After years of the sellers being in control, the real estate market has swung like a pendulum in favor of buyers. Don’t worry. You can still sell a house if you follow these tips.
1. When selling your home, it is important to understand the difference between home values and prices. The value is something determined by the appraisal. The price is what you can get for it.
2. When you are selling your home, keep it clean and tidy ALL the time. Let it get out of hand and an otherwise serious buyer WILL show up. If you don’t have time to clean, hire a cleaning service.
3. If you have a limited budget for sprucing up your home, consider devoting a good chunk of it to getting your kitchen in top shape. Consider replacing appliances and fixtures. Whatever steps you take, just make sure your kitchen is in top shape.
4. With the fluctuating home prices we are currently seeing, buyers can have problems getting financing regardless of their credit. Don’t drop the buyer! Instead, offer him or her a second mortgage.
5. When analyzing homes for sale in an area, it is important to focus on the correct numbers. Typically, you want to throw out any home that has a distinctly higher or lower price than the other homes unless there is something unique about it.
6. You’re a seller who really needs or wants to sell your home within the next three months and the market is slow in your area. Getting enough people to come and look at your house is the secret to achieving your goal. Make price reductions until you do get 1 to 3 showings per week, and your home will sell.
7. You want to put your home on the market and want to be sure it will “show well.” What do you do? Clean, clean clean! No home ever failed to sell because it was too clean. Pare down and organize what’s in closets, garage, kitchen, and laundry.
8. Most states require real estate contracts to be in writing to be enforceable. The buyer invests time and thought in the process of committing his offer to paper. When you receive his written offer, you know ALL the items the buyer is trying to “nibble” from you.
9. Whether buying or selling, you will want to take a close look at comparable homes in the neighborhood. Do not pay much attention to the listed prices. Homes do not sell for the listed price. Focus on the actual sales prices of recently sold homes.
10. Many people ask escrow officers for advice or help. Don’t expect any! Escrow companies are supposed to be neutral third parties. They handle the paperwork, not negotiations or problems.
The funny thing about the real estate market is it is always active. If you listen to the news, you would swear not a single home was being sold these days. In truth, hundreds of thousands of them are and yours will be next if you follow the above advice.
Tags: Real Estate
