Selling your house or condo isn’t as simple as throwing your listing up on the MLS system or plopping a “For Sale” sign in your front yard. There is a strategy and a formula that must be followed to ensure a quick sale at the highest price possible, and not all people, or realtors understand that magic mix.
If your home is still sitting on the market after you’ve listed it in the spring, perhaps it’s time to take a look at your selling plan to see where things are falling short. Sometimes it’s not an easy thing to do, but it’s necessary if you want to win in the end.
Exceptional Pro Photos Matter
Online is the first places buyers go to investigate properties. Before they even contact their broker, they’re searching on their own to see what’s out there. So pictures and videos matter. Before you have professional photos taken (by a professional real estate photographer), work with your agent or a staging company to ensure your place is looking its absolute best.
Declutter inside and out, consider a paint touch-up, added artwork and lighting – all things that can make an otherwise drab room shine. Also insist on a virtual tour – give buyers the chance to see more than the photos offer.
Go Beyond MLS
Yes, MLS is the obvious first step to selling a home, but make sure your realtor has a marketing plan in place before your house or condo hits MLS. Do you have a “Coming Soon” campaign on Facebook and Instagram? Does your agent have a realtor network they can blast your listing to?
Social media ads are cost effective and have the potential to reach a wide, targeted audience. You never know who will be browsing Facebook or Instagram and stumble across your beautiful photos of your home. They may even have a friend they can share these posts with as they know they’re looking. Don’t underestimate the power of social media for your listing.
You’re Not Ready for Showings
Buyers have tight schedules just like everyone else working and raising a family. A potential buyer may want to get in to see your house in the evening, early morning or on the middle of a Sunday afternoon. You need to be as flexible as possible when it comes to accommodating buyers.
Sure, that means keeping your house looking like a museum, but by doing this, you’ll allow a larger number of people through your home, and a faster sale than expected. If you turn down a request for a showing, that buyer will most likely move on to another home on their radar where the owners are more accommodating to their requests.
The Price Isn’t Right
When selling your house, if you’re not seeing much action in the first two weeks of being listed, it’s time to take a step back and assess. A house is most likely to see that largest interest right after hitting the market, so if your home is overpriced, buyers will immediately move on.
When setting your price, discuss the competition with your realtor. Consider the current market trends, your neighbourhood trends and be as realistic as you can. The longer your house sits on the market, the more buyers will think something may be wrong with it.
You Have the Wrong Realtor
If the realtor you’re working with doesn’t have a marketing plan, social media plan and insights about the market, you should really reconsider. Before listing your home, you need to ensure you have the right team in place and are working with a seasoned broker who can list your home for the best possible price, and get the word out there to a large network of fellow realtors and potential buyers.
Ask for references from past clients, look into their social media following and ask about unique ideas they have that are related directly to selling your house or condo. Regardless of listing price, you should be getting a full 360-campaign to ensure you’re getting the most for your house.
Selling your home isn’t a simple task. It’s one of the most important transactions of your life and will set you up for your next purchase. Make sure you have the right team and plan in place to give you the most success in the quickest amount of time.