19 Tips You Should Know To Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar
Because your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one
of the most important decisions you will make in your life. To better
understand the homeselling process, a guide has been prepared from
current industry insider reports. Through these 27 tips you will discover
how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, reduce
stress, be in control of your situation, and make the most profit possible.
1. Understand Why You Are Selling Your Home
Your motivation to sell is the determining factor as to how you will approach the
process. It affects everything from what you set your asking price at to how much
time, money and effort you're willing to invest in order to prepare your home for
sale. For example, if your goal is for a quick sale, this would determine one
approach. If you want to maximize your profit, the sales process might take longer
thus determining a different approach.
2. Keep the Reason(s) You are Selling to Yourself
The reason(s) you are selling your home will affect the way you negotiate its sale. By
keeping this to yourself you don't provide ammunition to your prospective buyers.
For example, should they learn that you must move quickly, you could be placed at a
disadvantage in the negotiation process. When asked, simply say that your housing
needs have changed. Remember, the reason( s) you are selling is only for you to
know .
3. Before Setting a Price - Do Your Homework
When you set your price, you make buyers aware of the absolute maximum they
have to pay for your home. As a seller, you will want to get a selling price as close to
the list price as possible. If you start out by pricing too high you run the risk of not
being taken seriously by buyers and their agents. If you are pricing too low it can
result in selling for much less than you were hoping for.
Setting Your Home's Sale Price
If You Live in a Subdivision - If your home is comprised of similar or identical floor
plans, built in the same period, simply look at recent sales in your neighborhood
subdivision to give you a good idea of what your home is worth.
If You Live in An Older Neighborhood - As neighborhoods change over time each
home may be different in minor or substantial ways and you will probably find that
there aren't many homes truly comparable to yourown. In this case you may want to
consider seeking a Realtor ® to help you with the pricing process.
If You Decide to Sell On Your Own - A good way to establish a value is to look at
homes that have sold in your neighborhood within the past 6 months, including
those now on the market. This is how prospective buyers will assess the worth of
your home. Also a trip to City Hall can provide you with home sale information in its
public records, for most communities.
4. Do Some "Home Shopping" Yourself
The best way to learn about your competition and discover what turns buyers off is
to check out other open houses. Note floor plans, condition, appearance, size of lot,
location and other features. Particularly note, not only the asking prices but what
they are actually selling for. Remember, if you're serious about getting your home
sold fast, don't price it higher than your neighbor's.
5. When Getting an Appraisal is a Benefit
5. When Getting an Appraisal is a Benefit
Sometimes a good appraisal can be a benefit in marketing your home. Getting an
appraisal is a good way to let prospective buyers know that your home can be
financed. However, an appraisal does cost money, has a limited life, and there’s no
guarantee you’ll like the figure you hear.
6. Tax Assessments - What They Really Mean
Some people think that tax assessments are a way of evaluating a home. The
difficulty here is that assessments are based on a number of criteria that may not be
related to property values, so they may not necessarily reflect your home's true
value.
7. Deciding Upon a Realtor®
According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly two-thirds of the people
surveyed who sell their own homes say they wouldn't do it again themselves.
Primary reasons included setting a price, marketing handicaps, liability concerns, and
time constraints. When deciding upon a Realtor® , consider two or three. Be as wary
of quotes that are too low as those that are too high.
All Realtors® are not the same! A professional Realtor® knows the market and has
information on past sales, current listings, a marketing plan, and will provide their
background and references. Evaluate each candidate carefully on the basis of their
experience, qualifications, enthusiasm and personality. Be sure you choose someone
that you trust and feel confident that they will do a good job on your behalf.
If you choose to sell on your own, you can still talk to a Realtor® . Many are more
than willing to help do-it-your-selfers with paperwork, contracts, etc. and should
problems arise, you now have someone you can readily call upon.
8. Ensure You Have Room to Negotiate
Before settling on your asking price make sure you leave yourself enough room in
which to bargain. For example, set your lowest and highest selling price. Then check
your priorities to know if you'll price high to maximize your profit or price closer to
market value if you want sell quickly.
9. Appearances Do Matter - Make them Count!
Appearance is so critical that it would be unwise to ignore this when selling your
home. The look and "feel" of your home will generate a greater emotional response
than any other factor. Prospective buyers react to what they see, hear, feel, and
smell even though you may have priced your home to sell.
10. Invite the Honest Opinions of Others
The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to rely solely on your own
judgment. Don't be shy about seeking the honest opinions of others. You need to be
objective about your home's good points as well as bad. Fortunately, your Realtor®
will be unabashed about discussing what should be done to make your home more
marketable.
11. Get it Spic n' Span Clean and Fix Everything, Even If It
Seems Insignificant
Scrub, scour, tidy up, straighten, get rid of the clutter, declare war on dust, repair
squeaks, the light switch that doesn't work, and the tiny crack in the bathroom
mirror because these can be deal-killers and you'll never know what turns buyers off.
