We all know the real estate market has had some drastic changes over the past year. One only needs to turn on the television to any news channel to confirm this fact. However all is not a grim as the "gloom and doom" TV reporters make it out to be. Homes are still selling, but the times they are a changing'.
Just a few years ago you could put your home on the market and have it sold in no time with very little effort, and probably get top dollar. Well, the market isn't quite that easy anymore, but there are things owners can do to help give their home and the listing a competitive edge.
First, and most important, is to find the right real estate agent for you and your needs. Don't just look at who has the cheapest commission or who's been in the "biz" the longest. You need to look at the whole picture. Do they belong to a reputable agency with a good record for customer service? Do they know their market place? They should be able to give you a knowledgeable market analysis of the current home sales conditions in you area. Do they have the time for you? While it may seem great to get an agent that's always super busy with listings and sales, they may not always have the time to give you the personal attention you'd like. Does the agent have a presence on the world wide web? In this technological age we live in this can really be important to getting your home seen and sold. More and more people are using the Internet to find homes, you wouldn't want them to miss out on yours if it's not there. Also, do you like the agent? Do they have a personality that is easy and pleasant for you to work with, and that others will also enjoy working with? Nothing is more miserable than having to work so closely with someone you have a personality conflict with. Finally does your agent have the eye and knowledge to help you with the all important home staging tips you need in today's market? This will help give your home the look and edge that can get showings and ultimately help sell your home.
Now that you've chosen your agent, what next? You should make an appointment for them to come to your home right away and give you that market analysis. This will help determine a good selling price for your home. Too high and it might not sell at all, to low and you could be missing out on some profits for your pocket. Your agent can help you find the best price if they are well trained. At this point they should also go over a list of staging ideas to help you get the best price for your home. This "home staging" is becoming more and more important in a market place filled with to many homes for sale. You definitely want your home to have that extra something.
The first step to home staging is to emotionally separate yourself from your home. No matter how much you have loved your time in the house and your things that are in it, your goal now is to get someone else to love it and buy it.That means de-personalizing it and de-cluttering it. It doesn't mean making it cold and impersonal, but you need to pack away the family photos, the knick-knacks and all the extra stuff you can live without for a while. All the clutter that you love, a buyer probably will not! Also if you have any "unique" wallpaper, borders, or colors on the walls I strongly suggest that they go. Buyers like to see clean lines and neutral colors. You don't have to go crazy with a boring can of white paint, but get rid of anything wild, opting for more subtle and soft colors that are pleasing to the eye.
Another biggie in selling a home, that I can not stress enough, is "CURB APPEAL". If the house looks like a mess from the curb, buyers may skip it all together. This was very apparent when I sold my own home a few years ago. Oh, it wasn't my house that had the problem, but my neighbors house did. We put our home up for sale and worked really hard to get it in tip top shape. The driveway was new, the grass was watered and trimmed, the flower beds were taken care of, the windows washed and trim painted. The neighbors put their house on the market a month before us, and theirs was less than appealing from the curb. The flowerbeds were overgrown, the trim work was a mess and the driveway was falling apart. People probably didn't realize that they had done a lot of remodeling on the inside, and it looked really nice. They were just judging it on that all important first impression. We had people comment as they came through our house about the messy neighbors yard, and how they decided to skip looking at it. What finally happened? We had three offers and sold our home in three months for the full asking price. They finally sold theirs nine months later after a few price reductions. "Curb appeal", don't underestimate it!!
So, just take a breath, be realistic, and don't worry, it is still possible to sell your home with a good agent and a little work on your part. Feeling overwhelmed? There are some great shows that can give you some wonderful ideas on where to begin. My favorite I have to say is Sell This House on the A&E channel. There are also some fabulous books in your public library on home staging. Remember that in this changing market you want your home to be the one that buyers love,and clamor over with multiple offers. Your home can be the winner in this competitive market place!
A. Wilson
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