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Nine Sins A Seller Could Commit.
1.
Using a real estate agent instead of a REALTOR® would be
questionable.
When you are looking for aid with purchasing or selling real property, it is
important to remember that the terms "real estate agent" and "REALTOR®"
are not synonymous. REALTORS® can provide the extra level
of service a client deserves. REALTORS® must be a member of the National
Association of REALTORS® (NAR), and maintain education and professional
standards. The National Association of REALTORS® has a reputation for
championing private property rights while working to make home
ownership affordable and accessible. NAR members must adhere to a strict
code of ethics founded on the principle of providing honest service to all
consumers. Monitored at the local board level, REALTOR® business practices
are a prime matter of interest. Arbitration and disciplinary systems are in
place to address complaints from the public or board members. This
local oversight keeps REALTORS® directly accountable to the individual
consumers they serve, and therefore, the consumer is more likely to find
better service and accountability by using a REALTOR®.
2.
Complacent marketing while selling a home.
When selling your home many homeowners feel that there will be buyers “lined
up at the door” in the morning. You are guaranteed that the buyer of your
home will walk through the front door the question is when. In most
cases, the job is to bring your home to the buyer. Effective
marketing will ensure that your property receives maximum
exposure to attract a ready, willing, and able buyer, in the shortest
period. Here is where many sellers make a mistake. Ask your real estate
agent how to market your home do not tell them “how to market”. Your
suggestions are important and should be blended into proven marketing
matrixes to complete the sale.
3.
Taking the "curb appeal" of your home for granted.
Remember the importance of first impressions. A buyer's first impression can
make or break their desire to go inside for a look. It has been estimated
that more than half of all houses are sold before the buyers even get out of
their car. Take a realistic "fresh look" and then ask yourself what can be
done to make the "curb appeal" of your property improve. Your
REALTOR® may have an opinion as to how to improve the curb appeal, and
should know of those who can complete the work. It could make
a difference in your final sales price, but it will make an overall
difference.
4. Did you forget about the health and safety issues with your property?
Regarding your property, disclose all problems to your real estate agent.
Discovery of the problems will happen, deal with it today. In the past,
health and safety issues were rarely a part of the typical real estate
transaction. Today, however, it is rare when inspections relating to
health, safety, and even environmental concerns are not a part of the
sales contracts. In many cases, these issues have been or can be factored
into the home's listing price.
5. Are you forgetting what you would want to see if you were the buyer of
your home?
People can be different in personality; however, they tend to be the same
when it comes to expectations. In other words, a prospective buyer would
probably like to see a perfect home from top to bottom, inside and out, when
it comes to his home. The completion of the following tasks
improves the likelihood of your home selling, expediently.
Exterior:
1) Sweep front walk.
2) Remove newspapers, bicycles, and toys.
3) De-clutter the driveway.
4) Trim the shrubs.
5) Paint to accent the positives of your property.
6) Clean windows.
7) Maintain all sealant (windows and chimneys) in good condition.
8) Make sure roof and gutters are clean and in good condition.
9) Mow the lawn frequently and plant flowers.
10) Keep pet areas clean.
Interior:
1) The kitchen and bathroom should shine.
2) Quick once-over with the vacuum; carpets should be clean or cleaned.
3) Place fresh flowers in the main rooms.
4) Put dishes away, unless setting a formal display for decoration.
5) Make all beds and put all clothes away.
6) Open drapes and turn on lights for a brighter feel.
7) Clean and straighten closets.
8) Put toys away.
9) Turn off television.
10) Play soft music.
11) Keep pets out of the way and pet areas clean and odor-free.
12) Secure jewelry, cash, prescription medications, and other valuables.
13) Enhance the spaciousness of each room.
6. “You need to be in the home to explain things to a prospective buyer.”
You are better served allowing your REALTOR® to do their job without you
there: period. Most potential buyers feel more comfortable if they can speak
freely to their agent without the owners being present. If people
unaccompanied by an agent request to see your property, you must
refer them (for safety issues) to your real estate
professional for an appointment.
7. Not knowing how to price your home to sell.
The most challenging aspect of selling a home is listing it at the
correct price. It is one of several areas where the assistance
of a skilled
professional can more than pay for itself. Listing the home too high
can be as bad as too low. If the listing price is too high, you will miss
out on buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. This
is the flaw in thinking that you always have the opportunity to accept a
lower offer. Chances are the offers will not come in, because the buyers who
would be most interested in your home have been scared off by the
price and do not even take the time to look. By the time the price is
corrected, you have already lost exposure to a large group of potential
buyers.
The listing price becomes
even trickier to set when prices are quickly rising or falling. It is
critical to be aware of where and how fast the market is moving, both
when setting the price and when negotiating an offer. An experienced,
well-trained professional is in touch with market trends.
8. Not planning your move early
enough?
Do not be overwhelmed at the time of contract with your future move. Plan
and implement your move early, even before listing the property for sale. If
you are able to move at any time of the year, why wait until summer, the
peak-moving season? Consider also that the first and last few days of the
month are extremely busy for personnel involved with the move. If you are
planning to sell your house, get it on the market as soon as possible. Keep
a record of all expenses related to the move; some may be tax deductible.
Prepare a separate high-value inventory if the shipment will contain
articles of "extraordinary" value. The following list includes items that
might fall into this category:
* Antiques
* Art Collections
* Cameras
* China Collections
* Computer Equipment
* Crystal
* Figurines
* Firearms
* Jewelry
* Manuscripts
* Oriental Rugs
* Silver
* Stones or Gems
* Tapestries
* TVs or Stereos
9. Using a "convenient" REALTOR® rather than an experienced REALTOR®
When working with a licensed real estate agent, it is critical that you have
full confidence in the agent's experience and education. A
skilled, knowledgeable agent should be able to explain to you exactly
why your home needs to be priced at a certain level. Experienced agents also
know what the current pool of buyers are looking for in relation to
particular styles and price ranges. A skilled agent can recommend changes
that
will enhance the salability of your home, thus increasing the price thereby
decreasing the length of time before a sale.
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