System to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar

Not so long ago, it is usual for investors to make fortunes in real estate. It was nothing to buy a home, wait a short while, and then sell it at a tidy profit, and then do it over and over again.

As you are no doubt aware, times have changed. As good as the market may be at any given moment, home prices remain below what they were at their peak.

And buyers are far more discriminating: a large percentage of the homes listed for sale never sell. So it’s more important than ever to learn what you need to do to avoid costly seller mistakes and sell your home quickly and for the best possible price.

The 9 Step System to Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar

Selling your home is one of the most important undertakings in your life. This nine-step system gives you the tools you need to maximize your profits, maintain control of the process, and reduce the stress that is always part of the home selling process. Sell my house in Sandy Springs

 

    1. Know why you’re selling, and keep it to yourself.The reasons behind your decision to sell can affect everything from setting the price to how much time and money to invest in preparing your home for sale. Which is more important to you: the amount of money you walk away with, or how long your property is on the market before it sells? These different goals require different strategies.However, once you’ve determined your motivation, don’t reveal it to anyone except your realtor because they may use it against you at the negotiating table. When asked, simply respond that your housing needs have changed.

 

    1. Do your homework before you set a price.Do not take the job of setting the listing price lightly. Once you set a price, you’re telling buyers the absolute maximum they’ll have to pay for your home, but pricing too high is as dangerous as pricing too low. Remember that the average buyer is looking at 15-20 homes at the same time they are considering yours.This means that they have a basis for comparison, and if your home doesn’t compare favourably with others in the price range you set, you won’t be taken seriously by prospects or agents. As a result, your home could sit on the market for a long time and, new buyers in the market may think there is something wrong with your home that has kept it from selling.

 

    1. Do your homework.In fact, your agent should do this for you. Find out what homes in your own and similar neighbourhoods have sold for in the past 6-12 months, and research what currently listed homes are listed for. That’s exactly how prospective buyers will assess the value of your home.

 

    1. Find a good real estate agent to represent your needs.Almost three-quarters of homeowners say they wouldn’t use the same realtor who sold their last home. Dissatisfaction is frequently due to poor communication, which results in not enough feedback, lower pricing and strained relations. Request your free copy of our report, “10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Agent” to learn about the questions you should always ask when you interview agents who want to list your home.

 

    1. Maximize your home’s sales potential.Corporate North America spends billions on product and packaging design every year. Appearance is critical, and it is foolish to ignore it when you sell your home.While you cannot change your home’s location or floor plan, you can do a lot to improve its appearance. The look and feel of your home triggers an automatic emotional response in potential buyers.

      Clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Pick up, straighten up, remove clutter, scrub, scour, and dust. Fix everything, no matter how insignificant it seems. Present your home to get a “Wow!” response from prospective buyers.

      Create an atmosphere that will encourage buyers to imagine them living in your home. The decision to buy a home is based on emotion, not logic. Prospective buyers want to “try your home on” just like they would a new garment. If you follow them and point out every improvement, or if your decor is so unusual that buyers can’t push it out of their minds, you’re making it difficult for them to feel comfortable enough to imagine the home.

 

    1. Make it easy for prospects to get information on your home.It may surprise you to know that some of the most frequently usedĀ home marketing strategiesĀ (traditional open houses, for example) really are not very effective. In fact, only 1% of homes are sold at an open house.And prospective buyers calling for information about your home value their time as much as you value yours. They do not want to be subjected to a game of telephone tag with an agent, or an unwanted sales pitch. Make sure the ads your agent places refer inquiries to a 24 hour, pre-recorded hotline with a specific ID number for your home. It should provide detailed information about your property day or night, seven days a week, without having to talk to anyone. Three times as many buyers call for information about homes under this system. And the more buyers that are competing for your home, the better, because it can create up auction-like atmosphere that puts you in the driver’s seat.

 

    1. Know your buyer.During negotiations, your objective is to control the pace and set the duration. Determine your buyer’s motivation. Find out if the buyers need to move quickly. Will they be able to pay your asking price? Having this information gives you the upper hand in negotiations, because you know how far you can push to get what you want.

 

    1. Make sure the contract is complete.As a seller, be certain to disclose everything. Smart sellers proactively go above and beyond the legal requirement to disclose all known defects, in writing, to buyers. If you tell buyers in advance about known problems, they can’t come back with a lawsuit later on.Make sure all terms, costs, and responsibilities are spelled out in the sales contract, and resist the temptation to override the contract. For example, if the buyer asks to move in prior to closing, just say no. Now is not the time to take a chance on the sale falling through!

 

  1. Don’t move out of your home until it’s sold.Studies show that it is more difficult to sell a vacant home because it looks forlorn, forgotten, and simply not appealing. It could even cost you thousands. And if you move, you’re telling buyers that you have a new home and are probably motivated to sell fast. This gives the buyer the advantage at the negotiating table.

 

If you follow the nine suggestions in this article, you’re much more likely to be able to sell your home quickly and for top dollar.

Helpful Hints To Help You Sell Your Own Home

Most buyers predictably respond to the same things – clean, clutter-free homes in a good state of repair. You may want to spruce things up with a fresh paint job and definitely ensure that you address any major repairs that may be required. Those are big ticket items, but what can you do on a smaller scale (and budget) to get your home ready to compete successfully on the real estate market?

