How to Use Comparable Sales to Price Your Home
Before you put your home up for sale, use the right comparable sales to find the perfect price. Read
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Copyright 2012 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Showing posts with label Listing My Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Listing My Home. Show all posts
Clutter
Pack up personal photo frames, trophies, knick-knacks, books and your personal decorations like children’s artwork and team posters. The goal is to strike a balance of inviting and uncluttered. If you wouldn’t find it in a model home, go ahead and pack it up.
Remember, less is more. Get rid of extra magazines, candies, refrigerator magnets, blankets thrown over the couch, and any other items that are temporary decorations.
If you want to clear away the clutter and get honest, reliable advice on today’s housing market, call me. I specialize in marketing & staging homes and I welcome the opportunity to handle all your real estate needs.
Email: rhonda@rhondasrealestate.com
Web: www:RhondasRealEstate.com
Cell: 405-820-1740
Is Your Real Estate Agent Getting You Maximum Exposure?
What can your real estate agent offer you? That's the question you ought to be asking yourself these days. With the huge shift in traditional marketing methods to the internet, and now social media/networking platforms online, it pays to do your homework before signing any contracts.
Although nearly 90% of buyers and sellers are turning to the internet for their real estate related needs, a depressingly lower amount of Realtors are actually taking the time to learn about online marketing strategies. This can be detrimental to your exposure and/or finding the best deals possible.
Unfortunately, many agents and brokers are still stuck in the stone age of marketing, and refuse to accept change within their own industry. Although traditional methods still hold some weight when advertising a home, you could be missing an enormous piece of the pie if you don't work with one that is also innovative and tech savvy.
Here is a List of Questions You Should Be Asking During an Interview:
1. What types of social marketing do you employ? Let’s face it. If they aren't investing the time into building a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ following (or the host of other media available today), then there are literally hundreds of buyers and other professional contacts that are slipping right into the hands of their local competitors.
We are in the day and age of networking, and word travels at the speed of light. So your agent should be promoting your home on all of the following platforms by building specific pages and listings for your property where buyers can instantly find you. This will give you maximum exposure.
2. How do you capture leads? On the other hand, not only is it important for your agent to network and promote your property online, but they also need to collect the necessary contact information from website visitors in order to do business with each prospect.
Your Realtor should have their own website with an active blog, in order to keep in constant contact with their audience. By marketing on Craigslist, Google, Youtube, article directories, and any other medium available, your agent should be able to drive traffic back to their own sites.
Next, each person should be directed to some form of lead capture where they can enter their contact information for further updates on your listing. This could also include using mobile marketing, which will allow people to offer their cell phone number in exchange for property details. QR and/or text codes can be included on websites or even signage and postcards.
3. How do you follow up with your leads? Finally, can you be certain that your agent will go to work for you? Regardless of how many leads they may generate, if they do not have an effective follow up plan in place to build relationships and get buyers taking action, then your efforts could be wasted.
It is important that your agent spends the time to build effective email campaigns, submit updated blog posts and social media updates, and make direct phone calls to incubate each lead and ensure that action is taken while leads are still hot.
Also, can they provide strong evidence of quantifiable results with their real estate marketing campaigns, and are you confident in their ability to sell? Do you see the potential of getting a head above the rest and truly taking advantage of all the resources that are available at your fingertips?
By carefully reviewing all of the above criteria before choosing an agent, you will be able to ensure that you are receiving the best attention and service possible. If you are interested in setting up a time to review an in depth presentation on how we will put our comprehensive marketing strategies to work for you, please contact me today. I truly believe you will not be disappointed!
Here are a few places you can find me:
How To Sell Your Home Fast!
There may be various reasons that you want to get your home off the market as quickly as possible, so the principles offered here can work in nearly every situation. So let’s look at some basic strategies that you can implement today to gain the most favorable results:
Staging Your Home Properly
This is one area where it may make sense to hire professional help. Regardless, do your homework and take the time to find out exactly what can be done to make your property more marketable. For example, be sure to strip away any of that stuff on the walls being used as "decorations" that is personal. Also, place something of interest in each room that draws buyers in.
Additionally, people want to be able to picture themselves living in your space and visualizing where their own possessions will go. So you need to clear out space and remove clutter, especially from public areas and closet spaces. In fact, it is said that at least 1/3 of your own items should be placed somewhere else other then the home you are trying to sell. We're selling floor space, after all.
