The Greater Hartford Association of Realtors recently released their statistics for July. For the year (and July), the number of listings is up and closed sales are down. Add to that the shrinking number of available buyers due to the mortgage industry troubles. So, to put your home sale in business terms, you now have more competition and fewer buyers. Time to differentiate!
1. Most importantly, price your house right. Be sure the agent listing your home gives you recent closed comps, but also shows you the current competition in your price range. If you need a quick sale, and can financially stand it, price at the lower end of the range compared to your competition.
2. Make sure your house is clean and free of clutter, even if you don't have the most updated house on the block. Cleanliness and neatness go a long way with buyers.
3. Review the pictures your agent will be posting on the MLS, Realtor.com, their company's website, etc. before they are posted. Do they show your house in the best light? We see many crappy pictures on the MLS on a daily basis (which feeds the other websites), so make sure your agent isn't doing you a disservice. Good online pictures make buyers want to see houses.
4. Buy a 1 year Homeowners Warranty. It's like a gift to the buyer and will cost approximately $450 which comes out of your closing costs. It gives the buyer peace of mind and might make your home stand out from others.
5. Try to make your house as available for showings as possible. If your pets need to be crated, see if you can have a friend or family member watch them during the first few weeks of activity.
Hopefully some of these ideas will help you sell quickly.
On a more national note, here's a great inventory trends graph for the entire US... Click on the checkmark boxes on the left of the webpage to view different city trends.
Comments(0)