Are you considering putting your house on the market for sale? We are in May now, which is typically the hottest month for sales. Before you go putting that sign in your yard there are some things you should think about.
Take a look around your house. We all believe our house is the best. After all, we've spent years and money working to make it look the way we want. But, this is the time for you to open your mind to what a Buyer will see. What you need is an honest and unbiased opinion. Sometimes the things you believe make your home spectacular are the very things that buyers will see as an issue. Don't limit yourself to just the interior of the home either. Buyers who have a decent agent will spend time checking the outside of the home just as much as the inside, if they are interested.
What does your front porch look like? Seriously, this is your hand-shake to every person that comes to your home, whether just visiting, or looking to purchase. Your front porch should be inviting, and give the prospective buyer a preview of what's to come.
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Do you have pets? Making sure the litter boxes, doggie beds, food bowls, etc. are clean will make a positive impact on anyone coming through your home. And, don't forget to pick up the doo-doo outside. You don't want us to accidentally step in it, and then bring it back through your house.
Start taking down your "chachkies" (the Yiddish term for trinkets). I'm not Jewish, but it's a fun word to say. The problem with YOUR stuff in your house is that Buyers can't replace it with THEIR stuff in their minds. I was astonished as a Realtor in my early years when I realized most people just can't visualize. It's always come easy to me, so I assumed everyone could do it. Don't make that mistake. Take your stuff and put it in boxes. Buyers don't mind boxes, even on the floor stacked neatly. In fact, boxes put a sense of seriousness about your move in front of the Buyer. And, they like that.
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Not all Realtors will tell you this off the bat. So, I'm telling you now. If you have anything considered an appurtenance (an appendage; an accessory; something annexed to another thing) that you DON'T want to sell, or negotiate with the Buyer, take it down before putting your house on the market. Did you purchase that awesome ceiling fan a few months ago and you love it? Not to mention you spent a bzillion dollars on it? Before the Realtor takes photos of your home, puts a sign in the yard, etc., take it down and pack it up, and replace it with a different one for the new Buyer. It's that simple. There's just no excuse for putting yourself through the agony of negotiating something you love when you don't have to. You must replace it though. Also make note here that if you have a smart tv hanging on a wall, the wall mount is considered an appurtenance, and must stay for the new buyer (unless you take it down first and patch and re-paint the wall.) Taking these steps before putting a sign in your yard will eliminate issues later. Be pro-active, not reactive.
Go the extra mile and have information about the neighborhood. These days School Districts are very important, as well as how far it is to the local grocery store. Let the prospective buyers see what life will be like living in your home. Does your community have a pool? How about a dog park? Can you walk to local pubs, restaurants, and shopping? Speaking of shopping, do you have a favorite local vendor you use for something? Take Lubeley's Bakery, for example. I go there whenever I need anything sweet from gooey butter cake to graduation cakes. I would let prospective buyers know about these establishments and how fabulous they are. It may sound like it doesn't matter, but when you pay attention to the details, people notice. (Keeping a record of your last 6 months to a year of utilities is a huge hit with Buyers as well.)
You can do all of these things, but your marketability still depends upon two things: Price and Condition.
Over the years I have heard Sellers tell me they are not coming down in their price point, no matter what. The truth is, if your home is not up to par with what is selling in your area, you'll have to drop the price to sell. Period. I wish I could create the scale myself so every Seller I have could sell at the price they want. But, it's not how it works. Buyers decide what your home is worth. And, if you've had an average of 1 buyer a day through your home for 7-10 days and you haven't had an offer, you are priced out of your market. Period.
There are many Realtors who are more than happy to get the "free advertising" by placing their sign in your yard and waiting, sometimes months, to get a reasonable offer. Not me. My job is to sell your house after I get your listing. That means being honest with you, even if you don't like what I have to say. I'd rather list properties that actually sell, than just stick my sign in someone's yard. There are many things your Realtor should be doing in order to push your listing to the forefront of everyone's attention. Our market right now has more Buyers than Sellers. But, the buyers are very picky and know what they want. You have to be within their "wants" and "needs", or they will just go on to the next thing. As a Realtor for over 10 years, trained with the best (Keller Williams), I can show you how to do that. We want to inspire people to see what you have to offer, not brow-beat Buyers into thinking your house is the best. It's not about being "the best". It's about convincing Buyers that your house is the best "for them" by giving them reasons why. I can help you do that. I know how they shop.
If you are interested in a free consultation, and/or a free market analysis to see where your home sits on the scale in your area, please don't hesitate to contact me:
Jody Hoffman // Keller Williams Realty // 314-740-7373 // JodyHoffman@kw.com