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So, you have decided to sell your house. Now what do you do?

First and foremost, hire the right professional agent to sell your home and property. Almost 90% of all real estate transactions involve a professional real estate agent. A good full-time real estate agent understands the market they represent because they are studying it every day, by visiting properties, performing comparative market analysis’s, and negotiating transactions. A knowledgeable agent has a strong understanding of local market trends as well as current financing options, investment opportunities, and long term market conditions. When seeking a realtor, ask friends, neighbors, and business associates for referrals, and meet several agents in your area.

A great agent will do the following:

Price the house right from the start. The price you set for your property could be the most important decision you make through this whole process. Be wary of an agent that suggests an unrealistic listing price that is not supported by recent sales of comparable properties in your neighborhood. This may gain the agent the listing, but now you have wasted valuable time and lost numerous potential buyers because the property was overpriced to start.

Here is what happens. First, the property is not seen by the right buyers, because buyer’s agents only show their clients houses priced within a specific range that fits the buyer's needs and financial situation. Buyers in the correct price range will never see the house, and buyers in the higher but incorrect price range will think your house pales in comparison to the other houses they have seen.

Second, you then have to drop the price. If you drop it too late, the potential buyers will wonder why the house has been on the market for so long. Although they may like it, because they don’t know why it has not sold, they decide to continue to keep looking at other properties.

Market the property appropriately. Marketing real estate today is more than a sign in the yard, mailings, and newspaper ads. Today’s buyers are shopping for property on the internet as well. Internet buyers in general start searching for properties much sooner than those that do not shop for real estate online. Make sure your agent not only has his/her own website to place virtual tours and multiple photos of your property, but also utilizes others as well. These may include but are not limited to the local Multiple Listing Service, their broker’s web site, Planet Realtor, and lead generation sites such as swflpropertyvalues.com. Choose an agent that is not afraid to spend money to market your property. It is expensive, but also the very reason you are paying them to sell your house!

First Impressions sell houses. It is critical that potential buyers get a good first impression of your home. Buyers want to come into your home and picture it as their own, living in it, with all their belongings. Here a few steps to help you accomplish just that:

This is a great time start packing for your inevitable move. Go ahead and pack your personal items that aren’t necessary for the remainder of your time in the house, such as family photographs, collectibles and ornaments. Store these items somewhere out of site, even if that means in a storage unit outside the home. Do not keep the packed boxes in view anywhere in the house. This will not only help the house to look uncluttered and spacious, but when buyers are faced with a property that is visually cluttered, they have a hard time seeing past your things.

Now figure out a way to store your toiletries every day. Generally for each person you need a small box that can be filled and stored under the sink. Nobody wants to look at your toothbrushes, razors, or other personal bathroom items. Make sure every room in the house is clean and clutter free. Once clean and tidy, it is time to review your home and consider any minor repairs you may want to do. Ask your agent to come over and make suggestions that he or she thinks might make a difference to how quickly or for how much your home could be sold.

Fix or replace things that are broken. If for no other reason than you are most likely going to have to fix them anyway. Fix locks that don’t work, leaky faucets, old and dirty caulking, running toilets. Don’t allow the buyer to get the impression that when they find one thing wrong there may be lots more they cannot see.

Stage your property for sale. It is not necessary to spend large sums of money to stage your property. It is simply the process of preparing a property to be visually pleasing to a buyer by placing items and arranging furniture to make each room inviting and appealing. Basically, think of your property as a marketable commodity. The goal is to make a buyer choose your property over similar ones they may have looked at. Here are some staging tips:

Kitchen: The kitchen is one of the most important areas in the house. Make sure all appliances, countertops, and flooring are clean. Have a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter
Bathrooms: The bathrooms should be spotless. If necessary repair caulking around sinks or tub/shower. Mirrors and glass shower door should sparkle. Place large bath towels stacked near the tub or shower, and arrange lightly scented candles near the tub or on a counter
Bedrooms: Bedrooms should be neat and look well kept. If possible arrange furniture so beds are not visible from the entertaining rooms of a house. Come up with ways to make a bedroom feel like a cozy place to sleep or read. Quilts and afghans draped over the foot of a bed or a chair look inviting. If the bedroom has a small writing desk, place on it some stationary and a pen.
Living Room or Family Room: Warmth and comfort are the desirable emotions for a room such as this. Try to arrange furniture in an inviting manor, without chair or sofa backs facing the main entrance to the room. Once again, place an afghan over the back of a chair, with an open book in the seat.
Dining Room: Set attractive place settings and centerpieces on dining tables, breakfast bars, kitchen tables, and patio tables. Garage, closets, and storage areas. Organize the garage and make it look larger. The same goes for closets. Storage spaces appear much larger when they are neat and well organized. A fresh coat of paint con do wonders for neglected areas of a home such as closets.
Window Treatments: Curtains and shades should be clean and open. This creates a bright and airy feeling in a home. Outside/Exterior. Do not underestimate the power of CURB APPEAL!! Keep the yard tidy, weeded, mowed and trimmed. If possible, remove large or unusual yard ornaments. Power wash driveways, decks, siding, eves and windows. Retouch existing paint if necessary.
Lighting/Sound: Replace burned out bulbs. Bright lighting creates a positive, open, and inviting environment. Music is wonderful if played softly in the background.


If you have any questions about these tips, or any questions about real estate in general, please contact me, Rob Pailes, at (239) 691-2265.




VIP Realty Group, Inc.


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