Special offer

Creative strategies to attract buyers

By
Real Estate Agent with GateHouse Properties 01391590

With sellers anxiousness over trying to sell their homes qucikly (then finding the reality of the market), I've found one of the best ways to get a buyer off the fence is to offer incentives.

I know it might sound like something out of the used car salesman's playbook, but I've found it to be very effective- and it can be done in a way to make someone serious about stepping up to the plate and making the offer.

Recently, for example, I was selling a home in Costa Mesa, CA and it had been on the market for a little over 4 months. We received a real, real low ball offer which the sellers turned down ($200k under asking price of $750k).  Open houses had produce somewhat interested buyers, and I went back to many of them with an offer from the seller to buy down the buyer's interest rate, effectively producing an interest rate of approximately 4.875 %!!!

It was a win-win situation; the sellers did not have to lower their price too drastically and the buyers saved almost $400/month from what they would have paid otherwise.  I've found these type of marketing incentives, when explained throughly to the buyers, seem to get them moving off of the fence.

I know there are others out there, and I would love to hear any other great ideas- I've got more listings to sell!!

Thanks!
Colin Delaney

Realtor, Veranda Homes

Costa Mesa Real Estate

Kim Sellers
Lake Arrowhead, CA Coldwell Banker - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Lake Arrowhead Realtor - BRE#01412099 - Lake Arrow
Great article Colin, this is an awesome way to get the incentives that buyers are looking for.  I have a couple of sellers willing to do this on their vacation homes here in Lake Arrowhead.  Best wishes to you.
Feb 19, 2008 07:57 AM
Clint Haynes
Peoples Home Equity, Inc. - Mount Juliet, TN
I think that's a really good idea.  An interest rate that low that is paid for as a discount by someone else is hard to beat, especially if you are looking to stay in the lose long term.  They'll save tons of money over time
Feb 19, 2008 08:01 AM