If you have been feeling the real estate blues, you are not alone!  Like most people trying to sell real estate today, the prospect of selling a home has been hampered from the global economic uncertainty and financial decline in both the real estate and stock markets.  However, there have been other influential factors that have laden the real estate markets in the United States and Canada.  The credit crunch has affected those people with multiple mortgages for properties that they were looking to flip, while many have gone into bankruptcy due to loss of jobs and lucrative lending practices.  Instead of dwelling on the past, people should be focusing on getting realistic with the sale of a home.  The expectations for selling a home can become clouded if sellers are living in the past and still expect things to get back to what they once were.

If you have to sell a home out of necessity or desperate circumstances, then being realistic about selling a home is the key factor in getting through this gloomy period.  Home Link Design has a few helpful tips for sellers in today’s uncertain times:

1.        Do not test the market!  What does this really mean?  Well, if you are like some people in today’s real estate market, trying to list your home for the sake of it may not be a wise idea.  There are a few basic reasons why this won’t work in today’s market.  Firstly, marketing your home in a soft market can lead to an even more oversaturation of homes.  In other words, there are already a handful of sellers, like you, who are just playing the game too!  Do not list your house because you want to make a stab at getting a high list price.  This will not work because your listing will only compete against the hundreds of other sellers out there!  Secondly, testing the market because you would like to “try it out” can definitely burn your house in the long run. Later, if you have to really sell your home, the first list price will be the set price point for your listing which usually means that you will have to list it lower at another time.  Many sellers believe that they can list now and, if they do not sell, then they can relist at a later date.  However, savvy buyers and realtors will always recall a seller’s home price, even if it is six or twelve months down the road.  In other words, your original list price may not be that easily forgotten among other serious sellers and agents alike. Remember that your home will have a track record even if you think that it will not appear on a new listing.

2.       Do not buy before you sell!  This may be a no-brainer in today’s market.  But, there are a lot of people who are not being realistic about their real estate goals.  Now is not the time to play Russian roulette!  Be focused on your immediate goals, and look at selling a home before jumping into the next.

3.       Look at the numbers!  Taking time to make your own market analysis on homes that have sold in your area, the square footages, upgrades and the number of days that it took them to sell, is a great way to understand your real list price.  Do not only listen to your agent’s statistical analysis, if you are serious about listing.  Being consumer savvy is very important in this business of selling.

4.       Scout for a good agent! There have been many agents who have coasted the last few years, but now they have to do more work in getting a property sold.  Try to determine what type of agent is good for your property.  But, be careful that you do not fall into the trap of choosing the realtor with the highest bid.  Try to get a few proposals before choosing your list price and agent.

5.       Setting the stage!  Today a seller will have to work harder at selling their home.  This does not only mean that they will need to be real with their list price, but they will have to take a hard look at their home both inside and out.  As a seller, you should really take the emotional side away from selling and focus on the bigger picture.  First, ask yourself; “What is the real price that you need to have for making a sale?”  And secondly, “Does your house really reflect that amount in the overall scheme of things?” In other words, ask yourself, “Would I purchase my own house for the list price I want?”  If you can honestly answer those questions, then you are ready to make a rational sale.  This means that you need to heartedly know that your home is the best one out there for the list price!  How do you know?  Well, simply put, you have gone out and done your homework!

6.       Doing your homework!  Yes, go and visit other homes to see how your own house ranks in the long list of other homes for sale. Today’s market is a competitive one, so in order for you to successfully sell your home, you must know that your house is priced the best!  This is why you should not play the real estate game if you want to list your home high!  It will not work because other serious sellers will set a definite price to sell!

7.       Waiting for spring!  Typically spring and summer are the best times to sell a home.  Agents usually tell their sellers to wait until the spring to list, however many people in the fall and winter took their homes off the market thinking that they can relist again in the springtime.  Be assured that there will be a lot more homes on the market for sale during this time than most other times of the year.

8.       Looking global!  Well, this does not mean that a seller has to look at every place in the world to know what is happening in their own home town.  But, it sure does mean that everyone is being affected in some shape or form from today’s global economic crisis.  Do not forget that the buyers out there are also looking elsewhere!   Therefore, for those who have recreational properties for sale, now is your time to scope out your competition amongst the rest of the world!  There are many buyers who would rather spend their money in a place that offers them a lot more luxury for the same buck or less. So, as a seller, you need to be even wiser and knowledgeable about other real estate markets out there!

Copyright 2009 Home Link Design Inc.

There are many different elements that can affect the sale of a home.  Usually, making the right first impression can be the key factor in promoting a good sale.  Try these 25 helpful ways to selling your home:

1.  Hide your personal items! Look around to see that your personal items are hidden away! Some examples are those items that are left out for one’s own daily convenience like; hats, shoes, hair brushes, coffee mugs, mail, newspapers, dog dishes and coats. Try to keep these things placed away from view.

2.  Eliminate any odours!  Try to eliminate odours that are unpleasing!  A buyer can become instantaneously turned off at the first hint of a bad smell.  Therefore, be sure to keep garbage out and pet items cleaned.  At times, adding a fragrance with scents can be a good effect, but be sure not to overwhelm your guests with too much perfume smells!

3.  De-clutter your rooms!  Be very sure to take out anything that is distracting to the eye!  This means taking out your clutter and re-organizing your rooms.  Be sure to keep your home neat by eliminating the clutter of items on floors, shelves, closets and table tops.  The less items that are visible, the bigger and better your home will feel!

4.  Cleanliness is a must!  Keeping your house clean is one of the most important factors when selling a home!  Be sure to keep your kitchen and bathrooms extra clean at all times.  This should be a priority when trying to sell your home because buyers inspect these areas closely.  Also, remove any stains or spots that might be give the wrong impression to buyers.

