The Real Estate Market
Has Changed . . .
Remember not so long ago, when you
could make your fortune in real
estate. It was nothing then to buy a
home, wait a short while, and then sell it
at a tidy profit.
And then do it all over again.
Well, as you probably know, times have
changed. As good as the market is right
now, home prices are still below what
they were at their peak. Buyers are far
more discriminating, and a large
percentage of the homes listed for sale
never sell. It’s more critical than ever to
learn what you need to know to avoid
costly seller mistakes in order to sell your
home fast and for the most amount of
money.
The System
to Get Your Home Sold
Fast and For Top Dollar
Selling your home is one of the most
important steps in your life. This 9 step
system will give you the tools you need
to maximize your profits, maintain
control, and reduce the stress that comes
with the home-selling process:
❶ Know why you’re selling, and
keep it to yourself.
The reasons behind your decision to sell affect
everything from setting a price to deciding how
much time and money to invest in getting your
home ready for sale. What’s more important to
you: the money you walk away with, the length
of time your property is on the market or both?
Different goals will dictate different strategies.
However, don’t reveal your motivation to anyone
else or they may use it against you at the
negotiating table. When asked, simply say that
your housing needs have changed.
❷ Do your homework before
setting a price.
Settling on an offering price shouldn’t be done
lightly. Once you’ve set your price, you’ve told
buyers the absolute maximum they have to pay
for your home, but pricing too high is as
dangerous as pricing too low. Remember that the
average buyer is looking at 15-20 homes at the
same time they are considering yours. This
means that they have a basis of comparison, and
if your home doesn’t compare favorably with
others in the price range you’ve set, you won’t
be taken seriously by prospects or agents. As a
result, your home will sit on the market for a
long time and, knowing this, new buyers on the
market will think there must be something
wrong with your home.
❸ More homework.
(In fact, your agent should do this for you). Find
out what homes in your own and similar
neighborhoods have sold for in the past 6-12
months, and research what current homes are
listed for. That’s certainly how prospective buyers
will assess the worth of your home.
❹ Find a good real estate agent to
represent your needs.
Nearly three-quarters of homeowners claim that
they wouldn’t use the same realtor who sold
their last home. Dissatisfaction boils down to
poor communication which results in not enough
feedback, lower pricing and strained relations.
❺ Maximize your home’s sales
potential.
Each year, corporate North America spends
billions on product and packaging design.
Appearance is critical, and it would be foolish
to ignore this when selling your home.
You may not be able to change your home’s
location or floor plan, but you can do a lot to
improve its appearance. The look and feel of
your home generates a greater emotional
response than any other factor. Before showings
clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Pick up,
The 7 Deadly Mistakes
Most Homesellers Make
Failing to analyze why they are selling.
➁ Not preparing their home for the
buyer’s eye.
➂ Pricing their homes incorrectly.
➃ Selling too hard during showings.
➄ Signing a long-term listing agreement
without a written performance
guarantee.
➅ Making it difficult for buyers to get
information on their homes.
➆ Failing to obtain a pre-approved
mortgage for one’s next home.
“Buyers are far more discriminating, and a large percentage of the homes listed for sale don’t
sell the first time. It’s more critical than ever to learn what you need to know to avoid
costly seller mistakes in order to sell your home fast and for the most amount of money.”