Special offer

Get the highest price on a property in a Buyer's Market

By
Real Estate Agent with Aksland Real Estate

In the current buyer's market that many Realtors across the country are facing, homes prices are falling very fast. A home that sold for $350,000 two years ago is now selling for about half that in Modesto at roughly $200,000.  So what techniques can you use to make your property stand out to where you can maximize profit for the homeowner and yourself, without pricing it too high as where all the other agents in the area won't show your property.

The ways to do this is very simple, but it is not greedy.  For example, pricing a property $100K above the rest would not be an effective way to do this. However, there are things to do to spruce up the property and the price.

1. Improve that curb appeal.  The property needs to stand out above the rest upon first look. Most people that buy a home or don't buy a home know within 10 seconds if it is a home that they like. Making a good first impression by having a superb outside helps with that. This also applies to the back yard.  This can make or break a sale.

2. Have it staged appropriately. Homes that sell quick are ones that others can imagine themselves in.  Get rid of the clutter, personal photos, and minimize the amount of furniture.

3. It should smell and look clean. A quick sprucing up could be all that it takes. However a clean home is one that should sell quickly.

4. Put a fresh coat of paint on the walls, if necessary. Again that goes into the clean smell, but it will help. If the colors are not neutral, make sure they are. Bright outlandish colors will help the place sit.

If all this is done, then you have a good opportunity to make your listing stand out and the offer should reflect that.

Comments (6)

Pam Pugmire
Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate

All "Disciplines" (golf, basketball, sales, ...) have their basics, and you've just hit the nail on the head with this list!  These are the basics of selling your home! 

May 16, 2008 03:08 AM
Jennifer Kladny
Premier Servicing Company, LLC - Kittanning, PA

These are excellent points.  Curb appeal is huge.  What is the first thing a buyer sees? 

If you can get them in the front door, it is at least part of your battle. 

Thanks for all the great info! JENNIFER

May 21, 2008 11:41 AM
Krista Fuchs
Prudential Fox & Roach - Exton, PA
Chester County Realtor - (484) 459-8025 - Home Buying and Selling

I feel staging is very important especially in a Buyer's market.  Whenever my sellers don't agree with me I talk to them about some model homes or take them there and they see the light.

May 22, 2008 02:26 AM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Matt - good points for someone needing to sell a home in Modesto.

Jun 01, 2008 08:13 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Good tips. I agree curb appeal and staging are important.

Jun 10, 2008 07:30 AM
Terri Hattaway
Real Estate and Financial Services - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
PONTE VEDRA BEACH REAL ESTATE

Matthew these are important words at a time when agents and sellers are getting discouraged and giving up.  With so many trashed foreclosures and walkaway short sales on the market, agents assume that it's only about price so why bother.

I sold my last two personal homes in a down market.  The first one, I replaced the front door, planted colorful impatiens in the back yard and sold it quickly.  The last one had a fairly new entrance door, but I went out and bought the biggest brightest pot of colorful flowers I could find for the front porch.  In both cases, these were touches that people commented on. 

I am a firm believer in curb appeal.  If you don't like it when you pull up to the house, it's almost impossible to change your mind.

Good post.

Continued Success!

Terri

Sep 18, 2008 12:28 PM