Boy times have sure changed in Real Estate haven’t they? If you're reading this report then let's begin with the facts about the current real estate market and then talk about what you can do to sell your home fast. Selling a home is really easy when you know what works. One thing I am grateful in life for is the ability to adapt and make changes quickly. My clients also appreciate this when it comes to selling a house. It should go without saying that selling a home in 2011 is simply a buyer's market. A buyers market translates into lower than desired prices and buyers seem to ask for the world… why… because they can.
In this report you will get 110% from me for FREE. This is what I see working and what I see not working in real estate in 2011.
More often then not I hear things like this from clients... “ I can always count on your NO nonsense approach” “you never sugar coat it.” Or my favorite is something along the lines of “you always give the NO BS answer”. Shall I call myself the NO BS REALTOR… sorry mom.
This is my promise to you. If you want warm a fuzzies and some real estate agent telling you what you want to hear and not what you should hear… I am not that guy. Because there are “too many” agents NOT telling the truth, you and I will talk down the road… then I hope it is not too late. Truth be told sometimes I lose listings because of being straight forward, but it always comes back around when you want a straight answer.
So, if you need to sell your house and sell it quick you will find all you need to know how to beat out the competition and SELL that house FAST. Perhaps you have an adjustable rate loan that is about to skyrocket, or maybe you just got a job in another city. Maybe you found your dream home and need to sell another one to be in a position to take advantage of another great deal. Whatever the reason, don’t panic because contained in these pages you will quickly find the answers you need. This may not seem like the best time to sell your house, but if you follow this advice, it is VERY possible and you will get HIGHEST dollar for it.
Below is your receipt to selling your home. We will also discuss some foolproof home-selling tactics that will get you the highest sticker price for your house…. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Making small price reductions again and again…
will kill your sale!
Don’t be an overanxious homeowners… Nothing looks more desperate than incremental price drops of your house. This is a big no, no…. Seriously the longer a property is on the market, the more jaded the buyers become to it. The more times the price is cut, the worse it looks to a buyer. Don’t let buyers create stories about why your house is on the market for longer than it should be. People want to live in a home that they “feel” is wanted by others. Buyers can quickly come to the conclusion that “a lot of people must have seen the home” and that a lot of people rejected it so “why should I bother”. And if that is the case, you can avoid making this mistake.
Instead, I would suggest slash the price upfront. Find out what your house is worth by looking at similar properties in the neighborhood and price it below the competition in the area. The most enticing houses on the market are the newest and the cheapest, and are the ones with all the activity. If you can be all three, you’ll sell your's in no time at all. For most, this will save them time, money, and sleepless nights.
Hiring the wrong broker
There are many ways of finding a good broker and of coarse I will tell you this is a good idea. Personal recommendations from friends and colleagues are often the best way to go when looking to list your house. If someone outside the real estate business with nothing to gain is bringing up the name of a real estate agent, you can be pretty sure you’re on to a winner. The best brokers are typically the top 20% that do 90 percent of all the business. So don’t get stuck with a lemon and don’t get stuck with someone that has “been in the business the longest”. Do some research online and find out what buyers are looking for when shopping for a home. Today’s market is SOOO different that “new school technology” will out win the “old school mentality”. You want someone with enthusiasm and drive, someone who will give you the attention you need and steer you through the whole messy process with courtesy and professionalism. In today's market make sure the broker and their agents understand new trends and what it is going to take to sell your house.
Waiting it out
If you decide to wait, you are joining many other homeowners that have hopeful wishes that the market will be quick to turn around and be like “the good old days”. But in reality most people are waiting because they just don’t have the equity in the home to sell right now. To be real blunt it is not looking any better for the next while. In the St. George Utah market and surrounding areas of Washington County it may take 3-5 years before we rid ourselves of access inventory and REO’s. We have a large “shadow inventory” in the Utah state and about 12 months in Washington county just waiting to be foreclosured on. To make things even more difficult, we still have two thirds of the adjustable rate mortgages waiting to adjust and many people are upside down just holding onto hope the market will turn around quickly “like it used to be”. I am an optimistic looking at the long term approach, but my optimism is long term for todays market. For most that is not what they want to hear, so… some great advise I once heard was… “tomorrow never comes, live in the present” and if your thinking about selling for whatever reason it might be, don’t be the one later saying “should have, could have, and would have”. When a few decide it’s time to take the plunge, you might already be too late. If you need or want to sell now, then sell now. With that said only you know what is best for you, so you decide what you think is best, act, and make sure to get good advise.
Showing your house before you get rid of your clutter
Would you try to sell your car without first cleaning it out? I certainly hope not. But trying to sell your house when it is full of clutter is the exact same thing. People don’t appreciate charming family mementos and knick-knacks the way you appreciate them… so move them away for a time. What people see is visual noise, like empty soda cans and banana peels strewn on the back seat of your Chevy… not a great picture. Don’t make this mistake that I see over and over again. The buyer doesn’t want to see your house; they want to see their home. Find a temporary home for all of your cherished possessions and let the house speak for itself. Putting your stuff in storage for a few months will cost you $200-$300 or less and it will make all the difference in the world with what price your house sells for and how quickly it can sell. You won’t be sorry you did.