There are a number of tried and true things you can use to make sure your prospective home buyer sees what you want them to see, and overlooks what you want them to overlook. Keeping your home in tip-top shape for showings will insure that your prospective home buyer will offer more money than for a home that isn’t ready.

Always look at a home from the prospective home buyer’s perspective. Be objective and honest with yourself. If something bothers you about your home, chances are good it will bother the prospective home buyer, too. Do what you can to eliminate the problem. You want to minimize any negative objections that the prospective home buyer may have. Preparing your FSBO home for sale generally means you’ll be putting some elbow grease into it, so get ready.

Have a garage sale before the home is listed. This is a great opportunity to get rid of any clutter and provides the prospective home buyer to really see your home. Clean out and get rid of anything that you think you won’t need in your next home. Pack away all that you can. Be sure, though, to find the fine line between clutter and emptiness.

Clean the drain gutters. Buyers nearly always comment if gutters are full of leaves and it makes them question other maintenance issues.

Store or organize items that make the yard look untidy.

Touch up any exterior paint that needs it, faded or chipped exterior paint is an immediate buyer turnoff. New paint is not inexpensive, but is a great way to add appeal and increase market value.

Remove debris from the roof such as tree branches and leaves. Straighten the television antenna. Untangle or remove, cable, telephone or other exposed wiring. Make any necessary repairs to worn shingles or cracked surfaces.

Flowering plants and outdoor furniture add appeal. Remove any unnecessary items such as gardening equipment. Clean and tidy any visible items, such as an outdoor grill or barbecue. Repair cracks, missing slats, enclosures and screens.

Swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, outdoor showers and their pumps and filters should be clean and operating smoothly. Ensure that the sprinkler systems and outdoor faucets are working properly.

Make your front entry inviting. Decorate it, paint the door, or buy a new door. It’s the prospective home buyer’s first impression, so make it a good one. Good curb appeal is a critical part of a successful home selling process. Your goal should be to make home buyers stop and say ‘Wow!’

Welcome the buyer at the entry. Put out a new doormat, clean and polish the brass doorknob and knocker. Put potted flowers on the porch. Make sure the front entry floor is sparkling clean and the porch and steps are swept. Remember you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

Stimulate the buyer’s imagination by setting the stage. Set the dinner table with your best china and linens. Use the coziness and romance of the fireplace to advantage. Put a pair of wine glasses and a vase of flowers on the coffee table in front of the fire.

Most potential home buyers like an interior with lots of natural lighting. Start on the outside by trimming any overgrown trees and shrubs to make sure they do not obscure views or keep natural light from streaming through windows.

Make sure windows sparkle, inside and out. Clean your home’s skylights, buyers always inspect skylights and sun tunnels to make sure they aren’t cracked or leaking.

Be ruthless about odors. If there is a smell, your house won’t sell. Use cleansers of all kinds to make the home smell fresh, but make sure you don’t create a “cleaning agent” odor. Use carpet fresheners, potpourri, room deodorizers, and scented candles. Deodorize cat litter and scoop litter daily. Put cedar chips inside the closets. Bake some cookies put them out on the kitchen table.

Create a spacious feeling. Make sure that all doors, cabinets and drawers open all the way without bumping into anything or sticking. Clean out the entry closet and put only a few hangers so that the buyer can visualize winter coats. Move any oversized furniture to a storage facility or a friend’s house. Make sure entrances to all rooms have an open flow.

Put a screen or a basket of flowers in front of a fireplace if not in use. Let the breezes move your sheer curtains at the window. Make sure the interior is visible from the street.

Create counter space. Store away those extra appliances. Put away dish racks, soap dishes and other clutter. Decrease kitchen clutter further by removing magnets, notes and kids “art” from refrigerator.

Inspect your home’s closets (prospective home buyers certainly will). Do a general cleanup, store your off season wardrobe, and remove items to make closets appear more spacious.

Paint interior rooms if they are dingy. Neutral colors are usually a preferable choice, but don’t feel you have to cover up an existing, dramatic color scheme.

Clean the carpets. Polish wood floors. Clean dingy grout and reseal it if necessary. Keep all floors spotless.

Make sure all doorknobs and cabinet pulls are clean and functioning. Consider a new set of kitchen cabinet pulls to make your kitchen more appealing. It’s sometimes an inexpensive way to update one of the most important rooms in your home.

Repair leaky faucets. Make sure toilets flush properly.

Avoid eccentric decor. De-personalize your teenager’s room, the games room or other areas by removing posters or any decorative item that could be construed as offensive. Remove hanging beads in doorways, your children’s bedroom clutter and anything that won’t appeal to a prospective buyer.

Increase the wattage in light bulbs in the laundry room, kitchen and bathrooms. For showings, turn on lights in every room.

Put photos of the family enjoying your home in different rooms throughout the home.

Now step back. Stand outside the front door, as much as 30 feet away and evaluate the feeling you get. Is the house warm and inviting? Does it feel like home?

If so, then perhaps it will to your prospective home buyer too.