So You Want To Sell You Home…

This is such a tough market for sellers to compete against existing bank foreclosures and short sales in the Phoenix Metro area, but there is some light on the horizon…

 

The “good news” is that the inventory in June, July, October of 2011 has started to drop off dramatically, which is a benefit to non distressed homeowners eliminating the competing properties and their bottom line bargain pricing. Personally, REO properties should be obligated by law to sell homes at or above Fair Market Value but that’s another story for a later date.

 

So what’s the first thing you need to do in order to sell today? “Buyers are always looking for bargains” and I have seen nothing in the last few years that gives any indication things have changed, that is, until now.

 

In the last few months given all the reduction in inventory, I have personally written contracts on homes that had our offer accepted and after all was said and done, they appraised out higher than the purchase price on an average of 6 to 10 thousand dollars. So I would say, it’s not all “bad news” for sellers, as long as you are realistic about how to price the home. As you can see, you will probably be selling it for slightly less than what it’s worth.

 

Other things you will need to sell your home are a great marketing plan. Let me tell you about marketing plans. There are all kinds of them. Every agent good realtor should have a marketing plan. What we do as Realtors that sell properties is Market the property. It’s what we are hired by you to do. Market, Market, Market. We are supposed to be great at it, but there are really few that fully understand what real marketing of real estate is. Most will plant a post in the ground, hold an ope house or two, make some fliers and call it good.

 

A Great listing realtor knows how to market beyond the usual. My marketing plan includes more than just a hand shake and a smile. I call it “The Usual”.

 

I have a full arsenal of marketing tools and I massively syndicate your home for sale to a world wide audience, not just a local area market.

 

I can get it sold and have successfully sold and negotiated Short Sale homes as well as non distressed homes in the millions. Here is an example of a Luxury listing property I marketed and sold as a short sale that was listed at over 2 million which I sold all cash as a Short Sale for 1 million cash.

 

 

So, now you know I can sell, but the next question is, what do you as the seller need to do to prepare to sell. Well, here’s a few tips…

 

1. Clean Your Home
2. Clean Your Yard
3. Prepare to Complete A Sellers Property Disclosure
4. Make a List of The Repairs and Improvements You have Made
5. Provide Copies of the HOA and CC&R’s
6. Be Sure To Check You Settlement Costs Before You List
7. Pick a Placement for the Lock Box
8. Provide A Schedule for Visits by Realtors Allowing Entry
9. Provide the Listing Realtor any Realtors Cards After They Visit
10. If You Have Pets, Give Instructions For Visiting Realtors

Of course, these are just some general outlines but you get the picture. Think of selling your home like selling your car. You have to wash & clean it, rid it of carpet spots best you can, get the inside smelling nicely especially if you smoke, make sure the paint is in good shape and if not, touch up those less than stellar areas with the same color paint, provide any damage history, provide receipts of the maintenance and repairs, make a list of the things that you have had repaired, take pictures of it, post it in an on line ad, provide a great description, syndicate the ad, create some fliers to post in the local area, put a sign on it and so on, you get the picture.

 

Now it’s not my intention to compare car salesmen to Realtors, although some of the general public perceive Realtors in that guise, but it takes skill beyond just having a product to sell.  Real estate is a much more personal experience because it’s where you live, unless your a Realtor in which case we live in our cars Ha!

 

So, the point is, I can handle most any need to list and help sell your home and I’m sure you get that by now. If you would like a listing presentation then reach out with a phone call or an e mail and we’ll meet at your home so I can show you how I work, what I do and we can start laying out a plan to sell your home.

 

Thanks so Much!

Stew Keene – Professional Realtor