9 TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR HOME SOLD IN 2012

In this competitive real estate market of 2012 - many sellers ask me how do I sell my home quickly and for top dollar?  Here is my advice and tips on selling your home quickly and for top market in today’s market:

• PRICE!!!! Price it right from the start.  Homes priced correctly from the beginning will sell much quicker than a home that is overpriced and then slowly reduced several times.  In this market - the best strategy is to price it right from the beginning.  I am not saying you should under price your home but in today's market being priced "competitively” is not enough.  You need to a COMPELLING price! I understand many sellers are afraid of doing this because they feel they will end up negotiating down from the list price, however a good agent can defend your price aggressively and buyers will easily see they are getting a great value even if they have to pay full price.  It is possible you could start a bidding war and get more than your listed price.  As a seller you cannot be committed to both your price and committed to moving. 

• MARKETING & EXPOSURE - Over 90% of buyers search for their new home online.  Having your home on all major real estate websites is key.  Not only having it on the websites but also making sure the description is accurate and describes the home in detail, along with several professional photos.  Social Media is also a great way to expose your home: Facebook, You Tube and Twitter are resources your agent should utilize to get the word out and market your home.

• PHOTOS & VIRTUAL TOUR - When a buyer comes to view your home that is really their second showing.  Their first showing is online and as they say "you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression".  This is even more so when selling your home.  You should provide as many photos as possible and preferably by a professional photographer.  If you have a pool and it is the winter months, try to obtain a picture when the pool was opened during the summer months so buyers can get an idea of how it looks during the summer season.  Adding a virtual tour provides the buyer with different angles and views of your home and in my opinion is a must have for every home being sold.  

• DEPERSONALIZE & DECLUTTER: Removing photos and personal items is important because you want the prospective buyer to visualize themselves living in your home. If you have photos of your children, grandchildren, pets etc... everywhere in the home it makes it difficult for the buyer to do this.  Declutter, Declutter, Declutter.... no one wants to see all your collections and other stuff.  Again, they want to imagine their own items in your home.  Too many things can make rooms appear smaller.  Leave enough furniture to make it look livable and put the rest in storage.

• HOME STAGING - Many homes can benefit from home staging.  I provide my sellers with a home staging consultation.  In this market it is the crème puffs that sell (the ones that look beautiful!).  It is important to take the time and incur the expense to make your home look its absolute best.  The national statistics state that 94% of staged homes sell on an average of 29 days or less and for every dollar invested you will get a $3.00 return.  Many buyers today can not see past things and have difficulty visualizing what could be - you need to make it as easy as possible for them - staging your home does this and will provide you with more money in your pocket at closing.

• CURB APPEAL - The little things do matter: clean windows, edging sidewalks, trimming bushes, plants and flowers and other small maintenance items go a long way.  It also shows the buyer that you care about your home and have maintained it throughout the years.  

• FLEXIBILITY - Make your home easy to view.  Many sellers may not want a lockbox or may want to be home when buyers view their home.  My recommendation is to always have a lockbox on your property and whenever possible to leave your home when the buyers preview it.  If you must be home, DO NOT follow the agent and buyers throughout your home and point out every detail about your house - buyers do not like this and it makes them feel very uncomfortable.  If you have to be home step outside or stay away and allow the buyers agent to do her job.  If there are specific things you want people to know about your home make sure to convey this to your listing agent so that she can communicate it clearly to all the buyers agents.  

• COMMISSION - Always offer the buyers agent at least 2.5% commission.  There are 2 sides of the commission - the buyers agent commission and the listing agent commission.  Agents do not like to show homes that offer less than 2.5% commission.  I know it may sound harsh but that is the reality.  In fact, some agents, (I will not mention names) will not show a buyer a home if the commission is below 2.5%.  You want to give the buyers agent the incentive to sell your home.  If you can offer 2.75% or 3% even better.  Another idea is to offer the agent a bonus if they sell your home within a specific time frame.  

• THE RIGHT AGENT - Lastly but probably most importantly - hire the right agent!  You don't have time to quibble over a percentage point on commissions.  Hire the best agent.  How do you determine the best agent?  You want an agent that is determined, aggressive, passionate and committed to getting your home sold.  You also want an agent who knows your area, competition and local market.  In my opinion there are 2 types of realtors: a real estate agent and a real estate expert advisor - You want the expert advisor.  An agent will deliver you information, list your home, put a sign in the yard, do an open house, put it on the MLS and internet and pray they get a buyer.  An expert advisor will advise you and consult you, educate and guide you, hire a professional photographer, staging consultant and SEO company and then aggressively market your home, provide you with communication and feedback and not just "list" your home but "sell" your home!

There you have it - my 9 tips for getting your home sold as quickly as possible!  A few other things I would like to mention.  I do not believe in advertising your home in the newspaper.  In my opinion this is a waste of money! Also I feel agents that advertise your home in the newspaper are not promoting your home they are promoting themselves and/or their company.  Buyers are not looking in the newspaper anymore they are looking online.  An educated experienced agent will allocate your marketing dollars online.  One other thing I don't believe in is Open Houses.  In my experience buyers that come to open houses are not serious buyers.  They are usually noisy neighbors or people driving around with nothing to do.  If a person is serious about buying a home they are going make an appointment to see your home at their convenience with a realtor.  Open houses again, provide the agents the opportunity to market themselves and try to obtain new buyer leads for themselves.

2012 is looking positive for the real estate market and I am confident if you follow my recommendations your home will sell faster and for more money.