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Top 10 ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire
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Not serious about selling. Putting out feelers to see where your house stands in the market or trying to sell your home for a price that’s not competitive is only good for those people who are not interested in selling “right now”. However, it’s a bad idea for any agent to put their time and money into trying to sell that home because the sellers are not serious enough to do what it takes to sell. 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.
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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. Pricing well and marketing the property go hand-in-hand
- 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. Many people believe that if they are experts in their specific industry and/or have also bought and sold real estate, then that entitles them to be experts within the real estate industry. Full-time, career pros usually know what’s best as they are working in all market conditions and ever changing laws. Listen very carefully.
- Micromanaging 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.
- Don’t stage the property. Someday shag multi-colored, sculptured carpeting will comeback. Whitewashed cabinets, Navajo white walls, linoleum flooring, southwest décor, lots of personal photos and Elvis paintings on black velvet should be removed. There are 3 things to consider here. 1.) Clean the house from top to bottom and include both the front and backyard. 2.) Throw everything away that you don’t need or will not be taking with you. Put it into storage if you have to. 3.) Paint is the best return on your investment. You want to use neutral warm colors that help give that staging appeal.
- Let pets run loose. This is an interesting point. Some people have numerous types of pets and more often then not have big or small dogs. If you have big dogs, you’ll have to keep them caged up in a back bedroom while you are away or keep them in a separate area in the backyard with ample notice to the potential buyers not to enter the yard while owners are gone. Small dogs must be caged as well so as to not let them out of the house.
- Don’t allow sufficient access to the property. Unless you are a seller who works at home, having a keysafe or ample access to the property for other agents and their buyers is a must. Think like a buyer or a real estate agent. You drive by and want to see the property. No one is available, but it’s something you must see right now because you won’t be able to later. There’s no keysafe, so you and your agent move on to the next property.
- Talk too much to the buyers. It’s okay to discuss the property with the buyers. It’s also best to be honest and field any questions you know the answers to. However, your opinions of value are just that, your opinions. Don’t discourage buyers with that which you don’t know to be factual. Also, don’t make promises that are not documented by an agent or in contract. It might come back to bite you later.
- What’s that smell? If you know people will be looking at your property, DO NOT keep it smelling of pet odors, baby diapers, curry powder, garlic, fried fish, coconut incense, cigars/cigarettes, manure, mulch or low tide. You want to appeal to the senses, not destroy them.
- Avoid feedback. Sellers who don’t listen to the consumer’s feedback are not being practical about what approach they should take to sell their home. If you know what consumers want, then you know what to give them.
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