Sure-Fire Ways to Get a Home Sold

Sure-Fire Ways to Get a Home Sold

Now that we’re heading more into the full-on summer season the homes on the market have slightly plateaued and there are fewer listings for buyers. But this also means that there are fewer buyers out there for the homes that are already on the market. So what you do if your home has sat for too long and is just not selling?

If you think you’ve tried everything make sure you’ve done the following steps to ensure you get the most buyers in the door and the most eyes on your property.

Double check your photos.

Are the photos showing the home in the best light? Have you taken pictures in the morning, in the afternoon, on a sunny day and on a cloudy day? All of these factors can make a big difference because to buyers that first impression means they’re either going to see more of the home or pass it by. Make sure that the outside is clean, neat and trimmed, fresh paint on the door or at least the trim of the house, and a very welcoming and inviting front porch. Everything about the first photo of the home should invite buyers in. If you’re not comfortable with the photograph ask your real estate agent to have better ones taken or take them yourself.

More: How to take awesome pictures of your listing

Make sure half of your items are packed up.

Buyers do not want to see a home that is busting at the seams with items. If you pack up half the items in your closet, your cupboards, pantries, and drawers it will leave a lot of room showing buyers there is plenty of extra space to go around. The last thing a buyer wants is a crowded space.

Consider professional staging.

This can be an expensive undertaking but you might just consider getting a paid consultation from a professional stager. This can be a little less expensive and can provide tips on design and layout that you may not have thought of before. Sometimes just simply moving furniture around, offering a better layout and flow, or giving the kitchen and the tables certain accents can make a world of difference when showing a buyer.

Read More: Can you sell your home on Craigslist??

Make sure the home is priced correctly.

As a real estate agent, I want to make sure the home is priced right from the beginning. Pricing a home high and then lowering it if it doesn’t sell only means it’s going to sit on the market longer and eventually sell for lower than it should have is priced correctly at the beginning. You may need to stop and do a reevaluation of what your home is currently worth in today’s market. If you listed it a couple months ago it may be a completely different price today.

Related: Is it a bad thing if your home sells too fast?

I want your home to sell just as quickly as you do and as a professional real estate agent in the Orlando and Clermont real estate area. I do everything possible to get more buyers in the door and more offers on the table so that you can move on with your life. Call me today and let’s see how I can make your home sell as quickly as possible.

Related: 6 Reasons you probably can’t sell your home yourself

How to Negotiate the Highest Price in a Seller’s Market

How to Negotiate the Highest Price in a Seller’s Market

How to Negotiate the Highest Price in a Seller's MarketYou’re selling your house and the timing is perfect…It’s a seller’s market! You’ve listed your home and have several interested buyers. You’re certain you can get your full price offer, but can you leverage what you have into an accepted offer that is… above the list? Perhaps three percent, even five percent or more above the list? You sure can! Here’s how you go about it:

1) Be easy to work with and very helpful. Buyers tend to be willing to negotiate with sellers whom they like and are eager to help. Your agent should answer all questions quickly and thoroughly.

2) Be proactive and communicate openly with all buyer agents who have scheduled showings to date. Your agent should be encouraging as many people as they can to write an offer on your home. Your agent will let every showing agent know that your property is gaining tremendous interest and that if an agent has shown yet to do it quickly so their clients don’t miss out on the opportunity to write up their offer. Your agent will also call and email each showing agent to ensure they get the message.

3) Suggest a selling price that is way too high. This means your agent will use the power of suggestion to drive up the bidding price on your home by sharing with buyer agents how they’re surprised by the overwhelming interest in your property and that they wouldn’t be surprised if it goes for higher than list price.

4) Justify a price that is way too high. When your agent is conversing with the buying agents, he’ll share good reasons why they should write a strong offer.

5) Provide a status update to all parties once the first offer comes in. Your agent will once again call and email each showing agent to inform them how much time they have to make an offer and then encourage as many offers as possible because, with each additional offer you receive, your power to negotiate price goes up.

6) Negotiate and accept a secondary offer. Do this once your primary offer is accepted. This is a great tactic for your agent to use in case your first offer falls through. If buyer number one is informed of your solid plan B in the works, they’re more likely to do what it takes to get things finalized. A good example would be that they’ll probably not quibble about anything that shows up on the inspection, for instance.

Of course, this can all only be done with effective marketing and proper pricing in the first place. Good marketing and a proper price will draw the buyers in. Then it’s up to your agent to advocate your best interests and communicate effectively to potentially sell your home for well above list price. Ready to get listed and sold? Call me today!

