The news reports and most people will agree that the Real Estate industry is officially in a
Buyer's market.
So if you are a Seller who is considering selling a home you may wonder what you need to know to get your home SOLD!
With all the inventory of homes on the market, sure you can join the numbers of Actively Listed Homes - NOT SELLING but if you really are serious about getting a home sold, the following points are what we believe makes up the
Anatomy of A Home Seller.
1. - Start Packing - we mean think like you are really going to be moving soon. When your home sells it will be an inevitable task so why not get the process rolling. This will not only serve to ease the tension once your home sells but it will make your home look spacious. That brings us to the next tip.
2. - De-clutterize everything you see. If you can't see it then bring in a friend and ask them to be brutally honest with you. It's easy to overlook things about your home when you are in it every day. However, when the Buyers start coming through they will see it all. Remove all the refrigerator magnets, bring all the newspapers and magazines to the recycling center and think - "I'm Moving"!
3. - Clean like you are in the army now and the drill seargant will soon arrive to inspect the place. Buyers want to be able to visualize themselves in this home and most people don't want to think about cleaning when they move in. Bathrooms and Kitchens should sparkle and now that you have packed away all that clutter, it should be a snap. Take out the windex and be relentless. Let that light shine in those windows!
4. - Speaking of light - put the highest allowable wattage into all light fixtures. We want your buyers to see what they are buying.
5. - Paint - this is the least expensive way to freshen up a home's appearance and smell. Keep it neutral and paint whatever rooms look like they are in need of freshening.
6. - Invite your real estate professional to give you tips on how to arrange furniture. Most realtors can give you tips on how to stage your home to sell.
7. - Put some fresh or silk flowers in a vase on your Dining Room Table, if you have one. If not, put some on the Kitchen Table or Counter.
8. - Speaking of flowers, once you've cleaned out the inside of the house, tend to the outside and trim the hedges. If you don't have any flowers in your landscaping, put a pot of flowers on the porch. Curb appeal will keep the Buyers from just driving by. You want to make them come in and Buy your house!
9. - Now that we have addressed all the physical aspects of your home we must address what will help to get it sold quickly and that is to make your home accessible. If you aren't comfortable with a Lockbox on your home then you will have to make yourself available for every showing. With all the inventory out there along with the shortage of Buyers, you don't want to miss an opportunity to let your home be shown. Once the Buyers are inside, you should step outside so they can speak to their real estate agent freely.
10. - Last but certainly not least is the Price. Take off your Seller's hat and put on your Buyer's hat. Take a look at all the homes on the market and consult a real estate professional about how your home stands up to the competition in Price, Location and Features. Be realistic because if you want to get your home Sold now you have to fit the Anatomy of A Home Seller.
If you are a Home Seller in the
Pascack Valley area or surrounding
Bergen County towns, call Bob and Lisa at (201)218-6802 or visit us online at
http://www.hammersteam.com/ for more tips on how to get your home
SOLD!
