Planning a Move? Tips From an Expert

This is the time of year when home sales sky rocket! If you currently have your home for sale, chances are that you will have some competition. Every homeseller hopes for a quick and trouble free sale, and with little effort on your part, this can be accomplished more quickly and at a better price. Arouse the potential buyer's desire for your home by making it attractive. Here are some friendly tested tips to help your home look its best. As a Realtor, I can tell you that my efforts are more successful when the stage is well set.

PREPARATION FOR SHOWING:

1. First Impressions are Lasting Impressions. An inviting exterior ensures inspection of the interior. Keep your lawn trimmed and edged, the flowerbeds cultivated, and the yard free of clutter.
2. Decorate Your Home-A Step Toward a Sale. Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce desire. Some people have the idea that they needn't paint, as the new owners will have ideas of their own. Maybe so, but the home must have an attractive appeal in order for the buyer to be excited about the home in the first place. A quicker sale at a higher price will result.
3. Clean Machine. Bright cheery windows and unmarred walls will definitely assist your sale.
4. Fix That Faucet. Dripping water discolors the enamel and calls attention to faulty plumbing.
5. A Day With The Carpenter. Loose doorknobs, sticky drawers, warped cabinet doors and the like are noticed by the potential purchaser. Have them fixed.
6. From The Bottom. The attic and basement are important features. Remove all unnecessary articles that have accumulated. Display the full value of the storage and utility spaces.
7. Closet Illusions. Clothes properly hung, shoes, hats and other articles neatly placed will make your closet appear adequate.
8. Check and Double-Check Your Bathroom. Bathrooms are very important. Be sure that the bathroom sparkles, and smells nice.
9. Let There Be Light. Illumination is a welcome sign. For the after dark inspection, turn on all of your lights, from the porch on through. The prospect will feel a glowing warmth otherwise impossible to attain.
10. Dust Those Fixtures. Be sure that all of the light fixtures, ceiling fans, etc. are clean and dust free.

SHOWING THE HOME:

1. Three's A Crowd. More will lose the sale. Avoid having too many people present during home showings. The prospect will feel like an intruder and will hurry through the house.
2. Love Me Love My Dog. Does not apply in house selling. Keep pets out of the way, preferably out of the house.
3. In The Shadows. Please do not tag along with the agent and the clients. He or she knows the buyer's requirements and can better emphasize the features of your home when alone.
4. A Word To The Wise. Do not ever discuss price, terms, possession or other factors with the customer. Refer them to your Realtor, who is better equipped to bring the negotiations to a favorable conclusion.
5. Mellow Music Lessens Any Tension. Turn off all TVs, loud radios and turn on some easy listening music.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS IN REAL ESTATE

How much is the commission?

In the Real Estate business, this is one of the most asked questions. The answer is as important to the home seller as it is to the listing agent. An important consideration when establishing commission is to find out what level of marketing your agent is willing to provide. Will it be on MLS, or will it be exclusive? It is imperative that your home be listed at a competitive rate of commission so that it is attractive to the agents that may bring in the buyer. Instead of asking what the rate of commission will be, ask yourself "How much do I want to 'net' from the sale of my home?" If you receive the money that you need from the sale of your home at a competitive rate of commission, everyone will be happy.

What is MLS?

MLS, or Multiple Listing Service, is a service provided to Real Estate Professional whereby they can market your home to agents everywhere. The information on your home will be available on the MLS website, as well as in the MLS books. A good example of the benefits of this is to suppose that there is an agent in another province that has a client moving to Eastern Manitoba. The other agent can easily access the list of homes available either via computer, or by looking in the book. If your home is not listed on MLS, then that buyer may not find out about your home until after they've made an offer on another home.

How long will it take for our house to sell?

This is a question that your agent can never answer. There are many factors involved in the length of time it will take for a home to sell. The most important being price. Most people have an idea as to what their home is worth to them, and it can be tough to decide on the right price. Often people look at what they paid for their home, or what they have spent on the house while they've lived there. Your home must be priced according to what other homes comparable to yours have sold for. This is where the comparative market analysis becomes the most accurate way to determine the value. Your Real Estate agent will provide you with the information necessary to price your home according to the current market place. The best way to see that sold sign go up quickly is to make sure that your home can compete with the other homes on the market as far as appearance and price.

Can other Realtors show people our home?

Surprisingly, many people don't know that usually, any agent can show any home that is currently on the market. Often times people will jump from one agent to the next during their home search, not realizing that they can look at all of those homes with only one agent. Once you have your home listed on the MLS, you are allowing every agent the opportunity to bring clients in. When people choose to have their home listed on an exclusive listing agreement, their agent is able to co-operate with the other agents in the area so that they may bring their homebuyers to see your home as well. There are cases where a seller wishes to deal with only one agent during the sale of their home, but more often all agents can show all homes. Realtors have a moral obligation to their purchasers to show them every home currently on the market that may suit their needs, including the listings of other agents.

It is important to remember that the seller, the buyer, and both the listing and selling agents all have one common goal, and that is to have the sales transaction proceed as quickly and as smoothly as possible.

Still have questions? E-mail me at remax@granite.mb.ca