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How to Set the Best Price for Your House
Establishing a price is one of the most important aspects of the home-selling process. You want to receive as much money as you can for your property, but if you price it too high, you run the risk of driving buyers away. When setting a price, it would be wise to seek advice from a real estate agent, someone who knows the market and can gauge what would be an appropriate price. Although you’ll be using a professional, you’ll probably feel like having some input regarding the price, so here are some tips on how to successfully price your house.
“Setting the right price is like a perfect balancing act between the seller and the prospective buyers,” said Elizabeth Whiston, real estate salesperson for Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty’s office in New Windsor, NY. “Hopefully, the price is acceptable. But, if the seller would like to start at a higher point and it is not totally unreasonable, I would list their property at the higher price. I would have an open house the first weekend after taking the listing with the understanding that if no one shows up for the open house and no one has called about the property, the price should be adjusted.”
Before you settle on a price, it’s important to study the housing market, which will tell you what you need to know about current real estate trends. A working knowledge of the market is one of the best tools you can use when determining an acceptable price. Of course, your agent will have a lot of information to offer regarding the market, due to their considerable experience in the real estate industry. Because of the kaleidoscopic nature of the housing market, it’s recommended you seek the help of an agent to assist you with pricing because they will always be on top of the present changes within the industry.
In terms of agents, it would be more beneficial to use one who’s local. That way, you will be working with someone who is familiar with your neighborhood and those around it, and they will be able to compare the prices from other properties on sale and gauge what some buyers are currently paying. A local agent will have an extensive knowledge of what houses typically sell for in a given area, so they will be able to provide you with a price range that may be attractive to local buyers.
It will also help to be patient. After all, it’s a virtue. Don’t rush your house to the market with the highest price you think the property is worth. If you use a high price first, buyers will feel apprehensive about considering your house. This will cause your property to stay on the market longer. The trick is to wait until you and your agent have figured out an appropriate price for your house, and then place it on the market. There’s always room for your agent to negotiate if a potential buyer thinks the asking price is still a little high, but at least it will look better if you establish a realistic price right at the beginning, instead of trying your luck first with a price that won’t be appealing to buyers.
Setting a price for your house isn’t just important, but it can also be fairly tricky. You may be split between pricing the house for however much you think it’s worth and how much it’s actually worth. The price you set for your house is going to either make or break the success of the sale, so by using your and your agent’s combined knowledge of the real estate market, you can figure out the best possible price for your house. Like a fish to a worm, once you hook the potential buyers with an attractive price, you’ll start reeling them in!
To learn more about Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.
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Why You Should Hire a Real Estate Agent to Help Sell Your House
Selling a house is one of the biggest undertakings you can face in your life, which is something I’ve been saying a lot, lately. But, it’s one of those things you really need to realize when you’re about to list your home. As you’re getting ready to do so, you also have to think about contacting an agent. An agent will be a tremendous help during the selling process, so here are some reasons why you should hire a real estate professional.
When you hire an agent, you won’t need to worry about having your time consumed by the responsibility of being available when a potential buyer wishes to see your house. With an agent, you’ll have a lot of assistance because they will be showing the house for you. Besides personal showings, agents will be able to host open houses where buyers and other agents are invited to tour your house. This way, you’ll be able to get multiple potential buyers in your house at one time and obtain a better idea of how much interest your house is generating throughout the community.
When you have an agent on your team, they will be able to gather feedback from the potential buyers about your home. Normally, the buyers will provide their opinions to their agent, who will relay that information to your agent, who will then bring that information to you. This way, any awkwardness is left on the sidelines, and you will be able to receive honest opinions from the buyers because they won’t have the pressure of having to give their feedback directly to you.
Marketing your home properly is extremely important. By having an agent on your team, they will be able to attract attention to your house through their list of contacts and marketing capabilities. As with any line of business, contacts are everything, so if you want to have the best chance at selling your house, hiring an agent with many contacts will give you a shot at meeting the results you’re looking for, and in a timely manner as well. With the technology we have today, the ability to reach hundreds of people is at our fingertips, and an agent will use that digital advantage to notify consumers that your house is on the market and waiting for an offer. Given how most people today use the Internet as their main tool for researching real estate, it’s a no-brainer your agent will work to attract buyers through computers, mobile phones, tablets, and other devices. With online tools, such as MLS websites and social media, your agent is likely to find a wealth of interested buyers. But, although we’re living in a world that’s becoming increasing electronic, additional marketing tools, such as flyers, brochures, and newspaper advertisements still hold power in the real estate industry.
