Atlanta Home Selling Tips
Thinking of selling? So what's the next step? Here is some sound advice to successfully sell your home quickly. So read on, make some notes, and for additional assistance, call or e-mail us today!
Step 1: IS YOUR HOME IN SELLING CONDITION?
Step back and look at your home, as Buyers will. Start outside and look closely at the condition of your exterior. How is the exterior paint, the roof and the landscaping? An attractive exterior sends the message"We take care of our home"which sets a positive tone before the Buyers even enter the door.
Look around inside, how is the interior paint, wallpaper and floor coverings? Are things organized or cluttered? What about the repairs you've been putting off?
Few Buyers select homes that require time and money to move into. Most Buyers start out saying they "don't mind doing some cosmetic work" but they almost always select a home in "Move in Condition." The reality is the Buyer has at least 30 or 40 homes to select from and like any other product, the one that shows its value best is usually the one selected.
Step 2: SET A FAIR PRICE
Pricing a home is simple... Fair market value is based on RECENT sales of SIMILAR homes in YOUR neighborhood. Most homes that fail to sell fail because of poor condition and/or unrealistic pricing. Contact us and we will gladly help you determine the Top Dollar $$$ possible that will result in a Successful Sale.
Step 3: USE A REALTOR
Realtors have many advantages but the #1 advantage is access to more qualified Buyers. The most common mistake is selecting the wrong agent. Most sellers select an agent who is; 1) an acquaintance / relative, 2) the agent that sold you the home, or 3) an agent that lives in your neighborhood, without everevaluating if the agent has the necessary skills to get the job done. This is why such a high percentage of homes listed for sale DO NOT SELL and have to be relisted with another agent.
Thinking about selling the home yourself? Recent studies show By Owner sellers are successful less than10% of the time, Here is why: The By Owner process significantly limits the number and type of potential Buyers. For example, the most qualified Buyers are Relocating Buyers. They use realtors because; 1) They don't know the areas or schools and 2) They don't have enough time to find By Owner sellers and set individual appointments. The second best group of Buyers are local Buyers whose homes just went Under Contract. Same rules apply… Their home is Closing in 30 to 45 days… They simply don’t have the time to comb the classifieds, call each By Owner seller, and set individual appointments. They usually see 10 to 15 homes a day with the Realtor that sold their home until they select one. Imagine trying to set 10 to 15 appointments in one day with 10 to 15 By Owner sellers… Impossible. Most By Owner sales are to other By Owner sellers and many are contingent on the Buyer selling their home. Studies show that nearly one-third of by owner contracts fail not close – Yikes!
When evaluating a Realtor, look for the following: 1) A proven track record of at least two or more sales each month, 2) A proven track record in YOUR area/price range, 3) A Written Marketing Plan with multiple marketing tools, and 4) A balance of Buyer AND Seller transactions (not just a "Listing Agent"). Your home is probably your single largest investment... Keep that in mind by making a professional evaluation of the Companies and Realtors serving your area.
Step 4: SELECT A COMPREHENSIVE MARKETING PLAN
Find out which tools really work and put them in place for your success. Make sure your agent's plan includes Prospecting, Advertising, Direct Mail, Internet and other marketing tools. Don't settle for the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and an occasional advertisement...it's not enough!
Step 5: COMMUNICATIONS AND FEEDBACK
The #1 complaint of Sellers whose homes did not sell is "My agent didn't keep me informed. They put the sign out and I hardly heard from them again." Insist on regular communications. Expect and demand feedback from all showings of your home. Last, but not least, expect and demand to receive copies of all advertisements of your property.
If you've read this far, you're serious about selling so let us help you further. If you're in Atlanta, call (770-971-0025) or email us to discuss your plans and objectives. If you're outside Atlanta, contact us and we will identify the top Realtors in your area just for visiting our page. Thanks for stopping by.