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Help! It won't sell!
Houses are selling like hot cakes - except for yours! It's a frustrating experience and one that can cost you time and money. So, why isn't your property catching the eye of an interested buyer?
The obvious reasons would be appearance, location, promotion and price. It usually takes much more than putting a 'For Sale' sign in the front yard. So, if your house has been sitting there for a while, it's time to get into action.
When you first placed your home on the market, you probably cleaned and painted. If not, that should be your first line of attack. Even if it was totally sparkling a few months back, maybe you've become lax and let the appearance fade a bit. Take another hard look and get everything back into top notch condition, inside and out, touching up paint and getting rid of any clutter that may have accumulated.
This is especially true as the seasons change. That nice planter of flowers at the front door may need to be changed out for an evergreen. The weeds you pulled may have returned and the front door might need to be cleaned and polished once again. It's easy to become complacent about what you see every day. Keep it fresh.
That freshness also applies to the way your home smells. Nothing will turn off a buyer quicker than stale odors, including pet smells, cigarette smoke and odors from cooking. Utility spaces can smell stale simply because they may not get aired out. Open the windows and doors for a few moments, even in cooler weather. Then make sure every room is clean and well ventilated. Be careful about using chemical air fresheners. Some people are allergic.
What about the price and promotion? This is one area where advice from your real estate professional really comes into play. Ask your Realtor to run current comps to make sure your price is in line with what is being sold in your neighborhood. Your Realtor can also be your best source of information on how to enhance your home's appearance and how to get more aggressive in marketing efforts. Together you can get the job done and move on to your new home.
Comparative Market Analysis
One of the biggest pitfalls when trying to sell your own home is pricing. The wrong price can cost you thousands or, even worse, leave your home sitting far too long.
It's very difficult to know the true market value of the home you have lived in and loved. You can check on other listings and sales in the neighborhood and base your sale price on that. But without important information on a home's mechanicals, interior features and condition, this task will be difficult. The home in the next block may have gone for a hefty price, but what did it offer the buyer? Are the kitchen and baths in similar condition to the ones in your home? What kinds of upscale amenities may have been included?
These answers can come from a CMA, otherwise known as a Comparative Market Analysis. The CMA will show you the sales prices of comparable homes in your area as well as the asking prices of nearby homes currently on the market. It will include information provided by expert appraisers on the specifics of the property and you'll also know how long a property sat before sale.
When it is time to sell, call or email and we can get started on a professional marketing plan that includes this valuable tool.
Read about selling a house from 'a' to 'z'.
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