DEAR SELLERS: Our Real Estate market, as you know, is frustrating right now. Home prices have dropped and the 
market is saturated with listings, not to mention these listings are on the market far too long. However, even in a challenging market, there are ways to increase your chances of getting YOUR HOME SOLD. Below is my list to help do just that and in the shortest amount of time.
Keep in mind, however, that there are conditions that we/you, cannot control: Location, Competition and Market Conditions. That said, on to my list:
- LISTING with the RIGHT REALTOR. Of course, I FEEL I am the "right" Realtor. But if you're still unsure, interview several. I am perfectly okay with that and, in fact, encourage it. Ask what he/she will do to help get your home sold. At our interview, I will explain the "process of selling," the "Agency Relationship" and the Listing Agreement" before discussing the following:
- PRICE: This is key in any market, but especially in a less-than-perfect market. I know your home has qualities that OTHERS in your neighborhood may not have. You've put your heart and soul into your home. You've raised your children here and it is "special" to YOU. However, the average buyer doesn't care. THEY want the most bang for their buck. And an Over-priced listing sits...and sits...and sits... I will prepare a Comparative Market Analysis so you can SEE exactly what is selling in your area and, just as important, what is NOT selling. The market dictates the price we list your home and this step is vital! And don't forget about the APPRAISAL process. When you get an offer, most often the buyer is getting a loan. Your home will need to appraise for the amount of the loan in MANY cases.
- PREPARE YOUR HOME: Okay, you've chosen your Realtor (ME) and now you MUST get your home "BUYER READY". You've got to step out of your seller shoes and slip into the buyer's shoes. I'll make SUGGESTIONS about things in and around your home that need addressing. OR, dressed up. It may be as easy as some fresh paint, mowing the lawn, DE-CLUTTERING or using some elbow grease to get your home "sparking" clean. Perhaps your home needs some serious fixing; roof, plumbing, updated appliances, etc. Perhaps getting a professional STAGER, such as MICHELLE PIMENTEL, whom I consider the best. When buyers walk into your home, we want only to hear, "Oh, this is wonderful. I could live here!"
- YOUR HOME GOES ONTO THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE (MLS): After you've signed the listing agreement, I take photos and head back to my office and INPUT the information into the MLS, ASAP! This is IMPORTANT. Instantly, all Realtors/Brokers/Members of our MLS Board will view your home online and, if they have interested buyers, they will contact them.
- INTERNET EXPOSURE: As soon as I've input your home into the MLS, I then list it on MANY different Internet Sites: WINDERMERE'S FEATURED PAGE, REALTOR.COM, GOOGLE (Windermere & Google collaborate), CRAIGSLIST, POSTLETS, TRULIA and many more. Google alone will expose your home to more than 380 million monthly users.
- MARKETING: I will advertise your property in several magazines and local newspapers that have been proven to work in your area.
- BROKER/AGENT TOUR; In your area, we have weekly TOURS. Realtors/Brokers go preview new listings and even preview some "repeats." This gives Realtors a chance to see, first hand, a home in which they may have interested buyers. The TOUR is listed on the MLS and tour sheets are handed out to ALL Realtors/offices. I'll have your home prepared: lights on, blinds and drapes opened and directional signs well placed outside.
- OPEN HOUSES: Having an Open House may expose your property to dozens of people. And since we live in a "Resort" area, we get a lot of weekend traffic. Open Houses have been/can be successful. Depending on how you feel about them, I will HOLD one periodically until YOUR home is SOLD.
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PREPARING INTERESTED BUYERS: I will "Pre-qual" potential buyers" before showing them your home. This eliminates unwanted stress on you and the buyer who may fall in love with your home and find out they cannot afford to purchase it.
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UPDATES: I call you weekly with updates on showings (if any), Open House feedback and discuss other things we may need to do to increase "traffic" if we haven't had any, or not enough. After 30 days of little or no interest, we may need to consider a "Price Reduction." No seller wants to hear this, but it MAY have to happen.
- WHEN WE GET AN OFFER: We will sit down and discuss the offer and, once agreed upon, we move forward and go into escrow. I will explain the entire process and keep you posted on every step of the escrow. But, first things first, let's get your home prepared and listed.
Things you can do to HELP get your HOME SOLD:
- KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAN & PREPARED: Before leaving for work, or anywhere else, make beds, put dishes in the dishwasher, etc. ASSUME a potential buyer will be seeing your home today!
- MAKE HOME ACCESSIBLE: We want Realtors to be able to get into your home to show it to potential buyers, so we need a lock-box on the property. Our lock-boxes are all digital and record who is/has previewed or shown the home.
- SHOWINGS: When a Realtor calls to schedule an appointment to show, if possible, turn on all lights, turn on soft music, keeps pets in separate area. Put ALL valuables AWAY. Open drapes, shades and curtains. Open doors and windows (weather permitting).
