Take The Stress out of Selling Your Home

TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF SELLING YOUR HOME...

 

It is a very stressful time to sell a home.  The market is a Buyer's Market and we are entering the holiday season.  It seems that homes are on the market longer than before and the prices are moving downward.  But there are things a Seller can do to make the stress of Selling their home easier...

 

1.  HIRE AN EXPERIENCED, FULL TIME REALTOR; this is critical always but especially during this type of market.  The Realtor you choose should be very experienced in your market.  This is not the time to utilize a friend or Realtor new to selling Real Estate or out of your area.  The Realtor you choose should also be FULL-TIME!  You are hiring a Realtor to represent your needs and to be there when you have a question or concern.  Why share them with another job?

 

2.  HIRE A REALTOR WHO IS TECH SAVVY EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT;  Why hire a Realtor who is tech savvy if you aren't?  Because many of the buyers ARE.  They want an instant response that they are being heard.  Many of the buyers want to be able to text a Realtor when they are on the train going to work or at work and cannot use the phone.  They prefer emails that they can go over and respond to over lunch.  They are searching the internet daily for listings that may appeal to them.  Not only does the Realtor you hire have to be there for your needs they have to be there for potential buyers and their needs.

 

3.  BEGIIN THE PROCESS WITH PATIENCE; Understand that it is a slow moving market for Sellers.  Do not expect multiple showings in the beginning and an quick offer.  This does happen and if it is so for you wonderful.  But it is not the norm.  If you go into the process understanding that it will take patience to get through then you won't have unrealistic expectations and the process will seen normal to you and not stressful.

 

4.  EXPECT LOW OFFERS; It is just the way it is right now.  This does not mean you have to accept the low offers it simply means you have a starting point.  A low offer is better than no offer.  It will give you an idea of where the buyers mentality is regarding your home, provide you with open communication with a buyer who has an interest in your home and allow you the opportunity to counter the offer.  Do not shrug away or take offense to any offer.  After all you have an interested buyer.  Work with it.

 

5.  SHOW YOUR HOME; This includes last minute showing appointments, dinner time appointments and morning appointments.  Make sure your home is ready to show at all times.  Just as the Realtor has a job to do, the Seller has responsibility as well.  That responsibility includes having the home "show ready" at all times and making sure it is available for potential buyers to see when THEY want to see it.  You may not get a second chance; there is too much competition.  If you are not allowing showings to come through you are commiting Real Estate Suicide.

 

6.  MAKE SURE YOUR HOME IS SHOW READY:  Beds made, repairs made, fresh paint, dress up the front of your home for curb appeal, trash out,  no laundry all over the house, declutter, pets picked up after, and a warm ambience through your home will make it appealing to buyers.  It's November...light a fire in the fireplace (if you are close by), candles lit (again if you are close by), a great scent such as vanilla or cinnamon through the house, curtains opened, all lights on.  Look at your house through the eyes of the buyer and make sure it feels like home.

 

7.  DO NOT OVERDECORATE; Those cute blow up decorations for the Holiday Season...one is enough.  Although it can be lots of fun and the kids love to see hundreds of decorations on your front lawn for the Holidays don't take away from the charm of your home from a buyer.  Do not overdo the decorations.  Instead stick with the basics such as white candle lights in the windows, wreaths on the door and windows with a spotlight, a couple of reindeer on the lawn.  This is not the time to show off your decorating experience; you have to show off your home.

 

Selling your home can be frustrating but by making sure you do things correctly in the first place and you hire an EXPERIENCED Realtor in your marketplace and listen to their advice you will make it through just fine.  For more information on tips to sell your home or for questions contact me at 610-999-7693 or via email at Sellinghomesjenn@aol.com.  For regular Real Estate Tips and Information follow me at www.Facebook.com/JenniferHillDaywalt. 

 

Jennifer Daywalt, Realtor

RE/MAx Results Realty

Licensed in PA since 2001

Top Realtor 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Author of "Ask the Realtor" in the Phoenix

Phoenixville's Home Town Realtor

610-489-7355 Main Office

610-999-7693 Direct Line

610-482-9623 Direct Fax

 

Follow me on facebook at www.facebook.com/JenniferHillDaywalt