If I've heard this once, I've heard it a hundred times.  "Christopher, isn't it a bad time to put your house on the market?"  I always say to them, "It depends."  If you're a seller or about to be, you need to know that you will be competing with a much smaller percentage of homes on the market.  This is definitely to your advantage.  If you decided to list your home in the spring, you competition would increase by about 40-50%.  Please consider the following ten tips to sell your house in today's market, and good luck!

  1. This goes without saying, but it must be said one more time.  ALWAYS use a Realtor.
  2. Go with a Realtor that is Internet savvy.  Why?  Because 100% of home buyers initiate their search for a first time home, or new home on the Internet.  Case in point; I blogged about one of my listings on a Monday.  Tuesday morning, it was listed as #12 on Google under the key search phrase "Cedar Rapids Real Estate."  What are the chances that a "potential buyer" might see this listing advertised and contact the Realtor?
  3. Don't use a Realtor just because you see their name on a billboard.  These Realtors don't have time to even answer their phones, and they do not have time to personally attend to your listing.  Use a Realtor who has time, educates you about the selling process, and is always within email or phone reach. 
  4. Use a Realtor with a LOW list to sale ratio.  In other words, you list your home for $100,000 and it sell for $99,000.  That means your house sold for 99% of the asking price.    That's good if your the seller.  Seller's get this great list to sale ratio by working with a Realtor who actively and dynamically markets their listings.  My list to sale ratio is about 99.7% of the asking price.
  5. Price your home to sell, and not sit on the market for six months.  Here is where we have to swallow some price, and perhaps sweat equity that we have built up in our house.  Selling is emotional and a Realtor is unemotional about this process.  That's why we use active and sold comparables in your neighborhood to determine what a buyer is willing to pay for your house in your neighborhood.
  6. Replace, replace, replace!   If these items are worn or outdated, replace them, if you can.  Items like the roof, furnace, A/C, flooring, and/or carpet, light and plumbing fixtures.  Fresh coats of paint do wonders for porches, doors, and walls.
  7. Curb appeal.  I can't emphasize this enough.  You can have a gorgeous showcase home inside, but if your curb appeal doesn't match, you are losing 30-50% of your potential buyers.
  8. Eliminate the odors.  Do not use plug-ins if you can help it.  If you have to use a scent, make sure it is a woodsy or earthy scent and that it is on as low of a volume as possible.  Your idea of a good smell is someone else's idea of a sneeze attack.
  9. Your first offer is always your best offer.  Try to work with the first offer you receive, even if it's a low offer.  You will usually end up selling to this person, if you can counter back and forth a few times to reach a happy medium.
  10. Smile, think good thoughts, and keep your chin up. Your house will sell, and eventually find the perfect buyer.

Christopher Smith

Skogman Realty

www.christophersmithrealtor.com

christopher@skogman.com

319-329-5988

Licensed Realtor in the state of Iowa