What Do You Need From Us To Sell Our Home?
So you've decided it's time to sell your Warren County home. You've decided to hire us to get the job done for you. So what's your role as home sellers in this process? Mostly a collection of many simple things: some tasks for you, some physical, some mental.
First of all, we know you love your home, but we need you to understand that your home is now a commodity and that's exactly how the buyers will see it. You're going head to head with homes not just in your direct community, but across a wide area and every one of you wants to be the next one with a SOLD sign in the yard. Buyers don't have the emotional investment or the memories in your home that you do, so we need to understand what appeals to them.
Be honest with us. If being sold quickly is most important, we need to know that. Pricing strategy changes according to whether time or dollars is most important to you. When you fill out the property disclosures, don't hide things that have happened. Failing to disclose puts all of us at risk. If you're behind in your mortgage payments, we need to know that. Different tactics apply for those situations. Getting divorced? We know that's personal, but we need to know that too.
Cooperate with us. You hired us because we're professionals and know how to successfully market and close the deal. When we suggest a price, it's based on fact. Let's be blunt, the buyers don't care what you need or want, just what works for them. They'll only pay so much, and if your minimum acceptable level is above that, we'll get offers and never actually complete a deal. When we ask you to make some changes about your home, it's also because we know what the buyers want. Putting away some extra furniture, taking down some of the personal photos, some touch up paint, maybe even some major repairs, it's ALL requested with YOUR best interest in mind.
Communicate with us. If something is frustrating you, we need to know. We're obviously NOT psychic or you'd have seen us in the paper with that last big MegaMillions jackpot. Showing desk irritating you? Buyer's agent leave the door unlocked? Let us know. We'll do everything we can to address and correct, but we can only do that if we know. Along the same lines we'll need information: utility providers, HOA contacts, upgrades/repairs you've made and when.
Be patient. This may not be a fast process. Homes in Warren County are still typically taking months to sell. It may also take more than one purchase offer to get one that will work for you.
Have an exit strategy from Day One. Where are you going to go when that offer is made that works for you? Have you met with a mortgage specialist to make sure you can get the loan you need for your next home?
Stop listening. To the neighbors, hair stylist and your third cousin in Texas who's an agent. Not one of them is in the real estate business in Ohio are they? They're NOT current on your particular needs or the market conditions for your neighborhood. Might be the last home they sold was 20 years ago and things have changed in real estate since then, A LOT!! Stop and think, if we thought something would work, don't you think we'd be doing it? Your success is our success.
Be flexible. Yes it's a pain to keep your home show ready all the time, and sometimes agents don't provide a lot of notice. Accommodate the appointment requests you can. We don't expect you to allow everything, but you never know when THE ONE right buyer is going to appear.
Keep up appearances. Curb appeal is still crucial. Keep the lawn mowed, flowers blooming, wasp nests knocked down (be careful!), the siding clean and paint fresh.
Protect your privacy. Social media and the neighbors can kill your negotiating leverage. They talk, they know people, and sometimes the people they know is your prospective buyer or their agent. So that "I just can't wait to move to Florida, I'm so tired of living here!" Facebook post might literally cost you thousands of dollars. Nothing wrong with posting my home is for sale if you know anyone interested, have them contact my agent. But after that, nothing about how showings are going, offers received, we want radio silence!
Notify us. When the flyers are low, when the brochures are low, when some yahoo throws a brick through the sign or swipes one of the advertising rider. We'll take care of it, and soon.
Overall, there is more to it, but we've covered the essentials. We're going to do everything we can to make the process as smooth and as painless as possible (note we didn't say pain free!). Selling your home CAN be a hassle, but we'll be doing our best to CAUSE your sale as quickly as possible.
Any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us!
Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz
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