Top 10 Secrets To Selling Your Home Fast And For Top Dollar, Even In A Slowing Real Estate Market
The other day I watched a report on the national news (ABC News) that the real estate market was beginning to slow down across the country. Today the National Association of Realtors announced that across the nation the sales of existing homes in May fell for the third time in the past five months.
However, here in north Texas the housing market still appears to be strong and the sale of existing homes did not decline in May. In spite of this, you never know when our market may take a turn for the worse and begin to reflect what is happening in the rest of our nation.
My research of today’s local real estate market indicates that buyers are far more discriminating these days, and a large percentage of the homes currently listed for sale do not sell the first time.
It’s now more critical than ever to learn what you need to know to avoid potentially costly mistakes in order to sell your home fast and for the most amount of money.
1. Know why you’re selling, and keep it to yourself.
The reasons behind your decision to sell affect everything from setting a price to deciding how much time and money to invest in getting your home ready for sale. What’s more important to you: the money you walk away with, or the length of time your property is on the market? Different goals will dictate different strategies.
However, don’t reveal your motivation to anyone else or they may use it against you at the negotiating table. When asked, simply say that your housing needs have changed.
Remember, the reason you are selling is only for you to know.
2. Find a good real estate agent to represent your needs.
All real estate agents are not the same! A professional real estate agent knows the market and has information on past sales, current listings, a marketing plan, and will provide their background and references. Evaluate candidates carefully on the basis of their experience, qualifications, enthusiasm, and personality.
Be sure you choose someone that has a proven track record of selling homes and that you trust and feel confident that they will do a good job on your behalf.
Nearly three-quarters of homeowners claim that they wouldn’t use the same real estate agent who sold their last home. Most relationships with an agent break down because of poor communication. While it is the professional’s responsibility to manage your expectations and regularly communicate with you, you can help by telling them what you expect and regularly talking with your real estate agent.
Be sure to communicate with your real estate agent upfront and let them know what you expect.
3. Do your homework before setting a price.
(In fact, your real estate agent should do this for you). Find out what homes in your neighborhood have sold for in the past 6-12 months, and research what current homes are listed for sale and for much. This is how prospective buyers will assess the worth of your home.
Settling on an offering price shouldn’t be done lightly. Once you’ve set your price, you’ve told buyers the absolute maximum they have to pay for your home, but pricing too high is as dangerous as pricing too low. Remember that the average buyer is looking at 15-20 homes at the same time they are considering yours.
This means that the buyer has a basis of comparison, and if your home doesn’t compare favorably with others in the price range you’ve set, prospective buyers or real estate agents won’t take you seriously.
As a result, your home will sit on the market for a long period of time and, knowing that your house has been on the market for an extended period, new buyers in the market will think there must be something wrong with your home.
4. Maximize your home’s sales potential to get top dollar.
Each year, corporate America spends billions on product and packaging design. Appearance is critical, and it would be foolish to ignore this when selling your home.
You may not be able to change your home’s location or floor plan, but you can do a lot to improve its appearance. The look and feel of your home generates a greater emotional response than any other factor.
Clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Pick up, straighten, unclutter, scrub, scour and dust. Fix everything, no matter how insignificant it may appear.
Often the single best investment you can make when selling your house is a fresh coat of paint, buyers will notice the smell of fresh paint and it gives them the sense that your home has been well taken care of even if you just painted it for the first time in years.
Overall, you want your home to get a “wow” response from prospective buyers.
Allow the buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. The decision to buy a home is based on emotion, not logic. Prospective buy
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