“I love working with sellers. I know the right marketing efforts and experience can make all the difference.”
My goal is to sell your home as quickly as possible. I have earned a record of quick sales, with many of my properties being sold in as little as 1 week! Not every home is positioned to be sold so quickly. I help my sellers prepare their homes to be sold fast and at the right price. There are a number of different ways I assist sellers in getting their homes sold, listed below are some of the most important.
I know 92% of homebuyers start their house hunt online, and they will never even get in the car to come see your home if the online listings aren’t compelling. Good photography is very important. Thorough information as well and highlighting the home’s best features greatly impact buyer’s decisions to come view your home.
A video from buyers talking about the best bits about your home and neighborhood can really motivate and excite buyers. When a home is loved, others will want to love it too.
If you belong to neighborhood online message boards or email lists, send a link to your home’s online listing to your neighbors. Also, invite your neighbors to your open house. That creates opportunities for your neighbors to sell the neighborhood to prospective buyers and for your neighbors to invite house hunters they know who have always wanted to live in the area and have been waiting for the right home.
Facebook is the great connector of people these days. If you have 200 friends and they each have 200 friends, imagine the power of that network in getting the word out about your house! My social media will also be your friend in helping to sell your home. I will add your home to all my social media accounts to help maximize exposure.
As an individual homeowner, the way you can compete is on condition. Consider having a termite inspection in advance of listing your home, and get as many of the repairs done as you can – it’s a major selling point to be able to advertise a very low or non-existent pest repair bill. Also, make sure that the little nicks and scratches, doorknobs that don’t work, and wonky handles are all repaired before you start showing your home. The move-in ready buyer is ready to buy today! If needed, I can help bring in a stager for your home to give it that truly polished and inviting look!
Stage the exterior with fresh paint, immaculate landscaping and even outdoor furniture to set up a Sunday brunch on the deck vignette. Buyers often fantasize about enjoying their backyards by entertaining and spending time outside.
Homes that don’t get shown don’t get sold. Don’t make it difficult for agents to get their clients into your home – if they have to make appointments way in advance, or can only show it during a very restrictive time frame, they will likely just cross your place off the list and go show the places that are easy to get into.
Today’s buyers are very educated about the comparable sales in the area, which heavily influence the fair market value of your home. And they also know that they’re in the driver’s seat. To make your home competitive, have your broker or agent get you the sales prices of the three most similar homes that have sold in your area in the last month or so, then try to go 10-15% below that when you set your home’s list price. The homes that look like a great deal are the ones that get the most visits from buyers and, on occasion even receive multiple offers. (Bidding wars do still exist!)
Work with your broker or agent to get educated about the price, type of sale and condition of the other homes your home is up against. Attend some open houses in your area and do a real estate reality check: know that buyers that see your home will see those homes, too – make sure the real-time comparison will come out in your home’s favor by ensuring the condition of your home is up to par.
Do this – pretend you’re moving out. Take all the things that make your home “your” personal sanctuary (e.g., family photos, religious décor and kitschy memorabilia), pack them up and put them in storage. Buyers want to visualize your house being their house – and it’s difficult for them to do that with all your personal items marking the territory as yours.
Keep the faux-moving in motion. Pack up all your tchotchkes, anything that is sitting on top of a countertop, table or other flat surfaces. Anything that you haven’t used in at least a year? That goes, too. Give away what you can, throw away as much as possible of what remains, and then pack the rest to get it ready to move.
Obviously working with an experienced agent is key. But listening to them is crucial. These tips and how I can help are meant to show you I am invested in your sale. Let me help you sell fast!