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Ways to Sell A Home Quicker.

Don't listen to the agents that say "Homes are not selling!" They are. Maybe it is just their listings that are not selling. Sellers need to listen to the truth, and act. Too many sellers are listing with agents that promise a cheap commission, but deliver no results. Agents that list with lower commissions and place you in the MLS may not have a plan to get your home sold. There is not surprise there. In fact there is a good chance they may have not ever sold even one home. That is OK if you do not mind listing your home for a year or two and watch it go down in value. Before you list, remove your emotion and listen to the facts in your market place, the ones that will impact your home, in your subdivision, and your street.

Price It Right - At or Below Market

Be willing to Pay a Full Commission - Hire Agent that Can Demonstrate a Proven Record of Results.

Listen Carefully to The Advice of the Agent You Listed With.

Compensate the Buyers Agent Generously

Be Willing to Pay Buyers Closing Costs

Keep it Clean - No Smoking, No Strong Cooking Odors.

Kennel the Pets.

Neutralized and Unpersonalized.

Un-Clutter: Toss Garbage, Store Unneeded Items.

Clean Garage, Paint Floors and Walls

Paint the Entire Home - Ceilings, Walls, Trim Work and Exterior.

Replace the Carpet.

Re-Do Hardwood Floors

Update Lighting.

Trim Lawn, and Prune Exterior Shrubs.

Some Exterior Planting Colors

Accessible, Sign, Lockbox, Do not list "Appointment Only!"

RE/MAX Greater Atlanta 770-238-0122 Direct

Or 888-992-5546 Toll Free Office

Atlanta Real Estate & Atlanta Homes for Sale

Posted by Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO on 03/03/2009 10:23 PM

Comments (34)

Selling a Home Quickly in the ActiveRain Channel

atlanta home sales, ways to sell a home quicker, selling a home, quick, quick home sales, lockboxes, paint, clean, carpet, pricing

Originally posted at: Atlanta Real Estate | Atlanta Housing News for Real Estate: Ways to Sell A Home Quicker.

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34 Comments on Ways to Sell A Home Quicker.

MAR

Jim,

All good tips.

I agree, the house has to be clutter free, it has to be clean, but most important of all is to have it priced right.

thanks for the post

have a great day

linda in clayton nc

Linda DeRusha Broker/Realtor, ABR (Remax Southland) Thanks! Most of all we need realistic sellers.

Jim,

Homes are selling in any market, so long as they are priced right and well-maintained. Today's sellers need to be realistic and listen to their professional real estate agents, otherwise it's going to be a long haul and missed opportunities.

MAR

What a terrific list, do you mind if I use it for my clients?

Great advice for sellers. I agree pricing it right is important and making it is easy to show is also important. have you seen listings that say ' listing agent must accompany ' 24 hours notice ?

Jim -

Solid advice for today's market... The best house at lowest price sells - I tell sellers "You have to position your home to sell!"

Esko Kiuru - Las Vegas NV Mortgage Consultant (Sinifox Financial) Very well said!

Janice Roosevelt,Ecobroker, ABR, e-PRO (Matt Fetick Real Estate Team - Keller Williams Real Estate -) As long as it is not published, I have no problem with that.

GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors) The listing agent needs 24 hours because they are asleep at the wheel.

Debbie Summers - MoveToLakeMary.com or 407-758-1020 (RE/MAX Central - Florida) YOu are right on the money Debbie!

Hey Jim,

Great list. exactly what I would expect from a professional like yourself. I particularly like the last one. NO APPOINTMENTS !

When all of the agents in town are trying to figure the best way to get those Buyer's ( and they are out there ) through there listings. Some Agents are still employeeing the same restrictive active tactics they used in a hot market. Puuleeease!

Here's a novel idea. When placing the listing in the MLS why not go through that simple little extra step of giving the cooperating agents the Seller's last name. Who knows perhaps they might want to write an offer. Not everyone is appreciative of having to look up a Seller's name in the tax reccord. What the heck do you think you are protecting by stating the owners name is " Call Agent " or " Of reccord " ? Be curtious to others. The name is public reccord. Thanks for allowing me this mini rant Jim.