Finally, maximize the use of lighting and make sure the house is spotless. Most importantly, this goes for the kitchen and bathroom spaces which tend to endure a lot of wear and tear. Patch any areas that need touch ups with some spackle, paint and caulk.
Cut That Price
If you’re in a situation where you are moving and want to be rid of your property ASAP, then consider starting your list price at about 10% below its estimated value. It’s better to start a little lower up front if you want to attract the attention of buyers and get quick offers. It can even bring multiple offers that could net you that 10% more! Your home will get the traffic you need to sell quickly!
This can also work much more effectively then dropping the price incrementally overtime. In fact, the latter can even be harmful, because it may create the perception that nobody wants your property. So make your listing competitive and be ready to entertain some early offers.
Do Your Research
If you want to go the extra mile, you can even include receipts and/or documentation of repairs done on the home, as well as any new appliances that may have been purchased. Your agent may also want to include information and statistics on the neighborhood as well.
Hire A Real Estate Agent With Proven Results
Did you know that the top 10% of agents produce 90% of the results? Therefore, why hire a Realtor that can’t follow through on their commitment to sell, especially when time matters most? You need a team to work on your side that knows your market and can command the best price for your home in a short period.
Also, it is vital that your agent has expertise in marketing your home both with traditional methods and using online strategies for maximum exposure. Because information travels so quickly on the internet, it is crucial that you have property tours, videos, listing information, etc. are submitted to all the top traffic producing sites. This will attract a high amount of responses and will help the word to travel quickly.
Let my marketing ability help you sell quickly. During our private consultation, I'll show you quantifiable results along with a comprehensive marketing process that has helped other homeowners just like you get the results they desired. I look forward to earning your business!
6 Ways to Improve Your Home's Value
Many sellers may become wary of taking the necessary time to help spruce up their home’s appearance due to the cost associated with upgrades. Yet, simple improvements to a property can make a big difference and won’t always cost thousands of dollars to accomplish.
Here are some great ways to increase value and make the most impact:
1. Improve curb appeal: You can achieve this in various ways. You can simply fill in empty spaces and add some drought resistant plants or shrubs to your landscaping. Or some flowers and potted plants near the front entrance can make a great first impression. Adding a tree for additional shade and patching up a worn out lawn can work miracles to draw buyers in.
2. Space & Cleanliness: There is nothing worse to a buyer than a cluttered or unclean home. Take the time to remove unnecessary items from your closets, clean out the garage or carport, remove clutter or toys from the living areas, and make your floors shine! Your home needs to be staged in such a way that your buyers can visualize themselves living there. The way that you decorate your walls and ceilings will also affect how your buyers perceive open space.
3. Aim for an earthy appearance: Many buyers appreciate materials and paint colors that tend to have more of an earthy appeal. Each room will be different, so be sure to choose wisely. Also, consider using ceramic tiles or wood flooring instead of carpets or linoleum. Tiles in both the bathroom and/or kitchen could also make a huge difference.
4. Change outdated items: This can be as simple as replacing some old light and sink fixtures, doors, handles, or even windows. These items can greatly impact the price of a home and don’t always require huge amounts of investment. Additionally, maybe a new coat of paint or trim is all you need to fix up an otherwise “old” appearance.
5. Ask an expert: Whether you need advice on decorating, how to improve energy efficiency, or would like to find some items that could use a little “TLC”, it could be worth a small one time investment to get another opinion. This is a way to proactively make changes before you even consider listing your home. And you may be able to even avoid bigger problems that could arise down the road.
6. Bathrooms & kitchen: Finally, if you are able to make the extra investment, two areas that have the biggest impact on price are your bathrooms and kitchen. Whether this requires replacing the floors, sinks, tubs, fixtures or appliances, there are many ways that you can astronomically boost your home’s appeal by making improvements to these two key areas.
Hopefully these tips prove to be helpful when the time comes for you to sell your home. If you would like to receive an expert opinion from an experienced Realtor on how you can command top dollar for your property, be sure to contact me today. Simply use the information provided below to schedule a free in home consultation today!
Email: rhonda@rhondasrealestate.com
Text or Call me Direct: 405-820-1740
3 Things To Consider Before Listing As FSBO
If you’re looking to sell your home in the near future, you may feel inclined to list it as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) before working with a Realtor. For many, this is considered one good way to cut back on costs and possibly earn a little more profit on the sale.
