Home Selling 101...

I'm often asked, "why do some homes sell and some sit on the market?"

If only I had a crystal ball! We are currently in a market place in Southern Utah where we have multiple offers on some homes and just down the street another will sit for 6 months with very few showings. What's the difference? ... Is it the price?... Is it the features?...

It can be all of the above factors but there are a few things that you should keep in mind if you are selling your home. You are directly competing with dozens of other homes in your particular category of features including views, neighborhood, finishing touches, garage space, etc. Professional agents are acutely aware of this and the few who care... market in a way that will snag the attention of the most buyers in the least amount of time. This is often an uncomfortable experience for both the agent and the seller as often times the agent is a "friend" and is gun-shy about being up front about what needs to get done in order to be competitive. In other words they become "friendly enemies" because they fear that their seller's will feel like keeping the home clean or painting damaged walls will be too much of a burden on their "friends" so professionally speaking this relationship is compromised. Think about it, you wouldn't consider selling your call for top dollar without buffing it out, would you? Your home is most likely much more expensive than your car... so treat the preparation of getting it ready as such.

Often times I've notice that the images on the MLS of a home that hasn't sold look like my 6 year old grandson took them with his play camera. Marketing a home is not unlike marketing any other product... it has to look SPECTACULAR in the pictures because 85% of all prospective buyers will first see your home on the internet and the quality of photos will either attract or repel them within 15-20 seconds. Do the flyers in the box have a "wow" factor that will entice showings or is it simply a "data sheet" that is dry and dead?

The next most common shortcoming that I notice is what advertisers call "the call to action" in the advertising. This is what generates a phone call to a real person that can provide answers to real questions. If the internet and brochures sold homes we, as Realtor's, would be out of a job but the fact is that Realtor's sell homes and the more potential buyer's we can talk to on any given listing the higher success rate we will have... even if we are not the agent representing them. So you have to ask your self when interviewing agents, does this agent have the experience and resources to properly get the job done? All too often the answer is no and the home that could have sold for top dollar sits lonely while it's competitors are snatched up.

If you are considering selling your home give me a call at 435-703-4041 and we can chat about the specifics and I will provide you with a written marketing plan specifically designed to sell your home in the least amount of time for top dollar with the least amount of hassles.

Here's a home that we put on the market and had multiple offers within three days. The listing value was above what the comps were of homes sold in the same complex and both the buyers and sellers came together in a "win-win" scenario.