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Costly Home Seller
Mistakes
We provide real estate services to buyers
and sellers in Pennsylvania (Berks County, Chester County, Delaware County,
Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Drexel Hill, Haverford Township, Havertown and Upper Darby) as well as in
New Jersey (Brigantine, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Camden County and Gloucester
County).
There are many mistakes, that if not addressed
properly from the beginning, could cost sellers thousands of dollars. Being
aware of them, and addressing them early on is key to the successful sale of
your home... for Top Dollars!
Mistake #1: Failure to see your property through the eyes of the buyer.
This means forgetting what
you would want to see if you were buying the home. Although people are of all
backgrounds and personalities, there are some common traits among all home
shoppers. One of these traits is the desire to see something they are about to
spend a great amount of money on being in perfect condition. This means a
thorough cleaning and removing everything not vitally necessary to live with
from the home. Buyers will be picky, so you too must be picky in cleaning -
don’t miss a spot.
Mistake #2: Poor Marketing. When selling your home, odds are the perfect buyer
for your home isn’t going to just casually stroll through the front door by
chance. More likely is that you will have to bring the home to the perfect
buyer. A highly effective marketing strategy must be in place to ensure your
house receiving maximum exposure in the market place. Be sure to work with a
REALTOR who provides 24/7 hour-a-day marketing via the Internet and a free
information call hotline.
Mistake #3: Taking for granted the exterior of your house (curb appeal). When
preparing to sell your home, take the time to consider that first impressions
count. It’s very easy for someone about to spend or invest hundreds of
thousands of dollars to make a snap decision not to go in when the outside
appearance of the property is shabby. Ask your REALTOR for advice in making
your home the most attractive for people merely driving by as well as those who
come for showings or open houses.
Mistake #4: Ignoring health and safety issues. Be straightforward and tell
your REALTOR about any problems with the property. Bear in mind that these
problems will likely be discovered down the line, and it’s best to take care of
them before they become disputes or lawsuits. Note any potential safety hazards
and pay attention to environmental concerns.
Mistake #5: Believing you must be present for every showing of the home. Many
buyers feel they must be an active part of every showing, not realizing that
this can actually work against them. It’s best to let your professional real
estate agent handle bringing potential buyers through the house on their own.
Buyers generally feel more comfortable to speak freely about the house when they
are working only with their REALTOR, whom they know and trust.
Mistake #6: Not pricing your home correctly. This is an important step in the
proper marketing of your property and an aspect that a highly skilled REALTOR
should take charge of. Listing the home at too expensive a price can lead to
reduced showings. Pricing too low could lose you thousands of dollars.
Mistake #7: Not planning your move early in the process of selling your home.
Keep in mind that moving can be overwhelming when not planned properly.
Consider renting a storage facility for items not important for everyday living
because that will also reduce clutter when showing your home. Take accurate
inventories of what you have to move and label things clearly so you don’t waste
time in your new home going through box after box. Keep a file with all
receipts for expenses occurred during the move, as many of these will be tax
deductible. Be sure you have all these steps in place far in advance of the
actual move date so you aren’t running around at the last minute while trying to
complete the sale of your home.
Mistake #8: Not working with a professional, full-time REALTOR. Want to sell
your house quickly and for top dollar? Choose your agent wisely. Working with a
full-time professional real estate agent is a must. Choose your agent by asking
questions of him/her. Ask if they have a MARKETING PLAN to sell your
house.
Choosing your Agent wisely. Any agent will show enthusiasm and will want to list
your house for sale but choose your agent based upon:
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Experience at
listing and marketing houses for sale.
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Ability to use
technology to market your house world wide to buyers 24/7.
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Reviewing with you a
comprehensive Marketing Analysis of home sales in your area.
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Ability to offer a
written detailed MARKETING PLAN that will get your house sold at the
highest possible price.
Working with a full-time professional real
estate agent is a must. Choose your agent by asking questions of him or her.
Find out how knowledgeable they are about houses currently for sale in your
price range and also of houses that have recently sold. Can your agent recommend
a good lender that has the reputation of excellent customer service and low
rates to assist your new buyer with financing? A good listing agent can get
your house sold quickly at TOP DOLLAR and help you find a new home.
To receive
your FREE copy of Homebuyer's Handbook or Homeseller's Handbook, click here.
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