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When the Sellers Aren't Selling

By
Real Estate Agent with Your Paradise Group, LLC Real Estate Company

Remind Them: "Presentation is Everything!"

 

At times the sellers themselves thwart the efforts of the Real Estate Agent. Nothing can be quite as

frustrating as trying to pull all the weight when someone else is adding to the burden by being uncooperative!

If you have a seller who is not making sure their home is presentable to a potential buyer, remind

them that, in a competitive market with more inventory than we've seen in some time, presentation is

everything! By eliminating points the potential buyer may find fault with and bringing out the positive

amenities, they are more likely to sell the home and get the price they are asking for. Here are just a

few tips that will help them support your efforts as their representative in the transaction:

 

Let There Be Light. Buy some 100-watt bulbs to brighten the rooms, and open curtains or blinds to

let light in. Unless a window faces a brick wall or some type of eyesore, open the drapes!

 

Garage, Not Garbage. Have a garage sale to clean out the clutter and make the garage more spacious.

Your clients are moving and will need to start organizing anyway, so why wait until the last

minute? Clean up oil spots in the garage or carport with a good cleanser to remove that "lived-in" appearance.

The home may not be brand new, but it's new to the potential buyer.

 

Make Scents. Get a nice potpourri air freshener, or keep some refrigerated cookie dough on hand to

throw in the oven when a prospect is coming over. Make the house smell like a home.

 

Paint-relief. Consider re-painting any areas that need to be touched up, especially the front door and

entryway, and any appliances that are showing their age.

 

Power Plants. Trim down any jungles outside, especially if they cover the house. Get rid of any half dead

houseplants. Water the lawns briefly before any visit, and keep the lawns mowed and edged.

 

The Price is Right. Price may be a sensitive issue, but with increased inventories and declining

home values in many neighborhoods, remind your clients that every shopper in a buyers' market is

determined to get the best deal possible. Let them know that now is a good time to compare their

house with others on the market in the same area, because the right price is the one thing that will

sell their house faster than anything else.

 

The World is Your Stage. Professional staging can help to showcase the best side of a home, create

more interest, and get your clients top dollar. With increased inventories, staging could provide

the competitive edge you need

Show All Comments Sort:
Barb Siegwalt
Realty Austin / Compass - Austin, TX
Barb Siegwalt

Great advice good post you might add, put an opened container of Cinnamonrolls in the oven and set it to 150 degrees. The aroma will be great and you will not have to worry about burning the cookies! Also vanilla candles are a good choice.

Jun 18, 2008 06:17 AM
Debi Ernst
St. Charles County, Missouri - Prudential Alliance Realtors - O'Fallon, MO
GRI, e-PRO, Broker/Sales Associate

Very good advice.  Sellers really need to realize that, if they want to sell, they need to price their homes competitively.  It is sometimes a bitter pill to swallow.  :)

Jun 18, 2008 06:20 AM
Bob Edwards
Coldwell Banker- The Real Estate Group, Inc. - Appleton, WI
Fox Cities Real Estate Hotline, SFR- Appleton, WI

Good tips Karen, it certainly can be frustrating to have a non-cooperative seller. 

Jun 18, 2008 07:03 AM
Vickie McCartney
Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY
Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Karen~Thanks for sharing some reallyuseful information with us.  Staging the home to sell is very important.  Sometimes sellers just don't realize just how important it is to their bottom line.

Jun 18, 2008 07:17 AM
Harold "Hal" Place
A1 Connection Realty, Inc. - Sun City Center, FL

Morning Karen,

Thank you for taking the time to post this informative blog. Good advise is of grerat value to all of us. 

Jun 19, 2008 03:47 AM
Barbara Cluck-Miksits
BCM Home Staging LLC - Ridgewood, NJ
Home Staging - New Jersey

Karen, Thank you for putting in a word for Professional Stagers. They can make a big difference on how a house shows. Nice post!

Jun 19, 2008 08:50 AM
Karen Flynn
Your Paradise Group, LLC Real Estate Company - Destin, FL

I just got removed from the Newbies site....what did I do wrong?  Is this not information that a Newbie....especially a newbie realtor would need or want?  Being new to all of this I am confused.  Anybody that can tell me what I did wrong I'd greatly appreciate the information.

Thanks,

Karen

Jun 20, 2008 12:50 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Great list very well done!  Sellers need to start listening!

Jun 20, 2008 12:52 AM
Debi Ernst
St. Charles County, Missouri - Prudential Alliance Realtors - O'Fallon, MO
GRI, e-PRO, Broker/Sales Associate

Good advice, Karen!  Some things are simple and not expensive to do.  Thanks for sharing!  :)

Jun 20, 2008 02:57 PM