FOR SELLERS
Guidelines For Pricing Your Home
The value of your home is determined by what a buyer is willing to pay and buyers always shop and buy “by comparison”. With 98% of all serious, qualified buyers using buyer agency, they have access to all current, sold and under contract homes. How well your home competes depends on your home’s location, square footage and style but price and condition are critical in retaining buyers’ interest once they view your home.
The first 2 weeks of a well marketed and correctly priced home typically brings a flurry of activity and excitement. Over pricing your home will diminish your showing activity and most often leads to too much time on the market. Buyer’s agents and buyers will begin to view your home differently once it becomes “market worn” and your value can be negatively affected. Because our market changes daily as your competition sells and new competition enters the market, it’s important to consistently re-evaluate how well you are positioned. Your real estate professional is always watching closely and advising you of changes because positioning your home against the competition is the only way to win.
Maximize Sales and Minimize Time on the Market
Think in terms of a home that is
sparkling clean, uncluttered and spacious.
Make your home easy to access and show.
Serious buyers who need to find a home often make quick decisions. If they can’t get access to your home but do get access to other great homes an opportunity is lost.
Stage the home properly through the use of color, lighting, and accessories. Emphasize your homes best features.
It’s often difficult to view your home through an objective lens when you see it everyday. Less furniture is typically best and some re-arranging may be advisable. The effect of an open book on the coffee table, a vase of flowers, or a scented candle, can make a difference in a room.
Clean, Clean, Clean. Make sure all floors, counter tops, walls, windows, blinds, drapes and light fixtures are dust and dirt free.
Clear kitchen counter tops and make sure all appliances are clean. Bathroom showers and baths should be clean and re-caulked, if necessary and all mineral deposits removed.
Light, Bright and Airy. Open blinds & drapes and try and let some fresh air in when the weather permits.
Smell has a powerful, lasting effect on buyers and coffee brewing or a cake baking can make an impression. Avoid over use of air fresheners as this is often counter productive.
Don’t Overlook the Exterior
The cleanliness of the front entry sets the expectation for the interior. Keep grass cut and shrubs pruned. Consider power washing your home and make sure the gutters are clean. Clear out the garage and organize.
Repairs
If something needs repair, fix it. Now is the time to take care of these items. The minor flaws can generally be repaired for less now than when a buyer adds up the cost to repair.
Repair any problems with major systems or offer an allowance for the buyer to make repairs after closing. Always disclose anything you know about the property. Buyers will more easily make a decision to purchase with someone they trust.
Price the Home Right in the Beginning
Refer to “Guidelines for Pricing Your Home”.
“TOTAL EXPOSURE”
A MARKETING PLAN OF ACTION FOR YOUR HOMEReal Estate studies show that an effective MARKETING PLAN has the largest impact on the outcome of the sale of your home. With this in mind, NOT ALL marketing plans are created equal. I invite you to compare this proven successful program with any other program available in our area. My goal as an employee of my sellers is the sale of their property in the shortest amount of time, for the highest net dollar amount the market will bring, with the least amount of headaches and hassles for my client. If you are considering putting your home on the market and would like a FREE, no obligation market analysis of your home please click here.
Below I will highlight a portion of my marketing plan. Total Exposure of your property and its features to the buyers in the market is the primary focus in this initial period of the listing. It is key to market your property through many different mediums in order to obtain the Total Exposure that will get your property sold fast and for top dollar!
Internet Marketing
Over 75% of homebuyers start their search for homes on the internet before they actually go house hunting. Your home will be placed in the multiple listing service (MLS), realtor.com (the most visited real estate site on the internet), coldwellbanker.com, seacoastrealty.com, wilmingtonhomesource.com, and homesandland.com. Your home will be in the featured property rotation on www.wilmingtonhomesource.com until it is sold, which exposes it to every visitor to the home page of this site.
Advertising Print
Your home will be featured in the new listing section in the Saturday Star News. Also, your home will be placed in Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty’s Coastal Carolina Buyer’s Guide which is published monthly and distributed with the Star News. Your
picture ad will remain in the Buyer’s Guide until your home is sold.
Brochures and Postcard Announcements
A premium quality color brochure will be produced for distribution to prospective home buyers.
“Just Listed” announcements will be mailed to targeted areas along with “Open House” invitations, the week before our first Open House.
Slide Presentation to Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Agents
Your home will be placed on the first available slide presentation for Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Agents which will immediately give your home “first hand” exposure to Sea Coast agents who are working with clients looking for a home like yours.
Virtual Tour
We will have a premium virtual tour produced of your home to be placed on the MLS, realtor.com, seacoastrealty.com, coldwellbanker.com, and wilmingtonhomesource.com. This is an extremely effective tool for relocation buyers hundreds or thousands of miles away.
E-Mail Blitzing to Area Agents
Another proven method of getting your property TOTALLY EXPOSED to the market is through the top producers. I email the top producers in the area an announcement of your home being placed on the market, an invitation to your open houses and any other news about your property such as a price change, selling agent bonus, etc. These top agents are sometimes representing 10-20 buyers who are actively seeking a home so you can easily see why this method is so effective.
Total Tracking Feedback for Every Showing
I will provide you with detailed, relevant, and accurate follow up to home showings via email or phone depending on your preference.
Other Marketing Tools
Other tools used are Open Houses, Signs and additional magazine/newspaper advertising as needed. Realizing every property has its unique characteristics, I am happy to develop and discuss a specific marketing plan for your property. Click Here to contact me for a confidential consultation.
