In a market with low inventory and a cache of buyers ready and able to purchase their homes, why are home sellers leaving money on the table? Here are three of the most common mistakes being made by sellers that are costing them THOUSANDS of dollars.
1. Taking the first offer that is presented. If a home is priced appropriately, your broker should be allowing the listing to season for at least a week before considering offers. This allows EVERY buyers agent with a buyer in hand to either get their buyer in the home OR do a video preview for their buyers that are moving to the area and cannot be present for a showing. Why would you take the first offer received when you can have 4 or 5 buyers competing blindly in a highest and best situation. Your Realtor should be suggesting this tactic. Don’t accept anything less than highest and best, even if your listing agent “has the perfect buyer.” This is not an agent looking out for your best interests. but it may be an agent that is looking to earn both sides of a commission!
2. Allowing a listing broker to go live with inadequate photos. Would a used car lot put a car out front that hasn’t had the outside washed and the interior detailed? They know that in order to get the best possible price, you must put your best foot forward. Why would you accept anything else on one of the biggest investments in your lifetime? I am amazed at how many brokers list a home with no photos, one photo, or photos with unkempt bedding and dishes. Demand a PROFESSIONAL photo shoot from your listing agent.
3. Hiring your friend to sell your home for you. Once again, with one of the biggest investments of your lifetime, why wouldn’t you interview multiple listing agents to see who will do the best possible job for you and work to get you the best possible price? Once you sell your home you can take the thousands of extra dollars made by hiring the correct agent and then you can take your friends to dinner or on a great vacation.
You can get the most from your home in a low inventory, Seller’s market which is where we are at in Lake County right now! Going into the Spring listing season, there are so many buyers on the horizon that your correctly priced home will get multiple offers if you (and your listing agent) allow it to. With the right mix of marketing and professional know how, a Realtor should be able to fully represent your interests and get you the best possible price for your lifetime investment!
At Independence Realty, we put our client’s interests first, and offer a principle-based approach to Real Estate! Contact us today to get your FREE market analysis of your homes value and to see what our professional marketing can do to get your home sold for the best possible price, FAST!