5.  Clean your carpets!   It is a good idea to professionally clean your carpets if there are stains or spots on them.  Making your carpets look clean and new can be an important feature in helping the sale of your home.  Do not show your home to potential buyers if the carpets are dirty because they will only focus on the dollar amount needed to change out the flooring.

6.  Remove items from your counter tops!  Clearing your kitchen and bathroom counter tops is a good way of creating space in these areas.  Removing counter top appliances like; toasters, kettles, containers, and other unnecessary items is essential for creating a clean and open look to your kitchen and/or bathroom space. More importantly, put away those toothbrushes and toothpaste!  Buyers do not want to envision your daily life routines!

7.  Repaint walls!  This might be an unpopular task to do before selling a home, but it definitely pays off in the long run.  A fresh coat of pait will automatically give your house a new fresh look and smell.  If you can-try to paint the walls in a neutral tone.

8.  Put away your family photographs! It is important to depersonalize your house by removing your family photographs.  It is important to allow the buyers to picture themselves living in your home instead of the original homeowners.  Remember that buying a home is emotional for buyers and most times buyers do not want to associate with the sellers.

9. Do your homework!  This means looking at comparable properties in your area and surrounding communities!  At times, you should even go inside these competitive listings to see how they compare to your property.  Be sure that your price point makes sense!  Ask yourself; “Would I purchase the same property for that price if I was a buyer?” Also, make sure that your house is the best one for sale for the same price of other homes in your area!

10.  Be real and objective!  Many sellers get emotionally charged when trying to sell a home depending on their circumstances.  Your realtor can keep you informed, but it is ultimately your own responsibility to know when to drop the price!  If you are a serious seller, then make sure that your house is the best one out there for the similar price as a property with less upgrades!  Get an extra edge by making the price of your home more appealing to buyers who know that your house offers more extras.

11. Don’t ask your friends and family for advice!  This is a common mistake that most people do when selling a home!  The truth is that most friends and family members will not tell you the truth about the pricing and look of your home.  Most times, people tell you what you want to hear…this means that even your own realtor can fall into this same situation.  If you are concerned about the look of your home, then try hiring a professional decorator who can give you some consultation and is removed from the sale process.

12. Be sure that your rooms have purpose!  There are many times when homeowners have converted a space into something else, but only confuses a potential buyer.  For example, there are some dens that are converted into bedrooms or dining rooms instead.  Whatever the purpose for making the change, be sure that the room looks like what you intended it to be!  This means, if the den is used as a bedroom, then be sure that there is a closet.  But, if there is none, then change it back to its original  design.  Always make sure that every room in a house for sale has a functional use.  Do not confuse your buyers with weird changes and designs.

13.  When in doubt, take it out!  If you have anything that is odd or unusual, then try to remove it before a viewing.  For example, try to remove any exotic reptiles, statues, paintings, wall murals, wall hangings, Playboy calendars and posters that might enshrine a room.  Many home buyers do not want to remember your home for these items. 

14.  Repair and Fix!  Do not put your house up for sale if there are still things to be repaired.  This is a great way to turn off any potential home buyers if your house has things to be fixed.

15.  Give your outside curb appeal!  Remember that the first thing that a home buyer sees before entering your home is the outside.  So, try to keep your outside as appealing.  This means to clear off cob webs, sweep off dirt at the front door, repaint any garages, remove trash bins, maintain lawns and hedges.

16.  Replace light bulbs!  This is a simple way to keep your rooms looking bright.  Many times people forget to change the burned out light bulbs in bathrooms, kitchens, basements and bedrooms. 

17.  Turn on the lights!  Be sure to keep those lights on during a showing so that people can see well. 

18.  Open the curtains!  Keep natural light in when its appropriate.  If you have a great backyard or view, then remember to keep those curtains open.  However, if you have messy neighbours, then try to camouflage a bit with semi-open curtains.

19.  Create interesting reading material!  Make sure that those realtor brochures include attractive photographs and detail descriptions.  Most times, a potential home buyer will look at the reading material prior to setting up an appointment to view a home..  Include as many wonderful photos of your house as possible.  Also, include summer photographs of your yard if you life in a wintry place.

20.  Communicate with your realtor!  A good realtor will follow up on showings and review with you any feedback that he/she might have heard.  The information that you get from showings if very important because it allows you to understand what others think about your listing.  More importantly, you will soon know if your pricing is too high! (Which is not a good thing.)

21.  Be flexible!  During the sale of your home, you must be at the mercy of both Realtors and buyers!  Do not put restrictions on the times for showings because this will only annoy the agents.  Remember that you are not only working with your own realtor, but every other realtor in your city.  Try to accommodate all showings no matter how inconvenient they are.

22.  Be open minded with your closing dates! When it is time to list your home, be willing to accommodate for different closing dates.  Try to accommodate your buyer’s closing dates if possible.

23. Have Open Houses! Try to have as many open houses as possible.  Sometimes agents do not like having them because open houses can interfere with schedules.  But, in today’s market, sellers should try having more than the usual.

24.  Create flow!  Try to create a continuous flow from room to room with color scheme and furniture placement.  If your family room is “over stuffed” with furniture, then try to move or remove items like extra chairs, tables and/or floor lamps.  Do not be afraid to take out furniture so that your room appears bigger.

25.  Easy Decor! Add some new decor if your budget allows.  Some simple ways to get a new look is to add new towels, bath mats, and shower curtains in bathrooms; or try to add table mats, napkins, fresh flowers and fruit in a kitchen.

Copyright 2009 Home Link Design Inc.