Sellers' Resources

Thinking About it.

The walls around you are painted with memories, but it’s time to move on. You have a tickle in your toes that won’t go away and you’ve finally outgrown the house mom cooked you spaghetti in. Is it time to sell?
Think about why you want to sell:

• Do you think it’s a good time in the market? I can help you understand what forces are at play in the market at this time.
• Is there something you crave beyond what your current home offers?
• What career or employment considerations should you be making?
• Are maintenance and upkeep issues a motivating factor to sell?
• Did your grandfather leave you a small fortune?

Knowing why you want to sell will help you position your house on the market as well as figuring out must-haves in your new home.

Getting Ready To List Your Home

You’ve decided to sell your home. You’ve been staring at the wall where Timmy scribbled his ABC’s for too many years. The rose bush your husband bought has been dead-standing since your last anniversary. Your daughter’s first curve ball shattered the garage window into precious shards. Now’s the time to repair all the broken things you’ve wanted to repair but haven’t found the time.
A key point to keep in mind is that we live in our house one way but market our homes to the public another. Your lifestyle inside your home may fit you perfectly but it may not fit a potential buyer. You want to present or "stage" the home in such a way that the potential buyer can envision living in your home.

• If the wallpaper’s peeling, peel it all off.
• A fresh coat of paint goes a long way. Read my article about choosing a paint color.
• Maximize your space. If you love collecting knick knacks, now’s the time to prepare them for a new home and pack them away.
• Have a landscaper come out and pull out old bushes, plant seasonal shrubbery and flowers.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Have the carpets cleaned
• Kitchen and bathroom re-models tend to add the most value to a home.
  

Remember, first impressions are the most lasting. My blog is dedicated to home improvement and has many articles to help you get your house in selling shape.

Pricing - What Will the Market Bear?

You want a million dollars for a hundred thousand dollar house. You may not sell right away. Hold onto that house for another twenty or thirty years and your wish will be granted. Deciding where to price your house is one of the most important decisions you are going to make, but there are other factors besides price when you sell your house.

• Be realistic about your wants and the buyer’s wants.
• Check out comparable houses in your neighborhood and see what they are listed for and what previous homes have recently sold for. I can help you interpret this information.
• What offsets or allowances are you willing to make for repairs or renovations that need to be taken care of?
  
• Contact me to see where the market is and where it’s headed.
  

• When choosing a real estate agent you want someone you can trust.
• Get recommendations from previous clients
• Call around. Talk to at least two or three brokers before choosing one.
• Who is listening to your needs?
• What are their credentials?
• Are they experienced in selling the type of home you own?
• What are their fees?
• How will they market your home?
• How long are you willing to hold onto the house?
• If you don’t get the price you want at first, do you have time to wait, or do you need to sell right away?

Reaching the Right buyer

If you’re thinking about that marketing award you won in high school and you haven’t taken a class in marketing or advertising since, now might be the time to consult a professional (me ;-)). If your idea of a good sales pitch is ‘Views! Views! Views!,’ you may want to keep your day job, besides, writing pays little if nothing and half the great writers of our time died without ever attaining recognition for their work.

Here's just a few aspects I take into consideration when I market a home:

• What is the character of your house?
• What first attracted you to the home?
• A picture is worth a thousand words. Hiring a professional is a good investment. You only get one chance to impress.
• After the picture come the words. What do they say about your house that sets you aside from other homes?
• Where are you listed? Where are you advertising?
• Now’s the time to think outside the box.
• Where will a home stand out?
• On-line is a huge resource.
• Personalized web page for your home
• What is my marketing budget?

We'll create a compelling story that differentiates your home, generates interest and helps the right buyer make that emotional connection that causes them to push the buy button.

Close the Deal

Your home that is fully equipped with a state-of-the-art home theatre system, vibrating leather chairs for your viewing room and a recording studio, is listed in audio/video magazines as well as rock and roll magazines and sells after two days on the market. Your log cabin that overlooks 5,000 acres of National Forest Land is listed in High Times and sells instantly. You have more offers than you can take. You listed your million dollar home in the same Real Estate magazines as every other million dollar home and you have no offers. What next?

• Is the offer near or above asking price?
• If above are there other offers coming in that might top it or should you grab it?
• If you have no offers, how long can you wait?
• If the property doesn’t sell right away, can you afford to wait until you get your asking price, or is it worth considering lowering the price?
• If you have too many offers, which one do you choose?
• You may be better off choosing someone with a reliable income as opposed to the man with a duffel bag full of cash.

There are so many variables to consider during this time. This is where my expertise can really help you make sense of all that's swirling around you. After all, you have a life outside of this transaction.