Now that the new year has arrived, sellers are back in full force, pulling out all the stops in order to get their home sold. Whether you’re listing your home for the first time or finally ready to get that “For Sale” sign out of your front yard, add the following New Year’s resolutions to your list.
1. Set Reasonable Expectations: Although the housing market is showing signs of being better in 2013, we’re still nowhere near the levels of the last housing boom. Therefore, you need to be practical when setting a price and listening to offers. Too many sellers still expect to put their house on the market and have people fight over it within weeks, when the reality is bidding wars just aren’t that commonplace these days.
2. Don’t be Discouraged – React: If your house has been sitting on the market for a long period of time, or no one is coming to see it, don’t give up. Be proactive. Do something to change up the listing—add some new photos, incorporate video, or hire a professional writer to add panache to the descriptions that are being used to market your home. In addition, talk with your agent about why he or she thinks your home isn’t selling and fix anything that’s reasonable.
3. Communicate with Your Agent: There’s a reason you hired an agent to sell your home, so be sure to take full advantage of their expertise. Ask them for their advice as well as tips regarding the best way to sell your home. If there’s a problem with any part of the process, don’t just bite your tongue; talk to your agent and iron out any issues.
4. Don’t be Stubborn: Oftentimes, sellers will set a price that they expect to get for their home and absolutely refuse to budge, no matter what. While you have every right to set the price you want, if you list a $400,000 home and someone comes in with an offer of $370,000, don’t just write them off. Take some time to research whether their offer is more in line with what houses are selling for and listen to their reasons (if the agent provided them) for the lower price. When it comes down to price, there’s nothing wrong with negotiating a figure that will work for both parties.
5. Leave the House: When sellers have their house on the market for a long period of time, eventually they may give up on the notion that they have to leave the house during a showing. However, it’s important to get out of the house no matter how long it’s been on the market. Being present for a showing not only makes it harder for the real estate agent to do his/her job, it can also lead to an uncomfortable situation for those viewing the home.
For more information about selling your home in the new year, contact us at www.calcagni.com
