Separating Yourself from the Crowd

Tips for sellers in a competitive market

 

 

   For the past several years, the Carolinas have enjoyed very good economic times. Business growth, job creation and retirement have all brought eager homebuyers to our neighborhoods. Unfortunately, an outtake of these good times is now an oversupply of homes for sale in some areas. That's great news if you are looking to buy, but a possible source of worry if you're the seller.

      So, how can you set your home apart from the competition? How can you make the buyer look at your home in a positive way? And ultimately, how do you get an offer at the price point you want, in a short period of time?

      Real estate is far from an exact science, but some strategies have proven successful for sellers when it's a "buyer's market". We start with some basic assumptions:

  • Your home is priced fairly and competitively
  • You've staged and de-cluttered the home and made it memorable
  • You've made the home available for showings seven days a week

     Beyond this, a good first step is to offer a home warranty. This offers peace of mind to homebuyers and is especially important if you are buying new construction. An Allen Tate HomeTrust Warranty can offer the homeowner real value for less than $400.

    If the home has been listed for sale for a while with little activity, don't necessarily be quick to reduce the price. Rather, consider offering help with closing costs. Buying down the interest rate for several years is also attractive to buyers at certain price points.

    A pre-inspected home also encourages buyer activity. By addressing any pending repair issues in advance of a contract encourages it to be a "sticker".

     Often, Allen Tate Company is asked about Realtor bonuses. This, by all means, is truly a last resort. Typically, pricing, staging, warranties, and financing considerations, coupled with Allen Tate marketing resources and your Allen Tate Realtor's exposure of your property to neighbors, feeder neighborhoods and area businesses, will produce results you are looking for. Our 50-year reputation and more than 23,000 homes sold in 2007 stand as a testimony to our ability to get the job done for you!