Sell Your Home Quickly

1. Staging matters—big time!
Every agent knows the old adage, “Homes that don’t show well don’t close well.” But still, time and time again we see sellers rail against the time and cost associated with staging a home. After all, if they love their home as it is, why shouldn’t everyone else? This is a situation where sometimes showing trumps telling. Test out the impact of staging by going on a two-home showing; one where the home is staged and one where the home is not.

Someone's decor may be a beautiful expression of their personality, but sometimes less is more.

Also remember to stress that when the warm weather comes, it’s as equally important to show off the outside of the home as it is to highlight the inside of the home. During the summer selling season, buyers are more likely to value things like a stellar backyard, a great (but low-maintenance) garden, or incredible curb appeal.

2. The market sets the price, not the owner.
It’s understandable that many home sellers think that their home is above the price that the market dictates. Sentimental value often translates into an inflated sense of the home’s worth, but when it comes price, the winning opinion is always the market’s opinion. Agents know it’s impossible to effectively price a home without taking into account the competition. Unfortunately, too many sellers don’t.

First, it’s essential to determine how much the seller thinks their home is worth. If their expectation is wildly inappropriate, it may be worth taking them to see a home that is on the market and priced at their expectation. Then, take the seller to a comparable home that is priced similarly to where you feel their home should be priced. Take the time to both educate them on the competition and give them expert home pricing tips to help them understand your pricing strategy.

3. Small renovations may mean big bucks later.
In many cases, the cost of a home repair is less expensive than a potential buyer perceives the cost of the repair to be. If buyers over-estimate the cost of fixing the problem, it may negatively impact the offer amount and end up costing the seller more in the long run.

4. Incentives can help close the deal faster.
Offering practical incentives might not sound sexy, but those that fill legitimate buyer needs have the power to differentiate a listing from the competition and attract just the right attention needed to get the home sold for the right price.

Sellers should be prepared to sweeten the deal if the right offers don’t come rolling in. Talking incentives early and building them into the marketing plan can arm both agent and seller with the ammunition to jump potential marketing hurdles and beat out the competition for a fast sale.

4 Real estate is a local business.
The last few years have turned real estate headlines into high-profile news. Home prices are on the rise. Sellers need to know the difference between asking and listing price in their local market. For guidance on selling your Seattle home more quickly, contact Wendy at HomeLandInvestment@gmail.com for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Happy Investing!

This blog courtesy of Trulia