Ways to Help Sell Your Home - Part 3

• Is your home safe for visitors?

Remember that showing your home is going to interfere with your day to day life.  You will need to prepare for some inconvenience and intrusion into your privacy.  Consider the safety of your visitors.  There may be seniors as well as small children walking around your home.   

Is there a statue or tall lamp that could easily fall if touched?  Are there wires at ground level that could trip someone?  Are there rugs that tend to slide?  Are stair railings safe for small children?  Could a visitor be bitten by a bird or other animal?  Are the stairs free of small toys?  Are traffic patterns open between rooms?   

Also consider your own security and privacy.  Put away valuable possessions.  Do not leave money, guns, jewelry, x rated magazines or any personal items in public view.  Do not leave breakable objects where they could be accidentally bumped.  Move your medicines to a secure location.  Do not leave bleach or poisons in reach of children.  Do not leave candles burning when you leave the house.    

• Should you stick around?

Generally, it is not a good idea to be present for the showing.  Remember that this is not a social visit.  Most buyers will feel that they are intruding on your privacy if you are in the house.  They may shorten the time spent in your home.  Or, they may not be able to discuss your home as freely as they might have.  If it is difficult to leave, you may sit outside or take a short walk.  

Sometimes sellers try to offer certain information, and they inadvertently turn the buyer off.  It is best not to make assumptions about what the buyer wants.  Keep in mind that buyers are there to make a big decision.  They need some time to experience your home on several levels.  If it passes the first test, there will be time to communicate how many water heaters you have and other facts about the house.  I recall one showing in which the sellers actually grilled the buyer on his reaction to every room, and then argued about it.  It was a relief to leave.

Showing your home is a very important step in getting it sold.  Potential buyers should be treated with utmost care and respect.  You only have a short time to gain their trust and interest in your home.  Every showing is important.  It is said that you only need one buyer, but you don't know which one.

Terez B. Harris

Keller Williams Realty New Orleans

504 975 1033

TerezHarris@KW.com

TerezSellsNolaHomes.com

8601 Leake Ave., New Orleans, La 70118

  Free Reports:

7 Seller Tips for 2015

Smart Home Price

 Name Your Selling Price

Search the MLS! 
(multiple listing service)


Search Terez's Active Listings!

See what your neighbor's home sold for...

See What Your New Orleans Home is Worth!

See What Your Metairie Home is Worth!

Metairie For Sale By Owner? 

 New Orleans For Sale By Owner?

      

Terez B. Harris  Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group  504-297-2619  www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100

Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.

Ways to Help You Sell Your Home

In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process.  Price, preparation, and presentation must be excellent in order to attract a buyer.

The price must be set realistically.  Preparation should include fresh paint, de-cluttering, updated floor materials, and no glaring repair needs.  And, presentation should be meticulous, with drapes open, lights on, lawn mowed, and interior cleaned. 

Showing your home is the final step in winning the heart of a buyer.  When a buyer calls for a showing, he or she already has an interest in your neighborhood and may have viewed your home on line.  They are willing to invest time to visit your home.  It is worth the effort to make each showing one that will be remembered.  

Here are some questions to consider:

1.  Is your home easy to show?

If possible, schedule showings in the same way that is used by a majority of the homes in your area.  This may be by special appointment or by a lockbox system.   Remember that this will be the buyer’s first contact with your home, and it should set a positive tone.  Make the buyer and agent feel welcome.  Be as flexible on timing as possible.  The buyer may be viewing many homes over a large area. 

To allow flexibility, you could wait until they arrive, and then slip out the back door.  You may get a last minute call for a showing.  If this happens, start by thanking the agent for the interest, and discuss how to work with the timing.

I can recall instances in which the seller came to the door in a hostile way and demanded to know why we were 30 minutes late.  Or, the buyers sensed that they were inconveniencing the seller or their agent by asking to see the house.  Many people have a strong reluctance to intrude or bother other people.  Remember that the decision to buy a home is emotional response.  Don’t turn people off before they come in the door.