However, there are certain aspects you may want to consider before going down this path. Statistically, over 80% of FSBO’s end up being listed with a Realtor at some point. Therefore, it pays to take the time to fully assess whether or not this is the right plan of action for you.
Properly Marketing Your Property
First of all, listing a home for sale can be a very time consuming and difficult process. Unfortunately, this typically is not as easy as posting a sign in the yard and setting up a classified ad in the local newspaper. There is certainly a lot more than meets the eye.
For instance, many FSBO websites will tout that you can obtain a wide exposure to buyers nationally, but this pales in comparison to the results that you can expect from big named sites like Realtor.com, which only agents can post to.
Next, your agent will have a lot of expertise with implementing online real estate marketing strategies that will gain you a ton of locally targeted searches. And in fact, nearly 90% of all searches for real estate related inquiries start online.
Realtors will also have a strong network of both agents and buyers that they work with on a regular basis. This is a business where it pays to network. More contacts equals greater exposure.
Asking Price & Showings
For starters, a lot of FSBO’s will start at the wrong asking price. This is by far one of the most important factors that goes into marketing your home, so you want to do this properly off the bat. But, without being fully invested in your local market and understanding the current trends, it can be difficult to price the home accurately.
As alluded to in section one, selling a home can be a lot of work. Most individuals these days have to juggle a full time job, family obligations, recreational activities, household chores, etc. Where do you find the time for fully investing into the sale as well?
When the opportunity would arise for interested parties to view your property, you would need to schedule individual showings, open houses, inspectors, appraisers, etc., while also trying to stage and maintain your property’s appearance. Miss out on a good opportunity for matching schedules and you can quickly lose interest.
Negotiations & Contracts
If you get to the point where you negotiate with a buyer, it is much more difficult to handle this aspect without a qualified agent. Selling your home can be a very emotional undertaking, so it is easier to set unrealistic expectations, or to even concede on more than necessary when you don’t have a 3rd party buffer.
During most real estate transactions, both the buyer and seller will typically have a set of concessions and contingencies. For a majority of buyers, they will expect to have some type of a financing, inspection and/or termite contingency.
This is set up for their protection, in order to complete their due diligence on the home before moving forward to closing. If other issues are found, this may even been grounds for further negotiation or eventually walking away from the deal.
Or you will be expected to lower the price, fix the issue or offer a concession on something else in order to alleviate the problem. Likewise, you want to ensure that the buyer is not overstepping their boundaries or that you are pressured into giving away more than is reasonable.
In summary, it’s worth taking the time to carefully consider these 3 areas before making any final decisions. If you still decide to take the FSBO route, I sincerely wish you great success. Also, please feel free to share this information with a friend and to bookmark this page for future reference as well!
Seller Showing Tips
You just listed your home for sale...now what? You've sold a home before...you should know how to do this, right? I never want to assume my seller knows what to do to get a home ready for showings because clearly they are attached to the home and its furnishings in some way so I don't want to insult them.
Here are just a few ideas:
1. Lighten up! Some people live in their home where the shades or blinds are always closed. While I realize in this heat it can keep the home cooler, when you have your home on the market, as a Realtor we don't always have time to open and close all your shades, flip on lights, and truly show your home in its best light...no pun intended! If you have enough advance notice of a showing, open things up, flip on the lights, and make it memorable for us!
2. Size up the competition. You are looking at homes now as well because you are moving. What things draw your eye? Go to a few model homes and get ideas of how the placement of furniture makes a difference. How does staging a home and removing all personal items help you see your furniture in this home? That's how we want to present your home to potential buyers. Now go home and spruce your home up!
3. Define the space. If the room is a dining room, it should be staged as a dining room. Renting or borrowing a table and chairs may just make the sale! Not everyone will use a secondary bedroom as a workout room with mirrors and padding so purchase an air mattress and fix it up to be seen as a bedroom.
4. Storage. Clearly a lot of us move because we have run out of space or have too much space. If you have accumulated too much stuff and have it setting on top of the fridge or dryer, it screams to the buyer that there isn't enough storage in this home. It doesn't matter that it's convenient to have the cereal box on the fridge, it just means that you don't have room for things.
5. Add simple curb appeal. Inexpensive plants can go along way to add color and make someone want to see what else you have that is fabulous. You may think that it's money you shouldn't have to spend, but it may just be the simple ticket to a sale! Every landscaping detail proves that you care inside as well as outside!
