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Selling a home your way
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Selling
Selling your home in the Charleston area requires an understanding of the market and an understanding of today's buyers perspective. If you're planning to sell your home in the near future, planning is extremely important.
Today's market is complex. Even experienced Realtors often find thems
elves a little off balance in managing some of the unusual challenges presented in this dynamic environment. For any individual who is not accustomed to selling homes on a regular basis, the complexity of the current situation can be overwhelming.
Most people discover that working with an experienced real estate professional not only improves the odds for selling a home in a timely manner but it also increases the likelihood that the home seller will achieve a higher price - and a better bottom line.
Home Pricing
The first step in selling your home is
understanding what your home is worth. Setting a reasonable sales price is critical. Not only does it impact how quickly you sell your home, but it also affects the bottom line. Why? (1) Overpricing a home often leads to a home that languishes on the market. Each month that your home is on the market, you are exposed to all the costs associated with homeownership. (2) Because homes that are on the market for an extended period of time often raise questions by buyers (such as, " I wonder what is wrong with this home since it has been on the market for so long?"), an initially overpriced home, even after several price reductions, may end up receiving only low ball bids and result in the seller accepting far less than would have been the case had the home been priced right in the beginning.
Be careful with pricing. Call me for a CMA (Chris: 843-270-1272) - I will be happy to provide you with a professional market analysis at no cost.
Other important steps
Get your house market ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
Be flexible about showings. The more often someone can see your home, the sooner you’ll find a seller.
Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.
- Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.
Choosing an agent and company
Deciding to list your home with a real estate company is an important decision. As the real estate market has become more competitive , choosing who to represent you can make a difference between selling your home quickly or having your home languish on the market. The pace of real estate sales in recent years has given many people the impression that selling a home is easy. If you have ever sold a home before, you are already aware that the process is complex. Once a decision has been reached to list your home, sifting through the myriad of potential companies can be daunting.
What is important to you? We suggest you consider the following:
Mindset: Will this company listen to what you have to say and plan your marketing strategy accordingly? No one knows your home better than you do. You know your neighborhood. You know what is important to the type of people who choose to live where you live. Your opinion counts.
Visibility: Will the company provide you with the type of advertising and marketing that you need in order for your property to be seen by the most qualified potential buyers?
Value: Are the services provided by the company in line with the assistance they will provide you in selling your home?
Communication: Will your Realtor be available for you when you need to reach him or her? How difficult will it be for a home shopper, or for their agent, to reach a your agent? did you know that the #1 complaint consumers have with real estate companies, whether they are listing their homes to sell or they are looking to buy, is poor communication between the company and the client?
Pricing: How carefully will the company work with you in establishing the correct asking price for your home? It is critical to price your home precisely in this market. A home that is overpriced will not only remain on the market longer than it should, an overpriced home can become a stale listing: one which must be sold at a significantly lower price in order for to be sold at all. Of course the other problem is under pricing. A home that has been under priced may sell more quickly; but, the seller is sacrificing equity for the convenience of a quick sale. In reality, a home that is priced correctly may sell just as quickly as a home that is under priced. Under priced homes cost the seller's money. Plus, they can create elevated suspicion on the side of the buyer who may wonder about the seller's motivation for selling at such a price. This added scrutiny has the potential for delaying or even derailing the closing.
House Plan Realty is in business for you. When the time is right for you to sell your home, take a moment to consider what we have to offer.
A few tips to ready your home for showing
Put fresh or silk flowers in principal rooms for a touch of color.
Add a new shower curtain, fresh towels, and new guest soaps to every bath.
Set out potpourri or fresh baked goods for a homey smell.
Set the table with pretty dishes and candles.
Buy a fresh doormat with a clever saying.
Take one or two major pieces of furniture out of every room to create a sense of spaciousness.
Put away kitchen appliances and personal bathroom items to give the illusion of more counter space.
Lay a fire in the fireplace. Or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.
personalize the rooms by putting away family photos, mementos, and distinctive artwork.
Turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes to make the lawn sparkle.
- Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier.
- Clean out the garage. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
- Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.
- Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
- Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms.
- Replace any burnt-out bulbs.
- Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.
- Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks.
- Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.
- Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
- Clean your gutters.
- Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
- Never be there alone while you have an open house
- keep all exits unlocked for an easy escape.
- Keep your phone in your hand when visitors are in the house. Don’t leave your phone on the countertop.
- Handle all visitors in the same manner and by the same rules. Legitimate visitors won't mind signing a log to record their visit.
- Common sense says don’t turn your back on your new visitor. Let them lead the way. You direct them to their left and right explaining what they are viewing. Always gesture for them to go ahead of you. Be conscious of their every move. Your focus should be on them, not on your home.
- Don’t abandon your new visitors while others are walking in. Make an effort to greet the new arrivals and size them up before the ‘safe’ visitors leave. Don't be shy about asking people to stay if a new arrival makes you uncomfortable. Listen to your instincts.
- If someone comes in who makes you feel uncomfortable while you are alone, practice your 911 call. Be ready to push the dial button. If you feel that you are in danger, leave your home and seek assistance.
- Know the fastest "escape" routes from your home. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster exit. Make sure if you were to escape by the back door, that you could quickly escape from the backyard.
- If despite your precautions, if you are reported missing or found incapacitated, your record-keeping could give investigators important clues to find your attacker quickly. Keep an active log and detail the day's events. If you are able, jot down the license plates of visitors, in case your attacker left and came back.
- Make note if a couple arrived, but only one person gave you their identification. Never tell a stranger that you can’t show them the house because you won’t be home. That is an open invitation to any criminal. Simply say something
like “I’ll be busy then… how about 10.30 instead?”
Foreclosures in SC - a primer
FSBO help
Call me if you are considering selling your home. We can discuss the options for your needs.
Chris DeLoach: 843-654-4578