Selling

Most sales representatives will suggest a number of ways to market your home; however, if your sales representative has decided an open house would be advantageous, here are some suggestions to help make your open house successful.

There are four steps to follow for a successful Open House. The first three are planning, promotion and presentation. Once you’ve done all that, the only step remaining is to cross your fingers and hope for good weather!

As with most things in real estate, planning is critical to your success. Check your calendar and pick a date that won’t conflict with other events that could divert your potential visitors. You won’t get many home browsers on Super Bowl Sunday or Mother’s Day! Ask your sales representative for advice on how to showcase your home to its best advantage. Remember, when it comes to showing appeal less is more. You want to create an atmosphere of spaciousness. Get rid of the clutter to maximize your space. Have a garage sale, empty the closets and take the time to give those things away to charity. Besides making your home look great for showing, it’ll give you less to do on moving day.

First Impressions

Remember that a home that looks well kept will create favourable impression. Make sure you cut the grass or shovel the sidewalk as the season requires. Plan on doing a little spot painting to perk up problem areas, oil squeaking hinges, tighten loose screws, and all the other little things that show a home is cared for.

Then it’s time to start promoting. Your sales representative is the expert here, and can advise you what marketing techniques will be used to promote your event. Whether it’s direct mail, advertising in Home Guides or the newspaper, or website promotion, your sales representative will effectively promote your event. However, you can add to the process by partnering in the promotion too. Post notices on bulletin boards in supermarkets, libraries or community centers. Anyway that you can spread the word will add to the process.

The Open House Event

Present your home to its best advantage For your Open House day, your representative will also counsel you on how to present your home to its best advantage. Leaving on all the lights, having a fire burning in the fireplace, soft background music playing, and coffee brewing all add to the ambience and make a welcoming impression. But as any sales representative will tell you, the best thing that you can do to make your open house a success is to get out and stay out! All joking aside, you’ll get better results when your visitors feel free to poke about, linger, and ask very direct questions of your sales representative. If you’re present, they’ll feel more constrained, and your sales representative may not even get an opportunity to identify any concerns they may have, and attempt to offer them options and solutions. So pack up the dog and the kids, and enjoy your day away trust your sales representative to do the job right. After all, they’re the experts!

It’s always a good idea to spruce up the exterior and interior of your home before listing it for sale. But that doesn’t mean you have to undertake major and/or expensive project.

Just a little effort will greatly increase the perceived value of your home. After all, if you wanted to undertake a large-scale project, you probably wouldn’t be selling!

Here are some simple steps you can take to increase the perceived value of your home and make a great first impression.

Exterior Appearance

  • Keep lawns cut
  • Trim hedges and shrubs
  • Weed and edge gardens
  • Clear driveway and clean up oil spills
  • Clean out garage
  • Power wash
  • Touch up paint
  • Plant colourful, inexpensive flowers in pots if necessary
  • At the Front Door
  • Clean porch and foyer
  • Ensure door bell works
  • Repair any broken screens
  • Fresh paint or varnish front door
  • Repair door locks and key access

Create a Buying Mood

  • Make sure your home smells fresh and clean
  • Turn on lights
  • Turn on air conditioner/heater
  • Open the drapes
  • Light the fireplace

Create Space

  • Clear halls and stairs of clutter
  • Store surplus furniture
  • Clear kitchen counter and stove top
  • Clear closets of unnecessary clothing and stuff
  • Remove empty boxes and containers
  • Put away personal photos so buyers can envision the house as theirs

Maintenance

  • Repair leaking taps and toilets
  • Clean furnace and filters
  • Tighten door knobs and latches
  • Repair cracked plaster
  • Apply fresh coat of paint or touch up where necessary
  • Clean and repair windows
  • Repair seals around tubs and basins
  • Replace defective light bulbs
  • Oil squeaking doors
  • Repair squeaking floor boards

Squeaky Clean

  • Clean and freshen bathrooms
  • Clean fridge and stove (in and out)
  • Clean around heating vents
  • Clean washer and dryer
  • Clean carpets, drapes and window blinds
  • Eliminate pet odors and stains

The single most important decision you will make with your Real Estate Professional is determining the right asking price for your property.

Once you’ve achieved a realistic sales price, you can count on your property being professionally marketed and promoted to bring more buyers to your door. You can also expect to sell your home for the best possible price in the least amount of time.

The Benefits of Pricing Right

  1. Your property sells faster because it is exposed to more qualified buyers.
  2. Your home doesn’t lose its “marketability.”
  3. The closer to market value, the higher the offers.
  4. A well-priced property can generate competing offers.
  5. Real Estate Professionals will be enthusiastic about presenting your property to buyers.

Find Out What Your Home Is Worth

For a current market analysis of your home please feel free to take advantage of a free home evaluation.

Choosing a REALTOR®

As a seller, your relationship with a REALTOR® is vital so meet with several before making a final decision. A good place to start is right in your neighbourhood. Check FOR SALE signs to see which REALTORS® are doing business in your area. Ask them about their track record, their knowledge of neighbourhood selling prices and other reasons why you should list with them. Choose a REALTOR® you feel comfortable with; one who will handle the sale of your home as if it were his or her own.

What to Expect

Your REALTOR® will help you understand the selling process. He or she will provide you with a full explanation of what to expect so you are not faced with any surprises along the way.

Getting to Know You

One of the first things your REALTOR® will ask is, why are you selling your house? Your REALTOR® will also explore any time constraints you may have, your financial situation and any future plans. It’s all part of getting to know you so the sale will be handled to your complete satisfaction.

Setting the Price

Arriving at an accurate estimate of value for your home is one of your REALTORS® prime tasks. It involves analyzing your home and comparing it to other, similar houses for sale or recently sold in the neighbourhood. It may also include a broader market survey, using sales statistics available only to qualified REALTORS®. In the end, you will be sure the price you set reflects the true value of your home under current market conditions.

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