The art of selling real estate isn’t rocket science

Selling real estate is not rocket science; it really isn't when you consider that selling real estate follows two fundamental principles. "Supply and Demand" and "Presentation of the Home".

In the Supply and Demand fundamental, we can see on a daily basis how many homes are brought to the market and how many have left the market, which is an indicator of how many buyers are looking for homes and conversely, how many sellers are wanting to sell their property.

This information will get us to the average number of days on the market for a broad market such as a city, county, state or even the country, or it can be specific to a market such as a subdivision and the information for specific markets really do vary even if within short distances of other subdivisions.

The average number of days on the market has a direct impact on home values and thus, to sell a home within a specific period of time you must consider the average length of time to decide on your pricing strategy.

This is when the consumers hear things like it's a "Buyers' or Sellers' Market" out there when in reality, a Buyers or Sellers market is specific to the market your discussing.

For example; I can have a property available in a certain subdivision and it sells within days, and yet - in the neighborhood a block away, there is another property that sits on the market for 90-days or more. Having a good Realtor who knows that market is your best source for establishing just what kind of market you have, and of course watching signs go up and down can be a clue as well.

The presentation fundamental is also critical to the selling process because I can show you how two homes priced in a median market can sell for tens of thousands difference when having identical floor plans, similar lots, and similar improvements.

But different presentations such as colors, landscaping, placing of furniture and decorations can make all the difference.

This is where a good staging of a home can be critical in maximizing the dollars you can receive in return when selling your home.

Realtors and decorators are two great resources for doing this and you'd be surprised at how little it could cost to give your home that great presentation look.

Be sure to call on a Realtor for a free advice and try to choose one that is knowledgeable about your market area, because markets really vary from neighborhood to neighborhood.

There are many things about a neighborhood that may provide additional value but would only be known by the homeowner or an experienced professional. Information such as builders' information, amenities offered, tax rates, flooding issues, assessments etc. 

Also keep in mind that a discount real estate company is quite often not a discount at all. What I mean is that commissions are negotiable between sellers and realtors and the fees that are charged by discount companies once you add in the fees for the realtor who will bring the buyer is almost always not far from what you could have negotiated with a Realtor and receive Full-Service.

So explore your options carefully before choosing. A good and knowledgeable Realtor is often well worth their fee.