Expired Listing? Seven Steps to Sell Fast and Get Top Dollar

Over 50% of homes listed for sale do not sell during their listing period, in some markets its' as high as 65%. The dirty secret in the real estate business is that most homes don't sell on the first go around. Blame the agent blame the home owner both are at fault. Seven steps below will give you the best chance of your home selling first time out.

1) Price it Right

  Far and away above any other consideration is the price. The worst home in the worst area at the right price will sell. Get your head out of the clouds, as a seller it's just another house. 

2) Hire the Right Agent Interview 2 to 3 agents

 Hire the one who uses the most tools to market your home. The I'm No 1 and pat their self on the back real estate designations are not going to get your home sold.

3) Team Approach to Selling

Agents who use a team approach to their business have the right attitude towards real estate. Today's single agent actually does 14 different jobs in the home selling and buying process. A team can spread the work load, specialize, and has less chance of dropping the ball (you and your house).

4) Advertising Systems 

Where, when and how often will your home be advertised in newspapers and home magazines. We know that about 90 to 95% of calls on ads reject the house after receiving all the information. But it is a fact that advertising especially using a 800# call capture systems with a compelling ad will draw buyer prospects for your agents' team to work with. 

5) Signs and Sign Riders

Signs with 800# call capture number. Show your agents web page address. Web page must have free reports and other areas for buyers to register. Sign riders offer compelling reasons for buyers to call the 800#, zero down, special financing, low down payment, Buy this house and I'll buy yours for cash are some that work well.

6) Open Houses

One of the least effective ways to market a home. Saturday or Sunday afternoon for 3-4 hours you go to the mall and your agent hangs out watching TV. How about an open house tour 5 to 6 homes open the same day for 15 to 20 minutes each, the group goes from house to house creating an auction like affect and get to you stay home and see the show.  

7) Visual Tours & Photos

By using visual tours and multiple photos your agent will get your home placed higher on websites like Realtor.com. Almost 80% of home buyers start their search on the internet it is best for you to be at the top of the list. You can also email your home to friends, neighbors, co-workers, hand-out C/D's at open house tours. Your agent will also send these out to the top agents in your area.

Agents with multiple approaches to the marketing of your home will work best for you. They are internet savvy have a team and support staff that can handle the various tasks involved with finding the right buyer for your home.

 

Posted via email from Modesto And Vicinities

Financing For Sale By Owner (FSBO)

The process of purchasing a home via FSBO can be somewhat different than most home buyers are used to. The actual act of buying a FSBO can be much more involved than most people think. That is not to say that the process cannot be successfully completed, quite the opposite in fact. It can also be extremely rewarding as a good deal of money can be saved if the deal is handled properly.

If you are planning on buying a home that is being sold by the owner, spend some time and research the home buying process, not only is this simply a good idea in any home purchase, but it will also help you to be a more informed buyer in the future. 

One thing that you should always do when purchasing a home for sale by the owner is to investigate your financing options well ahead of time. There are a number of financing plans specifically designed to service the FSBO industry and you should definitely try to locate a financier that can supply this service. In locating a lender that supplies this kind of financing, they will likely also supply or recommend a service to help you through the closing and contracts that are involved with the sale.

Be sure that you have a good lawyer on your team as well. They are the best people to handle the legal matters during the closing of the home. This includes things like title issues, any outstanding liens or easements and the actual conveyance of ownership. 

Remember to be careful when purchasing a home and if there are any questions about the sale or the process don't hesitate to contact someone who is a professional in the matter. This is an important purchase and you want to be sure to get the best deal possible and to be happy once the process is complete. Maybe you can even use the money you save to do a renovation or two if the mood takes you!

Posted via email from Modesto And Vicinities

3 Tips to Staging the OUTSIDE of Your Home Like a Pro

Are you considering putting your house up for sale, but not sure where to start? Afraid it will take too long to sell, or that you won't get the price you want? Think about "staging" your home, or in other words, setting the scene for immediate buyer interest in your property. 

To be really effective, you need to look at both the outside and the inside of your home. Here are 3 tips to get you started with the outside of your home:

1. Go stand on the street to see what clients see when driving up to the house. Be aware that any negative impressions they get outside the house (landscaping not maintained or non-existent, peeling paint, etc.) is just going to make them think that the house itself has not been well taken care of. So even if you have spent the time and money to fix up the interior, it would all be wasted if the clients get a bad first impression as they drive up to the house.

2. Next, step outside your front door and close the door; then stand on the stoop and look around for 5 minutes. While the realtor fumbles for keys and tries to figure out how to open the door, the clients are standing behind and looking around. So what are they seeing? Dead plants, old Halloween decorations in the middle of January, cobwebs?  Again, not a good first impression!

It's definitely worth it to take some time and clean it up. Want to go a step further? Try a new coat of paint or some new furniture or accessories.

3. Don't forget the backyard. While that might not be part of the potential buyers' first impression experience, you still should make sure it's in the best condition possible. Pull up weeds, water plants, do some sweeping (if that's applicable in your case) and maybe even purchase new furniture or accessories (plant pots, bird houses, etc.)

And the biggest tip of all? Imagine yourself as a potential buyer looking at your property for the very first time. What impressions are you getting? Would YOU buy your house? What would you like to see changed before you put an offer on your house?

And don't worry about spending several thousand dollars to get your house ready to sell   you'll get it all back when your house sells. Proper staging helps you sell your house in a shorter time and at the price you want.

Posted via email from Modesto And Vicinities