What’s Your Home’s Value? Find Out Now

Buyers Are Not Going to Make Offers on Overpriced Listings

Buyers Are Not Going to Make Offers on Overpriced Listings

If you are thinking about pricing your home for sale above market value, buyers are not going to make offers on overpriced listings. One thing for sure, real estate market is HOT!! It’s sizzling. Some areas are experiencing low inventory with high demand that’s causing home prices to go

 up, especially in the affordable price range. What is an affordable price range you might ask? Well, that truly depends on where you are in the country, in Clermont FL area, the affordable price range is just middle of the road, between $200,000 and $250,000. That number will look a lot different if you are in NY or Los Angeles.

If you are in a hot seller’s market with high demand and low inventory with increasing home prices month after month, you might want to list your home for sale above the fair market value and hoping buyers will make offers on an overpriced listing.

BUT…Guess what? Buyers are not going to make offers on overpriced listings. Just like home sellers, buyers also study the market, most are working with knowledgeable REALTORS® who are guiding them through the transaction. Besides, their search criteria will most likely be within their pre-approved mortgage. If they are approved to purchase a home up to $250,000, they will not be looking at homes priced at $300,000 hoping sellers will come down. Just like home sellers, they know it’s a hot market and homes that are priced right will go under contract fast so they’re not even going to waste their time looking at homes outside of their price range.

Using Technology Instead of a Real Estate AgentIf a buyer tells me they’re looking to buy a home in Clermont FL priced up to $250,000, my search will be slightly over their pre-approved price. If I send them homes that are priced well above their range, they will think I’m not listening or have no regards for their wishes. So your strategy of overpricing and waiting for buyers to make offers isn’t going to work.
Yes, as a REALTOR®, if my buyer client likes the overpriced home, I will encourage them to make an offer and will definitely speak with the listing agent prior to submitting it, however, it’s up to you, as the seller to either accept or make a counter-offer which will show the buyer how motivated you are to sell your house.

What if your REALTOR® suggests listing above market value? Why would they do that? Do they really know the market? Are they trying to win you over so you would list your home with them? Do you have the time to participate in this game?
As a REALTOR®, I don’t have the marketing dollars nor the time to play games. I list homes to sell. List and see what sticks doesn’t work for me, never did.

Everyone’s motivation is different, however, most home sellers list their homes to sell. To accomplish that goal, it’s best to do everything right from day one. That includes getting your home in show ready condition, working with the right REALTOR® for the right reasons and most importantly, pricing it right.
As a professional, I come across overpriced as well as underpriced homes for sale.  Those that are overpriced will either expire or see a major price reduction after a long marketing time. The ones that are underpriced will hopefully generate multiple offers and sell over list price.

Do Buyers make offers on overpriced listings? That depends on the area and competition. Remember, real estate is very local so what happens in Los Angeles isn’t very common in Clermont FL. Instead of wondering, it’s best to price your house to sell.

If you are a Clermont FL homeowner thinking about selling your home, I would love the opportunity to speak with you. Call or text me at 407-929-1852 for a FREE market analysis. Clermont FL home prices have increased 11% compared to last year. Your home may worth more than you think.

Tips to Help Your Home Sell

Selling a home is not easy, regardless of the market, or real estate conditions in the local area. Let’s face it, buyers have many options today. There are plenty of beautiful homes just like yours up for sale at any given time so you cannot afford to be casual when you decide to put your home up for sale. Luckily for you, we have gone through the trouble of compiling the top mistakes to avoid when you want to sell your home fast and at the best price possible. Below are 6 tips to help your home sell!

Selling a home is not easy, regardless of the market, or real estate conditions in the local area.

Do Not Overprice Your Home

This is by far one of the most common and detrimental mistakes home sellers make. There is nothing wrong with wanting to sell your home at a profit however, you should not overprice your home if you want to sell quickly. Price is by far the most important consideration for home buyers. As a result, the price you set should represent the true value of your home according to an expert local agent and not based on your own wishes/expectations.

It makes sense to hire a real estate agent who can help guide you through the selling process, carry out a thorough market analysis, and resolve a myriad of issues that may arise once your home is contracted. Ensuring you get the best price, based on market conditions, with consideration for any upgrades/improvements you have undertaken is what your agent will do for you. Overpricing your home is a bad idea and can discourage interested parties from making offers.

Market The Property With Purpose

Many home owners (and ultimately their agents) fail to do proper marketing. Putting a ”For Sale” sign in your yard and/or taking a few photos of your home and posting them online is not enough. If you want to sell your home fast and at the best price possible, you need to consider all marketing options at your disposal.

For instance, you need to utilize the internet fully by posting on all online real estate listing sites you can. You should also use social media, blogging, and even print media to reach as many consumers as possible. It is also important to make sure your agent takes quality photos or hires a professional photographer. The use of drones to market your home should also be considered if you have outside features you want highlighted. The majority of buyers start their search online…make them want to come visit your property!

Do Not Try To Sell Your Home On Your Own

Although there are benefits of selling your home yourself, the disadvantages can easily outweigh the advantages when you do not know what you are doing. Contrary to popular belief, selling your own home is typically not an easy task. In most states in the U.S. for instance, you automatically accept some liability when you try to sell your home yourself.

