27 Tips to get your Home Sold Fast
Understand Why You Are Selling Your Home.
Your motivation to sell is the determining factor as to how you will approach the process. It affects everything from what you set your asking price at to how much time, money and effort you’re willing to invest in order to prepare your home for sale. For example, if your goal is for a quick sale, this would determine one approach. If you want to maximize your profit, the sales process might take longer thus determining a different approach.
Keep the Reason(s) You are Selling to Yourself.
The reason(s) you are selling your home will affect the way you negotiate its sale. By keeping this to yourself you don’t provide ammunition to your prospective buyers. For example, should they learn that you must move quickly or are going through a divorce; you could be placed at a disadvantage in the negotiation process. When asked, simply say that “your housing needs have changed”. Remember, the reason(s) why you are selling is only for you to know
Before Setting a Price – Do Your Homework.
When you set your price, you make buyers aware of the absolute maximum they have to pay for your home. As a seller, you will want to get a selling price as close to the list price as possible. If you start out by pricing too high you run the risk of not being taken seriously by buyers and their agents; whereas pricing too low (perhaps in the hope of attracting multiple offers) can back-fire (as some people grow suspicious of too low a price and the dangers of a multiple-offer bidding war; or they may suspect that a latent defect exists in the home) in selling for much less than you were hoping for.
Setting Your Home’s Sale Price.
If You Live in a Subdivision.- If your home is comprised of similar or identical floor plans, built in the same period, simply look at recent sales in your neighbourhood subdivision to give you a good idea of what your home is worth.
If You Live in An Older Neighborhood.- As neighbourhoods change over time each home may be different in minor or substantial ways. Because of this, you will probably find that there aren’t many homes truly comparable to your own. In this case, you may want to consider seeking a Realtor® to help you with the pricing process.
If You Decide to Sell On Your Own.- A good way to establish a value is to look at homes that have sold in your neighbourhood within the past 6 months, including those now on the market. This is how prospective buyers will assess the worth of your home. Also, a trip to City Hall can provide you with home sale information in its public records, for most communities.
Do Some “Home Shopping” Yourself.
The best way to learn about your competition and to discover what turns buyers off is to check out other open houses. Note floor plans, condition, appearance, size of the lot, location and features. Particularly note not only the asking prices but what they are actually selling for. Remember, if you’re serious about getting your home sold fast; don’t price it higher than your neighbour’s.
When Getting an Appraisal is a Benefit.
Sometimes a good appraisal can be a benefit in marketing your
home. Getting an appraisal is a good way to let prospective buyers know that your home can be financed. However, an appraisal does cost money, has a limited life, and there’s no guarantee you’ll like the figure you hear.
Tax Assessments – What They Really Mean.
Some people think that tax assessments are a way of evaluating a home. The difficulty here is that tax assessments are based on a number of criteria that often are not related to property values, so they may not necessarily reflect your home’s true value
Deciding Upon a Realtor®
According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly two-thirds of the people surveyed who sold their own homes say they wouldn’t do it again themselves. Primary reasons included setting a price, marketing handicaps, liability concerns, and time constraints. When deciding upon a Realtor®, consider meeting with two or three – BUT be wary of valuations or quotes that are too low and those that are too high.
All Realtors® are not the same! A professional Realtor® knows the market and has information on past sales, current listings has a marketing plan, and will provide their background and references. Evaluate each candidate carefully on the basis of their experience, qualifications, enthusiasm and personality. Be sure to choose someone that you trust and feel confident that they will do a good job on your behalf.
If you choose to sell on your own, you can still talk to a Realtor®. Many are more than willing to help do-it-your-self with paperwork, contracts, etc.; and should problems arise, you now have someone you can readily call upon.
Ensure You Have Room to Negotiate.
Before settling on your asking price make sure you leave yourself enough room in which to bargain. For example, set your lowest and highest selling price. Then review your priorities to decide if you’ll price high if you want to try to maximize your profit or to set a price closer to market value if you want to sell quickly.
Appearances Do Matter – Make them Count!
Appearance is so critical that it would be unwise to ignore this when selling your home. The look and “feel” of your home will generate a greater emotional response than any other factor.
Invite the Honest Opinions of Others.
The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to rely solely upon your own judgment. Don’t be shy about seeking the honest opinions of others. You need to be objective about your home’s good points as well as its bad ones. Fortunately, your Realtor® will be unabashed about discussing what should be done to make your home more marketable.
Get it Spic n’ Span Clean and Fix Everything, Even If It Seems Insignificant.
