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SELLING TIPS
The following information and ideas will help you
view your home as buyers will see it. Preparing to Sell - Clean Up, Repair & Clear
Out! Remember that the actual cash value of your home is
the price that someone will pay for it in today’s real estate economy.
Consider improvements that could be made prior to showing your home to potential
buyers. Examine the exterior carefully to ensure that lawns, trees and shrubs
are well manicured and look healthy. Add blooming flowers here and there for
that little extra color. Keep in mind that buyers will register their first
impression as they drive up to your house. Mentally place yourself in the
buyer’s shoes as you enter your home. Do the walls need painting? Are the
windows and window coverings clean and bright? Does your carpet need cleaning or
replacing? Do all of your kitchen appliances operate properly? And what about
the unseen items that a buyer’s inspector may find such as plumbing leaks or
drips, slow flowing toilets or sinks, and electrical outlets that don’t work?
Remove everything possible from your closets and storage spaces, even if you
have to pack them for moving. Spacious and tidy closets and cupboards are
attractive to prospective buyers. The same is true for each room in the house.
Is there too much furniture? Too many personal treasures sitting around? Too
many large plants? These items tend to decrease the perceived size of your
rooms. With a little preparation, you may very well increase the value of your
property. Establishing the Asking Price The higher you price your property, the fewer the
people who will come to see it. After reviewing sale prices of comparable homes
in your area, you’ll be ready to set a fair asking price for your property.
Remember that the money spent upgrading the kitchen and the custom shutters in
the den will not necessarily mean a higher sales price than what the market
currently entertains. Buyers can be more sophisticated in comparing properties
than sellers because they have no emotional attachments to the houses. After
all, it wasn’t their hard earned dollars that installed the lovely spa in your
yard. To a buyer, it’s just another spa. The bottom line is, set a higher
price and play the waiting game, or set a realistic price and prepare to move. Marketing Your Home Realty Direct will offer your home to as many real
estate agents and prospective buyers as possible. The single most important
place to promote the sale of your property is through the Multiple Listing
Service. Information about your home will be entered into the MLS computer
database for immediate access by other agents. Approximately 70% of all homes
sold are sold through the MLS. A “For Sale” sign will be placed on your
property. Showing Your Home to Buyers Keep it neat! A clean, neat home allows buyers to
see the home for itself when previewing your property. Clutter tends to divert
away from the most salable features of your home. Dirty dishes and un-kept rooms
leave buyers with a negative impression of your home. Be sure that all pets are
securely closed within their cages or yards. Whether or not you are there when
your home is viewed, the sales agent will leave a business card so that you can
make an inquiry about the showing. When buyers come avoid participating in the
conversation between the agent and the buyer. When Realtors arrive with buyers,
graciously greet them and excuse yourself. If asked a specific question about
your home, answer as briefly as possible and let the agent continue the
conversation. Buyers appreciate the comfort of being able to compliment features
or verbalize objections without being overheard by the owner. The Offer When a buyer signs an offer to purchase your home
the buyer’s agent will present the offer to Realty Direct. The written offer
to purchase should include detailed information about the buyer’s offer.
Together with your attorney you should review the price, the amount of earnest
money deposit, the proposed closing and occupancy dates, any contingencies and
the buyer’s ability to qualify for a loan. You have three options in
responding to the offer: accept the offer as written, make a counter offer or
reject the offer. Once the contract has been signed and the buyer has been
notified of your acceptance, the document becomes a valid sales contract. You
are advised to seek the advice of an attorney before signing any contract. Closing the Contract At the closing or settlement, the buyer and you will
each have completed the conditions and met the terms of you contract and the
title to the property will be conveyed to the buyer. Your title company or
attorney will have helped you through the steps of closing. After the closing,
you will receive a final settlement statement for your records that clearly
illustrates all the expenses paid by you in order to close the contact.
Ever day thousands of homes sell. But many more languish
unsold. Why? Because some home sellers know how to get their homes
sold and others don’t. Most homebuyers are lazy. They want to buy a home that is in
move-in condition, where all that the buyer has to do is turn the key in the
door. Only about 2 % of home buyers want to purchase a rundown fixer-upper at a
below-market bargain price. That means giving your home a coat of paint inside and out.
If necessary, replace the tired and worn carpet with fresh stain-resistant
carpets in a light neutral color. By all means, include the kitchen appliances
in the sale price. Kitchens sell houses. So do bathrooms. Be sure yours are especially attractive. Other profitable improvements include new landscaping, general clean up and repair, as well as cleaning all closets to make them tidy and neat. |
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For all inquiries, including questions and comments about this web site,
please send mail to info@realty-direct.com (REALTY DIRECT CORP,
LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER)
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