Are Selling Your Home? Be Proactive, Be Part of the Process

It is a tough market for sellers. Should you try selling your home during this slow market? Why not, anything is possible, and a sale only requires one buyer. One key in the selling process is for the owners to be very proactive.

Our home has been on the market for a little over 6 months. Lucky, we have an extremely dedicated realtor, Robert Bradney of Bender Realty in Cleveland , Tennessee , who goes far beyond the normal range of services. I truly think if he got a call at 3:00 AM for a showing he would be here! Following are some tips that I have learned first hand that you might find useful.

Proactive Tip #1

You hired a realtor, you signed a contract with him and you need to put your trust in that person. Listen to what he tells you about pricing, updates your home may require and the best way to market it. You might believe your home is worth $500,000 but if your realtor feels the selling price should be $300,000, take his advice. Be part of the process.

Proactive Tip #2

Just because you have a realtor, doesn't mean you don't have any input into the selling process. If you have an idea for an advertising approach, be sure to express it to your realtor. If your realtor took photos in winter and now it is summer, ask him to take current photos. If you don't like the wording in an ad or on-line, suggest it be changed. Be part of the process.

Proactive Tip #3

Make sure you keep in contact with your realtor. Touch base, check in, and find out what's new. Has he received any calls about your home? What are people saying about it? Do they think the price is too high? Ask for a report each time your house is shown. Ask your realtor if you need to make a price reduction, or possibly sweeten the deal by offering a bonus for a fast signing. Be part of the process.

Proactive Tip #4

We have done an enormous amount of updating on this home. I want people to know that the roof is only a year old. I want potential buyers to know that the heat pump is only two years old. I want them to see that we have done the work and that it is move-in ready. Put together a list of what you have done to update your home along with the month and year the items were completed. That page is part of the package that is handed to each person that tours our home. There is also some general information such as what time the mail comes, the name of the utility companies and other information that a buyer may find useful. Don't forget to include your average electric bill, gas bill and water bill. These are things potential buyers will ask about. Be part of the process.

Proactive Tip #5

We have sold two homes in Tennessee , this current home will make the third. In the case of the first two, which were in different counties, an open house was not something that drew people in. When we were first approached about having an open house for this home I was against it. I let our realtor talk me into it and the open house produced a few lookers. Nothing came out of it, but that is the chance you take.

We recently held a second open house and my husband and I were part of the process. We stayed during the open house, in the background, but available to answer any questions. Considering the weather was 98 degrees, hazy, hot and humid the day of the open house, we had 5 groups of folks show up. There were at least two good possibilities out of the 5. It's too early to know if there was a buyer in the group, but at least more people saw the house. Potential buyers do tend to share information with their friends who may also be house hunting. If your realtor doesn't mention having an open house, you should ask about it. If it is something that can draw people in, it's a good thing. Be part of the process.

Summary:

Use the knowledge that your realtor has. Ask questions and make suggestions when appropriate. The goal is to sell your home. Be proactive, be part of the process.

Sources:

Personal knowledge and experience

Benderrealty.com