Determining your house’s selling price should be left up to an experienced professional. You will most likely harbor great memories of your house and price it to what you believe the value is based on your emotional attachment. The seller’s agent will come with comps of similar houses in your area, which will show the length of time these homes have been on the market, how much they are listed for, and how much they sold for. All of this will help when determining a realistic market price. Additionally, when you have an agent working with you, they will be able to add positivity to any negative feedback potential buyers may have about the property, and will possibly help with a resolve on a situation.
Real estate agents are professionals, so they know what they’re doing and won’t steer you wrong. They are at your service and will assist you however they can. When selling something as significant as a house, placing it in the care of a real estate professional is the first step to a successful process. If you want to have the best experience you can when selling your house, do yourself a huge favor and hire an agent.
To learn more about Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.
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How to Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal
When you’re getting ready to sell your home, you do everything you can to make it look flawless as you go from room to room to make sure that every space is as clean and organized as can be. While you’re taking care of the inside of your home, however, it’s very important not to forget about the outside. As soon as a potential buyer pulls up in front of your home, you want them to get excited about going inside. They might even want to stay outside for a few minutes beforehand to marvel at the exterior, if you have put a lot of admirable work into it. You want the outside to shine every bit as much as the inside, so here are some steps to take when working to increase your home’s curb appeal.
During the warmer months, you’ll definitely want to do some gardening to add pops of color to your front lawn, so take advantage of the beautiful weather to plant some flowers. You should even get some potted plants to hang from the roof of your front porch, and also maybe add a plant to each side of the front door to make the entrance even more welcoming.
For the colder months, after you’re done raking the leaves, decorate the front of your home with some pumpkins or other fall-season adornments to give your home a festive autumn feeling. In the winter, use some holiday lights to brighten up your home. I know it’s very unlikely for a buyer to be getting a tour of your home during the night when these lights will be turned on, but you never know if they might decide to drive past and see what your home looks like when it’s beautified for the holidays. A decorated home will also help to radiate a sense of warmth and love from within that home.
If it’s raining, have the lights turned on in your home. Even if the potential buyer won’t get the full effect of your home’s exterior beauty in the rainy weather, at least they will be able to see the interior beauty shine through the windows when they pull up to the home.
Always remember to keep your lawn freshly mown. It will let your potential buyer know that you are diligent in keeping up the pristine appearances of your lawn. Don’t make the buyer have to venture through a jungle to get to the front door!
It’s important that you keep the front of your home as tidy as possible, so if you have children, try to keep their outdoor toys off of the lawn and front porch. You don’t want the buyer tripping over anything on their way to the door and potentially hurting themselves. It also won’t hurt to take a quick scan of your lawn to make sure there aren’t any bits of litter floating around.
If your porch is beginning to look old and the paint has started to chip, consider applying a new coating, either of the same color or a different color entirely. If you end up picking a new color, you don’t want it to be obnoxious, but you want it to be eye-catching to the buyer. So, pick something that’s both tasteful and attention-grabbing.
When tasked with boosting your home’s curb appeal, you’ll definitely want to consider hiring a professional if you plan on making any significant changes, such as creating a walkway, like from the driveway to the front door.
For your home to stay in the mind of the buyer, consider including some outdoor artwork on your front lawn, such as birdbaths, sculptures, or wind chimes. Never underestimate the relaxing power of the musical sound of wind chimes. Just try not to go overboard with the artwork.
There is much you can do when improving your home’s curb appeal, but these are just a few suggestions to help you get started. This is a task that involves a lot of work, but it’s also fun and rewarding. Do everything you can to make your home memorable for the potential buyers so they step out of their car and think to themselves, “I would love to own this home.”
To learn more about Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.
Sources
www.bhg.com/home-improvement/exteriors/curb-appeal/ways-to-add-curb-appeal/
