Thinking About Selling Your Home?
Owning a home is the original American dream. It's the old frontier spirit, wanting to claim your own tuft of the New World. Then again, these days it also makes perfect economic sense. Experts estimate that all of the homes in the United States alone are worth a combined $14 trillion. That goes a long way to explain why a housing boom has been sweeping the globe.
Where there is a boom, though, there may be a bust. Read any headline from your local newspaper, and you'll see headlines such as "Bye-Bye, Housing Boom" to "Housing Boom is Leveling Off." Some economic forecasters predict a bubble that may be about to burst. They make you wonder: am I missing the boat?
Whether you're looking to cash in on this real estate bubble before it pops-or simply wanting to move to a bigger home or move across the country-selling your home can be more a nightmare than a dream. Not only do you have to find and trust a real estate agent. You need to prep your home for open houses. You need to haggle with prospective buyers. Not to mention, you have to worry about the moving and selling of all of your valuables.
It's almost enough to make you want to live in one home for the rest of your life-just as folks did in your grandparents' day. Then again, your home is worth a percentage of that $14 trillion. Don't you want to see just how much?
As hectic and horrible as selling a home may seem, it really isn't so bad if you break it down into a few simple rules. If you don't believe us, read the rules for yourself.
Fuss over the facade. Your home's future owners do not want to worry about repairs and renovations as soon as they move in. So make certain they don't. Be sure to have your home immaculately clean before you invite prospective buyers over. Redecorate if your interior is outdated. And invest in minor renovations if necessary. You'd be surprised what a coat of paint can do.
Focus on the fine details. Prospective buyers will leave no stone unturned when they visit your home. They will test every light switch, run every faucet, and lift up every toilet seat. Everything-and we mean everything-should be in working order before your open house.
Double check for blown out light bulbs and leaky faucets. Scrub the bathroom and clean up any ring around the bowl, tub scum, and any other nasty surprise.
Don't settle for maybes on safety. Ensure that there are no safety hazards anywhere on your property. Something as small as uncovered electrical sockets or as large as an unfenced pool can scare off buyers, especially parents of small children.
Create a soothing selling atmosphere. Imagine the last time you visited a bed and breakfast. Your home should be as welcoming and accommodating as that. One easy way to accomplish this is by brightening up the place. Turn on all your lights for your visitors. Plus, fluff up your bedroom. After all, most people want the bedroom to be the most comfortable spot in the house. Make sure it is-at least when buyers are around.
Clear the joint. Along with the last rule, there is the standard real estate practice of vacating the premises when buyers come for tours. This is done for good reason. Buyers are there to evaluate your home, not meet your sisters, sons, cousins, and cats. So send your family to the mall for a day of shopping, or to the park for a picnic.
Cut the clutter. All of your stuff can get in the way, too. That's why it's important to start packing and storing your personal belongings as soon as you know you're going to move. An empty house is a cleaner looking house is a more attractive house. You don't want your perspective buyer opening a closet and having a bowling ball fall on their head, do you?
Make a killing on said clutter. One option is to simply move your personal items to your new home and create instant clutter there. That's the way of the pack rat. Or, you could sell what you no longer need and turn a quick profit. That's the way of the fat cat.
If you choose wisely-the latter option-be sure not to hold your garage sale on the same days as your open houses. Neighbors in their undershirts and jeans on your front lawn do make for a great sales ploy. Instead, it makes you look desperate and could hurt you come negotiations. Schedule your yard sale on separate days.
Better yet, sell your goods online. Classified Web sites allow you to negotiate with potential buyers, get the best rates for your stuff, and ship it off at your own convenience. And it's all accomplished on your own time, inside your own home (where you can wear your undershirt and jeans and no one will care).
Take a deep breath. Lastly, never let the home-selling experience overwhelm you. Sure, there are a load of responsibilities to take care of. But that is what your real estate agent is there for. They handle all of the grunt work. They do all of the hard talking with the buyer. They make all the follow-up calls. And they showcase your home for you. Your job is just to smile, be polite, and answer the buyer's questions if they come up.
Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services for individuals and businesses to market their products and services online. For global and localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content
More Resources
Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting
More Real Estate Information:
- Group 1
- Group 2
- Group 3
- Group 4
- Group 5
- Group 6
- Group 7
- Group 8
- Group 9
- Group 10
- Group 11
- Group 12
- Group 13
- Group 14
- Group 15
- Group 16
- Group 17
- Group 18
- Group 19
- Group 20
- Group 21
- Group 22
- Group 23
- Group 24
- Group 25
- Group 26
- Group 27
- Group 28
- Group 29
- Group 30
- Group 31
- Group 32
- Group 33
- Group 34
- Group 35
- Group 36
- Group 37
- Group 38
- Group 39
- Group 40
- Group 41
- Group 42
- Group 43
- Group 44
- Group 45
- Group 46
- Group 47
- Group 48
- Group 49
- Group 50
- Group 51
- Group 52
- Group 53
- Group 54
- Group 55
- Group 56
- Group 57
- Group 58
- Group 59
- Group 60
- Group 61
- Group 62
- Group 63
- Group 64
- Group 65
Related Articles
Dead Deals and Recycled Reports
Everyone knows that at the end of a home inspection, a report is generated that outlines the findings of the home inspector. But did you know that this is not intended to be a "hit list" of negatives? Us home inspectors do what we do in order to objectively describe the home.
