Helpful Tips for Selling Your Home
Curb appeal: The first impression of your home will be from the outside. Keep your front yard in "show-shape". If landscaped, make sure the plants and trees are trimmed, your gravel raked, and weeds pulled. Stand across the street and view your home as a potential buyer would. Is there any loose debris in the front yard or along the side that is visible? Does the roof trim need a coat of paint or the front door need to be varnished?
Set an asking price: What are other homes in the area selling for? Compare square-footage, year built and amenities (pool, fenced yard, landscaping, large lot, etc.). You’ll want to get the highest dollar and not short-change yourself but at the same time not over-price it. You’ll be competing with others who want to sell their home as much as you.
Plan on how your home will be shown: When someone wants to see your home who will be there to show it and what times can it be shown? The most convenient showings for a seller are by appointment, although, a "hot buyer" can "cool-down" if too much time has lapsed after he/she first saw your home. You should prepare to be able to show your home shortly after a prospective buyer contacts you. A contact phone number needs careful thought, as you may not want to be disturbed at certain hours of the day or evening.
Prepare a marketing plan: What way can you let others know your property is being offered for sale? Having a sign in the front yard is one way to attract people in the immediate area or happen to be driving down your street. If you decide to advertise in the paper or on the radio, think of the strongest selling point that your home has to offer a buyer. Will it appeal mostly to someone who has a boat or R.V.? Maybe it has a view of the lake or is near a public park..
Be prepared for questions: If a prospective buyer is really interested in your home, they’ll ask you a lot of questions. This can be a delicate situation. Answer questions that you are certain about. If you don’t know the answer to a question, it is best to say you don’t know. You want to address any problems that could adversely affect the buyer. List the disclosed items and bring them to the Title Company at the opening of escrow so that you can have proof of disclosing the item(s) in the escrow instructions.
Discussing the selling price/terms: Some sellers, even after doing all of the above work, cut themselves short during the negotiation. Know what your bottom dollar is and what you’ll accept for a closing period. On a cash offer the buyer may want a short escrow. On the other hand, if a buyer is going for a loan, you’ll need to know the approximate length of time it’ll take before the buyer can be funded. Be informed as to the type of loan they are applying for. Some loans require the seller to pay certain loan and closing costs, which add up.
These are a few of the topics I, as a Realtor, deal with on a routine basis. I wish any seller the best in the selling of their home as I respect the efforts it takes to sell a home. If things don’t go as you planned, I eagerly offer my services. My experience in real estate will ensure that your home is priced to sell yet yield you top dollar. Every listing I have is put through a vigorous marketing process. My listings are displayed through the Multiple Listing Service in which several hundred of my fellow Realtors has access. In addition, my listings are also displayed over the Internet and are paid to be placed at the top of the search engines. Many of the out-of-town buyers have commented how bennificial this is in their decision making.
My grand father first opened his first real estate office in Phoenix, Arizona in 1957. My father opened the first real estate office in Havasu in 1963. I have been a resident of Havasu ever since. I can be reached on my cell phone at 928-486-6138 or e-mailed at Lance@HavasuRealEstateSales.com. Put my experience with Lake Havasu real estate to work for you.