10 Secrets For Home Sellers

 

The absolute #1, most important item when selling any piece of property is, Your Listing Price. I cannot stress this enough. Many sellers are emotionally attached to their homes, its normal. They've raised families, started families and/or have a ton of sweat equity in their homes. Selling a home can be as difficult or as easy as you want to make it. A good seller keeps things in perspective and sets their emotional attachments aside.

 

Your list price should be benchmarked by recently sold homes. Your final set Listing Price should then taking into account the homes finishes and amenities. While some sellers (and some realtors) think pricing their property with a $10,000 - $20,000 buffer will “allow for negotiations, it's actually allowing your home to have little appeal and low demand. What's effective and drives demand is the exact opposite. While many sellers are hesitant to price their property below market value, it is perhaps the single best strategy when trying to sell a home. Buyers today are researching the towns and homes they're interested in 6 - 12 months before going to an open house or working with a Realtor. They're educated and know exactly what they're looking for, how much their ideal home lists and sells for. The key here is to attract as many buyers as possible.

 

For example, if a buyer in Paramus NJ knows an updated Center Hall Colonial with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, 2 car garage goes for $750,000 and sees one listed in that same condition for $725,000. The first thing they're doing is pricking up the phone to schedule a showing. Now compound that by "x" amount of other buyers. The influx will initiate multiple bids and sometimes a bidding war in lieu of the competition. More than likely, they will bid up the price – beyond what it was originally worth. Creating a sense of competition can ultimately increase the price buyers are willing to pay.

 

 

Unless you have sufficient experience yourself, you are better off hiring a good Realtor. You need someone with an excellent understanding of the market in your neighborhood, with the proper blend of experience and availability to match. They should have solid network and a cutting-edge marketing plan. Posting your home on the MLS, taking some nice pictures and sticking a for sale sign in your yard and relying only on traditional advertising methods is not enough anymore. Realtors who embrace technology have many tools to gain digital exposure for your home. Versatility and innovation are key qualities modern listing agents must have in our digital world. Your Realtor should be a full time consummate professional. Don't focus on the brokerage brand name, a fancy auction house or national chain name doesn't sell homes, an individual and/or team with a solid network and strategic marketing plan does.

 

 

Lighting is one of the most important factors in selling a home. Having said that, take every step you can to maximize the lighting inside a home. Aside from location, lighting is the one thing that every buyer cites as a necessity. Proper lighting is essential in the home selling process. Try these simple steps that can make a home brighter. Take down drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of light bulbs, and cut the bushes outside to allow sunshine in. Conversely, a poorly lit house will have the opposite impact. Improper lighting can actually turn off prospective buyers.

 

 

Savvy, quick fixes almost always pay off. It is when sellers overextend their resources and “over-upgrade,” that profit margins begin to shrink. Consider updates that will offer the most return. A fresh coat of paint, new curtains and fresh throw rugs. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, fix that leaky faucet and clean the grout. While these changes do not amount to much, their cumulative presence can dramatically increase the aesthetic value of a home.

 

 

Some say that you are not selling a home, you are selling a kitchen. The importance of the kitchen can’t be underestimated, it is the heart of any home. Cooking, entertaining friends and family or hosting a holiday, you’ll always find people gathering in the kitchen. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll likely get 85% of your money back.

 

 

No matter how good the interior of your home is, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You’ve heard the adage, “You never have a second chance to make a first impression”. That couldn’t be more true when it comes to selling your home. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and colored flowers. You can typically get a 100% return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal.

 

 

Make sure that each room and area is staged for whatever it is supposed to be. If it’s an office, get rid of the extra bed and dresser and make it an office. Add trendy art, fitting decor and furniture to make your home look its best!

 

 

Be ready to show your home at a moments notice. Have clutter containers that you can throw in your car, wipe off counters, vacuum and straighten up in a flash. The more flexible you are at showing your home, the faster you’ll find a buyer!

 

 

Your neighbors are your best salespeople. Who better, they know your neighborhood and can vouch for that, you and your home. Make sure they know your home is for sale and even invite them to the Open House. Be sure to share your listing on social media as well.