Whether you like it or not, the real estate market has ground to a slow trot. Selling a home can be difficult and requires you to return to the time-tested basics of selling a home. Here are some keys to remember and use.
1. When you are selling your home, allow it to be shown at a moment’s notice. Qualified buyers aren’t “a dime a dozen.”
2. Buyers are always going to offer less than the asking price, so make sure to list a sales price that is higher than what you want. This gives you wiggle room to negotiate and avoids a situation where you are trapped by your initial asking price.
3. When you decide to sell your home, giving the kitchen the once over is a good first step. Kitchens are unique in our daily lives. For some reason, we always seem to congregate there. Buyers know this and will be focusing on the condition of yours.
4. Whether buying or selling real estate, it helps to be flexible when it comes to negotiation. One mistake for sale by owners make is to pick a fixed position. If there is a roadblock in negotiations, try to think outside of the box to solve it.
5. When it comes to selling your home, your driveway tells potential buyers a lot about your property.If it has cracks and nasty oil stains, it is a blight on your property. Make sure to clean it thoroughly and repair all cracks.
6. You’re a seller who really needs or wants to sell your home within the next three months and the market is slow in your area. Getting enough people to come and look at your house is the secret to achieving your goal. Make price reductions until you do get 1 to 3 showings per week, and your home will sell.
7. Buyers aren’t a dime a dozen but they are out there. Showing flexibility can make your property more attractive than the competition. Be willing to vacate quickly for a qualified buyer who wants it.
8. If your home has been on the market for several months and has not sold, you can bet it is for one of 3 reasons. It is priced too high, it doesn’t show well, or you haven’t brought it to the attention of enough buyers.
9. Whether buying or selling, it is important to recognize the type of market you are in. After years of a hot seller market, the beginning of 2007 introduces us to a distinct buyers market. Home prices are falling, which means we have a volatile market.
10. When it comes to negotiating on the purchase or sale of real estate, it is important that you know what you want. Most people just have at it off the cuff and later realize they really didn’t do a good job.
The funny thing about the real estate market is it is always active. If you listen to the news, you would swear not a single home was being sold these days. In truth, hundreds of thousands of them are and yours will be next if you follow the above advice.