6 Home Selling Tips that Grab Buyers and Agents' Attention
The market may have been red hot a few years ago but currently it is
definitely a buyer's market. In a buyer's market, it can sometimes be
difficult for owners to attract traffic and attention to their home when
they must compete with so many other homes on the market. If you are
currently trying to sell your home and feel it is not showing as much as
it should, there are some tips you can use to help increase interest in
your home. One of the first steps that many owners take is to slash the
price on their home. In today's market, this is not always the most
prudent step. It might not even garner the results you desire. Before
reducing the price on your home, consider the tips below.
Tip #1: Make it Easy to Show your Home
Many homeowners make it difficult to show their home because they
request showings by appointment only. In today's market this can be a
death knell for many homes for sale. Buyers have more homes than ever to
consider and if they must wait for an appointment they may find
something else they like better before they have an opportunity to see
your home. By making it easy to sell your home you may be able to
increase your showings. Consider having your agent post a lockbox on
your home to make it easy for it to be shown.
Tip #2: Offer a Buyer's Agent Commission
At one time buyer's agents were not necessarily that common but that has
certainly changed today. If you are not sure how the commission on your
home will be split it is certainly worth checking the listing agreement
to find out. If the commission is not being split 50/50, this could be
one reason why your home is not being shown as much as you would like.
Real estate agents work by commission and as a result they will
naturally tend to give more attention to listings that offer a more
competitive commission for buyer's agents. In the event the commission
on your home is not being split 50/50, it is a good idea to consider
re-directing the amount that is offered to the buyer's agent.
Tip #3: Improve Market Exposure
With the market cluttered with so many listings, it is imperative to
make sure that your home receives as much exposure as possible. This
means that homeowners must market their homes even more in the current
market than ever before. If you are not already marketing your home on
the Internet, be sure you make a move in that direction. Buyers are
increasingly using the Internet to shop for homes today before they even
begin the process of viewing homes in person. If your home is not being
marketed online, you could be missing out on a lot of potential traffic.
In addition, make certain your home is being advertised in weekly
newspapers as well as in home magazines.
Tip #4: Go Extravagant with your Open House
In many neighborhoods today, open houses are a dime a dozen. Therefore,
you need to make sure that your open house stands out among the many
others that may be offered on the same day. Consider investing a little
money and hiring someone to act as a sign waiver and direct people to
your home. Place brightly colored balloons and streamers to attract even
more attention. You might also wish to offer soft drinks and snacks
during your open house, to encourage prospective buyers to linger and
see all of the best points your home has to offer.
Tip #5: Using Limited Time Offers
Another great idea is to offer a fabulous deal to buyers provided they
act within a certain amount of time. Buyers, more so than ever before,
want to find a great deal. They may be more motivated to consider your
home and even buy it quicker if they feel that a great deal may not last
long. Great options include:
-
Preparing insurance or taxes for the buyer
-
Using a portion of the sales price to credit the buyer's closing costs
-
Paying points for buyer to lower their mortgage interest rate
Tip #6: Grab the Attention of Brokers
Just as buyers have more homes on the market to snag their attention, so
do brokers. Make sure your home receives its fair share of attention by
catering a lunch for local real estate brokers. You might also consider
offering a drawing to grab even more attention.
|