Remember, you're not just competing with other resale homes, but brand-new ones
as well.
12. Allow Prospective Buyers to Visualize Themselves in Your
Home
The last thing you want prospective buyers to feel when viewing your home is that
they may be intruding into someone's life. Avoid clutter such as too many knick-
knacks, etc. Decorate in neutral colors, like white or beige and place a few carefully
chosen items to add warmth and character. You can enhance the attractiveness of
your home with a well-placed vase of flowers or potpourri in the bathroom. Home-
decor magazines are great for tips.
13. Deal Killer Odors - Must Go!
You may not realize but odd smells like traces of food, pets and smoking odors can
kill deals quickly. If prospective buyers know you have a dog, or that you smoke,
they'll start being aware of odors and seeing stains that may not even exist. Don't
leave any clues.
14. Be a Smart Seller - Disclose Everything
Smart sellers are proactive in disclosing all known defects to their buyers in writing.
This can reduce liability and prevent lawsuits later on.
15. It's Better With More Prospects
When you maximize your home's marketability, you will most likely attract more
than one prospective buyer. It is much better to have several buyers because they
will compete with each other; a single buyer will end up competing with you.
16. Keep Emotions in Check During Negotiations
Let go of the emotion you've invested in your home. Be detached, using a business-
like manner in your negotiations. You'll definitely have an advantage over those who
get caught up emotionally in the situation.
17. Learn Why Your Buyer is Motivated
The better you know your buyers the better you can use the negotiation process to
your advantage. This allows you to control the pace and duration of the process.
As a rule, buyers are looking to purchase the best affordable property for the least
amount of money. Knowing what motivates them enables you to negotiate more
effectively. For example, does your buyer need to move quickly. Armed with this
information you are in a better position to bargain.
18. What the Buyer Can Really Pay
As soon as possible, try to learn the amount of mortgage the buyer is qualified to
carry and how much his/her down payment is. If their offer is low, ask their
Realtor® about the buyer's ability to pay what your home is worth.
19. When the Buyer Would Like to Close
Quite often, when buyers would "like" to close is when they need to close.
Knowledge of their deadlines for completing negotiations again creates a negotiating
advantage for you.
Buyer's Toolkit - Denver Real Estate and Denver Homes
Welcome to our Denver Division Buyer's Toolkit. We specialize in Denver Real Estate and Denver Homes.
Our tools allow you to review any real estate for sale in Colorado that is listed in the MLS/IDX. Please review or download our Buyer's Toolkit. We have over
70 Free Reports available for review or to download. Seller's Toolkit - Denver Real Estate and Denver Homes
Welcome to our Denver Division Seller's Toolkit. We specialize in Denver Real Estate and Denver Homes.
Our tools allow you to review any real estate for sale in Colorado that is listed in the MLS/IDX. Please review or download our Seller's Toolkit. We have over
70 Free Reports available for review or to download.
Neighborhood Information for Denver Real Estate and Denver Homes
Denver's vibrant metropolitan area full of cultural wonder and entertainment, as well as great
outdoor activities and recreation. Denver also has 300 plus days of sunshine we get each year, it's
no surprise at all, Denver Real Estate is something that everybody wants to own.
Well-Known across the world as the "Mile High City," Denver has been consistently rated as one of the
top places to live and work in the country. Originally built around the convergence of the Platte River
and the Cherry Creek River, Denver's outstanding lifestyle and great climate mixed with a wide array of
growing employment opportunities, have begun to characterize our city in the sky. Nothing beats our
spectacular Rocky Mountain views combined with the typical 150-mile visibility days. Home Owners in the
Denver Real Estate market feel fortunate to live in the beautiful "Mile High City".
Boasting more public parks than any other city its size in the nation, easy travel times to many great
attractions and an endless list of activities available, Denver has been attracting outdoor enthusiasts as
well as large corporations for decades. Six popular professional sports teams make the "Mile High City" home as
well as an award-winning Performing Arts Center complete with a theater and a symphony orchestra. Outdoor
recreational opportunities include world-renown skiing, mountain biking, hiking, fly-fishing, kayaking and
white water rafting, to name just a few. Denver also offers a diverse live music scene with multiple
entertainment venues from the Historic Red Rocks Amphitheater to the classic Fillmore Auditorium on Colfax Street.
The diversity of real estate options and locations in Metro Denver makes finding the right place to call home
easy as well. From the center of the city throughout each of the suburbs, Denver housing features include single
family and luxury homes to upscale lofts and condominiums.
Please allow me to assist you in your future real estate matters. I have up-to-date information available
on all of the Metro Denver Real Estate areas including Highlands Ranch, Cherry Creek, Lone Tree, Ridge Gate,
Centennial, Castle Rock, Castle Pines as well as the classic, more established areas of Denver including Cherry
Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Englewood, Littleton, Ken Caryl, Aurora, Parker ...and all other areas. Be sure
to check out the Interactive Subdivision Map too.
Selling Report
