15 Steps To Sell Your Home

Gone are the days when all you had to do was put a property in the MLS, hang up a sign and it would sell fast and often with multiple offers. Today, things are different! Your real estate consultant has to do everything and do it right.

The real estate market is constantly changing and you must stay informed. Each day, new homes come on the market, listings expire and homes sell. Does your real estate agent keep you informed on these market changes?

Today, more than ever before, your home must show at its best. Home staging is essential! Less experienced agents often lack the confidence or the trained eye to discuss property enhancement with their clients. It's a real disservice to market a home in "as is" condition because thousands of dollars are left on the table plus it takes longer to sell.

Buyers can "feel" when a home has deferred maintenance. And, who wants to take on somebody else repair problems when buying a home? Let's face it the buyer is going to have a home inspection that will pick up any home maintenance problems. So, why not take care of the repairs right-up-front and build the buyer's confidence with a clean inspection report?

Take a close look at how your home will be presented. You should expect only the best and most creative marketing materials! It's amazing to see the way that some homes are being promoted with poor quality photos, no virtual tours, weak Internet presence and cheap property brochures.

When it comes to selling real estate, the Internet is essential with an average of almost 90% of home buyers searching the Internet for their new home.

A common saying in real estate is "If you can't show it, you can't sell it." The more a home is shown, the faster it sells. And, usually the quicker the sale, the higher the selling price. The message is clear, make your home easy to show by installing a lock box or setting up another system with your real estate consultant. Open houses are a waste of time and they're truly not safe.

Open houses seldom sell the property being held open. Instead they benefit real estate agents who use the opportunity to meet buyers to sell other homes. It's an inconvenience for the sellers! Also, opening your home to the public can be a security risk because it's impossible to monitor everyone who comes through.

Agave Premier Properties, sells an overwhelming majority of the homes in Santa Cruz County. Our superior marketing programs, communication systems, Internet websites, and experienced agents offer home sellers a huge advantage.

A lot of new people were drawn into the real estate industry during the recent boom it seems like everybody has a real estate license! As a seller, here's what is important for you to remember - only a handful of experienced real estate professionals have been through several real estate cycles and know exactly how to sell your home in today's slower environment.

Suggesting a price reduction is the least favorite part of my job - but it's often the most important. That's because when it comes to real estate - price is everything. If your home is priced right, it will sell.

With so many homes to choose from, today's buyers are very selective and nervous. They take their time looking at all the homes for sale and often change their mind. They walk away from counter offers, cancel escrows for no reason and waste everyone's time. A slower real estate market brings out weak and fraudulent buyers and it encourages sellers to take offers they normally would reject. Choose a real estate consultant with the skill and experience to carefully evaluate potential buyers before you sign a purchase agreement.

Less experienced real estate agents may encourage their clients to accept a contingent offer, which essentially takes the property off the market until the buyer's home sells. There are more creative ways to structure a contingent offer that will give a seller more to count on. For example - a delayed closing or a lease/option agreement are just two ways to capture a buyer before they sell their existing property. That being said, if a potential buyer's home is already in escrow and their buyer's contingencies have all been removed, it may be ok to take an offer contingent on their sale closing.

The purchase agreement is the basis of a successful real estate transaction. It should be carefully drafted and executed to properly reflect the obligations and responsibilities of the parties. The deposit should be large enough to protect the seller. And, remember that the deposit is not at risk until all contingencies are removed in writing, a step often overlooked. Also, be sure to verify the buyer's funds. If a purchase agreement is poorly written, buyers have an easy way out if they change their mind.

After getting a purchase agreement signed by all parties, some agents simply turn over their files to a transaction coordinator, wait for the sale to close and collect their commission check. Many even charge the sellers an extra transaction fee for this service! Managing a real estate transaction is one of the most important roles of a professional real estate advisor.