The entire process can also be tedious and time consuming not to mention the special skills required (i.e. negotiation skills) to sell real estate successfully. In a nutshell, it is better to hire a professional real estate agent if you want the best outcome possible.

The money you stand to save as a first time home seller is often not worth the hassle. In fact, you may end up incurring avoidable costs when you attempt to sell your home on your own because of factors such as poor negotiation skills, lack of real estate market knowledge, or not understanding what you need to disclose.

Tips to Help Your Home Sell

Failing To Do Repairs

This should go without saying. Your home must be in the best condition possible before you decide to sell it otherwise you will have a hard time attracting buyers who are willing to pay market value for your home. Jiggly door knobs, sagging screen doors, loose hand rails on the steps, dirty/damaged gutters, dripping faucets etc. must be fixed before you put your home up for sale.

It is better to include the cost of repairs in your asking price than consider settling for a lower offer. If you are unsure what to fix or update, get a home inspection done before you list your property. The inspector will provide a list of things buyers will most likely want resolved before purchasing your home.

Getting emotionally involved

Many home sellers also make this mistake which is totally understandable. Homes are beloved possessions. They also hold a lot of memories. Nevertheless, potential buyers may not see your home as such which is why you need to be as rational as possible if you want to sell your home fast. Potential buyers are interested in envisioning themselves in your home as opposed to sharing your personal memories and tastes.

It is important to make your home as neutral as possible (paint/furnishings) so it appeals to as many consumers as possible. This includes letting go of or removing and storing personal features (i.e. taxidermy items, mass collections, etc.). They are hard for buyers to overlook and could prevent your home from selling. You should think of your home as a commodity as opposed to an extension of who you are. It is advisable to have your agent pre-inspect your home and provide advice on what you need to change to make your home more marketable.

Home features aside, you should avoid getting offended by low offers. Most home sellers get emotional when they are offered less than what they expected. Instead of blowing off potential buyers or having other emotional responses, decline such offers politely and/or give a counter offer. You should not blame anyone for trying to get a great deal. Furthermore, you might push away a serious buyer since low offers are often part of the negotiation process. This is where cooler heads will prevail so ensure your agent is a neighborhood expert who will actively negotiating on your behalf.

Not Compromising On Minor Details

Some sellers have a hard time selling their homes because of being too rigid over minor details. It is possible for a home sale to fall apart over insignificant issues or concerns so having an open mind and being willing to give/take with buyers can make all the difference.

For instance, a seller may want to take a mantle with them instead of leaving it behind. Unless the mantle is really precious to you (i.e. it has been in your family for generations), you can always find another mantle. It is not worth losing a serious buyer over a detail that you can control. Also, it is often a great idea to stage your home after you have removed your belongings.

While these 6 tips to help your home sell will not guarantee a closing, following the advice will put your home in its best light, giving it every opportunity to be seen and sold.

Curb Appeal Checklist to Sell that House!

Curb Appeal Checklist to Sell that House in Clermont Florida

Curb Appeal Checklist to Sell that House!It can never be over stated that curb appeal is so very important when it comes to selling your Orlando home. The majority of potential buyers will NEVER even come to your property if it’s online pictures are lacking curb appeal OR if they do happen to drive by your property, they’ll just keep on driving without a second thought of even getting out of the car if your curb appeal doesn’t do its job to lure them in and take a look around.

You must inspect the outside ground. Remove any building materials, scrap wood, discarded household items and things that simply DO NOT belong from the property. Make sure everything that is seen from the street “curb appeal” is indeed appealing. When it comes to buying homes, buyers do judge a book by its cover. Store garbage cans in the garage or otherwise out of site.

Curb Appeal Check List:

  • -Check the home from the roof line down.
  • -Is the roof free and clear from debris and moss?
  • -Are the gutters clear and hung neatly? No dry rot?
  • -Are the windows clean and free from obstructions (such as overgrown bushes or trees)?
  • -Are bushes, trees and shrubs nicely pruned?Garden
  • -Inspect the condition of the paint or siding for chips etc.
  • -Is it time to power wash the siding?
  • -Is touch up paint needed?
  • -Is the front door in good condition?
  • -Do flower beds need any attention?
  • -Are plants neatly pruned?
  • -Is the bed free and clear of weeds and cat refuse?
  • -Is the bed properly mulched?
  • -Are flowers in bloom?
  • -Keep the lawn neatly groomed.
  • -Is the lawn free from weeds?
  • -Is the lawn, sidewalks and driveway free from grass clippings?
  • -Is the lawn neatly edged?

SEE ALSO:

– How to Stage Your Empty Saw Mill Lakes Home in Clermont

– How to Stage Your Lake Front Property in Clermont

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