Scrub, scour, tidy up, straighten, get rid of the clutter, declare war on dust, repair squeaks, fix the light switch that doesn’t work, and get rid of the tiny crack in the bathroom mirror because these small defects can be “deal killers” – and you may never find out what turned as buyer off. Remember, you’re not just competing with other resale homes, with but brand-new ones as well.
Allow Prospective Buyers to Visualize Themselves in Your Home.
The last thing you want prospective buyers to feel when viewing your home is that they may be intruding into someone’s life. Avoid clutter such as too many knick-knacks, etc. Decorate in neutral colours – like white or beige – and place a few carefully chosen items to add warmth and character. You can enhance the attractiveness of your home with a well-placed vase of flowers or potpourri in the bathroom. Home-decor magazines are great for such suggestions
Deal Killer Odors – Must Go!
You may not realize it but odd smells like traces of food, pets and smoking odours can kill deals quickly. If prospective buyers know you have a dog, or that you smoke, they’ll start being aware of odours and “seeing” stains that may not even exist
Be a Smart Seller – Disclose Everything.
Smart sellers are pro-active in disclosing in writing all known
defects to their buyers. This can reduce liability, present an air of openness and reasonability; and prevent lawsuits later on
It’s Better With More Prospects.
When you maximize your home’s marketability, you will most likely attract more than one prospective buyer. It is much better to have several buyers because they will compete with each other; a single buyer will end up competing with just you.
Keep Emotions in Check During Negotiations.
Let go of the emotion you’ve invested in your home. Be detached or objective and use a business-like manner in your negotiations. You’ll definitely have an advantage over those who get caught up emotionally in the situation.
Learn Why Your Buyer is Motivated.
The better you know your buyers, the better you can use the negotiation process to your advantage. This allows you to control the pace and duration of the process. As a rule, buyers are looking to purchase the best, affordable property for the least amount of money. Knowing what motivates them enables you to negotiate more effectively. For example, does your buyer need to move quickly? Armed with this information you are in a better position to bargain.
What the Buyer Can Really Pay.
As soon as possible, try to learn the amount of mortgage the buyer is qualified to carry and how much their down- payment is. If their offer is low, ask their Realtor® about the buyer’s ability to pay what your home is worth.
When the Buyer Would Like to Close.
Quite often, when buyers would “like” to close is when they “need” to close. Knowledge of their deadlines for completing negotiations again creates a negotiating advantage for you.
Never Sign a Deal on Your Next Home Until You Sell Your Current Home.
Try not to close on your new home while you’re still making mortgage payments on the old one because you might end up becoming a seller who is eager (even desperate) for the first deal that comes along.
Moving Out Before You Sell Can Put You at a Disadvantage.
It has been proven that it’s more difficult to sell a home that is vacant because it becomes cold and forlorn- looking, forgotten, and no longer an appealing sight. Buyers start getting the message that you have another home and are probably motivated to sell quickly, and this could cost you thousands of dollars
Deadlines Create A Serious Disadvantage
Don’t try to sell by a certain date. This adds unnecessary pressure and is a serious disadvantage in negotiations.
A Low Offer – Don’t Take It Personally.
Invariably the initial offer will be below what both you and the buyer know he’ll pay for your property. Don’t be upset. Instead, evaluate the offer objectively and respond professionally because such an offer can, and often does, simply provide a starting point from which the two of you can start to negotiate.
Turn That Low Offer Around.
You can counter any offer – a low offer or even an offer that’s
just under your asking price. This lets the buyer and his agent know that his first offer isn’t seen as being a serious one. Now you’ll be negotiating only with buyers with serious offers.
Maybe the Buyer’s Not Qualified.
If you feel an offer is inadequate, now is the time to make sure the buyer is qualified to carry the size of the mortgage that the deal will require. Inquire how they arrived at their figure, and suggest they compare your price to the prices of homes for sale in your neighbourhood.
Ensure the Contract is Complete.
To avoid problems, ensure that all terms, costs and responsibilities are spelled out in the contract of sale. It should include such items as the date it was made, names of parties involved, address of property being sold, purchase price, where deposit monies will be held, date for loan approval or inspection, date and place of closing, type of deed, including any contingencies or repairs etc. that remain to be settled and what personal property is included (or not) in the sale.
Resist Deviating From the Contract.
For example, if the buyer requests a move-in prior to closing, just say “No” and that you’ve been advised against it. Why take any chances of the deal falling through and you being left with “Squatters”?