Today's buyer is doing their research online. It's more important than ever to be an informed and prepared seller. Doing your homework and strategically marketing your house, with help from the right professionals, is the fastest way to a successful sale.
It takes five keys to unlock the secret to a successful sale:
This, in my opinion, is the most important key. Listing before the house is 100% ready is a mistake that you will regret. Many sellers are talked into premature signing by realtors who are afraid of losing the listing. Repeat after me: "You don't get a second chance to make a great first impression."
Do your homework! Do they have an online presence? What marketing tools do they bring to the table? Check out websites and ask for references. Check the references. Look at their current listings online. Pictures are worth a thousand words...do not hire a realtor with poor MLS photos! Don't make your selection based on commission - you may just get what you pay for.
A home staging consultation will arm you with the information you need to make your house more appealing to buyers. Home staging increases perceived value and will help to justify your asking price. Home staging is not decorating, it's marketing.
Almost all buyers start their search online. The photos of your house will determine whether you get calls for showings or potential buyers pass by your listing. Your photos are your greatest marketing tool. Do not underestimate their power!
Once your house is ready, it needs to stay in a constant state of readiness, and be available for showing at a moment's notice. Sure, it's inconvenient and requires some extra work on your part...but the alternative, being comfortable and lazy, means staying on the market for a much longer period of time. Every day on the market costs you money.
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Great keys to unlock a successful sale-all of these keys are valuable together in order to assure a sale.
Excellent points that sellers really need to listen to. Thank you for this post.
Sharon...Very nice post full of good advise. At what point would you suggest the seller get prequalified for the financing on their next home?
Sharon, I like to point out some of the things I see that need attention before the first showing, as you say you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. If there are obvious issues a home inspection prior to listing might be a very good thing to do as well.
Hi, Sharon. What a clever post. I love the way you used the keys to make you "key points" and I flagged it for a feature.
You've created another GREAT POST here Sharon. Love the Keys and the 5 points. Bookmarked AND flagged for a feature!
Excellent post Sharon! And very clever how you linked back to your previous posts. All good info for sellers -- I hope they're paying attention!
Great post Sharon! One thing to add-let the Realtor do the work! LOL
GREAT post and very clever use of the the visual "keys"!!!!
Reblogged from my Open House where I feel like the lonely Maytag repairman. It is the empty one. Hmmm, might there be some connection, Sharon?
Sharon: I think the last key... maintaining a staged condition... is one step that is often overlooked. Great post. You go, girl !
After re-reading your five keys... number one... listing before you are ready... I think that is something that is very easy to do... especially when the Realtor may be not very sure that they actually HAVE the listing. I think it may be a case of getting it listed regardless... rather than chancing not getting the listing later.
Sharon- you have really had your thinking cap on. What a well thought out presentation. This should be bookmarked for everyone to use when educating our Sellers.
Sharon, I am absolutely impressed and inspired by your post, Not only is the content excellent, but the presentation is beautiful. Thanks for raising the bar, I hope I can compete, great job
Fabulous post Sharon - another winner for sure. I couldn't agree more with all five points! Thank you!
Hi Sharon,
I just love your post! Excellent points and presentation. Very nicely done.
Rita
Pat and Mary: Thank you. Hopefully sellers will find the information helpful.
Michael: Interesting question, but not one that I am qualified to answer.
Steve: Home inspection is a good idea as part of the preparation. Always best to know what could be an issue right from the beginning and deal with it before buyers enter the picture.
Leslie: Thanks! I appreciate it! My original inspiration was my grandson's plastic baby keys. When photographing them proved to be difficult, I had to resort to clip art.
Ginger: Thanks for the flag! I'm glad you like the post!
Maureen: It is my hope that sellers are paying attention too! Thanks!
Debra: Hey, I'm trying to make your life a little easier, not give you more to do!
Gary: I speak for all stagers when I say "thanks for your support of the industry!"
