5 Tips To Help Sell Your Property

 Contrary to what you may or want to believe, successfully listing and negotiating the sale of  your home or other property is much more of an art than it is luck.  Below are five proven tips that if followed, will help you get the best price in the most reasonable amount of time.  While it's no guarantee and other market factors may be working against you, these are nonetheless proven factors in successfully getting the inevitable sale results you are hoping to achieve.   

Create Great Curb.  Like the saying says “you only get one chance to make a good first impression.”  Most home buyers want homes which look great from the outside. It's not just a question of curb appeal it's also about buyer perception. If a home looks good from the street it probably means the property has pride of ownership, has been well cared for and is ready for a new occupant without a lot of cost or aggravation for the new owner(s). Buyers have less interest in a home that doesn't appeal to them from the street and some may not even get out of the car to look inside.

De-clutter Your Home.  I am often amazed when I show properties just how much clutter there can be.  When your home is for sale, it is not the time to be showcasing your beer bottle collection or Elvis memorabilia.  I always ask myself, “why is the listing REALTOR® not addressing this with the owners?”  A clutter-free home offer fewer distractions allowing the buyer to visualize there furniture and belonging there.  It will make interior spaces look larger and eliminates the need to get rid of stuff when you are in the midst of moving.  Sometimes it may make sense to donate unwanted items or otherwise reduce clutter before a home is placed on the market.  Rent a small storage unit perhaps to put excess "stuff."  This is not only a good marketing initiative but it also serves as a practical step toward relocation.  If you are really committed to a move, start packing now.

Good Working Mechanicals.  Make sure that your home's systems such as the furnace, air conditioner, central vacuum and others are in good repair and that they function properly.  This will help to ensure they meet the scrutiny of a professional home inspection. Homes with good mechanicals are much more appealing to buyers that are fearful of major repair expenses.

Seek Pre-qualified Buyers.  While many sales may be for cash, the majority still require financing.  At one time, mortgage financing was somewhat of a given but times have changed.  It is frustrating to enter into a sales contract with a potential buyer who ultimately cannot obtain the required financing to purchase your home.  Have your listing REALTOR® determine if the buyers that are contemplating making an offer or have made an offer on your home have been pre-approved.  While still not a guarantee, pre-approval of a buyer(s) is a much strong indicator that the financing condition in an offer will be fulfilled.

Price and Negotiate Properly.  Pricing your home correctly at the outset means everything!  In addition to overall economic and market conditions, such factors as location, amenities and condition are just some of the characteristics that impact the price.  When an offer is received, the terms in that offer should be given equal consideration as to price.  A strong price along with a myriad of conditions and a long closing date may not be as attractive as a cleaner offer with fewer conditions, a shorter close and lower price.  These are all things to consider and need to be discussed with your REALTOR® during offer deliberation and subsequent negotiations.  

Send me your selling and or buying questions on Facebook and I will be glad to provide answers to you without obligation.