2.  Does your home have emotional appeal?

Buyers use all of their senses to experience your home.  The buyer is there to make a big decision, and they will be comparison shopping.  Their job is to eliminate homes and reduce the list of choices.  A dark interior, unpleasant smell, barking dog, or uncomfortable temperature can take the home off the list. 

I see this happen all the time.  The simple experience of being in the home during the showing is a key indicator of whether the buyer will enjoy living in the home later.  Consider the builder’s model home.  It very light and fashionably decorated, with soft music and pleasant scents.  This sends a message to the buyer that the home has been prepared for him, and he is welcome to enter.  People are often sold when they walk in.

Some tips:  Take off some screens, open blinds, increase bulb sizes, play some light music, and make sure the temperature is perfect.  Be careful that your scents are designer quality.  Don’t use plug in scents that remind people of a public bathroom.  Create a good mood with natural and lamp light.  Use pillows, framed photographs, books, fresh towels and flowers throughout the home.  Avoid having the TV on.  Be very careful about cat litter boxes or other pet odors.

Terez B. Harris

Keller Williams Realty New Orleans

504 975 1033

TerezHarris@KW.com

TerezSellsNolaHomes.com

8601 Leake Ave., New Orleans, La 70118

  Free Reports:

7 Seller Tips for 2015

Smart Home Price

 Name Your Selling Price

Search the MLS! 
(multiple listing service)


Search Terez's Active Listings!

See what your neighbor's home sold for...

See What Your New Orleans Home is Worth!

See What Your Metairie Home is Worth!

Metairie For Sale By Owner? 

 New Orleans For Sale By Owner?

      

Terez B. Harris  Terez Harris NOLA Realtor Group  504-297-2619  www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100

Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.

HGTV: How To Prepare for an Open House

Tip: Print out this checklist, and mark each item off as you get your house ready to sell.

1. Eliminate half of your belongings as clutter can cost a sale. Rent a storage unit or portable pod for extraneous pieces of furniture or knickknacks. Another idea is to ask a friend if you can borrow some space in his or her garage.
2. Use "home wash" (hose attachment available at home improvement stores) to clean the outside of the house.
3. Clean rain gutters as well as outside windows and screens.
4. Make sure the front door is inviting. Paint the door if needed. Also, replace any outdated outdoor lighting fixtures.
5. Buy new house numbers if the old ones are dated or faded. Be sure buyers can see the new ones from the curb.
6. Buy a new welcome mat.

7. Organize all closets and drawers. Buyers might look there.
8. Make any necessary repairs so that buyers don't have to add that to their list of expenses.
9. Rearrange furniture to make rooms appear as large as possible.

10. Make every surface shine, from ceiling fans to baseboards. Don't forget interior windows, mirrors and floors.
11. Scrub every inch of the kitchen and bathrooms.

12.Depersonalize each room, removing photo frames and posters or artwork.
13.Buy new linens and pillows if necessary. Be certain they are a neutral color.
14. Buy air neutralizer and spray it often.
15. Let go emotionally of your home, and get ready for an offer!

See Full Article

Soto, Sabrina. "How To Prepare for an open House." HGTV.com. HGTV, 2014. Web. 25 August 2014. <http://www.hgtv.com/real-estate/how-to-prepare-for-an-open-house/index.html>.

Terez B. Harris

Keller Williams Realty New Orleans

504 975 1033

TerezHarris@KW.com

TerezSellsNolaHomes.com

8601 Leake Ave., New Orleans, La 70118

  Free Reports:

7 Seller Tips for 2015

Smart Home Price

 Name Your Selling Price

Search the MLS! 
(multiple listing service)


Search Terez's Active Listings!

See what your neighbor's home sold for...

See What Your New Orleans Home is Worth!

See What Your Metairie Home is Worth!

Metairie For Sale By Owner? 

 New Orleans For Sale By Owner?

      

Terez B. Harris  Terez Harris NOLA Realtor  Group  504-297-2619  www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100

Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.

HGTV: 10 Best Kept Secrets for Selling Your Home

Tricks of the trade to help you get top dollar when selling your home.

Selling Secret #10: Pricing it right
Find out what your home is worth, then shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. You’ll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids — even in the worst markets — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It takes real courage and most sellers just don’t want to risk it, but it’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market.

Selling Secret #9: Half-empty closets
Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.

Selling Secret #8: Light it up
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable.

Selling Secret #7: Play the agent field
A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. Make sure you have a broker who is totally informed. They must constantly monitor the multiple listing service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the comps in your neighborhood. Find a broker who embraces technology – a tech-savvy one has many tools to get your house sold.

Selling Secret #6: Conceal the critters
You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean. If you’re planning an open house, send the critters to a pet hotel for the day.

Selling Secret #5: Don’t over-upgrade
Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.

Selling Secret #4: Take the home out of your house
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.

Selling Secret #3: The kitchen comes first
You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen – that’s how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one high-end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.

Selling Secret #2: Always be ready to show
Your house needs to be "show-ready" at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

Selling Secret #1: The first impression is the only impression
No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies.

View Full Article

No author listed. "10 Best Kept Secrets for Selling Your Home." HGTV.com. HGTV, Published 2014. Web. Accessed August 28, 2014. <http://www.hgtv.com/real-estate/10-best-kept-secrets-for-selling-your-home/index.html>.

Terez B. Harris

Keller Williams Realty New Orleans

504 975 1033

TerezHarris@KW.com

TerezSellsNolaHomes.com

8601 Leake Ave., New Orleans, La 70118

  Free Reports:

 7 Seller Tips for 2015

 Home Trends

Smart Home Price

Name Your Selling Price

Search the MLS! 
(multiple listing service)


Search Terez's Active Listings!

See what your neighbor's home sold for...

See What Your New Orleans Home is Worth!

See What Your Metairie Home is Worth!

Metairie For Sale By Owner? 

 New Orleans For Sale By Owner?

      

Terez B. Harris  Terez Harris NOLA Realtor  Group  504-297-2619  www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100

Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.

Misconceptions about Listing Agents in Real Estate

Misconceptions About The Sale Process 

And What A Listing Agent Does & Doesn’t Do

When it comes to listing a home for sale, there are some misconceptions about the sale process and what a listing agent does and doesn’t do to facilitate getting the property to an act of sale.

MISCONCEPTION #1: 

The Listing Agent “Sells” The House

No agent, no matter how good they are, can “sell” a house to a buyer. No buyer is going to let any agent “sell” them an item costing hundreds of thousands of dollars unless the buyer sees value in the property and therefore wants to buy it. In truth, the house must “sell” the house. This is because once a buyer sees the property, the buyer will probably get into a “comparison shopping” mode comparing the seller’s home with all the other homes the buyer has seen and then make the decision to either buy or not buy based on those comparisons. The price the buyer will pay will also be based on the comparison of the seller’s home to the other homes (i.e., the “competition”) on the market. The seller’s home must stand on its own! I will offer suggestions that will make your home as attractive as possible to a prospective buyer.

MISCONCEPTION #2: 

The Agent Determines The Value Of The Property

Although an agent may “interpret” the value of the seller’s home based on current market data, the agent by no means determines the value of the property. In truth, the value of the property is set by two people - the buyer and the lender’s appraiser. The first person to set the value of the property is the buyer. What is the buyer willing to pay for the house? Again, this price is usually based on the buyer’s comparison of the seller’s home to the other homes on the market. But, let’s say a buyer is willing to pay much more than is indicated by the current market data (i.e., recent sales of comparable property). This is where the lender’s appraiser steps in to give his opinion of value of the seller’s home. The appraiser is there to help ensure that the lender (who is the actual client of the appraiser even though the buyer pays for the appraisal) does not lend too much money on the house. Think about it – if you were lending your own money as a mortgage on a piece of property wouldn’t you want to make sure that if the borrower defaulted on your mortgage that you could sell the property for enough money to recover the amount you lent the buyer? So, even though a buyer may be willing to pay X for a house, the appraiser may say it’s only worth Y and that limits the value of a seller’s home.

MISCONCEPTION #3: 

The Agent’s Main Job Is To Get A Good Offer On The Property

Many people think that an agent’s primary job is to get a good offer on the property. This is not correct. The agent’s main job is to get the seller to an act of sale - not to just get a good offer on the house. If you look at the sale process like a baseball game, then getting a good offer is only like getting to first base. The real goal is to get the seller to home plate – an act of sale! Getting to 2^nd base is getting through the property inspection phase of the process. Getting to 3^rd base is getting through all the other issues related to the sale process such as helping ensure the buyer gets the loan, dealing with repairs, dealing with tenants, etc… A good agent will “bulletproof” the transaction so as to dramatically increase the chances of the seller not only going “under contract” but also going to an act of sale! I will offer suggestions and strategies that will significantly increase our chances of getting to a closing!

MISCONCEPTION #4: 

The Highest Offer Is The Best Offer & An “All Cash” Offer Trumps All!

The best offer is not always the “highest” offer or even the “all cash” offer. More often than we’d like, the highest offer or the “all cash” offer falls through. Again, a good agent is able to offer suggestions that will help “bulletproof” the transaction to dramatically increase the chances of going to a closing. It’s important to remember that if that initially accepted offer falls apart, then the seller’s property could now appear tarnished or stigmatized to some degree to subsequent buyers. They may feel that they no longer have to submit that “highest & best” offer. Maybe they can now offer something less. They may ask themselves “What’s wrong with that house? Why didn’t the first buyer want it?” The seller’s home may no longer be the shiniest apple in the barrel – it may now have a little bruising on it! There are contractual clauses I can suggest and other services that I can provide to bulletproof that initial offer to help make it work and get us to home plate – the act of sale!

MISCONCEPTION #5: 

There Is No Problem With Reducing The List Price Later On!

Studies by the National Association of Realtors coupled with our own experience over the years has shown clearly that a seller has the best chance of getting the highest offer on his home during the first week or two of being on the market. After that the seller’s home begins to move towards the bottom of the home apple barrel and the home isn’t quite as shiny as it once was. In a balanced market or in a seller’s (i.e., strong) market the market will speak to the seller fairly quickly in the form of inquiries, showings and/or offers or lack of offers. In a buyer’s (i.e., soft) market it may take a little longer. However, in any event the average days on the market statistic for the seller’s neighborhood is a very strong barometer for how well the seller’s home was positioned when it first came on the market. Pricing too high initially and then later reducing the list price will in most cases result in the property taking longer to sell with the seller getting a lower sale price! The importance of pricing the property correctly at the beginning cannot be overstated! This fact has been proven time and again! I will provide market data information that will assist you in making an informed decision regarding the initial list price you establish for your property – one that will help ensure that you receive the most money for your home!

Terez B. Harris

Keller Williams Realty New Orleans

504 975 1033

TerezHarris@KW.com

TerezSellsNolaHomes.com

8601 Leake Ave., New Orleans, La 70118

  Free Reports:

 7 Seller Tips for 2015

 Home Trends

Smart Home Price

Name Your Selling Price

Search the MLS! 
(multiple listing service)


Search Terez's Active Listings!

See what your neighbor's home sold for...

See What Your New Orleans Home is Worth!

See What Your Metairie Home is Worth!

Metairie For Sale By Owner? 

 New Orleans For Sale By Owner?

      

Terez B. Harris  Terez Harris NOLA Realtor  Group  504-297-2619  www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100

Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.