|
When is the best time to list a house for sale?
As soon as you decide to sell it…. If you want to get the best price for your home, the key is to give yourself as much time as possible to sell it. More time means more potential buyers will see the home. This shoud bring in more offers; it also gives you more time to consider more options if the market is slow or interest in low.
What makes a house sell?
A successful sale requires that you concentrate on five considerations: your PRICE, TERMS, CONDITIONS, LOCATION, and EXPOSURE… Since you can’t control all of them, you may have to overcompensate in one or more areas to offset a competitive disadvantage in another. Our marketing plans are deigned to notify as many potential buyers as possible through the internet, newsprint, direct maiings, magazines, color flyers, brochures, “Broker Opens” open houses and a tremendous amount fo networking!!
How long should it take to sell?
Average listing time varies form 30 to 180 days in a regular market and 30 to much more in a down market. This all depends on the market conditions in a particular region, town or even a neighborhood; and of course price, terms condition, location and exposure play an even greater role. Selling in any market is easier if time on your side. Most professionals will tell you that allowing yourself six months will put you in a postion to get a better return from their marketing efforts. In today’s market it could easily take up to a year or longer depending on your pricing, condition, location, supply and other things mentioned above.
How do I price my home?
In a two words Realistically & Aggressively. Today’s residential real estate market is no place to look for easy profits. The fact is prices have dramatically fallen from their peak of 2004,05,06. That’s not to say you cannot get your house sold . You just have to be realistic about it’s value, and price it accordingly. A good place to start is by determining the fair market value. We can provide you with a current market analysis of your home. It will inform you of all the comparable homes currently for sale, pending sales and most importantly the closed and recorded sales. If your are upside down with your value then you need to sit down with an experienced Certified Distressed Market Expert known as a CDPE agent. They can go over all of your options in full detail. (See Distressed Properties for more information)
What’s the difference between fair market value and asking price?
Generally speaking, the owner’s “asking price” or “listed price” is the advertised price of the home when it goes on the market. You can assume that some negotiation will be necessary to reach an agreement with the buyer. In most cases, the agent who presents the results of your CMA ( Comparative Market Analysis) will be willing to help establish a competitive pricing stategy. A good agent will keep you informed of when you need to make adjustments in the market to stay competitive or depending on your situation and motivation, to stay ahead of the competition.
How flexible should I be about the asking price?
Most buyers also leave room for negotiating when they make an offer. Thus, certain degree of flexibility is usually called for on the part of the buyer and seller. Negotiating is a very valuable skill that a good agent will offer. As negotiations proceed whether in writing, face-to-face, or by the phone your agent should inform you of your options in responding to each offer or counter-offer from the buyer. While it is ultimately your decision to accept or reject an offer, or present a counter-offer, a good agent can be of great assistance to you during the negotiating process. Remember, a cool, rational, manner in what is often a long emotionally charged process will usually net you a higher and more importantly a fairer price.
What is fair market value and how do I determine mine?
Simply put, the fair market value of a house is the highest price an informed buyer will pay, assuming there is no unusual pressure to complete the purchase. It is usually not the asking price, We can give you an estimate of fair market value, We can provide this service free of obligation. The analysis will give you a realistic figure based on the salient points of the local real estate market. It will provide information about recent sales of similar houses, including how much they sold for and how long they took to sell. This price opinion is extremely helpful in determining price. Another option available is ordering an appraisal from a local apprasial firm. ( You can find the some of the best local apprasiers in Peg’s Picks.) Next you want to establish clear priorities. Are you concerned with positive and negative selling points. Then you should look at your house as a commodity, with positive and negativce selling points. Then you should decide on a price that you feel is competitive and consistent with what other homes in your area have sold for. In today’s market you need to be as aggressive as possible with your pricing. Your agent can show you how you can place your home ahead of the market instead of chasing a downward moving market.
Should I fix my house up before I put it on the market?
Unless your home is nearly new, chances are you’ll want to do some work to get it ready to put on the market. The type of work largely depends on the price you’re asking, the time you have to sell, and of course, the present conditions. Walk out to the other side of the street and look back at your home. The first thing you will want to do is create “Curb Appeal”!
