13 tips to help you sell your home for more money, faster:
1. Get your house ready to sell. (Creating a Dream Home....)
Make all repairs to your home before you put it up for sale. Get the furnace serviced, Have your well Inspected & the Septic cleaned. Clean your house thoroughly before every showing. People buy houses because they make an emotional connection to it. They envision themselves living comfortably in your home. It’s your job to insure they react favorably when they first see it.
2. Stage your Home.
You can create an intimate atmosphere, by simply clearing the clutter, a fresh coat of paint, and accessories. Removing extra furniture can open up a room. And placement of furniture can create a great space! Your Realtor may have suggestions and or may recommend a Professional Stager. REMEMBER, less is always better! A fresh coat of paint may increase your sales price, and the choice of color is key! A few extra touches, like a new Welcome mat, new drapes, scented candles set the scene. I also suggest Sellers turn a few lamps on throughout the house, with a little background music on for showings, it immediately gives the buyer a welcoming feeling.
3. Plant Flowers.
How is your Landscape? Keeping the Grass Cut is first. Plant some window boxes, add some small bushes, put flowers inside in and out! It's about creating a luxurious but simple setting that a buyer can dream about....
4. Make a List of your home's Updates. (buyers will offer, faster)
It is tough for a Buyer to know what to offer on a House....while they fear what they'll find in the Inspection. WHY HOLD UP THEIR OFFER? If your List answers' all of their questions, a Buyer is more likely to offer, faster and with a higher offer, when they know the age of the roof, the furnace, electric, septic/well service, style of heat, expense to heat or cool the home every year! Any new updates that increase the value, increase your Sales $$$ price. So let them know upfront.
5. Choose the correct selling price. (Find a REALTOR!)
You will need to properly research the real estate market to find out what comparable houses have been selling for in your area over the last few months. You will also need to find current listings that are similar to your home to see what houses in your area are selling for right now. Remember that if you set the price too high, you won’t get any serious offers. And if you set the price too low, agents and prospective buyers will think that something is wrong with your home. You will also need to figure out the cost of the terms of your sale, and calculate how much money you will make at the end of the sale. Being familiar with all of the selling costs will help you set the right price for your house.
6. Choosing the Right Realtor. (What is their marketing plan?)
Your main goal is to get the word out to as many people as possible that your house is for sale. Interview more than 1 Realtor...as many as it takes to find the right one. If a Realtor tells you, your home will be hard to sell because of the town you are in, maybe you are not speaking to the right Realtor. ASK QUESTIONS! What will they offer you? What sets their Agency apart from the pack? What is their experience in Selling homes in your town? How many homes do they sell every year? How does their office Rank in Sales? Compare Realtor to Realtor, what will they do to promote your home?
*HIRE a Realtor who creates Marketing specific to your home: Buyer Giveaways, MAILERs, FLYERs, CDs, Video, Virtual Tour, MLS Listing, Newspaper ADs and WEB ADs non-stop!!! This includes multiple Public Open Houses, A Broker's Open helps, ask how many offices they invite & how!
7. Consult an Attorney.
Every State is different. NYS requires an Attorney draw Real Estate Contracts. Your Realtor can explain all the required NYS documents for selling your home, but the legal documents will be executed by your selected Attorney, your Realtor can recommend a fantastic professional.
8. Finding Qualified Buyers.Your Realtor will pre-qualify every buyer that walks through your door for a set appointment. Open House's can bring curious house shoppers, who may have not been pre-qualified. Keep in Mind, word of mouth can bring a buyer who previously wasn't looking at your house or in that price range. i.e. Some Sellers do not want their neighbors to know their home is for sale, but it is beneficial to post a sign, welcome them to your open house....you just never know who might have a friend/associate/family member thinking of moving to your town in the near future.
9. When showing your home. (let a Realtor handle the show)
Leave for each showing! The buyer can not build an intimate bond with your home, if you are standing over their shoulder. Buyers will linger at a home 10-20 minutes longer when they are accompanied by a REALTOR. This allows a Buyer to take their time and imagine your house as their HOME! While it's also nice to ask the Seller questions....remember having the list ready for the buyer, is the most professional approach to selling your home.
10. Make your home available to show. (Keeping a tidy home)
It is tough to sell a home if no one can look at it, keep it tidy so you are prepared for a last minute request to show. Buyers are impatient and want to look at homes when its convenient for them. This may include daytime, evenings, or weekends depending on when they work and have time to look. If they can't look at your home the first time they ask they usually move on and don't come back.
11. Negotiating the Deal. (Price competitive is key)
Be educated enough about all of the procedures so that you can answer any questions the buyer may have. Be prepared to negotiate back and forth to reach a agreed upon price. Having Realtors negotiate the deal on both sides keeps a professional face to the transaction. It allows Seller's the peace of mind everything is handled in the deal; financial issues, price nit-picking, the headache over small issues, without letting the situation boil over and words being said that can ruin the deal over emotional conflict.
12. Keep the reasons for selling your home to yourself.
Obviously, if knowing what motivates your buyer gives you the advantage during negotiations, having them know your motivation will give them the advantage, too.
13. Buyer's Remorse in a Seller's Market.
We've all heard of Buyer's Remorse. Your goal is to create a frenzy for buyer's to purchase your home. From step 1 through step 10. The more marketing, more shows, more buyers who see your home....more offers. Your Home will Sell! Keep your options open. You may have a Buyer rush in with a full price offer to back out due to Buyer's Remorse. This can happen, but I would prefer you experience the type of Buyer's Remorse, where your home is so desirable, buyer's are wishing they had found your home before you sold it to someone else. This is what these 13 steps highlight. The best advise I can give you...is to work with the right professionals, you'll end up selling faster for more.