Landscaping Your Home
I love trees, shrubs, flowers, color, nature, rocks, benches, bird baths...yes, and even grass! I've always loved color but I don't know when the gardening thing hit me. The homes I've owned have all had a blank canvas for me to design. They have been sold with a much improved landscape, but the home I'm in now is probably the one I'm most proud of. I say that now because I am still hard at work designing it.
My daughter teases me..."Mom, did you draw this one out too?" Yes I did! I sit out on my patio drawing, dreaming, designing, visioning, and reading about different plants and flowers. I have binders I refer to when I'm wanting to know what to plant, how to take care of bugs or diseases, and when to transplant.
There are three times I can think of that my creative mind is at work:
If your property is about to be listed, you need to think in terms of "curb appeal". You are essentially landscaping for other people's tastes -- namely, the tastes of potential home buyers.
A spiffy home landscaping design increases real estate value. The average figure yielded by studies over the years is a range of from 7% to 15%. Let's just use the 15% number as an example, even though that figure is on the high end. Putting that percentage increase into perspective: for real estate valued in the $200,000 - $225,000 range (before considering its home landscaping), an effective home landscaping design could add $30,000 to its value. How often do you get to make a $30,000 decision?
Below are just a few tips for home landscaping ideas:
Homebuyers are seeking low maintenance landscapes, the most striking design with a focal point, or accent, and year-round visual interest. If you have that, you will see your home sell quicker than those homes that have little or no landscaping. I've seen it time and again. The home with landscaping will more than likely sell quicker than the home right next door with nothing, but priced closed to the same.
I'd love to hear about your landscape designs, what's worked, what's not, how it improved your property!
My daughter teases me..."Mom, did you draw this one out too?" Yes I did! I sit out on my patio drawing, dreaming, designing, visioning, and reading about different plants and flowers. I have binders I refer to when I'm wanting to know what to plant, how to take care of bugs or diseases, and when to transplant.
There are three times I can think of that my creative mind is at work:
- I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. That, my friends, is this morning. Not about landscaping originally...but about a Top 10 list. If I could write in the dark I wouldn't forget these things when I get up!
- I think of things to do, people to see or talk to, emails to send, things I need, you name it...when I'm driving. Unfortunately, I can't write as fast as I can type, and I shouldn't be writing then, but I do it and hope I can read it and it makes sense. It's called a legal pad with scribbles. I'm wondering if I should invest in a micro-recorder!
- The last, but not least, is when I'm out watering my flowerbeds. As soon as I put down the sprayer, the thought is gone. But trust me...I've taken paper out with me knowing the moment may strike.
If your property is about to be listed, you need to think in terms of "curb appeal". You are essentially landscaping for other people's tastes -- namely, the tastes of potential home buyers.
A spiffy home landscaping design increases real estate value. The average figure yielded by studies over the years is a range of from 7% to 15%. Let's just use the 15% number as an example, even though that figure is on the high end. Putting that percentage increase into perspective: for real estate valued in the $200,000 - $225,000 range (before considering its home landscaping), an effective home landscaping design could add $30,000 to its value. How often do you get to make a $30,000 decision?
Below are just a few tips for home landscaping ideas:
- Observe what other people are doing with their home landscaping designs. I get tons of ideas when I'm showing or listing property. I have always loved real estate and looking at homes. You can still find me driving neighborhoods just for the fun of it.
- Magazines, books, television and the Web all provide an abundance of information on what kinds of home landscaping designs are currently "selling." Knowledge is power. That knowledge could lead to more return on your investment!
- Consult with a professional in the landscape design field.
- If you don't want to pay for a landscape designer's advice, at least try to minic some ideas from your local nursery. Ask people, we all love sharing what we have done or what we know!
- Real estate agents see the reactions of potential buyers to home landscaping day in and day out; consult with them on trends or how to improve what you have.
Homebuyers are seeking low maintenance landscapes, the most striking design with a focal point, or accent, and year-round visual interest. If you have that, you will see your home sell quicker than those homes that have little or no landscaping. I've seen it time and again. The home with landscaping will more than likely sell quicker than the home right next door with nothing, but priced closed to the same.
I'd love to hear about your landscape designs, what's worked, what's not, how it improved your property!
Real Estate and Divorce
While it isn't a fun topic, it does come up, it does happen, there are questions, and no one seems to want to ask. Unless you've been through it, most people don't understand it and it does or can be complicated.
