Selling
for Top Dollar!
Did
you know? The best chance for selling your property
is within the first seven weeks! Studies show
that the longer a property stays on the market, the
less financial return the seller will net.
There
are 5 main factors to achieving your goal of
getting top dollar for your property.
Factor
1: PRICING
It
is very important to price your property at a competitive
market value right when you list it. The market is so
competitive that even over-pricing by a few thousand
dollars could mean that your house will not sell. I
have found your first offer is usually your best offer.
An
overpriced home:
- Minimizes
offers
- Lowers
showings
- Lowers
agent response
- Limits
financing
- Limits
qualified buyers
When
you think about it, 80% of the marketing is done when
we decide on what price to list your home.
For
people unwilling to list a property at current market
value, I usually recommend holding off on putting the
property on the market for awhile.
Factor
2: CLEANING
Most
people are turned off by even the smallest amount of
uncleanliness or odor when buying a home. Sellers lose
thousands of dollars because they do not adequately
clean. If your house is squeaky clean, you will be able
to sell your home faster and net hundreds, if not thousands,
of dollars more.
If
you are planning on moving, why not get rid of that
old junk now so that your house will appear larger?
Make more space!
Odors
must be eliminated, especially if you have dogs, cats,
or young children in diapers, or if you are a smoker.
You may not notice the smell, but the buyers do! Most
agents have a difficult time communicating to their
sellers about odor. If you employ an agent to get the
most amount of money for you, please don't take offense
if he/she must confront you about odor problems.
Factor
3: ACCESS
Top
selling agents will not show your home if both the key
and access are not readily available. They do not have
time to run around town picking up and dropping off
keys. They want to sell homes! The greatest way to show
a house is to have a key! When your home is being shown,
be sure to do the following:
- Keep
all lights on, including exterior “coach” lights by
your front door
- Keep
all drapes and shutters open
- Keep
all doors unlocked
- Leave
soft music playing
- Take
a short walk with your children and pets
- Let
the buyer be at ease and let the agents do their job
Factor
4: PAINT AND CARPET
Paint
is your best improvement investment for getting a greater
return on your money. Paint makes the whole house smell
clean and neat. If your house has chipped paint, exposed
wood, or the paint looks faded, it is time to paint.
If
your carpet is worn, dirty, outdated, or an unusual
color, you may need to seriously consider replacing
it. Many houses do not sell because of this problem.
Don't think that buyers have more money than you do
to replace carpet. They don't. They simply buy elsewhere.
Factor
5: CURB APPEAL
The
first impression a buyer gets of your home is from the
curb.
Your
front yard immediately reflects the inside condition
of your house to the buyer. People enjoy their yards.
Make certain that the trees and bushes are trimmed so
the house can be seen from the street. Have the grass
mowed, trimmed and edged. Walkways should be swept.
The front door should be freshly painted or freshly
stained.
Clean
away debris. Remove parked cars. This all adds to curb
appeal.
If
a buyer does not like the outside, they may not stop
to see the inside!
Well,
now you know all of the 5 main factors to getting top
dollar for your property:
| Factor
1: Pricing |
| Factor
2: Cleaning |
| Factor
3: Access |
| Factor
4: Paint and Carpet |
| Factor
5: Curb Appeal |
If
you carefully consider these factors, you will maximize
your chances of selling your property within the first
seven weeks for top dollar!
