TWENTY-SEVEN Valuable Tips You Should Know to Get Your Home Sold Fast and for Top Dollar

 

Since your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life.

 

To better understand the homeselling process, a guide has been prepared from current industry insider reports. Through these 27 tips, you will discover how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, reduce stress, be in control of your situation, and make the most profit possible.

1. Understand Why you are selling your home.

Your motivation to sell is the determing factor as to how yu will approach the process. It afftects everything from what you set your asking price at to how much time, money and effort you're willing to invest in order to prepare yur home for sale. For example, if your goal is for a quick sale, this would determine on approach, If you want to maximize your profit, the sales process might take longer thus determining a different approach.

2. Keep the reason(s) you are selling to yourself.

The reason(s) you are selling your home will afftect the way you negotiate its sale. By keeping this to yourself you don't provide ammunition to your prospective buyers. For example, should they learn that you must move quickly, you could be placed at a disadvantage in the negotiation process. When asked, simply say that your housing needs have changed. Remember, the reason(s) you are selling is only for you to know.

3. Before Setting a price – do you homework.

When you set your price, you make buyers aware of the absolute maximum they have to pay for your home. As a seller, you will want to get a selling price as close to the list pice as possible. If you start out by pricing too high, you run the risk of not being taken seriously by buyers and their agents and pricing too low can result in selling for much less than you were hoping for.

 

Setting you Home's sale price.

If you live in a subdivision. - If your home is comprised of similiar or identical floor plans, built in the same period, simply look at recent sales in your neighbourhood subdivision to give you a good idea of what your home is worth.

 

If you live in an older neighbourhood. - As neighbourhoods change over time each home may be different in minor or substantial ways. Because of this, you will probably find that there aren't many homes truly comparable to your own. In this case, you amy want to consider seeking a Realtor to help you with the pricing process.

 

If you decide to sell on your own. - A good way to establish a value is to look at homes that have sold in your neighourhood withn the past 6 months, includeing those now on the market. This is how prospective buyers will assess the worth of your home. Also, a trop to city hall can provide you with home sale information in its public records for most communitites.

4. Do some “home shopping” yourself.

The best way to learn about your competition and discover that turns buyers off is to check out other open houses. Note floor plans, condition, appearance, size of lot, location and other features. Particularly note, not only the asking prices but waht they are actually selling for. Remember, if you're serious about getting you home sold fast, don't price it higher than your neighbour's.

5. When getting an appraisal is a benefit.

Sometimes a good appraisal can be a benefit in marketing your home. Getting an appraisal is a good way to let prospective buyers know tha you home can be financed. However, an appraisal does cost money, has a limited life, and there's no guarantee you'll like the figure you hear.

6. Tax assessments – What they really mean.

Some people think that tax assessments are a way of evaluating a home. The difficulty there is that assessments are based on a number of criteria that may not be related to property values, so they may not necessarily reflect you home's true value.

7. Deciding upon a Realtor

According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly two-thirds of the people surveyed who sell their own homes say they wouldn't do it again themselves. Primary reasons included setting a price, marketing handicaps, liability concerns, and time constraints. When deciding upon a Realtor, consider two or three. Be as wary of quotes that are too low as those that are too high.

 

All Realtors are not the same! A professional Realtor knows the market and has information on past sales, current lisitngs, a marketing plan, and will provide their background and references. Evaluate each candidate carefully on the basis of their experience, qualifications, enthusiasm and personality. Be sure you choose someone that you trust and feel confident that they will do a good job on your behalf.

 

If you choose to sell on your own, you you can still talk to a Realtor. Many are more than willing to help do-it-your-selfers with paperwork, contracts, etc. And should problems arise, you now have someone you can readily call upon.

8. Ensure you have room to negotiate.

Before settling on you asking price, make sure you leave youself enough room in which to bargain. For example, set your lowest and highest selling price. Then check you priorities to know if you'll price highto maximize you profit or price close to market value if you want tosell quickly.

9. Appearances do matter – Make them count!

Apparearnce is so critical that it would be unwise to ignore this when selling your home. The look and “feel” of your home will generate a greater emotional response than any other factor. Prospective buyers react to what the see, hear, feel and smell even though you may have priced your home to sell.

10. Invite the honest opinions of others.

The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to rely solely on your own judgement. Don't be sy about seeking the honest opinions of others. You need to be objective about yur home's good points as well as bad. Fortunately, your Realtor will be unabashed about discussing what should be done to make your home more marketable.

