This writing is designed to try to better educate and inform buyers and sellers in our Phoenix, Arizona valley home buying and selling market. Purchasing or selling a home on your own can sometimes turn your world upside down. Listed below are basic tips on educating yourself as a buyer or seller so you will know what initial steps you need to take to prepare!
For Sellers:
1 - PLAN to be ready to have your home on the market for a possible six months+ NO MATTER WHAT a
friend or another Realtor may tell you!!! If you sell it sooner, so much the better - just plan on it being on the market for awhile.
2 - Do NOT overinflate the value of your home simply to get it listed. You will miss your potential buyer that is looking in a different price range when you choose to "test" the market. GET REAL!!!! Your Realtor should be able to help you ball park a realistic price to list your home.
3 - Keep in mind that it is more expensive to list your home in this market because Realtors are required to market your home more aggressively expending literally hundreds of dollars to do so. Plan to keep your house on the market for AT LEAST SIX MONTHS - or be prepared to pay your agent for his/her time if you pull your listing off before the six months. Many Realtors are not allowing sellers to cancel their listings after 30-60 or even 90 days.
4 - DO NOT expect the Realtor to reduce his or her price to list your home. A good Realtor will spend his/her time and money in order to do all that is necessary to effectively market your home. Good Realtors are worth their weight in gold!
5 - UNDERSTAND and ask what your Realtor will do for you ~ and what you will do to sell your home for the best price possible. DO YOUR PART!! Plant flowers, trim bushes, trees, and sweep your walkway and put out a new doormat. That's what people see first.
6 - UNDERSTAND that, though our market is on the upswing, as of today there are 54,299 active listings in our MLS with whom you will be competing. DON'T TAKE IT TOO PERSONALLY when your home isn't shown immediately - you are competing with the other listings on the market.
If you cannot afford to price your home at the market price, then DON'T LIST IT!! It will save you a lot of time and frustration.
For Buyers:
1 - There may never be a better time to purchase a home! With so many homes available for sale including horse properties, rental and investment properties, now is a great time to make your move. Sellers are more willing than ever to work with the buyer. They are anxious to sell their home - NOW!!
2 - Since your Realtor typically does not charge you to show you homes, negotiate the contracts, help you with a lender, home inspection, etc. ~ find a good one. In all markets, but especially today with the mortgage fraud, builders filing bankruptcy, builders not completing communities, make sure to utilize the services of a good Realtor.
3 - DO NOT GO INTO A NEW HOME SUBDIVISION without a Realtor!!! Ask yourself. Does the builder really
have my best interest at heart? Who will represent me since the new home agent represents the builder? Do they care if they slide me into a fantastic interest rate for 3 years, even negative interest? Builders are in the business to sell homes. Period.
I frequently hear stories about earnest deposits not being refundable - I had one couple who contracted to purchase a home with a substantial earnest deposit - nonrefundable. They subsequently did not sell their home in time and lost their deposit. If they would have contacted a Realtor to go with them - as for me - I would have discouraged them from making any such commitment until after their home was sold! Too many buyers get "caught up" in the moment and jump on board without becoming better educated with perhaps the largest expenditure they WILL EVER MAKE!
Thinking about relocating to Mesa, Arizona or the Phoenix Valley? Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. OR visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com
, MoveToSunnyAz, or AzLadyInRed.com, 
for photos of models, floorplans, new construction, resale and more.
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate *** Teri Ellis, Broker, ABR,CRS,GRI,ePRO,MRE
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Teri--I couldn't have said it better myself...And I am in a totally different market. Unfortunately, these are the harsh realities of many communities across the US. Homes are taking longer to sell. Realtors offer buyers and sellers a tremendous service but we need time to do the job and to be paid fairly for our efforts. Working together as a team will allow WIN/WIN situations for agents and clients. Houses are selling...But it takes time and work on the part of everyone!