Aggressive Home Selling Strategies

Selling a house in an extremely competitive market is possible, especially if a seller is prepared to take action to help facilitate attracting a buyer. In a housing market where 'for sale' signs are springing up like mushrooms after a downpour, it's not enough to hire a real estate agent who only puts a sign in the yard, enters the information about the home on the local multiple listing service (MLS), and waits for a potential buyer to find the home.

In a buyer's market, it is imperative that sellers be more cognizant of the choices and actions they take prior to putting the home on the market. In some instances, it may even be wiser to keep the home off the market until they are fully prepared to offer it for sale. Potential buyers may not reappear to see your freshly painted entryway. How should you prepare yourself for this competitive market?

Here is a brief rundown of a must-do list to get your house noticed and sold:

The Right Agent - Rushing into choosing a real estate agent could be your first mistake in a competitive market. You must begin by interviewing several agents in order to choose the best one available for your individual circumstance, especially in such a competitive housing market.

Begin by asking some standard questions to find out what marketing plans are offered, what Internet presence can be expected, a list of past clients as references, and what type of administrative and communication systems are in place.

The real estate agent who understands the market, who is not interested in appeasing your over-priced value on your house, and who can explain what it means to sell a house in a buyer's market is the agent for you.

Choose the agent who gives you the straight talk while keeping a good rapport with you, and you will have a successful relationship and sale.

Repairs - It's time to prepare the home for sale. Aggressive sellers will hire ahome inspection company to conduct what is termed a "pre-inspection" of the house. This pre-inspection will identify potential defects in the home that will eventually show up through a buyer's inspection, possibly terminating any offers on the table. By discovering defects and making the corrections well before a buyer has an opportunity to back out, the home will get a second and third showing, resulting in more offers.

When a pre-inspection is conducted, it is best to inform potential buyers of it by leaving a copy of the inspection report at the home as well as have it posted on the multiple listing service. Don't forget to do those little repairs, too. It's not just about whether the furnace works; buyers notice things like broken light switches and squeaky doors. It may seem trivial, but each one starts a fingernails-on-the-blackboard response in a buyer which can result in losing a follow-up showing.

Curb Appeal - In addition to making repairs to the actual home, taking a look atthe landscaping and entry is another key to selling a home in a buyer's market. Landscaping and your front door has a tremendous impact on the first impression a buyer will get when they first see the home.

You may be thinking that buyers are fickle, and they may very well be. But, regardless of whether you think something like a few flowers and a fresh coat of paint is trivial, your buyer may not. Having a potential buyer come back for a second look because they felt welcomed by the first impression they got at your front step can make the difference between selling and sold.

Photos of your home will be posted on the Internet, printed on flyers, and used in other publications if you have an aggressive agent. Simple things like potted plants, trimmed shrubbery, and neat entries make a difference.

Photographs aren't very forgiving. You can't make up for that peeling paint or pile of dead leaves with a clever description of your home or even cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. Pictures are not forgiving, so be sure your landscaping and entry are meticulous, even if you have to postpone your listing until you get it done.

Staging - Take a look at your home from a buyer's perspective. This is hard to dobecause you have an emotional attachment to your home. But, consider coming into your home for the first time as a new owner. You may have furniture that perfectly matches your green walls, but not everyone does. You may have the perfect kids' rooms for your toddlers, but not everyone has toddlers. Invest in neutral tone paint and cover up all those lovely colors.

You also need to take a look at replacing carpeting, putting away all your knick-knacks, rearranging your furniture, and even storing most of your items to clear the way for a buyer's imagination.

Many sellers benefit from hiring a home staging professional. These experts are trained to see the potential, and for understanding how difficult it is to de-personalize your home while it's on the market. A home staging expert is trained to see homes through the buyer's eye and will present the home so the buyer actually looks at the qualities and features of the home, rather than be distracted by the stuff the owner either loves or has become immune to.

When selling a home in a buyer's market saturated with a large inventory of homes for sale, it is imperative sellers take proactive steps prior to putting a for sale sign in the yard. Interview and hire the best real estate agent, review and repair any defects of the home, and properly stage the home so you will maximize the interest each time you show your home.

Source: longislandrealestate4buyers.com