Home Selling Tips

Table of Contents

Top 10 Ways to Make a Buyer Hate Your Home: Selling Tips
5 Things to Do Before Selling Your Home: "TheShort List to Success"
Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent: How to Interview an Agent


Top 10 Ways to Make a Buyer Hate Your Home: Selling Tips

If your selling a home, there are certain things that home buyers will turn around and walk back out of your door over. If they notice any of these top 10 problems, they might make up their mind before the tour begins..."Next!"

1. Odors
Neutralizing the odor in your home should be Priority #1 if you're preparing to sell. Smoking indoors is top of the list - start stepping outside for that cigarette, and have your upholstery, drapery and carpets professionally cleaned to eliminate odor.

Mildew can be another concern. With any odor, the objective is not to mask it, or conceal it, but rather locate the source of the odor and take measures to eliminate it. In the process, as with mildew for example, you'll often be eliminating issues that will turn up during home inspections anyway.

Sometimes pets can cause odor. Keep your litter boxes clean, give your pets a bath regularly and remove or replace anything that they may have "marked their territory" on.

House odors are number one on the home selling uh-oh list. And narrowing it down, odors from cigarette smoke and pets take top billing, with mildew not far behind.

When it comes to identifying odors that you may need to address, ask someone who doesn't live there to take a sniff, and don't get angry when they tell you the truth.

2. Pets that Meet You At the Door of Follow You Around the House
You'll have a much better response from showings if you control your pets - dogs or cats. Dogs scare some people and annoy others.

You say you plan to put them in a bedroom or a garage and then ask people not to open the door to that area? Bad idea: potential buyers will want to see the entire house, and won't make a decision to buy until they're able to.

Remove pets during showings if possible. If you can't, contain them in crates for their own safety and to show respect for the feelings of potential buyers.

3. Dirty Bathroom or Kitchen
Dirty bathrooms are an instant turnoff. Scrub them regularly, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels. Do whatever it takes to make them shine.

In your kitchen, organize your cabinets and give them a hit of Pine-Sol or other wood cleaner/polish. Scrub the spots and stains out of the sink, and make sure the stovetop is pristine. Keep your countertops clear of clutter.

If you're serious about selling the home, the extra work is necessary. Because these are high traffic areas, regular upkeep will be required until the "Sold" sign is on the lawn!

4. Dimly Lit Rooms
Dark homes are turnoff to most home buyers. Brighten them up using these tips:
• Replace dim light fixtures
• Install additional light fixtures
• Remove heavy or dark drapes to let light through windows
• Repaint rooms with lighter colors
• Trim tree limbs that shadow the house

Dirty and fogged windows are another buyer turnoff. Not only will clean windows and screens allow more light in, it's going to give them a facelift - they'll look in better shape clean than dirty. Replace any doubt-pane windows with broken seals (fogging is the textbook symptom that you have a broken window seal).

5. Busy Wallpaper and Outdated Colors
Busy wallpaper turns off most buyers, and even people who love wallpaper rarely like what you've chosen. It's a personal decorative touch that they want to select themselves.

Likewise, the paint colors you used when the house was repainted last may not be the look now. There's no lower-cost or higher-impact improvement than repainting and wallpaper removal. If the renovation budget is tight and the walls are floral patterned or mauve, it's time to repaint and make those dollars work for you.

It's the masses you must appeal to when you're selling a home. Don't paint over wallpaper, because it will be obvious that you did - and buyers know that makes removal more challenging.

6. Damp Basements
Dampness or the damp odors in the basement are a huge red flag for buyers - it means that the foundation leaks (or at least that's the perception).

Most problems with dampness are not caused by faulty foundations. They occur because rainwater is being diverted towards the foundation instead of away from it. The leading causes of dampness are relatively cheap to fix:
• Clogged underground drains.
• No rain gutters along roofline, or clogged gutters.
• Downspouts not extended past foundation wall, or missing downspouts.
• Improperly graded landscape beds surrounding perimeter of home.
• Faulty or undersized sump pump.

Go outside the next time it rains and determine where runoff water is coming from, and headed to.

7. Bugs
Roaches, spiders, ants, termites - Get rid of them!

8. Poor Curb Appeal
First impressions are everything, and nothing makes a first impression like good curb appeal. Selling your home for top dollar relies on this - remember, not only are you trying to grab the attention of buyers coming to look at the inside of your home, but also the buyers who slow down to look at your home when they see the sign in your lawn.

Home buyers often refuse to go into a house with an untidy yard, overgrown shrubs and trees, sagging doors or peeling paint. Get your yard in top shape and paint the handrails.



9. Gutters with Plants Growing in Them
Often overlooked by homeowners, NEVER overlooked by home buyers. Unless you're selling a tree farm, get those baby maple trees out of the gutters before showing the home. In fact, you may have already addressed this issue if you're using this list in order: clogged gutters are the leading cause of dampness in basements!

