When a home owners contact a REALTOR® for a market analysis,
they often have a myriad of questions to ask me as their potential agent about what I can do
to get their home sold. They want a person with a good, solid track record of
getting a home sold quickly and for the best price possible. This is what I want too and it does take a good strong marketing plan. One key to the process is when I work with a motivated home
seller who is on the same page with me and who asks, “What can I do to make my home
appealing to a buyer?” And even if the home seller doesn't ask, I will work the topic into
the conversation. There is nothing worse than trying to represent an apathetic or reluctant
home seller.
If a homeowner doesn’t want to do the work and partner with
me to get there home sold, it will be an uphill battle to the closing table. It
is imperative for a home seller to be totally invested in the home selling
process. And this starts even before the home is listed on the market.
Steps to being an INVESTED Home Seller!
- Preparation—Having the home freshly painted, cleaned and staged are essential before the home is listed. Special touches really do add a welcoming touch like a seasonal wreath on the front door. Dust free vents, spotless floors, cobweb-free ceilings and light fixtures do make a difference.
- Pricing—Listen to the advice of experts when it comes to setting the price. Don’t go by an old appraised value or what your dad said he would ask for your home. Unless Pops is a real estate professional, it is best to stick to the market statistics to come up with your list price.
- Presentation—Interior and exterior appeal should be optimized for each and every showing. Beyond clean and staged, light a fire in the fireplace, place a plate of warm cookies on the counter and make a potential homebuyer feel welcome!
- Availability—Allow buyers in! Don’t say no to a showing unless it is absolutely necessary. Sometimes relocation homebuyers are just in town for a limited time and make their decision based on the homes they see that day. If you refuse a showing, you might miss out.
A potential home seller really wants and needs for their
listing agent to be invested in getting their home sold quickly. But all the
marketing in the world cannot get a home sold if the homeowner isn’t invested
in getting the home sold too!
