Real Estate Information Archive

Greetings neighbors,

With the many changes that have occurred in the housing market lately, one who is looking to sell their home needs to be aware of how to maximize the value and sales price of their home in the current market. Here are 7 tips from RISMedia you can use when placing your home on the market.

Tip 1: Do Not Over Price Your Home - It is understandable that a home can be a prized possession but don't over price your home. Many consumers this day in age are looking for a good deal. Also keep in mind, the longer your home is on the market, the stronger the buyer's negotiating powers become. 

Tip 2: Select Internet - Friendly Pricing - With more and more people becoming technology savvy, over 80% of consumers start their new home searches online. Many real estate sites will filter home prices in increments of $25,000 to $50,000. For example, if your asking price is $555,777 and a consumer set their max price at $550,000 while searching online, your home will not populate. In addition, home prices ending in 000 (200,000) typically sell better than those ending in 500 (200,500).

Tip 3: List the Home on Friday - Most consumers love to check for weekend prices and will pull up new listings on Friday.

Tip 4: Occupy or Stage the Home - Buyers typically prefer to view a home that feels "homie" or looks lived-in. However, do not over personalize your home. Remember to keep it balanced. If you move into a new home before selling your home it may be a good idea to hire someone to professionally stage your home to look as if someone is currently living there.

Tip 5: Monitor Local Foreclosures - In today's market, foreclosures have actually become an aggressive opponent to sellers. Therefore, if your neighborhood contains a high number of foreclosures, wait to place your home on the market if possible.  If you have to place your home on the market remember, the selling price would have to be competitively priced in order to compete with the surrounding foreclosures in the neighborhood.

Tip 6: Keep the Home Neat and Clean - With many foreclosures on the market, those who are looking for homes are liable to see potential homes at their worst. Remember, a neat and clean home will attract more potential buyers.

Tip 7: Keep Records - Disclosures are not included in foreclosures, therefore sellers who are attempting to sell their home should keep updated records, photos, and permits handy for the buyer which will make them feel more comfortable about purchasing your home. This will also give them a competitive advantage over other neighborhood properties that are in foreclosure.

Needing to place your home on the market? Let us help, the zac team @ RE/MAX Greater Atlanta. Call: 404-564-7200 or E-mail Zac at sold@zac.biz.

Hello Neighbors,

Have you or someone you know made the major decision to put a home up for sale? Well, here are a few tips we feel may be beneficial to those that are putting their property on the market.

Tip Number 1: Know Why You're Selling. When you make the decision to sell it's essential to know your reasoning in selling. Your motivation to sell your home has the ability to affect the entire selling process. Are you interested more in the money you receive after selling or how long your home stays on the market? Your motivation will determine the approach you take when selling.

Tip Number 2: Do Your Homework Before Setting A Price. You want to set a price that will give you what your home is worth and close to the offering price. You want to avoid pricing your home too high or either too low. You would need to look at the most recent home sells in your neighborhood to come up with a ball park figure. However, due to many home owners' renovating or adding-on, your home may not be of comparison to other homes in your neighborhood. If this is the case you would need to set a value for your home by looking at homes that have sold within the past six to twelve months in your neighborhood. Remember, you can always hire a realtor to do this work if you don't have the time to do the research.

Tip Number 3: Know When To Get An Appraisal. Getting a good appraisal for your home can be a great benefit for you. By getting a VA or FHA appraisal this will show buyers that your home can be financed. All buyers need to be ware, if you do get an appraisal you may not necessarily like the figure you get.

Tip Number 4: Give Yourself Room To Negotiate. It is not guaranteed that the potential buyers will go for your asking price and vice versa. You may not go for their offering price. In case this happens, you need to have an alternate price in mind. Determine the lowest price you will actually be willing to go and then determine the highest price you want for your home. This will give you range.

Tip Number 5: Find Out What The Buyer Can Pay. Remember your objective as the seller is to control the pace and set the duration. By getting to know the buyer of your home you can more easily achieve this objective. By knowing just the smallest things that motivate the buyer you can negotiate even more effectively.

Tip Number 6: Don't Move Out Before You Sell. Past studies have revealed it is more difficult for a seller to sell an empty home. Vacancy gives the home a sense of being forgotten which is definitely not appealing to buyers.

Tip Number 7:  Find A Good Realtor. According to the National Association of Realtors, approximately two-thirds of the people who sold their homes without the help of a realtor said they wouldn't attempt to do so again. They experienced difficulties with finding a price, marketing, liability concerns, and etc. In addition, selling a home can be very time consuming especially for sellers who already have a full time job. That's why it's almost essential to find a professional, seasoned realtor that you can trust when selling your home.

Selling your home? Let us help, the zac team @ RE/MAX Greater Atlanta www.GotZac.com.