10. Sellers Who Hang Around for Showings
Leave the house during showings. Home buyers feel awkward when you're around for showings; it's the fear of intruding on your space. They'll feel far more comfortable taking a good look at the house and talking with their agent about the pros and cons if you're not around.

Most of the Top 10 problems are home selling issues you can correct without spending a lot of money. Do it now, before you put the house on the market, because if your house developes a reputation among agents as the house that smells, the house with the huge barking dog, or the house where the owner won't leave people alone, it will be too late. Your house will be last on their list to show potential buyers.

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5 Things to Do Before Selling Your Home: "The Short List to Success"
Putting your home on the market for sale isn't as simple as placing a "For Sale" sign in your yard. There are several steps to take prior to listing your home that will make the transaction smoother and quicker.

One
Get your home inspected.
You're going to have to disclose any potential or known problems with your property to prospective buyers. Failure to do so can lead to further complications, even if you weren't aware of the flaws ahead of time. Since most buyers are performing a home inspection as a contingency to purchase, hire a professional inspector to identify and document any potential problems with your property before you put it on the market. This way, you'll be able to either cost-effectively make needed repairs or make an adjustment in your asking price to compensate for the issue at hand.

Two
Make repairs ahead of time.
A long list of necessary repairs is a major put-off for most buyers who may decide to move on rather than deal with the headache of repairing the home. Do as many repairs as you can, then hire a handyman to complete the rest. If you decide not to make repairs beforehand, then hire a reputable professional to provide cost estimates that you can show to interested buyers to put their mind at ease. Even then, some repairs may become a requirement for a buyer to obtain financing: Rely on your Realtor to advise you which repairs might need to be completed in order to complete your transaction and allow your buyers to obtain the needed financing.


Three
Showcase your home.
Curb appeal and first impressions are valuable assets when selling your home. Clear unnecessary items from your yard and maintain the landscaping to welcome visitors. Keep the interior of your home clutter free and squeaky-clean. Maximize your home's living space by staging the rooms and opening up shades and blinds to welcome natural light.

Four
Price it right.
The original asking price of your home will have a huge impact on the final selling price. If you price your home too high, a buyer will look for better values and your home will spend more time on the market. The longer it is on the market, the less desirable it will be to buyers - even if you lower the asking price - because most buyers will avoid a home that others are avoiding. Conversely, pricing your home too low may result in a quicker sale, but it will obviously net you less than pricing it right, would have.

Five
Hire a Realtor
It may be tempting to list your home on your own to avoid paying a sales commission, but selling your own home is a full time job in itself. A real estate professional represents the best opportunity for you to earn the maximum amount from your home's sale and to net more than you would have selling it by yourself. An experienced agent will recommend the best listing price, market your home effectively and to the right buyers while showing it to buyers who are qualified and interested in buying a home like yours.

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Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent: How to Interview an Agent.
Whether buying or selling a home, it's wise to spend some time interviewing the agent that you're considering hiring for a job. Just as you will be sizing up your potential agent to see if they'll be a good fit, the real estate agent will likely be interviewing you, too. If the agent you're interviewing doesn't ask you questions and probe you for motivation, be wary. You wouldn't work with just any agent, and good agents are just as selective about their clients, too.

Here are some good questions to ask the agent you're interviewing. The very best in the business will start to shine through, and you'll know whether you've found the right agent. Not only will you feel comfortable with their personality, you'll also know if you've found a professional who has a proven track record, knowledge of the local market, and who will represent your best interests in your transaction.

What is your average list-to-sale price ratio? How does it compare to the market average?
Simply put, list-to-sales price ratio is where the best listing agents can put numbers to their claims about being the best. A competent listing agent should have a track record of negotiating sales prices that are very close to list prices. Listing agents should have a higher list-to-sale price ratio (the closer to 100% the better).

Conversely, when buying a home, evidence of an agent's ability to negotiate on your behalf is in their list-to-sales price ratio in transactions where they represented the buyer in the transaction (the lower the better). If they're working with a lot of buyers, they will have this data at their fingertips and will be proud to share the statistics with you.

Can you provide me with references?
References or testimonials from past clients are where the "rubber meets the road" and separates a professional agent from a novice. Everyone has references, and a agent with testimonials worth reading will have the name and phone number for the client who provided it. You won't find names and phone numbers published everywhere, but when you ask the agent for the name or number, they'll happily provide it to you.

If you're in search of references, here are some things to ask:
• Ask to see references
• Ask if any of the references are related to the agent.
• Ask if you can call the references with any additional questions.

How long have you been in the business?
Real estate transactions are the largest transactions most people will ever make. An agent with more experience will have more knowledge than a brand new agent. This shouldn't be the only deciding factor for you, but if you find and agent who's been in the business for more than 5 years and can readily provide you all of the information mentioned earlier, you're on the right path. However, there are agents who have been in the business for 20 years who repeat their first year over and over. Other 20 year agents learn something new every day, evolve with the business and get better each year.