Real estate a couple owns can be a real stumbling block to divorce. Property problems won't keep people together, and they might even drive people apart who have incompatible investment philosophies.
Splitting up the equity can be particularly difficult when there isn't cash available to one marital partner or the other. There are options. Let's start with the simplest and common case of the couple that only owns their home.
1. "Sell the house" is the first advice that friends and attorneys usually give. A sale has the advantage of helping the couple make a clean break. When the transaction closes there are only cash proceeds to divide. A 50-50 split is common.
2. "Keep the house." The husband or wife may prefer to continue to live there, at least until after the divorce is final. When one party wants to stay and there is an outstanding balance on the loan, the best solution is for the home to be refinanced in their name to be the responsible party. Oklahoma is a 50-50 state, meaning equity would be split equally.
In these cases the first step is to determine the equity in the home. What would be the proceeds of an outright sale, after all costs and the mortgage balance are paid off?
The mortgage lender can quote a payoff and real estate companies can state their marketing fees. Title companies can quote figures for title insurance and other closing costs. The only other usual seller costs are the appraisal and survey.
What's less clear are the costs that might have to be incurred to get the property to qualify for a buyer's financing. The type of financing the buyer chooses affects the standards that appraisers and lenders will apply.
Estimating the equity that a couple could split if one keeps the house is also something to consider.
Hire an appraiser (about $400) to help establish value and note the items that lenders look for. Hire a home inspection service (about $250) to look for repair items that buyers might say must be fixed or they won't go through with the transaction. Finally, hire an engineer approved by the Municipality to test the well and septic system (about $500, plus pumping and Municipal fees).
If any of these reports show a need for corrective action, get contractor bids. These figures can be deducted from the equity that the couple plans to split. The work doesn't have to be done: the one who winds up with the house can assume the responsibility for taking care of these items later, having been "paid" by the divorced spouse by a division of a smaller equity.
From the time of the divorce forward, the spouse with the house assumes all the risks and responsibilities of home ownership. At least the risk of surprises is minimized.
After agreeing on the equity, what if the spouse who is keeping the house doesn't have the money to buy out the spouse who leaves? This is a common problem.
It may be possible to balance the books through the rest of the property settlement. Considering cars and other personal property it may be possible for the spouse who leaves to end up with enough of these items to balance what the "house spouse" keeps as equity.
The other answer may be for the "house spouse" to give the departing spouse a note secured by a deed of trust recorded against the house. The payments can be negotiated to fit both parties needs and capabilities. The items to consider are the term of the note, whether the remaining balance is due at any particular future date, the term, interest rate and payment. Simple financial calculators can provide these answers for spouses who are doing their own dissolution.
There are so many other things that can be considered as trade offs, but this is the short version of what to consider if you should find yourself in this situation.
10 Simple Tips to Take the Stress Out of Home Buying Process - Focus on the Positives!
Tip 6: When is the Right Time to Buy...
When is the Right Time to Sell?
Every home buyer and seller is in a different situation, so it is important you don't compare your timeline and decisions to anyone else's.
Time to Buy?Given all of the drops in the housing market in the last few years, many people are wondering whether now is the right time to buy a new house. Should you snatch up the good deals before prices start to rise or should you wait it out a little bit longer to see if the prices will drop even more? It can be somewhat of a gamble, so it is important to make sure that you know a few facts about the current market so that you can make the best possible decision.
One of the most important facts you should consider when determining whether now is the right time to buy a new house relates not to the market but your own situation. Consider how long you plan to live in the home. While you might not be able to look into a crystal ball and see the future, consider what you know at the moment.You also must consider how comfortable you are with taking risk as well. If you feel comfortable with a possible 10% or even more drop in a home price if you need to re-sell within the next few years then now might be a fine time to make a purchase. If you are not comfortable with risk, then it is probably better to wait and see how the market settles before you make a home purchase.
The reality of the current market is that the fluctuations have not yet stopped. During the year, prices are most likely not going to appreciate at the rate they used to. It is also important to keep in mind that you should not get swept up in the hype that is often presented in media advertisements. While there may be some truth in the media, consumers should be wary about taking this and running with it.
Lending restrictions remain tight throughout much of the country as well. Loans are available for the purchase of a home, but restrictions are much tighter than they were in the past. Make sure you know exactly what is on your credit and how much you will be able to offer for a down payment before you consider purchasing a home in the current market.
