The Secret to Selling a Home

Why Some Homes Sell While Others Remain on the Market

Have you ever wondered why certain homes sell quickly while others sit unsold for months – even within the same neighborhood and price range?

Selling a Home is much more than a 'Waiting Game'!

The secret to selling a home comes down to three key elements: Pricing, Condition, and Marketing. When one of these is missing, the results can be disappointing, no matter what the market is like.

Let’s start with Pricing.

It Almost Aways About 'The Money'!

The most common mistake sellers make is overpricing. Today’s buyers are savvy, comparison shoppers - plus they do it online! When your home hits the market, it competes directly with all the other available properties in that price range. The buyer is only going to choose one. Second place doesn’t get a prize. No contract, no money at the finish line!

What your neighbor’s house sold for three months ago is no longer as important as Which home a serious Buyer will write an offer on today?

Condition is next.

Even The People Who Live Here Don't Want To Live Here. They'd Rather Sleep in Their Car. Why Would You?

It’s as important as price once the Buyer has decided to see the home in person. When they do show up, your home has to shine like the Merry Maids just left. Spotless interiors, looking well-maintained and fresh from the inside to the landscaping outside. It all makes a difference. Think of preparing your home like getting ready for a party: clean, polished, and put together.

Now, This is a Little More Like It!

Yes, curb appeal matters. I have actually had buyers tell me they weren’t interested in a home as soon as they saw the way it looked from the street. Curb appeal is what gets Buyers out of the car and into the home.

Remember: Most home-shoppers look for reasons to eliminate homes from their list. It can be time-consuming and somewhat boring until they find the right one and they usually want to do it quickly.

Your job is to make sure your property stands out in positive ways. That emotional "wow" factor can beat out other listings that are larger, newer, and sometimes even lower-priced.

Buyers will find a way to justify the purchase once they fall in love with the home.

Finally, there is Marketing.

I promise you, presenting a home for sale is a lot more than putting a sign in the yard and holding endless Open Houses.

Marketing means developing a list of features and benefits of a home and its neighborhood, then contacting every single Realtor – even in surrounding areas - and letting them know that ‘This Is A Great House!”.

Everybody Here Wants To Sell A House - You Want It To Be YOUR House!

It means having professional photos showing the flow of the interior and the way light comes into the room. Most buyers want a good home they can enjoy with their family, so we must provide photographic evidence that their family would be happy here.

It also means eliminating or mitigating the reasons Buyers wouldn’t buy the home: Deferred maintenance, what things should be corrected, like a hole in the wall from the doorknob or a loose board on the deck.

Sometimes Advising Your Sellers About Upgrades Can Recoup Even More Than Their Cost!

And you must step outside your comfort zone. We recently sold a home to a Buyer who was looking in a completely different area. After our broad marketing campaign reached their out-of-area Realtor, they decided to take a look at our fabulous views and spacious interior and purchased ours. Before then, they weren’t even thinking about looking here! We had to show them the benefits.

If You Can Get These Guys To Call Their Clients About Your Home For Sale, You're On Your Way! It Isn't Easy.

It is a fact that homes that sell quickly — often within the first 10 days — typically get full price or better. Those that linger past 30 to 45 days often require a price reduction or seller concessions. If it goes much longer than that, you may need a new game plan.

And while it may seem like some homes “sell themselves”- that’s rarely true. Real Estate is very competitive, so you have to work hard to get your message out over the din of all of the other homes on the market. A good marketer knows how to market - and make sure that everyone everywhere knows about your home.

Want your home to be the home everyone wants? Focus on price, polish, and promotion - the results will speak for themselves!

Let us show you how creative we can be!