Oct 22, 2014 | Home Seller Tips
Have you decided to sell your home, perhaps to make an upgrade to a newer, larger house? Whatever your reasons for selling, you’ll have a number of decisions to make as you craft your listing and begin receiving offers from buyers but few are as important as your initial selling price.
Let’s take a look at three reasons why setting your listing price is the most important factor in your home sale.
Reason #1: You Can Scare Off Potential Buyers With A High Price
You’ll receive the majority of your buyer interest in the first few days and weeks after you place your home up for sale, so it’s critical that your price isn’t set so high that it scares a number of buyers off.
While some sellers believe that it’s better to price high and let buyers submit lower offers, this can actually work against you. It’s better to have your home priced fairly from the beginning as you can always refuse offers that you deem are too low.
Reason #2: Your Price Directly Impacts How Long Your Sale Will Take
If you’re interested in seeing your home sell quickly it’s going to be in your best interest to have it priced competitively. Buyers will be shopping around for similar homes in your community and if there are other listings with lower prices on the market you may find it takes you a while to get your home sold.
Also, if you do find a buyer that is interested they’ll likely try to enter into price negotiations with you which can extend the length of the sale by a week or more as you go back and forth to reach an agreement.
Reason #3: A Low Price Means Leaving Money On The Table
While pricing too high can cause issues with your sale, pricing your home too low isn’t going to benefit you either. While you’ll likely find that you receive a high number of offers very quickly, you’ll end up leaving some of your home equity on the table – equity that you could easily have realized as buyers would have been willing to pay the difference.
Remember – the best way to ensure your home is priced competitively is to have it valued by a real estate professional. Contact your local real estate agent when you’re ready to sell your home and they’ll be able to determine the true value of your home.
Oct 16, 2014 | Home Seller Tips
Whether you’ve decided it’s time for an upgrade or you’re moving on to a new city, if you’re selling your home you may be wondering how you can boost its value before listing it up for sale.
In today’s blog post we’ll share four ways that you can spend a bit of time and money upgrading your home before it hits the local real estate market.
Spruce Up Your Landscaping
You’ll want your home to make a great first impression, and as such a great place to start is by sprucing up your lawn, gardens and other landscape features. Your grass should be a healthy green, free of weeds and freshly trimmed.
If you can, look to add seasonal flowers in your front gardens as this can add a bit of color to your home. Keep any shrubs or trees trimmed away from the home so that buyers can get a good look.
Apply A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Another excellent way to increase your home’s “curb appeal” is by applying a fresh coat of paint to the house, the trim around the windows and the front door.
Of course, painting a house is a big job so this might be one that is best left to a team of professionals. For added effect, replace the fixtures on the front door and pick up new house numbers.
Upgrade Your Kitchen Appliances
Many buyers will focus intently on your kitchen and the condition of everything from your flooring to your cupboards. If you have an older refrigerator or stove you’ll want to replace those with newer stainless-steel models.
You’ll also want to ensure that you have quality countertops – if you’re replacing them, consider going with granite as it’s popular with younger buyers.
Install A New Set Of Bathroom Fixtures
Finally, if you haven’t renovated your bathroom recently you’ll want to invest in modernizing your faucets, mirrors and other fixtures. The decor of your bathroom should match that in the rest of your home, but also stand out in its own unique way.
If you have an old bathtub with stained porcelain, consider replacing it with a glass-enclosed waterfall shower. Don’t forget about your light fixtures; if you find the bathroom is a bit dark, replace these with something that adds brightness.
For more information about the home staging and selling process, contact a local real estate professional today. Real estate agents are your best source for expert advice when selling a home, so don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call if you have questions.
Oct 15, 2014 | Home Seller Tips
Have you listed your home up for sale? If so, you’ve likely spent a lot of time crafting your listing and highlighting the many features of your home and property – but have you focused on the community around your home as well?
Let’s take a look at a few ways that you can promote the qualities of your local neighborhood as you’re working to convince a buyer that purchasing your home is a great decision.
Give Your Buyers The A Tour Of The Neighborhood
After your listing goes live it won’t be long before potential buyers and their agents are calling to set up viewings so they can see what your home looks like in person.
When a buyer tours your home, offer to spend a few minutes giving them a quick tour of the local community as well. Have a quick route determined beforehand which takes you past schools, medical facilities and other amenities that will help to reinforce that your area is a great one to live in.
Highlight Local Community Centers And Parks
Do you have a community center, fitness center or large park nearby? If so you’ll definitely want to ensure that your buyer knows about these – especially if you’re selling your home to a family with children.
Modern buyers are very appreciative of green space and local cultural amenities as in many areas they’re becoming a bit harder to find. Point out just how close those local running trails are or how the recreation center is just a short jog away.
Have A List Of Local Restaurants And Shops Handy
Whether you live in the suburbs or the downtown core of your city, it’s likely that you have a number of restaurants, cafés and shops nearby. Consider making a quick list of these, highlighting any favorites or popular spots that are well-known to everyone who lives in the area.
Virtually everyone likes to dine out on occasion, and many buyers will prefer to live in a community that has what they need within a short drive.
If you’re unsure of what community features you should be telling potential buyers about, be sure to ask your real estate agent as they have been through the selling process numerous times before and will know how to market the community around your home.