One of the most important facts you should consider when determining whether now is the right time to buy a new house relates not to the market but your own situation. Consider how long you plan to live in the home. While you might not be able to look into a crystal ball and see the future, consider what you know at the moment.You also must consider how comfortable you are with taking risk as well. If you feel comfortable with a possible 10% or even more drop in a home price if you need to re-sell within the next few years then now might be a fine time to make a purchase. If you are not comfortable with risk, then it is probably better to wait and see how the market settles before you make a home purchase.
The reality of the current market is that the fluctuations have not yet stopped. During the year, prices are most likely not going to appreciate at the rate they used to. It is also important to keep in mind that you should not get swept up in the hype that is often presented in media advertisements. While there may be some truth in the media, consumers should be wary about taking this and running with it.
Lending restrictions remain tight throughout much of the country as well. Loans are available for the purchase of a home, but restrictions are much tighter than they were in the past. Make sure you know exactly what is on your credit and how much you will be able to offer for a down payment before you consider purchasing a home in the current market.
Also, if you plan to buy a new house in the current market, you should be fully aware that there is the potential for the value of your home to drop over the next few years rather than appreciate. You should not assume that your home will steadily gain value the longer that you own it. This is a gamble that you should be fully aware of before you begin shopping around with the intention of making a home purchase.
While now could very well be an excellent time for you to buy a new home, it is important to consider your own situation as well as how comfortable you are with taking possible risks over such a large purchase in the next few years. The current market certainly is offering good deals in many markets, but before you rush out to grab one, make sure that you are fully informed.
While now could very well be an excellent time for you to buy a new home, it is important to consider your own situation as well as how comfortable you are with taking possible risks over such a large purchase in the next few years. The current market certainly is offering good deals in many markets, but before you rush out to grab one, make sure that you are fully informed.
Time to Sell?Everything has a season – including selling your house. Listing at the right moment could mean more money in your pocket.
Traditionally, spring is the hottest season for real estate. Sales peak in April and May and stay strong in June and July. It’s a good season for families to move, between school terms and while the weather is warm. People have just received their tax refunds, which they can use to help finance a down payment. And the nice weather and beautiful flowers in spring and early summer make it a great time to show your home.
In fact, 60 percent of America's moves take place in the summer. But closing a sale can take weeks, so it’s a good idea to list your home early in the season.
August brings a lag in sales, as people go away on vacation and start to think about the new school year. Then sales surge briefly in the fall before dropping in winter as buyers and sellers focus on the holidays. But by January, buyers are out again, and sales steadily increase into spring.
If you can’t sell in the peak season, consider listing your home in the winter. It may sound counterintuitive, but you probably already have the house decorated and cleaned for holiday entertaining, so it shouldn’t be hard to get it in shape for showing. Moreover, you will have less competition and may get a better price. Another plus: buyers in winter are less likely to waste your time or draw out the closing. They may want to close before the New Year so they can claim the mortgage deduction on their tax return, which you could turn to your advantage in pressing for a quick deal.
Traditionally, spring is the hottest season for real estate. Sales peak in April and May and stay strong in June and July. It’s a good season for families to move, between school terms and while the weather is warm. People have just received their tax refunds, which they can use to help finance a down payment. And the nice weather and beautiful flowers in spring and early summer make it a great time to show your home.
In fact, 60 percent of America's moves take place in the summer. But closing a sale can take weeks, so it’s a good idea to list your home early in the season.
August brings a lag in sales, as people go away on vacation and start to think about the new school year. Then sales surge briefly in the fall before dropping in winter as buyers and sellers focus on the holidays. But by January, buyers are out again, and sales steadily increase into spring.
If you can’t sell in the peak season, consider listing your home in the winter. It may sound counterintuitive, but you probably already have the house decorated and cleaned for holiday entertaining, so it shouldn’t be hard to get it in shape for showing. Moreover, you will have less competition and may get a better price. Another plus: buyers in winter are less likely to waste your time or draw out the closing. They may want to close before the New Year so they can claim the mortgage deduction on their tax return, which you could turn to your advantage in pressing for a quick deal.
Of course, selling in the hot season isn’t the whole story. You should pay attention to your local housing market and try to list during a seller’s market, when there will be more competition among buyers for your home – which could mean a better price, a quicker closing and fewer conditions on the offer.
Find a Realtor who you like and trust, one with the knowledge and experience in your local housing market. If you have questions or comments, please let me know...
Next...Tip 7: Family & Friends Opinions
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