There are a lot of things that sellers can do to help seller their home faster and smoother. Here are a few. For more info, be sure to contact me to enroll in our Free Seller Seminar coming up in May.
Be Proactive.
A great example of this is a pre-listing inspection. Generally, after an offer is accepted, and a home goes under contract (enters escrow in other parts of the country), there are only a couple of reasons things fall apart. The most common one, especially in the last few years would be buyer financing falls through. If it is for credit reasons, there isn't much a seller can do, but what is very common is for the financing to fall apart because of the appraisal not coming back high enough. Right after financing issues would be items found during the inspection.
A proactive seller should have a home inspection done prior to listing. There are a few good reasons for this.
- It allows those items to be fixed before buyers see them
- If not fixed, the price can be adjusted accordingly
- The Seller's Disclosure will be more accurate
Items that are in the disclosure aren't actually up for negotiation after the inspection. It would only be items that are uncovered during inspection. Also, if there is something questionable, it is better to be forearmed with the correct information to dispute faulty finding by the buyer's inspector.
Be Informed.
A good seller will know what their agent is doing to promote their home. And they will be quick to provide information and access. I am in the MLS doing searches just about every day. I can't even remember how many times I have seen listings with no pictures, a couple of bad pictures, or little or no information. I have had a seller tell me (not one of mine, but whose listing I was showing) that they were going to do a virtual tour... but never scheduled it even though their agent had paid for it. I also see listings with almost nothing for a description in the MLS.
Ask to see the "Agent Full" listing sheet as well as the photo sheet if it is separate. Verify that the information is correct. Ask for copies of ads and website addresses (this can be tough, as some of us might be updating a Craigslist ad every two days, but you want to get an idea of what is going on).
Be Realistic.
This is the one that will spark controversy. Not with agents, but with buyers... ok, a few agents, too. Tour your competition. If you are selling a $300,000 house in a subdivision, you should see the other homes buyers might look at. And... open your mind. Be a buyer. Look at it as someone that hasn't raised their kids there, or some other emotional attachment. Ask yourself, "Self, why should my house sell for $10,000 more than this house (or less)?" Keep in mind that "Because my house is special" is not a valid answer.
Understand what buyers are going through when they look at your house. Know what makes your house stand out. A good agent will facilitate that. They will help point out differences and highlights.
We will be hosting a Seller Seminar in May. We will be addressing these topics and more. Contact me for more information.
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