What is your marketing plan or strategy for my needs?

If you're selling a home, here are the questions you should ask:
• How will you sell my home? Can you share the details?
• What media will you use to market my home (internet, newspaper, open houses
direct mail)?
• Will you show me a sample flyer?
• How do you market online?

If you're buying a home, here are the questions you should ask:
• How will you search for my new home?
• How many homes can I expect to see before I find a home I want to buy?
• Will I be competing against other buyers?
• What are the advantages to working with an agent when buying a home?
• How are you paid? (Typically, the seller will pay the commission for themselves
and for the buyer).


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Straight Facts About What Can Make or Break the Sale of Your Home. Choose a Top Real Estate Agent. 

Why Sellers Choose Me 

Before you decide to put your home on the market, you’ll first have to make two very important decisions:  

-Which Realtor should I hire to market my home and negotiate on my behalf?  

Which Realtor should I hire to market my home and negotiate on my behalf? 

In this market, no decision will have a bigger impact on the outcome of your move. There are so many Realtors in the marketplace, when selling your home, who do you hire? You’ll want the services of a top local Real Estate Expert. Too many Realtors consider use the following marketing strategy: Put your home in the multiple listing service (MLS), stick a sign on the lawn, and pray that someone else sells it. That doesn’t work in this market. That’s why I created my Comprehensive Internet Marketing Program. Now more than ever, buyers are spending lots of time searching for homes on their own online. To place your home in front of this audience, these are the search engines and websites I use: 

-Realtor.com: 85% of home buyers start their search online. Realtor.com remains the most visited search engine on the web. Here, you’ll receive premium placement with multiple photos, custom text and property description, and access to the 1 million-plus visitors the website sees every month. 

-Zillow.com: Quickly becoming one of the largest search engines on the web, Zillow.com ranks #2, just behind Realtor.com in consumer traffic.  

-Trulia.com: This website gives consumers free and unbiased real estate information online. This website has a great user-friendly interface.

-Homes.com: Another search engine that’s quickly gaining popularity among home shoppers online. Premium placement here creates more exposure for your home. 

-Harmon Homes.com: Receive “Select Listing” placement on Harmon Homes.com,
-Immobel.com: European listings site that is unique. It translates our listing info into different languages. It’s a great way to reach out to international buyers, which is a growing demographic in our market. 

-20+ other search engines: Including Oodle.com, Homes123.com, Google, MSN, Yahoo Homes Directory. 

I’ve got local exposure covered, too. Beyond our MLS database, your home will be marketed locally. Through my network of buyers, fellow brokers, past clients, neighbors, select print advertising, and attractive and professionally crafted flyers and brochures, we’ll make sure your home is given maximum exposure in the marketplace to attract qualified buyers. 

What price should I put my home on the market for? 

Nothing is more important than properly pricing your home from DAY 1 when you put it on the market. With easy access to real estate search engines that offer property evaluations (like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Cyber Homes), it's easy to have an inaccurate perception of your home's worth. While these websites can give you a good general idea what your home may be worth, a professional Comparative Market Analysis is a far more accurate method of pricing your home to sell. This is one of the complimentary services I offer in my free In-Home Presentation. It's a in-depth analysis of sales activity in your local area. Through analysis of the most similar and most recent sales, we will be able to accurately price your home so that you net maximum dollar in the shortest amount of time possible. 

Often times, sellers make the critical mistake of hiring the Realtor who tells them that they can get more for their home than the next. Nothing could be further from the truth. A buyer will either view your home as a good value or not, and the price is what helps them come to that conclusion. If you are overpriced in this market, buyers might not even take a look. If it’s a good value, your home will be sold before your competition. If it’s not a good value, it will help your competition sell their homes first.

I feel so good about the marketing strategies, systems and service that I offer, I will give you a guarantee. If at any time during the term of our listing agreement you are dissatisfied with my service, I will unconditionally release you without cost or obligation. In fact, I put these guarantees in writing: 

1. Easy Exit Listing Agreement
2. Feedback and Communication Guarantee  

Selling a home is one of the biggest events in your life. Make it the experience you'd like it to be. 

If you want the same old run-around and marginal service, you’ve come to the wrong place. I’ve made certain to put all the tools at my fingertips that ensure success for the sellers that I help. When hiring a Realtor to sell your home, why not get the service and results you expect?  

Call me without obligation to discuss how we’ll get your home sold for maximum dollar in your timeframe. I can be reached at (215) 565-5335. I’ll be happy to set up a free consultation with you, during which we can discuss your selling needs. I’ll be able to answer any questions you may have.

Or, if you’d prefer, please fill out the form below and give me as much information as you can about your home and timeframe so that I can be better prepared when we talk. There’s no obligation. I do look forward to working with you.