- BE GONE: Try and be gone/away. It's been a known fact that buyers will stick around longer (we WANT that), if the sellers are not home. IF you're unable to be gone, try and stay in a designated area. PLEASE do NOT follow the buyer around. Let the buyer's Realtor do that.
Okay, now, let's get YOUR HOME "Listed" & SOLD!
For your Lake Arrowhead Real Estate needs: KAT DELONG, REALTOR.
ORIGINAL CONTENT WRITTEN BY KAT DELONG
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I like this list - this would be great to share with all sellers to set expectations - thanks.
Great information Kat I have bookmarked it as I am working on getting a packet put together for my sellers.
Hope: Thanks for stopping by. Please feel free to share!
Marie: Thank you! And thanks for bookmarking. Good luck with yout packet--they are very important!
Hey, Kat -
Great outline! This is the essence of what we need to get our sellers to agree to.
Why won't they understand?
Perhaps because there is no shortage of others telling them what they WANT to hear, not what the NEED to hear!
Keep on track!
DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
I like your list. It is very similar to mine. Your profile pic is great!
I love your picture! Your tips for seller's is very detailed and will surely be beneficial for the seller.
Dean TEAM: You are right and it's too bad. Because, MOST of them time, IF a Realtor tells the seller what they want to hear, verses what is, the listing sits as we all know (and truth be known, the seller knows at the time...). Thanks so much for stopping by.
Woo-Hoo: THANKS. I LOVE looking at Kaden (my grandson). So much cuter than grandma. LOL
Melody: Yes, I saw your post yesterday and, though I've been working on this for a week, I decided to wait until today to post... giving yours time to get seen. Congrat's on the feature, by the way. I think most everything we write has been written at one time or another--we all just have our own unique spin on topics.
Thanks so much for commenting.
I think the more we see posts like this, it will help sellers see the light! It is difficult for sellers to understand how the market has changed and what it really takes to get a home sold. Nicely done.
Joan: I agree! We've all been in seller's shoes at some point and most of us WANT to think our home is more special than the next...and perhaps it is. But bottom line is if buyers aren't making offers, it is usually the price. NOT always, but usually.
Thanks so much!!
Kat,
WOW! If a seller is looking for the right agent, they need go no further! Sounds like you will be taking all the right steps to getting their house sold. It is true that location, price and condition are the 3 top reasons a house will sell and I especially like that you mention to have your home professionally staged to prepare it for the market! I may be interested in partneing up with that trusted stager you use, for some of the bigger projects you may have. (you know some of those lake fronts)! ;)
When I get ready to sell you can BET I'll be calling you!
Michelle: uhhhh, YOU ARE my TRUSTED Stager! Thanks, my friend, for your support!
Back in 2001 I was selling a high-end property that I had renovated. Since it was my first high-end renovation, I decided to let a knowledgeable Realtor specializing in high-end properties sell it for me. I interviewed 33 Realtors and chose one because she had lived in the area for 27 years and had been a Realtor in the area for 17 years. I signed an agreement on Tuesday and she left for a 30-day cruise to Rio on Thursday. I had eight open houses while she was gone and got two purchase offers, accepting one. She came back and wanted her 3% commission. Uh, no.
I had my first, last, and only taste of high-end renovations.
Russel: High end...low end.... there are just some people that do ugly things.
Kat, this is really a good "letter" to the seller. I've been thinking of posting something along this same line. Great post. ;-)
Teri: You should. I think sellers (for the most part) find these list helpful. THANKS for the kind words.
Kat,
What an honor, you only use me exclusively! Together we make a good team!
Folks! If your looking for the right agent to represent you when selling your mountain property, or if your looking to buy in the beautiful Lake Arrowhead area, call Kat De Long, you'll be HAPPY you did!
Michelle: That is CORRECT. I ONLY recommend the BEST to my clients, ever! And, yes, we're a super team.
Thank you for your support.
Brett Shaw from Cyberhomes:
Internet exposure is becoming extremely important in selling a home. I realize that most sellers still like to see the print advertising (and it has it's place), but what we need to do is educate the sellers about the power of the web. I find that most people do not realize all the options that are available online. At Cyberhomes.com (which I know your listings show up on), potential buyers will not only see all the photos of a home, but a ton of local information as well.
The listing is accompanied by a full neighborhood analysis, including the percentage of households with children, demographics, median age of people, school information/ratings (with parental comments), average commute times, economic trends, crime rates and statistics, heat maps, and so much more. When told about all of these, sellers will be more than impressed.
I would also like to point out the importance of checking these listings once posted. Some sites are only based on public tax records that may be flawed. Either you, as an agent, or your sellers should go on and make sure that the information is correct. Thanks for this wonderful guideline!
<!--StartFragment-->Brett: I agree with many of your thoughts. The Internet is where at least 80% plus people begin their home searching. ALSO, very important: WE (Realtors) should double check all info on our listings that we find on the Net. Even inputting info onto our local boards (MLS), we usually go by county records, which, quite often, can be incorrect. Thanks for commenting.