What should I do to make the house show better?
First make your home look as clean and spacious as possible. Get rid of all of the clutter; have that garage sale and haul away the leftovers. After you’ve cleaned, try to correct any cosmetic flaws you’ve noticed. Paint rooms that need it, caulk or regrount tile if needed, remove or replace worn out or stained carpets. Clear as much from you walls, shelves and countertops as you can. You are planning to move anyway, so go ahead and start packing up those extra things that you want to keep but need to clear out. Try to make it easy for prospective buyers to imagine your house as their home. This is called “Staging”. We have a wonderful video that will show you exactly how to do this. Peg Delp can help you with this too. She is a Certified Home Marketing Specialist. (Staging Specialist)
What is Curb Appeal and how do I it create it?
“Curb Appeal” is the common real estate term for everything prospective buyers can see from the street that will make them turn in and want to take a look! Improving “curb appeal” is critical to generating traffic. While it does take time, it needn’t be difficult or expensive., providing you keep two words in mind neat and neutral. Neatness sells! New paint, an immaculate lawn, picture perfect shrubbery, a newly sealed driveway, potted plants at the front door…put them all together, and drive by shoppers will want to see the rest of the home!
How do I reach the right potential Buyers?
There was a time when selling a house was simple. A sign in the front yard, an ad in the paper and wait. Today, people are moving further and more frequently than they used to. (The national average is every 5 to 7 years.) Because you will need to cast a wider net to find the right buyer, choosing a realtor that offers the sophisticated marketing techniques that define likely buyers, where to find them and how to persuade them to buy one house over another has never been more important. The fact is, virtually everything that we’ve discussed up to this point, from pricing to curb appeal, the Competitive Market Analysis to the “For Sale” sign in your front yard and most importantly your agents internet presence and marketing capabilities, is part of a marketing process that’s put into motion when you decide to work with a good broker.
How important is advertising?
Advertising remains one of the most important components of the marketing process. Many people don’t realize how fast marketing dollars add up! A single page of color listing ads run by a realtor in local media average in cost range of approximately $600 to $3,500. Yet it’s far more cost effective way to go than the three or four line classified ad you would probably run if you were to sell the house yourself…Here’s why; Your Classified ad requires a prospective buyer to find it admist the dozens and dozens of others on the page, and be impressed enough by it’s message to call in response. In contrast, the broker’s ad is designed to “find the buyer” – with it’s large size and easy to read layout, the eye-catching photographs and professionally written descriptions, plus the fact that it includes not one, but several houses for sale.
How does the inclusion benefit yours?
The power of numbers plain and simple. Fewer than 5% of buyers actually purchase the first house they call about. When they call to respond to the broker’s ad, on the one they initially expressed interest in seeing they learn from a good agent about the others they have with similar features. That’s just advertising in one of our local mediums. The Peg Delp Team employs a variety of their proven advertising methods, including www.Peg Delp.com and DelrayBoyntonHomes.com, Gringle, Doherty & Wheat website and the many other internet sites, magazines, newspapers, radio, T.V., cable and of course direct mail. Last but not least there’s NETWORKING! NETWORKING! & NETWORKING!!!
Should we try avoid being home when the house is shown?
You should definitely be out of the house during all showings and the same goes for any Open House your agent has scheduled. People often feel uncomfortable speaking candidly and asking questions in front of current owners. You want them to feel as free as possible to picture your home as their next home!
Who handles the closing?
Our closings are ususally handled by an attorney and in some cases a title company. While their presence is not required by law, both the buying agent and the selling agent may attend the closing. You will find your agent to be a good source of good information and councel, especially if any last minute problems arise. Good agents are extremely helpful in the days immediately prior to closing. They will help make certain you bring all necessary documents and other information needed. (In Peg’s Picks you will find some of the best closing attorneys in the area) |
|
Report Abuse
M. Peg Delp Realtor, CRS., GRI., CHMS, CPMS, CDPE, Associate Broker, Realtor®
700 East Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach, FL 33431
Office: 561.436.5560
|
