Top 5 Things to Do When Selling Your Home in Today’s LOW INVENTORY Market
By: Deborah Wilkinson, Principal Broker Premiere Property Group
1.Hire a good Realtor – Not all real estate agents are created equal. Some are more willing to put the interest of their clients first, some are willing to make the right investment in new technologies to market your home effectively. Some care about you and will take the time to discover your needs especially as you get older. A good realtor will also have trusted partners that can take care of other needs that you have; cleaners, organizers/movers, attorneys and even investment professionals to assist in investing your newly acquired wealth.
2.Have your home ready to go to market – The more ready your home is for a new buyer to move in, the higher the potential to get a better price in a shorter amount of time. When repairs or cleaning need to be done many buyers expect to pay a much lower price than if you took care of everything yourself.
3.Price your home to sell – In a fast market there is a temptation to “test the market” with a much higher listed price. If you have missed the target, the market will tell you by no showings and no offers. By the time you respond with a better price you have lost the sense of urgency that triggers many buyers to make offers and potential buyers may think something is wrong with the house because look, it has not sold.
4.Be ready to move – If you have priced your home well, the time on the market can be very fast, sometimes days. First, before you put your home on the market know where you will move and when. Your realtor can negotiate time that you need with the buyer if they know your needs in regard to time. If you have the financial resources to move, prior to the home listed, that is best. You don’t have to deal with the stress of leaving for showings and it makes your home more available to potential buyers.
5.Have support to get you through the selling process – Selling a home is a stressful event. As we age, this may be a person’s last move or a move from a home that you raised the children and it is filled with memories and treasures that may not fit in your downsized new home. There are also many options that your Realtor will bring you and decisions to be made. It is important to have trusted advisers to help you at this time. This could be family, trusted friend, church pastor or an attorney.
Deborah Wilkinson, Principal Broker, Premiere Property Group and can be reached at (503) 453-3597 or email Deborah.wilkinson@premierepropertygroup.com