Your home should be listed, whenever
possible, in the local Multiple Listing Service and on my site, which has a huge
online database of homes and virtually 100% of potential buyers who
look for property on the Internet.
Advertising
The realtors largest expense has traditionally
been classified advertising in the local newspaper. However, today properties
are also exposed through popular Internet home search/listing services, radio
and television promotions, and real estate guides. Even
with all these additional advertising avenues, "For Sale" signs on the front
lawn are still remarkably effective. Many realtors use brochure boxes along
with these signs to market the property. When appropriate, and with your
permission, your agent may send a mailing about your property to neighbors.
Sometimes one of them has "a friend or relative who always wanted to live near
me." You never know.
Showings and open
houses
To prepare your
home for viewing, make it as light, cheerful and serene as possible. Your realtor
will probably find a tactful way to suggest that you not be present
while the house is being shown to prospective buyers. This is done because your
presence will inhibit their actions and conversations. They won't feel free to
open closets and cabinets, test out the plumbing, and discuss their observations
objectively as they walk through. It goes without saying that your children and
pets should not be on the premises either.
If your realtor has scheduled an open
house, you may want to notify the neighbors, and assure them that they'll be
welcome. They'll jump at the chance to poke around in your house, and sometimes
they can turn up a buyer among their friends. In preparing for an open house,
you should:
TIP: When preparing your home, think
about the techniques that are used to show builders' model homes.
How long has your house been on the
market
size=2>Professional appraisers sum up their entire body of knowledge in three
words -- "Buyers make value." Your home is worth as much as some member of the
buying public will come forth and pay for it. After it's been on the market for
months, you've been given a clear message that the property may not be worth
what you're asking for it. This is particularly true if there haven't been many
prospects coming to see it. What you do at that point depends on whether you
really need to sell, and whether you're working with a time limit. If you're not
really motivated to move soon, you can always wait - years if necessary - and
hope inflation will catch up with the price you want. The problem is that in
that time, your home begins to feel shopworn. Buyers become suspicious of a
house that's been for sale for a long time. size=2>If, however, you really do need to sell, discuss with your realtor a
schedule for dropping your price gradually until you find a level that attracts
buyers. There's no point in saying, "We simply can't sell our house." Anything
will sell if the price is right.
If you're
buying another home
size=2>Don't spend a great deal of time worrying about what will happen when
you're selling one home and buying another. You're not alone. realtors ,
lawyers, and title and escrow companies have had plenty of experience in
arranging contracts and loans so that the two transactions dovetail smoothly.
It's best to list your present home for sale first.
Selling and buying a home is a very
emotional event and if you create a "race" by locating your replacement property
before you sell your current home, you may lose it to another buyer, who does
not need to sell in order to buy. If you do find just the house you want, you
can always put in a purchase offer contingent (dependent) on selling your
present one. However, in a hot market you will have difficulty getting the house
you want this way.
Sometimes the seller will sign a
contract agreeing to wait a certain period of time while you find a buyer for
your house - sometimes not. What would you do if you were presented with such a
proposal, from a buyer who also has a house to sell If you do find that you
need to buy the next house before you've received the proceeds from the present
one, lending institutions can sometimes make you a short-term "bridge" loan to
tide you over between the two transactions. Make sure you fully understand the
exposure and emotional investment before proceeding with this type of loan.
