How can I effectively sell my vacation property?

©2010 Paul S. Henderson

Price it right!

  • Remember what year it is. This is 2010 and many people have their properties at 2006 prices! The market has made a correction.
  • Make sure you're not being sentimental when setting your price.
  • Most people must finance! You can ask any price, but will it appraise for that price? Some Sellers are now paying a professional appraiser to find the true value of their property.
  • Never use the tax appraisal for your pricing.

Get the word out!

  • Advertise, find an agent who can advertise! If you think a "For Sale" sign will sell your property in a gated community, think again!
  • Make sure your agent is using the internet. Not just posting your property on the multiple listing services!

Know when to sell!

  • Know what the selling season is for the area. This isn't when everything is up for sale, it's when things sell!
  • Some people want to use their vacation property all summer long and then put the house on the market in the fall. This is backwards and usually backfires...
  • Don't let your listing go stale! Leaving a house on the market for 300 days straight is only going to warn buyers that something is wrong!

Do you really want to sell?

  • When you decide to sell, sit down and make sure that everyone concerned wants to sell the vacation property.
  • Make sure, when you leave the property after spending the weekend that the property is show ready.
  • Let your agent know when you'll be spending time at the property. Communication is everything !

Use a trusted professional!

  • Selling your house or property isn't easy. Work with a professional and get weekly updates!
  • Interview more than one agent.
  • Make sure the agent you choose has knowledge of the area or developement
  • Get it everything in writing! I put my services in writing. Most agents will and have no problem doing so...

It's not easy selling property when you are absent. Make sure you choose the right person to represent your interests.

I sell what I know and appreciate...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9SEdYBVxq4

 

©2010 Paul S. Henderson, How can I effectively sell my vacation property? All Rights Reserved

Authored

Courtesy of 

Paul Henderson, Residential Real Estate Broker

Realtor ® ABR, CRS, GRI, CDPE

RE/MAX Professionals

As a Residential Broker and Relocation Specialist, I sell homes in or around JBLM, DuPont, Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Hartstene Pointe in Washington State.
Please visit my website at http://www.phenderson.net to search for homes and information 
(all information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed or warranted in any way)


Referrals are always welcomed and appreciated, Thank-you!

(As a member of the NWMLS, this blog post is intended to comply with NWMLS rules as pertaining to blogging.)

 

 

6 Comments on How can I effectively sell my vacation property?

FEB
02
2010
173,598 Points 2 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I really like your tips and the way you stated them. I work in an area where about 1/2 of the homes are vacation homes, and the other 1/2 is full-time residents. It is correct when you say that one must remove some of the emotions they have about the property and also to price it correctly and time the sale as well as possible. I agree.....
6:47am • #1
589,019 Points 99 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

GOOD MORNING PAUL!  I like the point about "do you really want to sell?"  -- many people think they want to sell and want to try - but when it comes right down to it - they are emotionally attached to vacation homes making it harder to let go! -- Gabrielle
7:31am • #2
970,002 Points 102 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

An interesting example of pricing it right was when my family was about to build a cabin at Hartstene Pointe. We went out to compare prices of what to build. My wife and I found a nice cabin with a view and decided to make an offer. We had done our homework and decided on a price. Since this was before I was a real estate agent, we contacted a real estate office and got the floor agent who answered the phone that day. We told her that we wanted to make a cash offer on xxx Chesapeake. After explaining where the property was we asked her to meet us at the property so we could write up the offer.
Using the comps that we had researched ourselves, we came up with a price that was $20k less than the asking price. Our agent prepared the offer and submitted it to the seller's agent.
Three days later we received a counter offer for $20k over the asking price. We called our agent for an explanation and she said we should have offered the listing price. I said she owed us an explanation so she said she'd call us back.
Our agent called us back and told me that when the seller figured out the numbers she decided she needed $20k more to buy a condo in Seattle than she had thought before. The seller needed a quick sale to buy this condo. You can't figure the price of a property in rural Mason County by the price of a condo in downtown Seattle!
We went our separate ways. Eight months later the seller sold her house at Hartstene Pointe for $60,000 less than our offer...
Selling Hartstene Pointe properties since 1999,
Paul Henderson
10:10am • #3
565,608 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hi Paul, Great tips on pricing that vacation home to sell. So important.
10:25am • #4
250,197 Points 3 Featured Posts

Excellent post, Paul. One thing I've heard over and over is that part of the family wants to sell, and the other part doesn't. It's important to come together on that....

Debi
11:56am • #5
FEB
04
2010
697,940 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

This post was great...no matter where you live.  And, it got even better with your story in the comments section.  Nice work, Paul. 
6:58am • #6

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Paul Henderson, Broker, Realtor® Tacoma,Gig Harbor,DuPont,HartstenePointe

Tacoma, WA

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RE/MAX Professionals & Four Seasons Inc.

Address: 4801 S 19th St, Suite 200, Tacoma, WA, 98405

Office Phone: (253) 830-6003

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