HOW CAN I HELP THE SALE?

Many homeowners often ask, "What can I do to help sell my home fast and for the most money? " The answer can be found in these important tips. If you follow these tips, you will be successful in selling fast and for top dollar with the least inconvenience to you.

What is your motivation to sell? Make sure you really want to sell. This is the critically important first step in this complex process. Are you a motivated seller? At times, your motivation may be driven by circumstances beyond your control. If you are being transferred to a new location on very short notice, your motivation will be different from sellers who are not under any pressure to sell. So, your circumstances will determine the approach you take. Discuss your motivation with your REALTOR® so that, together, you can develop a game plan that is best for you.

Don’t discuss your motivation with anyone else. As you know, buyers will probe both the seller and the REALTOR® to determine if the seller is under any pressure to sell to see if they can get a bargain. When buyers ask why the sellers are leaving, the seller can respond by saying "We have personal reasons for leaving." That is a polite way of saying it is none of their business. Never tell anyone other than your REALTOR® your motivation for selling. If the buyers persist, notify them that your REALTOR® advised you to refer any questions about the sale of your home, other than the price, to him or her.

Become an informed seller - Before you place the home on the market. Visit open houses in your area. If you live in a subdivision where some of the models and floor plans are the same or similar, visit those homes that are similar to yours. Determine the asking price and then compare the condition of both the interior and exterior of the home to yours. Are the features and upgrades comparable to yours?

Sometimes, this may be very difficult to do if you live in an older neighborhood where there is little similarity in styles and floor plans. Then, most importantly, determine the selling price of similar homes in the neighborhood. Contact the REALTOR® whom you will have handle the sale of your home to provide you with that information. If you are not yet ready to speak to a REALTOR®, visit the appropriate governmental office in your area to review sales information in the public records.

Setting the price. This is the single biggest factor in getting the most money for your home. While you want to have some room to negotiate with a potential buyer, if you price your home too high, buyers and REALTORs® will not think that you are a motivated seller and simply bypass your home. If you under price your home, while you will sell fast, you will not sell for top dollar. It is like paying the buyer a bonus for buying your home. This step in the process is where the expertise of the REALTOR® is critical.

Remove any pets. If at all possible, remove any pets prior to the showing. While most buyers like pets, they can be a major distraction. The buyer is there to see your home, not your pets.

Prepare your home. Buying a home is an emotional event for most buyers. The best way to generate a positive emotional response from the buyer is to have the home clean and clutter-free. Buyers react to what they see, hear, feel, and smell in the home. There should be no offensive odors in the home. You may not even know there is an offensive odor because you live there.

Seller’s Disclosure Statement. A buyer has the legal right to know of any conditions that would materially and adversely affect the value and desirability of the property. It is the seller’s legal responsibility to disclose to the REALTOR® and to any potential buyer what, if anything, is wrong with the home. If a past problem has been rectified, a description of the problem and what has been done to fix it should also be disclosed.

Buyers touring the home. When you are notified that a REALTOR® wants to show your home, do everything that you can to assist in the sale. Turn on all of the lights, open all of the blinds, clear any clutter and do a last minute check of each room. Remember, buying a home is an emotional event. Do everything that you can to generate a positive reaction to what the buyer sees, hears, feels, and smells in the home. Then, just before the buyer is scheduled to arrive, leave the home.

The buyers must be able to view your home and make comments about the home without the fear of offending you. You will want them to concentrate on your beautiful home and not worry about you. But don’t go too far. Arrange to visit a neighbor while your home is being shown. Make sure that your REALTOR® knows where to find you in case the buyer has a question that only you can answer.

These eight tips will require some continuing effort on your part but they could mean thousands of dollars to you in getting a higher purchase price for your home. Remember, buying a home is an emotional event for the buyer. Do everything you can to generate a positive emotional response.