As a real estate marketing professional, I am constantly asked for home selling advice from people who are interested in liquidating their property investments, but are not sure how to maximize their profit margin. I view these requests as compliments and votes of confidence in my abilities, so I am always ready, willing and able to provide the information these prospective sellers need to generate the most money from their sales transactions.
This discussion mirrors many of the conversations I have with prospective sellers about the most effectual methods of getting their property investments sold quickly and for optimal profit.
Practical Home Selling Advice
Here are some words of wisdom for any would-be property seller:
The first and most obvious piece of advice is to research the present housing market in your area and try to execute the sale at an advantageous time. This means listing the home during a seller’s market. If this is not an option, be prepared to work harder and possibly accept less money in a buyer’s market.
Second, I tell home owners to begin repairing and renovating large projects in anticipation of the sale. Once all major work is done, implement DIY staging or hire a home stager to perform full service property staging for you. This is crucial before contacting a real estate agent.
Next, I advise that sellers find the ideal real estate agent for their needs. Do not sign with anyone who will not work hard for you. There are many agents who think that homes sell themselves, while others are real go-getters. You want the latter variety of agent.
Finally, maintain the staging design in your home, by keeping the décor immaculate and working daily to keep the home clean and organized. Be flexible with your prospective buyer viewing hours and try to be patient and receptive to all viewing requests.
Additional Real Estate Advice
Here are some further reality checks for potential sellers:
Do not judge the present value of your home based on what it was worth in the past or what it might speculatively be worth in the future. These criteria are not relevant now.
Real estate agents are not miracle workers. Your home is worth what it is worth. You can improve the value by implementing an aggressive staging plan, but do not expect your agent to sell your home for far above its value. This is unrealistic.
Try to be as flexible as possible in things you can control, such as closing time-line and home improvement budget. Sometimes it takes a bit of give to get what you really want. Flexible sellers are generally happier, less-stressed and more successful than uptight and hardnosed sellers.
Home Selling Advice Redux
What else is there to say? You know what you have to do, so get to it. Prepare the house or apartment for sale through repairs, renovations and home staging and then list it and get it sold. It really can be that simple.
To get some help with the staging portion of your real estate marketing plan, contact a home stager near you or feel free to write to me with any questions you might have. I will do my best to assist you.
