Selling your home yourself?

Tips for a Fast Sale of Your Home

By Carol Wilson, Tyler Texas Realtor

In the current economy, a seller cannot make many mistakes. If they are to be successful in selling their home for the best possible price in the shortest amount of time, sellers must optimize their actions to overcome competition from other homes on the market that are being professionally represented and marketed by Realtors.

If you end up making additional mortgage payments, or accepting a less than market value offer, a real estate commission might have been a good investment.

There are two main elements to a successful, quick sale of a home.

#1 Home Preparation

Look at your home with the eyes of one who is seeing it for the first time. Look for…

Curb Appeal—Make sure the yard is neat and trimmed. If your yard is not lush with green, consider adding some plants. Even potted plants can help the overall look. Power wash the sidewalk, and make sure the house, including the trim, has no peeling paint. Make sure gutters and downspouts are secure. If needed, repaint the front door.

A Clutter-Free Interior—Declutter and de-personalize the interior of your home. Put away most bric-a-brac and all of the family photos.

Maximized Interior Space—Display each room for its maximum purpose and value. For example, if you have a bedroom that is now being used for storage, move everything into rented storage space and replace it with bedroom furniture. Or turn it into a home office or exercise room.

An Inviting Outdoor Living Space—Make sure patios, decks, and back yard spaces are as inviting as the interior of your home.

#2 Marketing

Your home’s competition is being marketed professionally by experienced Realtors that have more marketing resources than you have. At a minimum, you’ll need…

Good Quality Photos—If your site does not appear on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), you may be limited to displaying your home online via Craigslist. Craigslist, however, allows no more than 4 photos to be downloaded as part of your posting. Given that limitation, you need to make sure they are as professional as possible.

A Flyer for Display Outside Your Home—Use your photos along with a description of your home’s best features. Make sure your description helps others understand who might be interested in buying it. If it has lots of bedrooms, a big back yard, and is near a great elementary school, that is important to many families. If it has a low maintenance backyard and a downstairs master, that will be important to another group of potential buyers. Remember the features that caused you to purchase the home may not represent what others will see in it, however.

A Market-Based Price—What you paid for your home (or what you owe on it) has no relevance when you want to sell your home. A professional can help you determine a price that will allow your property to compare favorably with others on the market so that it sells within a reasonable amount of time. If you are not using a professional Realtor, you will need to thoroughly research the prices that comparable homes in your neighborhood are getting. Remember, however, that most homes will not sell for the asking price. If you can get access to the final negotiated price for comparable properties, that will be more helpful in pricing your home.

Realtors Offer Expertise and Experience in Real Estate Marketing and Transactions

These days, Realtors don’t need to show dozens of homes to a client to find one that meets their needs. They use the Internet to preview homes for sale.

90% of buyers research properties themselves using the Internet. If you don’t have a website and access to the on-line Multiple Listing Service (MLS), you are at a distinct disadvantage in marketing your home. It is especially difficult to market your home to those relocating to Tyler without Internet marketing. Newcomers are great prospects because they are often less price-sensitive, and in a bigger hurry to find a new home than local buyers.

Realtors also offer expertise in negotiating with buyers, and advice and assistance with the financial and legal aspects of a real estate transaction. Today, many buyers need assistance in obtaining a low-cost mortgage in order to purchase your home. A licensed Realtor can make the transaction easy for buyer and seller alike.

Ask Yourself…

How many additional mortgage payments can you make on your home vs. paying a Realtor’s commission to get your home sold more quickly and easily.
How much of a discount will you be offered by potential buyers because they know you are not paying Realtor fees? (A national study found that sellers who use an agent receive offers 16% higher, on average, than owners who sell their home directly.)

Did You Know….?

10% of all properties on the market are For Sale By Owner.

More than 87% of those will eventually be sold through a Realtor.

Don’t wait any longer! Contact me now to find out how I can get the job done and put the most money in your pocket!