If your New Year's resolution involves selling your home in 2011, you need to plan ahead: There's plenty of inventory and it is still a buyer's market. If you don't have to sell this year, if you are not in a distressed situation, it may be more challenging because you will have to deal with the values set in the marketplace by these bank-owned and short sale properties. You just need to be flexible and prepared.
1. By listing in early January, you might be able to catch some of those early birds who start browsing in the winter so they can find a new home before school starts in the fall. Many buyers start their searches online right after Christmas, and continue through the Spring.
2. Price it right the first time. The longer a property sits on the market, the more price reductions you will make. Buyers will assume there's something wrong with the home, and realtors won't aggressively show the property, because they think you aren't motivated to sell. Obviously, the expertise of an experienced Mercer County NJ Realtor (me) is invaluable to make sense of prices in your community.
3. Advertise that your home is not a short sale or bank-owned property, if that is the case. Not all buyers are looking for a fixer upper or want to wait several months for a bank to decide on their offer.
4. Stage your home for buyers. Make the decor neutral, hide your momentos, and declutter. You will be moving anyway. Always leave for showings and take your pets and children with you.
5. Clean and clean some more. Remember, you have to look better than your competition.
6. Repair all the minor items you've been putting off. A home inspection prior to listing is really worth the money. Then you will be prepared for what the buyers will find.
7. Get your documents ready. Buyers will want to know what the utilities run, the age of the roof, plumbing repairs, hot water heater, etc.
8. Be flexible and patient. If a buyer wants to come at your dinner hour, or on Super Bown weekend, or when you are at church, let them. They will just look at another house if you don't.
So much of trying to sell is common sense and thinking of how you would feel as a prospective buyer. But we get busy and may not always be prepared. If you plan now for what you will need to do to be in the best position to sell when it gets busy (Spring), you'll be way ahead.
Call or email me to talk about the price you might get for your home, and what the market forces are in your Mercer County community.
Joe Giancarli, SA
Short Sale Specialist
Real Estate Advisor
609-658-2612
jgiancarli@remax.net
http://www.joegiancarli.com/
http://www.njhomesource.com/
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