11. Get it spic n' span and fix everything, even if it seems insignificant.

Scrub, scour, tidy up, straighten, get rid of the clutter, declare war on dust, repair squeaks, the light switch that doesn't work, and the tiny crack in the bathroom mirror because these can be deal killers and you'll never know what turns buyers off. Remember, you're not just competing with other resale homes, but brand-new ones as well.

12. Allow prospective buyers to visualize themselves in your home.

The last thing you want prospective buyers to feel when viewing your home is that they may be intruding into someone's life. Avoid clutter such as too many knick-knacks, etc. Decorate in neutral colours, like white or beige and place a few carefully chosen items to add warmth and character. You can enhance the attractiveness of your home with a well-places vase of flowers or potpourri in the bathroom. Home-decor magazines are great for tips.

13. Deal killer odours – Must go!

You may not realize but odd smells like traces of food, pets and smoking odours can kill deals quickly. If prospective buyers know you have a dog, or that you smoke, they'll start being aware of olours and seeing stains that may not even exist. Don't leave any clues.

14. Be a smart seller – disclose everything.

Smart sellers are proactive in disclosing all known defects to their buyers in writing. This can reduce liability and prevent law suits later on.

15. It's better with more prospects.

When you maximize your home's marketability, you will most likely attract more than one prospective buyer. It is much better to have several buyers because they will complete with each other; a single buyer will end up competing with you.

16. Keep emotions in check during negotiations.

Let go of the emotion you've invested in your home. Be detached, using a business-like manner in you negotiations. You'll definitely have an advantage over those who get caught up emotionally in the situation.

17. Learn why your buyer is motivated.

The better you knwo your buyers, the better you can use the negotiation process to your advantage. This allows you to control the pace and duration of the process.

 

As a rule, buyers are looking to purchase the best affordable property for the least amount of money. Kowing what motivates them enables you to negotiate more effectively. For example, does you buyer need to move quickly. Armed with this information, you are in a better position to bargain.

18. What the buyer can really pay.

As soon as possible, try to learn the amount of mortgage the buyer is qualified to carry and how much his/her down payment is. If their offer is low, as their Realtor about the buyer's ability to pay what your home is worth.

19. When the buyer would like to close.

Quite often, when buyers would “like” to close is when they need to close. Knowledge of their deadlines for completing negotiations again creates a negotiation advantage for you.

20. Never sign a deal on you next home until you sell your current home.

Beware of closing on your now home while you're still making mortgage paymenst on the old one or you might end up becoming a seller who is eager (even desperate) for the first deal the comes along.

21. Moving out before you sell can put you at a disadvantage.

It has been proven that it's more difficult to sell a home that is vacant because it becomes forlorn looking, forgotten, no longer an appealing sight. Buyers start getting the message that you have another home and are probably motivated to sell. This could cost you thousands of dollars.

22. Deadlines creat a serious disadvantage.

Don't try to sell by a certain date. This adds to unnecessary pressure and is a serious disadvantage in negotiations.

23. A low offer – Don't take it personally.

Invariably the initial offer is below what both you and the buyer knows he'll pay for your property. Don't be upset, evaluate the offer objectively. Ensure it spells out the offering price, sufficient deposit, amount of down payment, mortgage amount, a closing date and any special requests. This can simply provide a starting point from which you can negotiate.

24. Turn that low offer around.

You can counter a low offer overn an offer that's just under your asking price. This lits the buyer know that the first offer isn't seen as being a serious one. Now you'll be negotiation only with buyers with serious offers.

25. Maybe the buyer's not qualified.

If you feel an offer is inadequate, now is the time to make sure the buyer is qualified to carry the size of mortgage the deal requires. Inquire how thye arrived at their figure, and suggest they comapre your price to the prices of homes for sale in your neighbourhood.

26. Ensure the contract is complete.

To avoid problems, ensure that all terms, cost and responsibilities are spelled out in the contract of sale. It should include such items as the date it was made, names of parties involved, address of property being sold, pruchase price, where deposit monies will be held, date for loan approval, date and place of closing, type of deed, including any contingencies that remain to be settled and what personal property in included (or not) in the sale.

27. Resist deviating from the contract.

For example, if the buyer requests a move-in prior to closing, just say no. That you've been advised against it. Now is not the time take any chances of a deal falling through.

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Twenty-Seven Valuable Tips

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