ComeBuyAHouse.com

Pricing, staging–ways to sell faster and for more money

Three things to consider

We’ve found that when sellers choose a price in the current market range at the beginning of the listing period that takes into account the location, condition and appeal, their homes sell faster and for more money.  So we provide you with an in-depth analysis of the market value of homes in your area to help you decide on your selling price.

Homes that the seller has moved out of sell faster because the personality of the owner has left the building. If you have watched any HGTV shows about setting up a house for sale, you know that the way you live in a house and the way you show a house for sale are two very different things!  It’s much easier to keep the house ready to show when you are not living in it.  However, we totally understand that you may not be able to afford two houses at once, so we will help you strategize the best way to market your property around your own individual situation.

In addition, staging your home by de-cluttering, de-personalizing, and doing pre-listing fix up, will sell it faster.  Staging addresses all the senses as a buyer enters a home.  Sound, scent, space, light and textures all add to the ambience that welcomes a buyer home.  Melinda Knight, owner of MAK Promotions Design & Decorating, and a member of International Association of Home Staging Professionals gives these 10 reasons for staging your home for sale:

Ten Reasons to Stage

1.  Your house will sell faster than if it hadn’t been Staged 
2.  More buyers will find your house attractive
3.  The offers you receive will bring you the most money possible for your house 
4.  The best marketing tool available is the appearance of your house
5.  More agents are happy to bring their clients to view houses that have been Staged 
6.  Buyers will know your property has been cared for 
7.  Appraisers are more likely to appraise Staged houses for more 
8.  Buyers can more easily imagine themselves in your home
9.  The process of Staging and organizing makes moving a smoother process 
10. Knowing your home looks its best reduces the overall stress of selling your house

One additional thing to remember

Choosing an agent that creatively markets your home is key to a speedy sale.  We effectively capture the broadest range of today’s buyer market with our creative marketing  including access to a stager, open house events, blogging, online ads, web tour commercials, our own network of former clientele and coworkers.  Our monthly newsletter features our listed properties as well as the coolest houses for sale.

How the Seattle time on the market is changing

I think agents need to prepare sellers for a longer time on the market when they list their homes. I’m seeing so many more houses on the market for a longer period of time than was usual, even last year at this time.

Both buyers and sellers in the Seattle area are used to sales that happen quickly when a house is listed, and that does still happen when a house is priced well, looks great and suits a lot of buyers. But now we are seeing perfectly good houses stay on the market 60, 90, 120 days, especially when they are over the median price range. It’s time for buyers to stop judging houses by how long they’ve been on the market–stop asking what’s wrong with this house–and just go see it. There is very likely nothing wrong. And it’s time for sellers to be a bit more patient with the process–we’ve had it easy for a long time now.
There is not automatically something wrong with your agent if your house doesn’t sell in 30 days like it would have a year ago. That being said, there are ways to increase the probability of selling your house in 30 days–price it right and market it like crazy in the first couple of weeks. Staged, good looking homes sell quicker. Get all the way ready before listing. Make the most of the first two weeks. And then be patient because the purchase requires a buyer, and they are just now coming out to buy in greater numbers.

Today we perched in Bluebird Meadows

You’ve always wondered what it is like for an agent at an open house, haven’t you?  This is what we do for sellers, to sell their houses, and to meet buyers face to face. 

Larry and I toured the neighborhood yesterday to be sure that we knew the houses around this one.  We found that about half the houses on the market in the area are vacant.  Many had been bought, fixed up and re-sold–otherwise known as “flipping”.  We talked to one owner who said that the market had gone flat after his purchase, and he didn’t realize the gains that he had wished for.  It’s a GREAT time for a buyer.

To this pseudo gingerbread hardwood-floored cozy little enclave, Larry brought two guitars, and we brought our coffee, flyers, and cards to give to passers through and lookie-loo’s.  It’s the cutest little three bedroom, one bath with a sunny southern exposure family room in the back.  You can see a few pictures on my website http://www.lynettehensley.com.

So far, we’ve had one gramma, one agent, (then the agent came back with his clients), a couple looking in the area….Took a break, because another agent with a couple just came through, then another couple who are selling a condo in Edmonds, and then a man who wants to buy a rental home.

It’s almost 2 PM, and we are going to be here till 3 PM.  I’ll let you know if I sell the house.