Selling house, Any tips would be aprreciated.?

Question

With the housing mkt being what it is any ideas on how to sell a LITTLE more quickly. My husband got transferred 2 months ago and I am here trying to sell and with 2 little girls. I know the market is slow but does anyone have any ideas? I have a GREAT agent, am on the MLS, in 2 magazines. I was thinking of writing a letter and sending it to local real estate companies telling them that if they sell my house not only will they get the 3% commission but ALSO a $2000 bonus! what does everyone think? I'm getting kind of desperate. We have already dropped the price by $25k and we are still the lowest in our development. Our home shows like a model! NEED suggestions. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Answer 1

Unfortunately I am in the same boat as you but our house has been sitting empty since April...We to have dropped the price drastically and nothing. The market is just really dry right now because the interest rates keep fluctuating!

Answer 2

It sounds like you are on the right path. But is your total commision only 3% or is that the buyer's commision only? If it is, raise the bonus to a higher amount. If your house is in the condition you say it is and you are already priced below other houses comparable to yours, then don't cut the price, just raise the bonus with a caveat that it must be under contract within 30 days to get the bonus at closing. The only other things I suggest is spending some money on landscaping(which is the best return on your money for selling a house) and making sure all clutter is gone when people come to look at it. Lastly, when people do come to look at it, make sure you are NOT there for the showing. Buyers feel uncomfortable when the seller is around. Good luck.

Answer 3

Sometimes offering the buyer's agent a bonus of some sort is a nice incentive, but what might happen is just a lot of "preview" showings without any buyers...

If you haven't already included this, be sure to let prospective buyers know you'll pay for their first year's home warranty (about $400). If you have any new appliances, be sure to highlight that. You might suggest an allowance for new appliances -- that gets a lot of interest.

Also, try putting an ad up on Craigslist... It's free and it works.

Finally, you say your home shows like a model. Ask a friend to come by in the role of a buyer and ask them for their opinion. Does your agent have any suggestions about how the furniture is arranged or cosmetic adjustments? Sometimes those little things help buyers see themselves in your home...

I wish you the best of luck -- keep the faith!

Answer 4

There was an article based on a segment that appeared on Good Morning America called ' How to Sell Your House in 5 Days'. Here is a link to that article.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/PersonalFinance/story?id=2312643&page=1

A couple of other things...my real estate agent told us to write a letter to potential new homeowners describing what we liked about the house. It wasn't a 'marketing' letter, but more like a letter from the heart that talked about why we were leaving the house and what we really liked about the house. You could bring up points about how you've enjoyed the spacious patio that has let you and your neighbors gather and enjoy the night sky. Or you could talk about what great neighbors you have and how you wish you could take them with you.

We included this letter with a package that our real estate agent created that told the details about the house.

When we went to closing, the buyers told us that the letter really drove them to buy the house.

Good luck

Answer 5

We bought a house last year. Here are things that make a home attractive in this market.

Pay all closing costs. Pay for 1 year home warranty (if I see "as is", I think something is wrong). Offer a painting or flooring allowance if either or both are not brand new. Better that than extra to the Realtor (bet a Realtor thought that one up).

Put away all clutter. You have to pack anyway, start getting personal items out now. People do not want to see your things in the home, they want to be able to picture their own things in there. My friend thinks HER house shows like a model. I have heard her say it, but there is clutter & personal stuff on every flat surface in her place.

Clean, clean, clean. Make sure your place sparkles. Nobody wants to buy a dirty place. Make sure there are no hidden smells, either.

Good luck!

Answer 6

You shouldn't have to send th letter-- your agent should be able to punch in information like bonuses into the 'agent remarks' section.

Have you looked at your home like a prospective buyer? Walk around and try to look with fresh eyes. Maybe there are small things you don't notice since you live there.

There's also little gimmicks like baking fresh cookies when someone is coming..... has your agent hosted an AGENTS ONLY open house? Sometimes that really helps, as other agents have seen it and can reccomend it to their byers.

Answer 7

instead of a bonus to the selling agent , offer to pay up to x% of the buyers closing costs. finad a staging professional to give you an analysis of your home to tell you how to make it more saleable. you don't need the letter to other realtors. your realtor should take care of that for you.