Oct 9, 2014 | Home Seller Tips
Whether you’re in the early stages of the home selling process or your home has been on the market for some time, you may be considering hosting an open houses or two in order to welcome potential buyers in to see your property.
Let’s take a look at three reasons you may want to pass on the idea of open houses in order to invest your time in other areas which may lead to a faster sale.
Most Buyers Start Their House Hunt Online
According to statistics from the National Association of REALTORS®, the majority of home buyers begin their house hunt by browsing through online real estate listings.
If you have had professional photos taken and have a well-designed property listing which highlights the features and amenities in your home, you may find that the time and money you would spend hosting open houses is better spent marketing your listing and conducting private viewings.
There’s Too Many Listings To Tour Them All
Depending on where you live, there is anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of homes on the market at any given time.
The sheer number of houses and condos available makes the prospect of visiting so many open houses seem daunting to many buyers, so many tend to skip this step in favor of booking viewings for homes they’re interested in.
A Virtual Open House Allows Buyers To Tour 24/7
Many real estate websites offer the attach dozens of photos and videos to your listing, essentially offering you the ability to host a virtual “open house” online where prospective buyers can get a feel for your property before deciding if they would like to see more.
If you can provide a buyer with the ability to tour through your home from their mobile phone, there’s little sense in going through the preparation and expense of hosting open houses. Even if you do, you may find that few people decide to show up.
It’s important to note that the best source of advice when selling your home is a professional real estate agent who has experience with homes sales in your area. Contact your local real estate agency before you start the home selling process and they’ll be able to suggest the best approach for marketing your home to interested local buyers.
Sep 25, 2014 | Home Seller Tips
Millennials are finally starting to enter the real estate market after delaying home purchases for several years. With a completely new client base looking for homes, it is time to start making your home more appealing to these young buyers.
Millennials are used to using high-tech gadgets every day, so they are going to desire these things in their new home. While there are several high-tech upgrades you can make on your home, these three will appeal the most to young homebuyers.
Keyless Entry: Security for the New Millennium
Keyless entry doors are becoming a popular way of keeping a home secure while adding that great “wow” factor. These keyless entry systems mean there’ll be no more fumbling for keys when all you want to do is get in the door. It may seem like something out of a sci-fi film, but several companies have mastered the art of keyless entry doors that you can use in your home today.
The door automatically locks when it is shut, and you will need the correct fingerprint to unlock the door. If you could show off a keyless entry system at your open house, you would immediately pique the interest of every young buyer interested in technology.
A Home Security System is a Great Practical Addition
A high-tech home security system will certainly make your home more appealing to young buyers, who may even be thinking about having children in the near future. No matter how safe your neighborhood is, everyone is always looking to feel more secure at home. Placing a few security cameras around the exterior of your home will allow you to know what is happening outside at all times, and buyers will love having that peace of mind.
Home Energy Monitor: For the Eco-Conscious Generation
Young people are extremely conscious of the environment, so they would love seeing a home energy monitor when shopping for a new home. A home energy monitor is able to track the energy use of every aspect of your home.
If you think your air conditioner is not running efficiently, a home energy monitor can tell you whether or not you’re right. Since young people know about the dangers of improper energy use, they will want to make the home as efficient as possible.
Millennials are slowly entering the real estate market, and although they are starting to look at homes, you’ll face a lot of competition from other homeowners looking to pass properties onto this new generation. These three upgrades will increase your home’s value and make it more appealing to Millennial buyers. For more information about selling your home, contact a trusted real estate professional today.
Sep 10, 2014 | Home Seller Tips
An open house is an opportunity for sellers to showcase their property to a potentially large number of interested buyers, and a great way to generate buzz. While you want to be as open and honest about the property as possible, you also want to make a good impression – and that means there are some things that you don’t want to say during an open house. Here are five things that you should definitely keep to yourself during your next open house.
This Is Where The Dog Did His Business
There is a good chance that the new owner of a home is going to do something about stained carpet or hardwood. At best, the honesty is providing too much information to the buyer. At worst, the honesty could turn a potential buyer off.
The Candle Is Covering Up For Last Night’s Fish Dinner
A buyer wants to get a true feel for how he or she would enjoy living in the house. If a candle is covering up an unsavory scent, it could cause the buyer to ask what else a seller may be hiding.
The Neighbors Tend To Be Noisy
What one person may consider excessive noise may not bother another person. The last thing that a seller wants to do is create the impression that a home is not a peaceful place for the buyer to spend their evenings and weekends in. Let buyers judge for themselves how noisy your neighbors are.
The Schools Around Here Aren’t Very Good
Having good schools in the area is a feature that boosts property values for everyone in the neighborhood, and mentioning that the schools are poor or anything less than the best could turn buyers off. If the schools aren’t great or aren’t up to the seller’s standards, it is best to not mention them at all. Again, let your buyers decide whether or not they like the schools.
There Isn’t Much To Do Around Here
Although most buyers know what kinds of attractions are nearby, there is no reason to be negative about a house located in a more rural area. The concept of “boring” is subjective. If buyers are looking at your property, they have likely already researched the community – and they like it enough to come have a look at your house.
An open house is your opportunity to create a great impression. Don’t waste it by pointing out all of your home’s flaws. For more advice on how to sell your home, contact a local real estate professional today.
