off for selling your home. Some buyers might walk in and immediately walk right out because of a foul smell.
- Carefully build a marketing plan - Ask your agent: Where should we advertise? Should we use the printed page? The internet? Signs on the street? (beware here of local laws prohibiting such signs) What should be highlighted in the MLS about your house? What features stand out? Perhaps an agent Open House might help.
I purposely placed "building a marketing plan" at number five, because the other steps (and more) must be first. It's kind of like our Space Program. You can have the Shuttle, the Fuel, the Rockets, a good Pilot and crew but without a LAUNCHING PAD, you are going nowhere! Take time to build a good launching pad (Home properly prepared, Realtor, Proper Price, Curb Appeal and Inside Appeal) so that when you add the fuel (Marketing) to your selling, you will have a great launch and a powerful finish to all of your efforts in selling your home.