Home Selling
Tips
Why are you Selling…That’s
Between You & Your Agent
The reason(s) you are
selling your home will affect the way you negotiate its sale. By keeping this
information between only you and your agent, you don’t provide ammunition to
your prospective buyers. For example, should they learn that you must move quickly,
you could be placed at a disadvantage in the negotiation process. A licensed
real estate agent, like myself, is required by law to keep these conversations
completely confidential…so you can trust that I will always keep your best
interest at heart and not divulge any confidential information.
Do Your Homework
As a seller, you will want to get a selling
price as close to the list price as possible. If you start out by pricing too
high you run the risk of not being taken seriously by buyers and their agents
and pricing too low can result in selling for much less than you were hoping
for. Make sure you and your agent are getting the facts straight in order to
maximize your profit. Ask us for a free Comparative Market Analysis.
Shop Around
The best way to learn
about your competition and discover what turns buyers on is to check out other
listings. Note floor plans, condition, appearance, lot size, location and other
features. Remember, if you’re serious about getting your home sold fast; don’t
price it higher than your neighbor’s home.
Tax Valuations
Some people think that
tax assessments are a way of evaluating a home. The difficulty here is that
assessments are based on a number of criteria that may not be related to
property values, so they may not necessarily reflect your home’s true value. The
only way to price your home to sell is to use the current market value–which I
can share with you through a detailed Market Analysis.
Which REALTOR® should
I choose?
Most people who sell
their own homes say they wouldn’t do it again themselves. The biggest reasons
include setting a price, marketing handicaps, liability concerns and time
constraints.
A professional
REALTOR® knows the market and has information on past sales, current listings,
a marketing plan. Evaluate each candidate carefully on the basis of his or her
experience, qualifications, enthusiasm and personality.Be sure you choose
someone that you trust and feel confident that they will do a great job on your
behalf.
Room to Negotiate
Before settling on
your asking price make sure you leave yourself enough room to bargain. For
example, with my help we will set your lowest and highest selling price. Then
check your priorities to know if you’ll price high to maximize your profit or
price closer to market value if you want sell quickly.
Honest Opinions of
Others
The biggest mistake
you can make at this point is to rely solely on your own judgment. Don’t be shy
about seeking the honest opinions of others. You need to be objective about
your home’s good points as well as bad. Fortunately, when using me as your
REALTOR®, I will be not be shy about discussing what should be done to
make your home more marketable.
Prepare Your Home
Scrub, scour, tidy up,
straighten, get rid of the clutter, declare war on dust, things that do not
work, and the tiny crack in the bathroom tile. These can be deal-killers and
you’ll never know what turns buyers off. Remember, you’re not just competing
with other resale homes, but brand-new ones as well. (see our Top 10 Staging Tips)
Pet and Smoking Odors
You may not realize but
smells like pets and smoking can kill
deals quickly. If prospective buyers know you have a dog, or that you smoke,
they’ll start being aware of odors and seeing stains that may not even exist.
These are key items to remedy before putting your home on the market. It may
seem like a small thing but I have seen this cancel deals or cost a seller
thousands.
Disclosure
Smart sellers will
disclose all known defects to their buyers in writing. This can reduce
liability and prevent lawsuits later on. I will walk you through the process
of filling out the written Seller’s Disclosure.
.
Emotions Kill Deals
Although this is one
of the hardest things about selling your home, it is also one of the most
important. Let go of the emotion you’ve invested in your home. Use a businesslike
manner in your negotiations. You’ll definitely have an advantage over those who
get caught up emotionally.
Learn Why Your Buyer
is Interested
The better you know
your buyers the better you can use the negotiation process to your advantage.
This allows you to control the potential outcome. Buyers are looking to
purchase the best affordable property for the least amount of money. Knowing
what motivates them enables you to negotiate more effectively. Does your buyer
need to move quickly? With this information you are in a better position to
negotiate. Ask the right questions and find out this information from either
the buyer or the buyer’s agent.
Move Before it Sells…Not
So Quick
It has been proven
that it’s more difficult to sell a home that is vacant because it becomes
forlorn looking, forgotten, no longer an appealing sight. Buyers start getting
the message that you have another home and are probably motivated to sell. This
could cost you thousands of dollars. Instead, try leaving the home with some
furnishings to create a homier feel.
A Buyer Gives a
Lowball Offer
Invariably the initial
offer is below what both you and the buyer knows he’ll pay for your property.
Don’t be upset. Ensure it spells out the offering price, sufficient deposit,
amount of down payment, mortgage amount, a closing date and any special
requests. This can simply provide a starting point from which you can
negotiate. Remember… Any offer is better than none. It’s a possible avenue to a
number everyone can live with.
Turn That Low Offer
Upside Down
You can counter a low
offer or even an offer that’s just under your asking price. This lets the buyer
know you are willing to be reasonable. Now you’ll be negotiating only serious
buyers.
Is Your Buyer
Qualified?
If you feel an offer
is inadequate, now is the time to make sure the buyer is qualified to carry the
size of mortgage the purchase requires. I will inquire how they arrived at
their figure and suggest they compare your price to the prices of homes for
sale in your neighborhood. This is when a licensed Real Estate Agent will earn
their keep and save you time and money.
Carefully Examine Your
Contract
To avoid problems,
ensure that all terms, costs and responsibilities are spelled out in the
contract of sale. It should include items such as the date it was made, names
of parties involved, address of property being sold, purchase price, where
deposit monies will be held, date for loan approval, date and place of closing,
type of deed, including any contingencies that remain to be settled and what
personal property is included in the sale. Contracts and legal documents
of this size and magnitude can be intimidating, but rest assured that I will
walk you through and explain everything in a way that is easy to understand. If
you still don’t understand, I highly recommend seeking legal advice.
Changing the Contract
If the buyer requests
a move-in prior to closing, just say no, that you’ve been advised against it.
Now is not the time to take any chances of the deal falling-through. Buyers are
often faced with financing paperwork delays and lender requests that are out of
their control.
You Can Count on
Brewer Realty Group
Even through a smooth
and relatively easy sale…there will undoubtedly be some issues. While we
cannot promise that we will not encounter roadblocks and challenges on our
journey, we can promise you this:
We will be honest, up-front and work very hard every day to earn and keep your trust
We will treat the sale of your home the same way we would our own
We will use care, consideration and diligence throughout this process
We will use all of our experience to sell your home quickly and at the best possible price
We will always answer your call, text or e-mail. We are very approachable 24hrs a day.
We believe in doing business by “The Golden Rule”.
Integrity and Respect is where a successful transaction starts!