WHAT CAN I DO FOR A FAST SALE OF MY HOME?
Need to sell but don’t want to be on the market for months and months?
Here are some tips to guide you:
1) Hire an EXPERIENCED agent. This means agents who have experience in markets that include buyers and sellers markets, recession and good economy markets and who live locally and know the area! This includes an agent who continues to strive to be the best, who stays educated, up to date on laws, trends and has a proven reliable record. Ask around, call the Chamber of Commerce, and check with friends and local businesses on who is a community partner. Ask your agent for references. Is your agent a member of the National Association of Realtors, who strives to a higher code of ethics? These are all important things to consider!
2) Price, Price, Price! The most important thing after hiring the right agent is the right price! That is what drives the market today. Your home must be priced to what your agent says is the right value. Try to be under market value to be the best thing out there! Trust your agent and their knowledge, which is why you hired them!
3) Compensation – It is important to realize that in slower markets you may have a quicker sale if you offer the selling agent a higher compensation or bonus.
4) Helping with Buyers Closing Costs. In markets like this many buyers are asking for sellers to pay all or some of closing costs. For those sellers willing to do this, your property will sell much quicker than others who will not.
5) Have your property “show ready”. This may include having already completed a pest inspection, septic inspection and a home inspection and repairing any necessary items. Most buyers and or their lenders will accept these reports if no more than 6 months old. You should also try to have the home as clean and bright as possible and refresh paint where needed.
6) De-clutter, clean yard and garage. Before listing, clean out the house and garage and get rid of any items you don’t use or need anymore. Great time for a yard sale! Groom the yard! Your house will show larger and brighter with no extra clutter and furniture. Less is better!
7) Consider “staging” your house! You can do this yourself or by hiring a stager who can help you achieve this at very low prices. It has been proven that staged homes sell much faster and at higher prices than homes that are not staged. Most sellers find that they covered the cost of the service in the sale of the home and in some cases made more!
8) Make it easy to show! Trust your Realtor to give their advice on showings. That means they may want you to place a lockbox on your home, hold agent tours and other marketing ideas. Your home needs to be kept in show ready condition so that it can be shown at short notice. Animals should be kept away from buyers; the house should be smoke free and well lit. Make coming into your home so delightful that the buyers will want to make that offer!
