Are you a good seller?

In this buyer's market, we need to emphasize to our homeowners how the process works and what is important to buyers who might pruchase their home.  Along with all the work I do as a realtor to market and expose their home, there are some thngs they need to do to help me as their realtor.  I explain to them that we are partners with a mutual goal, and we need to cooperate to be successful.  I want them to be prepared and educated as to the reality of the homeselling process as soon as they are on the market.   This is how I explain it to them, and these are the major points I make:

The home selling process is a difficult transition in any person's life.  Aside from your personal issues, there are so many variables that can lead to frustration for even a patient person.  Selling real estate in Nassau County Long Island for so many years, I have seen even calm accepting sellers reach their breaking point.  In today's market, where the projected time from listing to closing ranges from 4-6 months on the average, the need to maintain your home in neat and clean showing mode is trying.  Along with that go the scheduling issues.  Buyers want to see your home when it is convenient for them, never cognizant of the fact that you have a life too.  Especially in a buyer's market, as we are now experiencing, most buyers have the attitude that if you want to sell, you will accommodate them.  How does a normal person survive?  How does the home get from showing to SOLD?  Here are some tips to make your life easier and some pointers to keep in mind so the process stays in perspective.

•·         Exposure is paramount - you can't sell your home if someone cannot see it - when your house is on the market the answer to showing requests should always be "yes".  It is in your best interest to make your home available.  Your realtor works hard behind the scenes to promote your home, and when an appointment is secured for you rather than your competitor around the corner, you need to accommodate.  Don't be afraid to provide a key to the agent, or allow a lockbox on your property.  Today's lockboxes are computerized and can be pre-set to allow opening only during certain hours and days, so no one will ever walk in on you when you are coming out of the shower!

•·         Neatness count - we all have busy lives these days whether it be rushing to work or an early drop-off for the kids.  Try to simplify your life.  Use minimum dishes and always stack them immediately into the dishwasher to avoid the full sink look.  The same goes for wash - skip the hamper and put dirty clothing directly into the washer for easy running when you have a spare second.  Hang up all clothing each day as you remove it, and make the beds as soon as you get up.  If you get in to a regular habit of doing these things, it works like any other good habit and becomes part of your regimen.  

•·         Clutter is the enemy - it makes even a large home look smaller and causes buyers to see your home as too small with insufficient storage space.  Now is the time to pack away non-essential items and this will also contribute to making moving time easier, as half of your belongings will already be in boxes.  Buyers don't mind seeing stacks of cartons in the basement or garage - on the contrary, it makes them think of you as ready to go and your home as available soon.

•·         Same goes for furnishings - less is more.  A room sparsely furnished shows better than one over furnished.  Get a stager to review your house for you and identify pieces that can be removed.  If your bedroom is small, for example, using only one night table is acceptable in today's design world. 

•·         Be gracious if someone cancels at the last minute - this is the pet peeve of most sellers (and realtors as well) but is not always avoidable.  Fuming gets you nowhere and just stresses you more.  Move on.  Be prepared by expecting it to happen on occasion. 

Submitted by Cheryl Uram, Licensed Realtor 516.852.1604

The recent quarter's market report is now available.  E-mail me to get you own copy.

Cheryl.Uram@PrudentialElliman.com

Top Ten: Home Features Desired by All Home Buyers

•1.     Central Air Conditioning

•2.     Garage (2 or more spaces)

•3.     Walk-in closet in master bedroom

•4.     Backyard/play area

•5.     Cable/Satellite TV-ready

•6.     High-speed Internet Access

•7.     Separate shower enclosure in master/main bath

•8.     Patio

•9.     Fencing

•10.  Home less than 10 years old

Source: NAR 2007 Profile of Buyer's Home Feature Preferences

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Today's challenge in marketing real estate is to set your home apart from the throng of homes being sold. Once you have reviewed the market with your realtor and priced your home properly, one of the best and most successful ways is to stage a home.  Your house is a product like any other product that needs to be marketed.  You are on the shelf and want the buyer to pick up your home instead of another.  A homeowner shouldn't take it personally as a comment on their style or way of life if a stager wants to make changes.  You need to present you house in its best light for the purpose of selling, which means appealing to the largest majority of buyers possible.  Once your house is on the market and open to viewing, its look is not of how you live there, but how the prospective consumer will feel in it.  It has to be inviting on many levels.  I like to appeal to all the senses.  Today's buyer is sophisticated and knowledgeable, and most are not prepared to do alot of work updating a tired looking home.  There are many ways to spruce up your home with what you have, and add a few inexpensive purchases to pull it all together.  Paint is the cheapest fix you can do to a home.  For $25 you can transform a room.  The old idea of neutralizing by painting white is a mistake.  Warm colors pull the buyer into a home and splashes of bright color in unexpected places can add needed pizzazz.  Don't be afraid to rearrange furniture to make rooms look larger and create flow in a room.  Each room should carry you to the next, both physically and visually.  Whatever your home's strengths are need to be showcased.  For example, if you have beautiful hardwood floors, make them shine and take away furniture so the buyer doesn't miss seeing the floor when they walk into the room.  And keep it simple by not imposing too much personal taste to your home.  Finally, the best favor you can do yourself when you want to sell, is DE-CLUTTER.  This is the time when less is more.