How to Sell Your Hemet Home at the Highest Possible Price
By JOHN OCCHI, HEMET REALTOR
This is one of the "Free" Reports that I have written that I provide to my seller clients. Often this report will end up in a Pre-Listing Package, before I meet with a potential seller.
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When it comes to selling your home you have to be careful not to make any mistakes. A simple mistake in the process can cost you thousands of dollars, if not tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In lost profit.
Believe it or not, but many homeowners make the same mistakes, over and over again. Avoiding the mistakes is relatively easy - it just takes a little time and effort on your part.
Remember, that this special report is not intended to replace sound legal advise or even come close to answering all of your questions. If this report is doing it's job, it will stimulate your mind and your thought process so that you will have lot's more good qualified questions that you can ask when we meet.
Take the time to read this report and whether you hire me to sell your Hemet home or not, follow the guidelines that I will lay out for you and you will walk away with more money at the end of the sale.
Distress Selling: There will be times, when selling quickly is just unavoidable. The trick is to not appear desperate, otherwise you find yourself the target for low bidders. You have to know all there is to know about the current market conditions before making a decision to list your home. You need to have confidence in the knowledge and skill with the right real estate professional, that you will be working very closely with. (Let ma apply for the job, please) Ensure that you never settle, accepting the first low-ball offer through the door. This is where your Hemet real estate agent will guide you in pricing the home properly from the very beginning.
Best Home in the Neighborhood: Remember that "Pride" is one of the 7 deadly sins and ‘Pride of Ownership' can really come back and bite you. Yes, your home is by far, one of your most personal possessions. You have spent countless hours and dollars making it perfect for you and your family. Don't be blind though, to flaws and needed cosmetic improvements. This will cause you to overvalue your home, hurting it's position in the market. When you list with the right agent the Realtor gives you a well informed third eye that will help you price your home at a fair market price. If your agent is willing to list the home at any price, just to get the listing, please keep looking for a better qualified agent.
Limited Home Viewing: This is so critical. .Buyers want to view a home on their own time schedule which usually does not coincide with your time schedule. Besides, buyers don't want you in the home - it makes them feel uncomfortable and will usually rush through. When the home is vacant, they will often linger and imagine themselves and their family taking possession. Another important reason to keep the seller away from the buyer is we don't ever want any preliminary informal negotiations taking place. A savvy buyer or their agent is looking for weakness to exploit at the negotiation table. (I know I do!) Leave a lockbox or key with your agent so your home can be shown when you are not around. You never know if the one who got away was your buyer.
Restrain Emotional Decisions: Selling a house is business. Don't think of it as selling your home - there is a difference. The house is the walls, windows and roof - your home is the many fond memories that have been made and will continue to be made, regardless of where you live. The house is not emotional. It does not have feelings or memories, so let it go. Don't get caught up over allowing a few thousand dollars and let it ruin a sale. That money will mean very little to you in the long run - think about your future plans and how much you would pay to have them come true sooner. Take a look at the big picture and react rationally. Use sound business judgment!
Make Cosmetic Improvements: Prospects make up their minds
within the first twenty minutes, if they stick around that long.. First impressions will make all the difference in selling your home. Spending $1,200 on new carpet might add another $4,000 to the price of your home. If it needs to be repaired - then fix it now. If a coat of paint will make a difference, than paint it. Pick up the trash and make the place look like someone else can move in. Remember, when the new buyer looks at your home, they want to see themselves living their, not figuring out what they have to do to get rid of the remnants of your lifestyle. Get an objective point of view from your real estate professional. They can provide you with a to-do list that will maximize the profit of your home sale.
Disclose Property Flaws: Property disclosure laws require sellers to list all known flaws. The buyer will have a professional home inspector and pest inspector check your property out thoroughly, before you close escrow. It is always my advise to go ahead and commission your own inspections prior to putting your home on the market, giving the potential buyer the confidence that they are looking at a sound home. If you attempt to cover up any flaws, you risk losing the sale and finding yourself in court. Get professional assistance from your Realtor who can introduce you to qualified inspectors and ensure the smooth sale of your home.
For Sale By Owner: Most homeowners who decide to sell their own home do so because they believe they believe they can save the commission paid to the real estate agent. What the FSBO will attract is the "looky-lou", the bargain hunter and the professional investor. They all know that the FSBO seller is not paying a commission, so they are expecting that savings to be passed on to them. Everything has a price, and selling a home carries a high one. The enormous amount of time and effort required to sell a home often surprises the "For Sale By Owner." Furthermore, many costly mistakes can be avoided with the right guidance.
Refusing to Trust Your Agent: Would you tell a physician that you've decided to run your own tests and come to your own diagnosis? By choosing the right Realtor, you can relax and trust their judgment. The right agent is a valuable team member who will protect your best
interests and make your sale as profitable as possible. Because all real estate is very local, do you think it makes sense to hire a REALTOR from another town, just because you have done business with them in the past? The truth is that Realtors sell property to other Realtors before the consumer, see the buyers, who pay nothing for the service, typically shop for homes with a REALTOR - after all, its free. So, the local Realtors know the inventory, because the other local Realtors have networked and shared valuable information - an opportunity your out of town agent never gets to capitalize on. That's why so many out of town listings expire or sit on the market a very long time before selling. So do yourself a huge favor next time you want to sell your home and use a Realtor that has his primary business in the town where your property is located at, and let your cousin, or whoever, sell real estate where they live.
Know Your Market: This may be hard, but most homes that do not sell in their first listing if they come on the market over priced. Then again, most homes that sell quickly are often priced too low and cheat the homeowner out of profits. You need to understand the market and evaluate the value of your home based on fact, not gut instinct or conventional wisdom. A professional agent knows the market, just as you know the market for your business.
Choosing a Realtor Based on Personal Relationships: Home
sellers often pick a friend or family member as their agent. First you need to realize that this friend or family member will have up close and personal privy to many of your confidential financial affairs. Often time, you will find yourself more comfortable with an impartial 3rd party. Choose an agent with a strong track record and aggressive Marketing Plan. A top producer knows the market well and can generate many buyers. Balance that with an aggressive rising star who has more to prove and more time to focus on your listing. Only you can choose who is right for you, but do yourself a favor and make sure you have a full time REALTOR on your payroll and not a wanna-be substitute teacher that clerks at Wal-Mart and stocks shelves at Lowes, leaving the rest of her time available to sell real estate. You get the picture. Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! Base it on good, sound business sense and the rewards will add up. Before you make one of your most important decisions regarding your home sale, shouldn't you become as informed as possible?
By aligning yourself with a top agent, you ensure that all the important issues and seemingly insignificant but very important details are
handled professionally. Your home sale should not be a grueling or stressful ordeal. The more informed you are the better chance you have of making a sound business decision.
We sincerely hope these tips and ideas are of value to you. They should help stimulate your personal thought process, so that you are better prepared. If there is any way I can be of service, call me at (951) 443-6259.
I would consider it a privilege to be of service to you! If you would like a FREE consultation just let me know.
Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, Hemet REALTOR
http://www.johnocchi.com/
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