Your Plan
1. Find the right
representative
The experience and knowledge of a dedicated real estate professional can be
priceless. A good Realtor® forms a powerful team with his or her clients that
makes it possible for them to have a smooth, successful, stress-free sale.
2. Determine your needs/wants for the sale and for your
new home
Selling your primary residence can be tricky because you have to simultaneously
be thinking about where you would like to buy. First weigh your priorities –
selling price is certainly important, but having a quick and efficient sale can
often be worth accepting a slightly lower offer. Talk to your agent and make
sure you’re comfortable with where your priorities are.
At the same time, you should be compiling a needs/wants list for the home you
will buy. You will probably have to act fairly quickly when your house sells, so
any amount of preparation you can do will serve you well.
3. Prepare your house for showing
Underprepared homes can be sales disasters. Your home will never get as much
attention from potential buyers as when it is first listed, so clearing clutter,
cleaning, making repairs, and putting your home’s best foot forward is
essential. Don’t “open for business” until your home is ready to be seen as
favorably as possible.
The Sweet Smell of a Successful Sale
Scents and aromas can have a dramatic impact on
people’s emotions, otherwise, there wouldn’t be a multi-billion-dollar fragrance
industry!
Don’t ignore the power of fragrance when showing your home. Smoke, pet odors, and cooking smells can each dramatically impact how potential buyers feel about your house.
If your potential buyers never form an emotional connection to your home, chances are that they will remain just that – potential buyers.
Don’t allow smoking in your house for weeks leading up to showing it, find a pet-sitter for a few days, and clean, clean, clean!
Once you’ve removed any aromas that might be off-putting and freshened the air in your home, you can actually use scent to your advantage.
Consider doing some baking prior to showings. The scent of
fresh apple pie is hard to beat when it comes to creating the atmosphere of a
welcoming home!
TIP: In a pinch, a mixture of water, vanilla extract, and
brown sugar in an oven on low heat can be used to create the pleasing aroma of
fresh baking.
To a certain extent, buyers make purchase decisions based on their emotional response, so it’s important to make it easy for them to fall in love with your home. Pleasant smells are one more way to do so.
4. Find out what your local market looks like
Being realistic about your market is the key to a smooth sale. There is no
substitute for a professional real estate representative when it comes to local
market knowledge.
5. List away!
Lots of photos and online exposure are the key to getting a good response for
your listing. Working with an agent who uses Point2 Agent software is a great
step in the right direction. Now just “open” the house and sit back and wait for
the flood of eager buyers!
Your Comparative Market Analysis
I can give you an educated idea of what your home’s value is based on
experience, local knowledge, and comparable actual sales in your area! I am
happy to be able to provide this service free of charge. Simply fill out and
submit the
Home Evaluation Form.