| In the current housing market; specifically in the | | | | with the other homes of comparable size, location |
| resale homes, it takes more than dropping a sign in | | | | and style. I don't care if you know for a fact that |
| the front yard and proclaiming, "Come one, come all. | | | | the house down the street is a pile of junk; if you |
| Buy this home!" The keys to a successful home sale | | | | price yours too much above that one, yours will not |
| are price and salability. Price is pretty self explanatory | | | | seem attractive to anyone. Buyer agents are very |
| on the surface; but I'll get into the details. Salability is | | | | customer oriented. If they think they can get their |
| the ability to be sold. Again I will cover the details. | | | | buyer a deal, they'll go for it every time. Example: the |
| You will find, in this current buyer's market (I'm | | | | average price in your neighborhood is $250,000; you |
| speaking generally about the nation and specifically | | | | have the best house on the block so you feel your |
| about the Denver, Colorado metro area) that | | | | house is worth $260,000. Guess what? The house |
| circumstances have to be close to perfect to sell a | | | | down the street with the same square footage and |
| home. Buyers and Sellers will get what they are | | | | floor plan as yours that needs a new lawn, a roof, |
| looking for out of the transaction when everything | | | | some paint and carpet is being sold for $225,000! You |
| meets their needs and/or desires. So many homes | | | | are $35,000 higher than the "junk house" down the |
| are on the market right now in varying conditions. | | | | street! How much grass seed, shingles, paint and |
| You have the foreclosure properties; which may be | | | | carpet could you buy for $35,000? Probably enough |
| missing from a toilet and range to all of the cabinets, | | | | for your home and have some money left over to |
| doors, fixtures and furnace. The short sale; which is a | | | | buy a barbeque pit, some patio furniture, and maybe |
| deal that the homeowner makes with the lender to | | | | a new television among other things. I'm not |
| sell the home for less than what is owed. (see my | | | | recommending that anyone "under" price their home |
| article titled "Foreclosure May Not Be Your Only | | | | to get it sold. I am saying, listen to your Realtor, |
| Option") Shortsale properties could be in complete | | | | they are the professionals and they know what they |
| disrepair all the way up to show home condition. And | | | | are doing. |
| you have the normal resale home. Someone is selling | | | | Salability. Your home has to be in show home |
| their home to move up, move down, relocate, retire | | | | condition to attract people to put in an offer. They |
| or any number of reasons. Usually these homes are in | | | | need to picture themselves moving right in and |
| great condition; maybe only needing a touch up or | | | | relaxing that evening, knowing that they just bought |
| repair here and there. They have equity enough to | | | | a jewel. I use an interior designer; not to drastically |
| sell their home and are not in dire straights to get it | | | | change your home, but to assist you in organizing |
| sold. So what's the difference? Motivation. | | | | and arranging what you already have to make |
| This article is directed toward the homeowner that is | | | | appealing to buyers. The purpose of the designer is |
| motivated to sell their home. For whatever reason, | | | | to help you depersonalize your home from being |
| you want to sell your home for as much as you can | | | | YOUR home and setting it up to potentially be |
| get out of it. | | | | someone else's home. You would be amazed at the |
| First, you have to get people in to see your home - | | | | difference. |
| price. Then the prospective buyers have to want to | | | | So here you have it; price your home to be |
| buy your home as opposed to another one down | | | | competitive using a Realtor, use a professional to |
| the street - salability. | | | | help make your home look the best it can be, and |
| Price. Without the price being set correctly, your | | | | set yourself up to win. You will be glad you did. |
| home will never be seen. It has to be competitive | | | | |