Making small price reductions again and againNothing smacks of desperation more than incremental price drops. The longer a property is on the market, the more jaded the buyers become. The more times the price is cut, the staler the offering appears. Buyers reason that a lot of people must have seen it and that a lot of people must have rejected it. And if that is the case, then why even bother to consider it?
Waiting it outIf you decide to wait, you are joining the thousands of other homeowners who have also decided to wait. When a few decide it’s time to take the plunge, you are already too late. If you need/want to sell now, then sell now. There will never be a better time.
Showing your house before you get rid of your clutterYou wouldn’t try to sell your car without first clearing it out, would you? Trying to sell your house when it is full of clutter is the same thing. People don’t see charming family mementos and alluring bric-a-brac; they see visual noise, like empty soda cans and banana peels strewn on the back seat of a Chevy. The buyer doesn’t want to see your house; they want to see their house of the future. Find a temporary home for all of your cherished possessions and let the house speak for itself.
Not taking the first quick bid This happens time and time again. The buyer gets a bite early on and they are suddenly filled with confidence. It feels like you’re standing over a pond packed with a million hungry fish. The first offer doesn’t seem great and you naturally assume there are bigger and juicier fish to be had. So you throw the tiddler back in. Big mistake. That “tiddler” is often the catch of the day.
By Barbara Corcoran
Instead, slash the price. Find out what your house is worth by looking at similar properties in the neighborhood and price it 10% below them. The most enticing houses on the market are the newest and the cheapest. If you can be both, you’ll offload yours in no time at all.
Hiring the wrong brokerThere are many ways of finding a good broker. Personal recommendations from friends and colleagues are often the best way to go. If someone outside the real estate business with nothing to gain is bringing up a broker, you can be pretty sure you’re on to a winner. The best brokers — the top 10 percent — do 90 percent of all the business. So don’t get stuck with a lemon. You want someone with enthusiasm and drive, someone who will give you the attention you need and steer you through the whole messy process with courtesy and professionalism.Waiting it outIf you decide to wait, you are joining the thousands of other homeowners who have also decided to wait. When a few decide it’s time to take the plunge, you are already too late. If you need/want to sell now, then sell now. There will never be a better time.
Showing your house before you get rid of your clutterYou wouldn’t try to sell your car without first clearing it out, would you? Trying to sell your house when it is full of clutter is the same thing. People don’t see charming family mementos and alluring bric-a-brac; they see visual noise, like empty soda cans and banana peels strewn on the back seat of a Chevy. The buyer doesn’t want to see your house; they want to see their house of the future. Find a temporary home for all of your cherished possessions and let the house speak for itself.
Not taking the first quick bid This happens time and time again. The buyer gets a bite early on and they are suddenly filled with confidence. It feels like you’re standing over a pond packed with a million hungry fish. The first offer doesn’t seem great and you naturally assume there are bigger and juicier fish to be had. So you throw the tiddler back in. Big mistake. That “tiddler” is often the catch of the day.
By Barbara Corcoran
