I am often amazed at the seller who hires a real estate agent to sell their home, but refuses to listen to the agents advise. The concept is simple....real estate agents know how to sell a house.......nurses know how to care for a sick and injured patient......accountants know how to manage and budget money ..... and teachers know how to teach.
As a mom I can be a nurse, teacher and an accountant for the family. I can give you Tylenol for a fever, help you with your homework and give you an allowance. I have it covered, but don't ask me to start an IV, prepare taxes or create a lesson plan and implement it. I simply do not have those talents. If you depend on me for these things, you will be in big trouble.
As a real estate professonial, I know what it takes to sell your home. Navigating through the necessary legal documents is just one part of selling your home. Preparing your property is vital to getting the best price in the least amount of time.
Recently, I had a client who hired me to sell their home. On our initial meeting, I toured the home and had a frank discussion with the seller regarding the appearance and condition of their home. A week later the client called and had the home ready for photographs. To my surprise, the client had not taken ANY of my advise!
The seller wanted the highest price for their home and felt it was worth it! Their opinion was that their decor' was perfect for them and they were not willing to change it to sell their home. After all, if a buyer doesn't like the paint and wallpaper, they can just change it.
Their house is lovely, customized just like they like it! The master bedroom has a built-in craft table with shelves up one wall and did I mention that they placed vinyl flooring over a fourth of the floor around the craft table. Ah... the crafty master bedroom. Just what every buyer wants. They have a rainbow of colors perfect for any "sherbert party"...peach, lime green and reddish pink. Did I fail to mention the kitchen that is bright orange with black appliances and countertops! Perfect for the Halloween themed party!
After weeks of sitting on the market and getting negative feedback about the decor' and condition of the home, the client agreed to reduce the price. This trend continued over the course of several months with subsequent price reductions.
Finally, the client agreed to neutralize their home. Paint colors were picked out to compete with the neutral, new construction homes that WERE SELLING in their market. Painters were hired and the client was moving to their new home. Finally, this home is "IN THE GAME".
I returned to take more pictures and to my dismay, only a couple of rooms were painted. The rest of the home remained highly customized and colorful. The house is still for sale and at a much reduced price.
Sellers, this is a BUYERS MARKET. There are lots of homes on the market and why would a buyer buy YOUR HOME THAT NEEDS LOTS OF WORK, when they can buy another one that is newer around the corner that is "MOVE IN READY"?
Remember, when you decide to sell your home, the home is no longer yours. Neutralize your home to appeal to the largest amount of people. Declutter your home so potential buyers are not distracted with your decor' and do not have a chance to appreciate the merits of your home. Look at what is selling around you. If new construction is your competition, you better play on a level playing field.
In a Buyers Market, the best priced homes in the best condition sell for the best price in the least amount of time. Take a little time and money to get your home ready for sale. Listen to your real estate professional. We want you to be successful and sell your home for the best price. Don't wait until the end to play in the game. It is more fun to score a homerun in the first inning than to walk the bases at the end of the game.
Help us hit a home run for you!