Kathy: I wanted to use my grandson's baby keys, but I couldn't get good photos. I'm glad you liked the ones I ended up using.
Irene: Thanks for the reblogg! Sorry to hear the Open wasn't hopping with potential buyers.
Karen: Many sellers let their guard down and appearance can start to slide downward as they slip back into their daily routine. What's the point of all the work and prep if you don't keep it up?
I take premature listing very seriously. I've seen the negative results too many times, so I caution every seller I come in contact with.
Kathy S: Oh the thinking cap has been on, you got that right. My mind has not had a moments peace for three days working out the details of this post. It really is a sickness! When does it get easier?
Gerry: I am very flattered! You have made my day with that comment! For the record, you are competing just fine!
Sheila: I'm sure there are no surprises here for you. Thanks for the support!
Rita: I appreciate it! Thanks!
Great post Sharon
I like the way you presented it
Sharon
Your post is right on target and I would like to re-post your blog for others to share your thoughts.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
I swear I'm going to print that out and take it on all listing presentations! Brava!
Great post! To the point and effective!
These are the top five in my book too! Outstanding post Sharon!! You Rock!
Milan: Thank you!
Lou: Thank you, I'm glad you found it reblog worthy!
Lisa: That's awesome! I'm flattered!
Chris: I appreciate it, thank you!
Cathy: Great minds, right? Thank you so much!
Ncie presentation and information. Thanks to Irene's re-blog I found it!
No no no-what I mean is after you give the seller all this great advice and they take some of it then they proceed to call you EVERYDAY and tell you what you SHOULD BE DOING. That is what I meant. ;-)
Gary: I'm so glad Irene reblogged and sent you my way! Thanks for letting me know.
Debra: Understood! I've met some of those clients, myself!
Great Post. I would like to use this with your permission. Vivian
Great will laid out post, I'm flagging for a feature, and reblogging!
Great post! I am happy to say that an online presence is finally paying off for me! See my blog ACTIVERAIN-WE HAVE CONTACT!
I will re-blog this great info for clients other Realtors--- thanks for sharing! Kathy
Vivian: You go right ahead and use this to help spread the word about the importance of staging!
Cindy: Thank you, not only for the comment, but for reblogging and flagging the post. I appreciate it!
Kathy: Thanks for the positive reinforcement! Online presence is the fastest way to success!
Sharon, I would love to use this well written post somehow in my marketing. Do you have any suggestions and may I use it?
Sharon,
Great post! Word's of wisdom for any home seller or Realtor getting ready for the market!
Peggy: If you wanted to use it for a presentation you could reproduce it in Power Point, or create "key" graphics and print in on foam board. I suppose it could be used in brochure form. Let us know what you come up with.
Michelle: Thank you, I love be credited with words of wisdom!
Thanks for sharing these great reminders. I love how you laid out your post. Keep up the good work!
David: You are very welcome. Thanks for the great comment!
Very nicely put! I love the "keys" concept -- one of my Realtor bud's says your first four keys -- but she compares it to the wheels on a car. Says the car can't get to where you want to go if it doesn't have all 4 wheels. I'll have to tell her your 5th key should be her spare in the trunk! :-)
Karen: I love it! The idea of "having the spare in the trunk" is very creative on your part. I'm sure she will love the idea too!
Sharon, these are keys to success! Thanks for sharing!
Patty: You are welcome, thanks for commenting!
Well put together post...thanks.
Valerie: Thank you!
Sharon ~ As you can see this is an awesome post and again fully worth a re-blog. It should be a featured post!
Monique: Thank you so much! Maybe it wasn't featured because it has been reblogged so many times! lol!
I caught this as a reblog and just wanted to say Thanks for 5 Great Keys. Margaret C.
Margaret: I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks for stopping by and letting me know!
I saw this as a reblog and just wanted to let you know that this is an awesome post.
Stacey-Ann: I'm so glad you found the post, and I'm really glad you stopped in to let me know you liked it. Thanks so much!