Not taking the first quick bid
This happens time and time again and it just happen to me 3 weeks ago. A seller gets a bite early on from a buyer and they are suddenly filled with confidence that everyone wants their home. It feels like you’re standing over a pond packed with a million hungry trout. The first offer doesn’t seem great and you naturally assume there are bigger and juicier fish in the pond. So you throw the fish back into the pond and cast your lure back in the pond “to catch the big one”. The only thing big about this is a Big mistake! That “fish” is often the catch of the day and you should hold onto it.
Here are some more amazing tactics that will help you lure more buyers in: Secrets taken from experts in the Real Estate industry.
Secrets to standing out…
YouTube your house…
If you have not heard of YouTube you must be hiding under a rock. YouTube is the number two search engine next to Google. YouTube offers an easy way to put video online. A YouTube tour gives the buyer your personal perspective on what’s special about your house and can be linked with most major search sites. Over 90% of buyers today start home shopping online and they LOVE video tours. Your home is WAY more likely to get traffic if it has a video tour and is loaded to YouTube. You don’t need anything fancy… people like it raw and real. Make sure to show the good and the bad of the house. When buyers show up to see inside it is best to not have too many surprises. I personally recommend around 1 minute of video for every 500 sq. ft. of home including the exterior. If you have lots of land it may take longer for your video tour. Keep the video focused and brief. A sunny day makes your home look larger and brighter… and make sure to turn on lights and open windows when you video.
If you choose this method, you should be proactive in getting the video seen. Send links of the video to any interested parties and make sure your broker is doing the same.
Go beyond traditional realtor networks
As I said 90% of homebuyers start their search online. Here are some of the highest-traffic Web sites for real estate are:
- #1 google.com
- #2 craigslist.org
- #3 zillow.com
- #4 trulia.com
- #5 homes.com
- #6 realtor.com
You want to make sure people visiting these sites are seeing your home. If you are unable to do this yourself, ask your broker to do it for you. I am able to blast your home to over 200 of the top real estate sites when you list with us. Any good broker in todays market should be doing the same.
Selling your house online
I can not stress this enough… This is a foolproof way to get your home attention with very little involvement. Sure it takes work in the beginning and it is more work than most real estate agents will do, but overall it is totally necessary in today’s market. Most online services are free and some cost small amounts, but it is all a small price to pay with the exposure these major sites give. Sites like Zillow, Google Homes, KSL, and don’t forget the Social Media sites like FaceBook, Twitter, Linked In, Active Rain, and many more will drive A LOT of attention to your house. The costs are minimal and the returns are HUGE. You might even try Ebay if you want to take it a step further. All these sites draw a lot of traffic and can boost your online ranking that will give your home more exposure and sell it FAST. Want to hear more give us a call… we love technology and we love our online friends.
Organize a neighborhood open house
Join up with other neighbors on the weekend to lure more buyers in. Including some fun things like a BBQ or a giant inflatable jump house in the backyard for kids to play on. You can count on your neighbors talking about their weekend at work if you make it fun… you never know who might be in the market and overhear a conversation.
Include a financial goody bag for the buyer
For example, you could offer to prepay taxes or closing costs. You can also pay for a year of landscaping, pool cleaning, or maid service. Be creative and see what kind of incentives you think would entice a buyer towards your home. Recently, I see a lot of people giving away iPads… it is crazy what people will do for a $400 dollar iPad.
Offer a big broker incentive
Consider offering your broker a “paid in full” cruise or a luxurious day at the spa for selling your house. (Ya… I had too). It should also be expected that your broker offer you a discount if you are flexible, listen to advise, and if your home sells fast this all makes his everyone’s job a little easier. A home that sells quick is better for you and the broker. See what you can do.
Hire a professional home-stager
Visit the website www.homestaging.com for local members. This will totally set your home apart from the rest.
Remember to promote your own house
On average, it takes eight lookers to get one bite. The more people in, the more bites you get. It is often just a numbers game as most Realtors will tell you. Today’s market is VERY MUCH a numbers game.
Rent a local billboard in your neighborhood
This may sound far-fetched, but it is not as expensive as you might think. You could also create magnets for your car to advertise your home (with house picture and contact information). Or dress your kids and their friends in “Buy My House” T-shirts and send them to town. Sometimes whacky tactics like these pay off. (This is a crazy ideal I got from some article- think outside the box right.)
With all this in mind, get out there and see if you can create some noise. If you are willing to do what is necessary, there is no market you can’t sell your house in.
Conclusion
If you have made it to this point I commend you for taking the time to read this report and taking selling your home seriously. Remember these are no longer the days that real estate agents have to do all the marketing on their own. I love creative home owners that want to help. Technology, enthusiasm, the right tools, and commitment will lead you to success. Hire the right agent and remember technology is your friend and buyers start their search online, so capture their attention. For more tips make sure to visit us online and subscribe to our blog…
visits us online at…
www.justinmorganrealestate.com
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