Every Seller Needs to Know About These Expert Selling Tips (If They Want To Sell Their House, That Is)

Try to resist overpricing your home; of course you want to get the most you can for your home. Most sellers aren’t just trying to “break even” on what they paid for it. You’ve got to learn to look at your home objectively, though, and price it due to the value. If the home is overpriced from the get go, it will likely sit on the market for quite a while.

The truth is that buyers will notice the home has been sitting on the market for a while without selling, assume there is something wrong with it and cross it off their list. On the other hand, pricing at, or slightly below market value will generate vital attention from buyers during the first couple of weeks after listing, which is usually when sellers see the most activity.

Make sure you and your agent are on the same page regarding list price and marketing strategies. You and your agent should be in agreement on the price the home will be listed at, so if the range she/he suggests doesn’t match the one in your head, don’t be hesitate about asking for an explanation. As important, of course, is how she/he will promote your home. Figure out if professional pictures will be taken, what places the ads will be placed and if your agent will hold open houses and advice other agents to bring in some buyers. Asking the right questions will not tell you the resources the agent is willing to use, it will also give you an idea on how they work and how excited/committed they are about your home.

On top of the scheduled open houses, there will be (If the house was price right) frequent calls from agents who want to show your home to prospective buyers, frequently on short notice. And every single time, your place has to be looking its best. For you this means that, until you sell your home, you are responsible for keeping it spotless 24/7. No leaving mail out or your dry cleaning out. You have to think about all those little things and fix them when you come home. You must be ready to up and leave at a moments notice if a buyer is coming to view the house.

Even if you think your house is perfect and it has been good enough for you all these years, buyers may think otherwise. Perhaps they didn’t like the paint color in the master bedroom or the tile in the kitchen. Maybe they are not crazy about having only two full bathrooms.

Of course, you want to unload your house as quickly as possible, but the solemn truth is that most of the time, its difficult to sell a home quickly. It may take a while before any offers come in at all. And then, there’s the closing. If the buyer is getting a mortgage, it will take at least another month.

If you have a pet, you will have to take extra steps to ensure it doesn’t go in and out during showings. That means telling every agent who will show the house that you have a pet that they have to watch while they’re trying to do their job. See: Property Viewing Etiquette (Do’s and Dont’s).

Before thinking on putting your house on the market, take a moment to walk the home and try to see it through a possible buyer’s eyes. Likely, you will need to paint over any bold wall colors, clean of the entire house, de-clutter and de-personalize, and make any necessary improvements that could upgrade curb appeal and ultimately affect the asking price.

Previous

Next

One Comment

  • I would recommend asking a close friend you trust to come over and be honest with you about your house. Chances are, they’ve already made mental notes of things that bother them every time they come to your house. Ask them to stand out front, and do a walk through as a buyer and get a notebook and write down what they say.

    While the article suggests that you should do this, I’d recommend that you don’t. You won’t be able to view it honestly.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *