10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#10

Believing You Are Powerless To Make A Difference:

Don’t be a spectator in your own transaction: take an active role with your agent to see what you can do to facilitate your sale. Networking with professional peers and personal friends has frequently resulted in the sale of a home. In fact, you may be surprised how often homes are sold simply by word-of-mouth.

10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#9

Missing an Opportunity by Testing The Market:

Never put your property up for sale unless you are serious about selling. If you’re motivated enough, the right real estate professional will find you buyers. If you are flirting with indecision, however, you may just blow the sale.

10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#8

Wasting Time With An Unqualified Prospect:

Your agent's responsibility is to screen a prospect's qualifications before valuable time is lost. Be sure to align yourself with the right professional and eliminate negotiating with unqualified prospects.

10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#7

Failing to Make Necessary Cosmetic Changes:

As you’re undoubtedly aware, the prospective homebuyer's first impression is all-important in the sales process. An inconceivable amount of home sales have been lost to unkempt lawns, cluttered rooms, bad stains, and unpleasant odors, all seemingly minor blemishes that ultimately spoiled a buyer’s motivation. The easiest way to avoid this costly error is to imagine that you are the homebuyer and clean your place from top to bottom.

10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#6

Neglecting to Provide Easy Access For Showings:

Accessibility is a major key to profitability. "Appointment only" showings are obviously the most restrictive, while a lock box is the least. However, there are certain considerations to take into account, such as your lifestyle, time frame for the desired sale and the strength of your relationship with your agent. The more accessible your home, the better the odds of your finding a person willing to pay your asking price. And by developing a trusting relationship with your agent, he or she will show the home with your best interests in mind.

10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#5

Relying Solely On Traditional Methods To Sell Your Home:

The innovative agent who is willing to offer new strategies for attracting home buyers will always outperform the agents who rely solely on traditional marketing methods. As a motivated seller, you should demand around-the- clock advertising exposure, innovative lead generation methods and lead accountability. In today’s competitive real estate market, these services are readily available, and your agent should offer them to help sell your home.

10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#4

Settling on a Purchase Price Lower/Higher than Comparable Sales:

One critical reason to find the right professional is to make sure the property is priced appropriately for a timely and profitable sale. If the property is priced too high, it will sit and develop the stigma as a “problem property”. If it's priced too low, it could cost you considerable profit in the long run. The real estate market has subtle nuances and market changes that should be re-evaluated by your agent every 30-45 days to help you maximize your return.

10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#3

Neglecting to Provide Easy Access For Showings:

Accessibility is a major key to profitability. "Appointment only" showings are obviously the most restrictive, while a lock box is the least. However, there are certain considerations to take into account, such as your lifestyle, time frame for the desired sale and the strength of your relationship with your agent. The more accessible your home, the better the odds of your finding a person willing to pay your asking price. And by developing a trusting relationship with your agent, he or she will show the home with your best interests in mind.

10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#2

Failure to Consider Alternative Financing Terms:

Cash is not always the most advantageous transaction. Income level, tax benefits, and current legislation are all crucial factors when considering purchase terms. Professional real estate agents are experts in facilitating your home transaction. A smart agent will lead you to the path that will result in the highest yield.

10 Most Common Listing Mistakes-#1

Refusing To Invest in Potentially Profit-Inducing Repairs:

It always costs you more money to sell 'as is' than to make repairs that will increase the value of your home. Often even minor improvement will yield as much as three to five times the repair cost at the time of sale. Your agent will be able to point out which repairs will significantly increase the value of your home. Even seemingly small “touch-up” jobs can have an impact on the eventual sales price.

7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House-#7

Leave. It's awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.

7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House-#6

Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that's not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (a basement or bath), and let the salesperson know where to find them.

7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House-#5

Turn on all the lights. Even in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle.

7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House-#4

Lock up your valuables, jewelry, and money. Although the real estate salesperson will be on site during the open house, it's impossible to watch everyone all the time.

7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House-#3

Serve cookies, coffee, and soft drinks. It creates a welcoming touch. But be sure the kitchen has been cleaned up; use disposable cups so the sink doesn't fill up.

7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House-#2

Mow your lawn, and be sure toys and yard equipment are put away.

7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House-#1

Hire a cleaning service. A spotlessly clean home is essential; dirt will turn off a prospect faster than anything.

6 Reasons You Need a REALTOR-#6

REALTORS© are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS©, a trade organization of more than 1 million members nationwide. REALTORS© subscribe to a stringent code of ethics that helps guarantee the highest level of service and integrity.

6 Reasons You Need a REALTOR-#5

REALTORS© provide objectivity. Since a home often symbolizes family, rest, and security, not just four walls and roof, home selling or buying is often a very emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you keep focused on both the business and emotional issues most important to you.

6 Reasons You Need a REALTOR-#4

REALTORS© have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. That’s why having an expert on your side is critical.

6 Reasons You Need a REALTOR-#3

Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with someone who speaks that language.

6 Reasons You Need a REALTOR-#2

Selling or buying a home is time consuming. Even in a strong market, homes in our area stay on the market for an average of 100 days. And it usually takes another 60 days or so for the transaction to close after an offer is accepted.

6 Reasons You Need a REALTOR-#1

A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide through this complexity can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#5

Don't refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#4

Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you'll find acceptable.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#3

Be flexible about showings. It's often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you'll find a seller.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#2

Get your house market-ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#1

Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property's realistic price range.

Now is the BEST time to buy or sell a home!

Why? At this point the real estate market has reached
a milestone - like never before.

==> Interest rates cannot drop much more, so it is very
possible rates will begin to rise in the not too
distant future.

==> Prices of both new homes and resales may be affected
by inflation.

In other words, conditions cannot get much better than
they are RIGHT NOW! Therefore, it is an ideal time for
sellers to sell and buyers to buy.

Since every home seller is also a buyer of another home,
the time is excellent for homeowners to make their move
NOW.

Very seldom do you have a real estate market that is
good for both buyers and sellers like you have right now.
Don't expect to see much in the way of changes for the
next few months, July and August. But this doesn't mean
that these excellent market conditions will last forever.

So, if you are thinking about making a move, take
advantage of this opportunity.

If you currently have a home to sell, this is the perfect
time to spruce up the house so you get the highest
possible price - ever. And have buyers who can qualify
to buy your property.

It's and ideal time for real estate. An ideal time to
both buy and sell.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#5

Leave. It's awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#4

De-clutter. Put away any items not immediately usable i.e. clothes, toys, dishes, etc. Clear all pathways so that a comfortable and efficient movement through your home is created.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#3

Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that's not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (a basement or bath), and let the salesperson know where to find them.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#2

Turn on all the lights. Even in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle. Open all window coverings.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#1

Lock up your valuables, jewelry, and money. Although the real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing, it's impossible to watch everyone all the time.

Does Moving Up Make Sense?

Answer these questions to help you decide whether moving up makes sense.

How much equity do you have in your home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don't build up much equity in the first few years of paying a mortgage, but if you've owned your home for a number of years, you may have significant unrealized gains.

Has your income increased enough to cover the extra mortgage costs and the costs of moving?

Does your neighborhood still meet your needs? For example, if you've had children, the quality of the schools may be more of a concern now than when you first purchased.

Can you add on or remodel? If you have a large yard, there might be room to expand your home. If not, your options may be limited. Also, do you want to undertake the headaches of remodeling?

How is the home market? If it's good, you may get top dollar for your home.

How are interest rates? A low rate not only helps you buy more home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

Here are the top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#10

Avoid feedback. What do buyers know anyway? Imagine the fact they don't appreciate my barbed wire fence, heavy duty rebar, backyard bomb shelter, airport runway views, lights from the power plant, hum from the high voltage lines, railroad tremors, scorpion skeletons, termite mud tubes and pet snakes. Missed #1 through #9? Go to KetteringRealEstate@BlogSpot.com to catch up. Thinking of moving up? Check out my next Blog "Does Moving Up Make Sense?"

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#9

What's that smell? My house doesn't smell of pet odors, baby diapers, curry powder, garlic, fried fish, coconut incense, cigars, manure, mulch, dairy farms or low tide. The buyer must be confusing my castle with a track home.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#8

Sell personal items. Wow, maybe the buyers want to buy the patio furniture, rotary lawnmower or life size statue of Saint Anthony. You only have four more boxes of Girl Scout cookies to sell. Why not ask for a donation for the March of Dimes, the Humane Society or the local PBS station. Remember the saying, "loose lips sink ships?"

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#7

Talk to the buyers. Life gets lonely at times. Why not ask the buyers where they grew up? Or how much they qualify for. Tell them about the vacant rental next door. Or, the sex offender who left the area. Maybe they could baby-sit next weekend! Why not share war stories, horror movies or meatloaf recipes?

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#6

Let Fido run loose. Recently, I entered a house and two frisky, friendly black Labs ran to sniff me. Unfortunately, I had light gray dress slacks on that day. Both wet stains lasted for hours. Until that day I didn't realize dogs enjoyed chewing the tassels on expensive loafers.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#5

Don't stage the property. Someday shag multi-colored, sculptured carpeting will come back. Whitewashed cabinets, Navajo white walls, linoleum flooring, southwest décor, lots of personal photos and Elvis paintings on black velvet should be removed. And, oh by the way loose the long sideburns.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#4

Micromanage the marketing. Just because you sold cookware in college, carts in California, or carpeting in Cranston does not qualify you to second-guess your agent. If you had a real estate license years ago, tell your children about the "good old days." Share your concerns and timelines, but leave the details to the listing pro.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#3

Not listening to your agent. Attorneys believe if you represent yourself, you have a fool for a client. Doctors don't self-diagnose. Professionals use professionals. Even though most people believe they are experts on raising kids and real estate; full-time, career pros usually know what's best. Listen very carefully.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#2

Improper pricing. A home properly priced is half sold. No amount of full color ads, glossy flyers, multiple photos, virtual tours, agent luncheons, Goodyear blimps, pom-pom girls or Saint Joseph statues will compensate for the wrong, timid retail price.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#1

Not serious about selling. A sage once quipped, "Money is only important when you don't want something enough." Real estate expert R.L. Brown said that if half of the 58,000 sellers in Maricopa County (Arizona) removed their for sale signs we would be at normal inventory levels. Actions speak louder than words in this market. Discretionary sellers should wait for a less competitive environment.

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#5

Fill out a disclosure form provided by your sales associate. Take the time to be sure that you don't forget problems, however minor, that might create liability for you after the sale. Like to see all five as well as other tips and tricks? Go to ketteringrealestate@blogspot.com

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#4

Gather together warranties and guarantees on the furnace, appliances, and other items that will remain with the house.

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#3

Get a pre-sale home inspection so you'll be able to make repairs before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.

Like more tips? Visit www.ketteringrealestate.blogspot.com

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#2

Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#1

Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced soon, such as a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.

5 Habits of Highly Successful Sellers-#5

Secure Financing Terms and Commitment for Potential Buyers. Before you can consider deeming any buyer as “serious”, you should obtain a pre-approval letter from the lender before taking the time and effort to start the process. After all, what could be more heartbreaking than believing you’ve sold your house, only to find out the buyer is not in the financial position he represented?

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#3

Get a pre-sale home inspection so you'll be able to make repairs before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.

Like more tips? Visit www.ketteringrealestate.blogspot.com

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#2

Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#1

Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced soon, such as a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.

5 Habits of Highly Effective Sellers-#4

Insider Secret: Buyers are afraid of paying too much for a house. That's why they often make low offers. A certified bank appraisal helps you sell for full price because the buyer can see that the price was established by a professional third party.

5 Habits of Highly Effective Sellers-#4

Insider Secret: Buyers are afraid of paying too much for a house. That's why they often make low offers. A certified bank appraisal helps you sell for full price because the buyer can see that the price was established by a professional third party.

5 Habits of Highly Effective Sellers-#3

Obtain a Lender Appraisal Before Listing the Property.

How would you feel if your home sold for $150,000, only find out from the bank appraiser that it was worth $175,000? In today's real estate market, this happens more often than you’d think. Eventually, your home will have to be appraised by a state licensed bank appraiser anyway. Why risk losing several extra thousands of dollars in your pocket?

5 Habits of Highly Effective Sellers-#2

Commit to a Long-Term Listing Only with a Performance-Specific Guarantee. Don't rely on verbal promises. Make sure that when you enter into a listing agreement, you receive a written guarantee of performance, with the option to cancel without charge if those standards are not met. Otherwise, any vague language may result in a performance dispute that will only end up hobbling your sale in the long run.

5 Habits of Highly Effective Sellers-Habit #1

Don't Just Show Your Home - Show It Off.

Like it or not, your home is competing with many more homes in the area. Buyers buy on emotion, not rationale; therefore, even the savviest marketing proprogram in the world can only bring lots of buyers into your home-it can't make them WANT your home. A motivated seller will do everything possible to promote the property's strengths. For suggestions, call for our "How to Show Your Home" flyer.