|
|
Top 5 Issues that can be very costly when
selling your home.
1. No Lock Box.
The Multiple Listing Service operates through a database search system and
common access point for all Realtors registered with the local Board of
Realtors. Realtors search the database for homes matching the criteria of
their clients and then take their clients to tour the selected homes. In
order for a Realtor to be able to show their client several homes on an
appointment, the lock box plays an important role in allowing Realtor to
show your home when you are not home. As a Seller it is important to
understand that more showings equal more offers and more offers equal higher
prices. Do not make the mistake of making your home difficult to show.
2. No Yard Sign.
If your yard is well kept and the thought of a hole in your front lawn for a
yard sign is interrupting your sleep; how much sleep will you loose when you
realize you may have lost better offers because the lack of a sign decreased
your amount of showings? The buyer for your home may be a friend of one of
your neighbors, who saw your sign. Another issue is that some Realtors may
have a hard time finding your home and may leave if they do not see a sign.
3. Price is Too High.
All of us are very proud of our homes and the improvements we have made to
them. Let’s face it, either you spent your hard earned money to improve your
home or you spent many hours doing the work yourself. The pride in ownership
through these sacrifices is legitimate, but our expectations of how it
affects the value of our home can be skewed. Sometimes we can get carried
away and over build for the neighborhood. What we have to remember is that
no matter what price is chosen for your home, the home will have to appraise
at that value in order for a buyer to get a loan approval. The appraiser
will look at comparable sales in your neighborhood and add for your
improvements. If your home is overpriced, you will get fewer showings and
fewer showings will result in fewer offers. As your Realtor, I will show you
the comparable sales in your neighborhood along with other relevant data and
with that information you can make a realistic decision on your home’s
value.
4. Too Dark.
If your home shows too dark, you will need to think about how to brighten it
up. You may need to trim plants that have grown around the windows, or do
simple things like open drapes and blinds. If you are home and you know a
Realtor is coming by to show your home, turn on the lights in all the rooms,
open blinds and curtains before they arrive.
5. Animals.
Animals present several problems and the one I worry about most when showing
a home, is access to your home. If prospective buyers cannot see parts of
your home because of animals that need to be kept out or locked up, those
sellers may miss a part of your home that may have cause them to decide to
write an offer. Another pitfall with the family pets is odor. You may not
notice it, but prospective buyers will. There really is not much you can do
about pet odors except vacuum regularly, change litter boxes frequently and
purchase an air cleaner. The last is that some buyers may have allergies.
This may keep these buyers from seeing your home altogether. Many of us have
animals, but when it comes time to sell your home, the animals need to be
tended to in an extra special way so they will not keep a buyer from making
an offer on your home.
Anyone of the above items alone or combined with others can cost you
thousands of dollars off the sale price of your home. Please consider each
area discussed and let’s find a buyer for your home.
|