Odors Can Make or Break The Sale of Your Home
It's amazing how important the sense of smell is to many people. If you're selling your home, and this applies across the board to houses, townhouses, condos, apartments, or whatever, you need to be aware of the power of odors.
How to Attract Clients in Residential Real Estate
Doesn't it seem like everyone you know has a friend, relative, or acquaintance that is a realtor? How could anyone, especially someone new to the industry, possibly achieve success when faced with this much competition?The answer begins to appear when you consider the following questions:How many licensed real estate agents have the talents required for success in sales?How many have been trained in effective selling techniques?How many know how to prospect effectively?How many know which questions to ask to determine the factors that are most important to each prospect's buying decision?How many take their profession seriously and are willing to put in the effort and hours that are required to build a successful business?How many of them regularly sell multiple houses per month?The 80/20 rule definitely applies to residential real estate. In fact, some statistics suggest the ratio is more like 90/10 (where 90% of home sales are made by just 10% of realtors), with the vast majority of home sales by the top 1%!So, how can a novice realtor attract clients? By building his or her credibility and relationships.
How Do You Profit From O.P.P.?
In a previous article we introduced you to the concept of O.P.
Eleven Questions to Ask in an Agent Interview
Questions Sellers Should Ask in Agent Interviews:1. Is your license in good standing?You can check an agent's certification yourself with your state's department of real estate.
Cant Rent a Work Zone
So you've picked up your first (or third, or tenth) income property, and it's a real fixer-upper. You've got a great team of contractors, and you know what they need to do and how much time and money it's going to cost to make it happen.
Appraisal or Home Inspection?
People sometimes confuse a home inspection and an appraisal when they are in the process of buying a home.Most mortgage applications involve an appraisal, which can be a physical inspection of the property plus a written analysis of similar homes that have recently sold in the area.
Be A Realtor With Curb Appeal
Are you a realtor with curb appeal or are you more of a fixer-upper needful of updating?How you present yourself to colleagues, buyers and sellers, from the very first moment, will influence your sales records as well as the confidence and satisfaction your new clients feel. Even if you're a Realtor in demand, with more listings than hours in a week, you may well find areas that you can polish.
You Have 15 Seconds to Sell Your Home! 11 Steps You Can Take to Sell Your Home for Top Dollar
Selling your home? Here are some suggestions to help you sell yours for more than your next door neighbor's, and faster! Most buyers will know within 15 SECONDS after crossing the threshold if they want your home. But first, you need to attract them inside!11 steps to take to sell your home for top dollar1.
Selling Your Home - Alone or with a Broker?
How do you decide whether to sell your home (or land, farm, ranch, etc.) on your own or use a real estate broker? There are pluses and minuses to each approach.
If You are Hiring a Neighborhood Specialist to Sell Your Home, there are Some Things You Absolutely
My husband and I were eating breakfast at the Good Egg the other morning and couldn't help but over hear a fellow talking to his elderly parents about their home. It was fairly obvious that his father had a hard time hearing and the louder he talked the more I was tuning in to what he was saying.
Buying Land Online
In the old days people generally only bought land and improved Real Estate in the areas in which they lived or traveled often. Today, thanks to the blossoming of the Internet, one can purchase land all over the United States from the comfort of home.
How I Became a Real Estate Investor
Recently I closed on the sale of two homes. They were located about a mile apart and had comparable market values.
Finding Structural Problems During Escrow - Small Rural Home Example
In rural home purchases, the transaction is often subject to a satisfactory home inspection being done. Any imperfections are usually corrected during escrow.
What Can I Realistically Earn In A Lease Purchase Business?
If you're looking at Lease Purchasing as a business, you'll obviously want to earn much more than the $20,000 per year in our "How To Give Yourself A $20,000/Year Raise Without Asking Your Boss" article. Let's review the numbers from that article: For every 100 calls Sue makes on For Sale By Owner property, she either speaks with or leaves messages for about 60%.
Flipping Houses for Gold: Three Tips to Help You Find the Perfect Fixer
Many real estate investors enjoy "flipping houses," or buying and selling houses quickly for profit. Not all flips are fixers.
Timing Is Everything When It Comes To Buying Homes
The old adage that "timing is everything" especially applies to buying a new home. And trying to be at the right house at the right time and get it for the right price can be tricky.
The Devine Secrets Of The Ya Ya Lease Purchase Hood
The biggest secret of conducting a successful lease purchase business is to have a plan. I know don't grown.
Top Ten Suggestions for Selecting a Real Estate Agent
In order to find a real estate broker or agent who meets your needs and makes your buying or selling experience a positive one, Century 21 Real Estate Corporation recommends you:DO NOT blindly walk into or call a neighborhood firm and ask for an agent at random.Ask friends and family for recommendations.
Negotiating the Real Estate Contract
Negotiation is the process of communication back and forth in order to reach a joint agreement. There is no "one size fits all" strategy of negotiating a real estate contract.