Downtown Portland Real Estate Broker~Herb Hamilton (RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors) Thank you Herb. I like that idea. Then again, you are a true professional also. If thre is one thinkg I hate is "call lisitng agent first' and it is a VACANT home, or 'call showing service!' Please, give me a break folks! I would rather knock doors of for sale by owners all day long or have someone stick a tooth pick in my eye!

Jim I cannot agree with you more sellers have no idea how they themselves can sabotage the sales effort. I am working with a seller now that I wish I could clone. She listens, makes the home available and we have multi-offers on her home. Sunday we actually had a line of agents to see the property.

Yes Jim, homes are selling, if they are priced right and most of your list applied. Around the Ozarks, if they are under $200,000 especially. Gets the phone ringing.

Hi Jim

Great advice and it all starts with the correct pricing.

Good luck and success

Lou Ludwig

Vanessa V. Simmons~Realtor (Real Living HER) God bless those great homeowners! If a person listens they will succeed.

Joan Snodgrass Tri-Lakes Realtors, Shell Knob, MO (Tri- Lakes REALTORS) Some sellers think nothing is selling. That is not true.

Lou Ludwig CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC, e-PRO, (Ludwig & Associates) You are so right. A sale always begins with the right listing price.

Jim,

If you were a young man or woman going to the prom evrything would have to be just so.

Well, selling a house is no different, every thing has to be just so.

I agree with you 100% on all accounts, great points.

Richard

You covered all the bases on that one Jim. Attitude is key. And not just listing, listing to sell with the right Atlanta Georgia real estate broker to get the job done right the first time.

I like to get the seller on as a team member and make them realize they need to work with us to sale the home. I think that is a big one. That's the struggle though, give me the home to list and then sit back and watch. Doesn't work so well.

Richard Stabile Bergen County New Homes Builder Realtor (REMAX real estate associates) Thanks Richard sellers do not realize it that they may only get one chance at this. So everything has to be perfect. As a Northern New Jersey Luxury Real Estate Broker, you realize that first impressions mean everything!

Andrew Mooers | Northern Maine Real Estate / Aroostook County Broker (MOOERS REALTY) Andrew that is what I'd like to think, but we have so many agents in Atlanta it is hard to get the chance at bat. I don't know if you have the same thing in your neck of the woods in Northern Maine Real Estate.

Ron Bridges (ERA Wilder Realty, Inc.) Ron you hit the nail on the head. The seller needs to be on your team!

MAR

Stick A ToothPick in my Eye !!!! Owwwch. Just the thought of that makes me cringe!

Downtown Portland Real Estate Broker~Herb Hamilton (RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors) LOL! I feel that way sometimes!

Jim, great tips !!! I think one cure for the market would be for every agent to withdrawl those homes from the MLS that have zero chance of selling. That would reduce inventory by what, 10 to 20 percent ?? In any event, great post with these tips... it comes down to price, access to the property, expert marketing and having the services or an experienced agent ! If you pay less, chances are you will get whay you pay for or worse yet, if the house does not sell, there is no real estate commission at all !

Jim, I am glad you mentioned don't do Appointment Only. I have never understood that sign.

Christopher and Stephanie Somers - Realtors - Philadelphia Real Estate (RE/MAX Affiliates) I like the idea. Maybe we could eliminate 35-40% of the listings in this market. That would give us a chance to clean this mess up ASAP.

Gary Woltal - REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) Appointment Only are a total waste of time especially in this market.

MAR

Jim. This is a great list. The Sellers that refuse to get realistic are a blight on the landscape. Just this week I was one of 10 offers on a home that was priced just slightly under value.

Nr.1 is the most important. All good pointers. Good handout for sellers.

Now featured on the Optimist group.

Ellie McIntire Real Estate in Howard County Maryland (The McIntire Team of Long & Foster) Too many sellers are not in a position to do this...they are upside down from either buying 'no money down' or borrowing it out in a HELOC, and now with property values plunging, they are totally upside down.

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection Mirela, thank you so much. I appreciate that a lot!

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