If you're having trouble selling your home here in Ocala try thinking like a buyer. By stopping for a minute and putting yourself in the buyers shoes you might get a better perspective on how to sell your house. You are now a sales person. Just like the owner of a store you are in competition for the public's business. You have to offer the best product at the best price. We're all used to being the consumer. We all want to find a great deal. It's the American way, the home of Walmart. If you have a home to sell in today's market you are now on the other side of the coin. You have to think like a business and find the best way to sell your product, your home.

  Very few homes are truly unique. Although you may have spent years getting your house just so, there are probably a dozen similar homes on the market. In most lower to mid level price ranges this is the truth. Anything short of a mini mansion has plenty of competition.

  Your home is just a house for sale. A buyer doesn't have the same emotional attachment to your house that you do. Remember 80% of buyers start looking on-line. Unless you can get them to see your home in person there is almost no chance of developing an emotional attachment. One sure fire way not to get them there in person is over pricing in hopes of a future negotiation. There are just too many well priced homes to look at first, over priced houses go to the bottom of the list.

  Repairs are not improvements. A new roof or a new AC unit is definitely a selling advantage but you can't expect to recover the money you spent on repairs as though they were some sort of investment. Repairs are the cost of home ownership. Repairs make your home more sell-able but don't add a lot to the asking price.

  Buyers don't know what you owe. Maybe you bought your house at the peak of the market and now need to move for some reason. Maybe you are an investor stuck with a poor investment. A buyer doesn't know what you paid for your property. All a buyer knows or cares about is current asking prices and recent sold prices.

  Do you really know your homes value?  Your home is worth what a similar home in your area sold for in the last 6 months. Be sure your sales data is based on public records and not the say so of a friend or neighbor. Asking prices are meaningless, only sold prices count. In some cases there are identical vacant new homes on the market in which case asking prices can be less than sold prices due to intense competition. There is also the possibility that a builder has dropped new home prices below resale prices. You need a thorough market analysis.

  Only 3 opinions about value count. The buyer, who is the one to decide whether or not to submit an offer. The appraiser, who has to follow strict guidelines based on recent sales. The under writer at the lending institution, who decides whether or not to grant a loan.

  Do you have any curb appeal?  What does your house look like in a photo on-line and in person if you drive by? Is your house neat and clean? Are repairs needed? Does too much furniture make your house look smaller than it really is? If you answered yes then you will either get no offer or a low offer. Buyers have too many choices.

  How old is your home?  Here in Ocala Florida buyers like newer houses. Newer houses need fewer and less expensive repairs. Newer houses also have different floor plans that feature higher ceilings, a more open feeling, bigger more elaborate bathrooms and huge walk-in closets. You can't change these things but you have to be aware it puts you at a disadvantage that can only be over come by price. Offering a home warranty is a must on a home more than just a few years old and only costs a few hundred dollars.

  Amenities are nice but don't always add value.  Swimming pools, sheds and fences all give your home an advantage but you can't recover your investment dollar for dollar. They do increase value but you'll never get back anything near what you paid. Be happy you had those features to enjoy and think of them as a sales tool, not an investment in the value of your home.

  What does priced to sell really mean? Priced to sell here here in Ocala and much of Florida means pricing your home below all similar homes in your sub division and at or just above recent sold prices. Why do that? You're house will sell in that range anyway and you'll save months of carrying costs.

  New vacant homes are like new cars.  Would you buy a new car at one dealer when another competing dealer had the same one for thousands less? So why would a home buyer behave differently? Unfortunately many new homes are very cookie cutter and price is the major determining factor.

  The moral of my story is that a well priced home will sell in any market. Right now Ocala Real Estate is a buyers market. However about 20 houses are sold every business day. You have to ask, why not yours.