The best chance for selling your property is within the first seven weeks.
Studies show that the longer a property stays on the market, the less the
owner will net. Listed below are the six main factors to accomplishing this
goal.
Step 1:
Pricing
It is very important to price your property
at a competitive market value right when you list it. The market is so
competitive that even over-pricing by a few hundred dollars could mean that
your house will not sell. It's interesting, but your first offer is usually
your best offer. Here are reasons for pricing your property at the market
value right from the start in order to net you the most amount of money in
the shortest amount of time.
An overpriced home:
-
Minimizes offers
-
Lowers showings
-
Lowers agent response
-
Limits financing
-
Limits qualified buyers
-
Nets less for the owner
80% of the marketing is done when we decide
on what price to list your home. If you are unwilling to list at current
market value, you would be better off not putting it on the market at this
time.
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Step
2: Cleanliness
Most people are turned off by even the smallest
amount of uncleanness or odor when buying a home. Owners lose hundreds of
dollars because they do not adequately clean. If your house is squeaky clean,
you will be able to sell your home faster and net hundreds of dollars more.
If you are planning on moving, why not get rid of that old junk now so that
your house will appear larger? Make more space. Odors must be eliminated
especially if you have dogs, cats, or young children in diapers or if you
are a smoker. You may not notice the smell, but the buyers do! Most agents
have a difficult time communicating to their buyers about odor. If you employ
an agent to get the most amount of money for you, please don't take offense
if he must confront you about odor problems.
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Step 3:
Easy Access
Top selling agents will not show your home if
both the key and access are not readily available. They do not have time
to run around town all day picking up and dropping off keys. They want to
sell homes! The greatest way to show a house is to have a keybox accessible
to real estate agents!
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Step 4:
Showtime
When your home is being shown, please do the
following:
-
Keep all lights on
-
Keep all drapes and shutters open
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Keep all doors unlocked
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Leave soft music playing
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Take a short walk with your children and
pets
-
Let the buyer be at ease and let the agents do
their job
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Step
5: Paint & Carpet
Paint is your best improvement investment for
getting a greater return on your money. Paint makes the whole house smell
clean and neat. If your house has chipped paint, exposed wood, or the paint
looks faded, it is time to paint. If your carpet is worn, dirty, outdated,
or an unusual color, you may need to seriously consider replacing it. Many
houses do not sell because of this problem. Don't think that buyers have
more money than you have to replace carpet. They don't. They simply buy
elsewhere.
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Step
6: Curb Appeal
Your front yard immediately reflects the inside
condition of your house to the buyer. People enjoy their yards. Make certain
that the trees are trimmed so the house can be seen from the street. Have
the grass mowed, trimmed and edged. Walkways should be swept. Clean away
debris. Remove parked cars. This all adds to curb appeal. If a buyer doesn't
like the outside, they may not stop to see the inside.
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