A Cheat Sheet For Home Sellers

There is so much information available about how to sell your home.  My guess is hundreds of books have been written and thousands of blogs.  But who has time for all that reading?

Here is the scoop on selling your Florida home broken down into twelve key points.   

• You can prepare your home for the market.  The simplest preparation does not cost a lot of money. Things like de-cluttering and de-personalizing your home (think, show your home, not your stuff!).  The most basic preparation step is the most important - clean.  If you can smell it, you can't sell it!  

• Expect prying eyes!   Lets face it, buyers are going to look.  And buyers are most often strangers - even to their real estate agent.  They will open drawers. They will peer into closets.  The will look in the garage.  Put away valuables, firearms, medications and personal information/documents.  Think safety, security and even identity theft.   A real estate agent can't surveil every person who enters your home a 100% of the time even though they may try!  

• Let Your Realtor handle things.  It is not desirable for you to bird dog prospective buyers.  It is not necessary for you to "highlight" or act as a tour guide.  Take a walk. Remember, loose lips sink ships...or at least may give away negotiation positions or even price. 

• Price should reflect three things if a seller is motivated: condition, location and competition.

• Its all about numbers:  30-10-1, for instance.  If  in 30 days you do not have at least ten showings and one realistic (even if not accepted) offer. If not, look at price. 

• You can't price too low, really!  You are not required to accept any offer.  If you price low, you may receive multiple offers with buyers competing with each other.
  

• You can price too high! See 30-10-1 above!  

• Accommodation:  Showings are necessary to sell.  Accommodate reasonable showing requests.  Conditions like 24 hour notice, list agent must be present for showings are obstacles. 

• Second showings confirm "good."  Whether the subject property is in the running or its being compared to another potentially better property.   

• Don't scoff at a less than full price offer.   An offer that is reasonable, yet not quite "there," is potentially the one...it is just in the "lets talk" stage! 

• Expect contingencies.  In particular expect an inspection contingency and anticipate little repairs.  Do them up front because multiple little things can cost dollars later - or even a sale.  And if there are issues, that can't be fixed, disclose them up front and consider them in pricing.
  

• Choose the right real estate agent.  In Melbourne, Florida call or text me at 321-693-3850. If you are some other place, think local, knowledgeable, full time.   Your real estate agent should be able to provide the details in the above major points.

 

 Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Gary L. Waters, is a Florida licensed real estate broker at  Waters Realty of Brevard, LLC, Melbourne, Florida serving Florida's Space Coast including the cities and surrounding communities of Melbourne, Viera, Rockledge, Suntree, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach and Satellite Beach.

 Call or text me directly at 321-693-3850.

 

 

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