Hot Seller Tips

As much as the media would like us to believe all of the doom and gloom of the "R" word... people continue to buy and sell property.  January 2008 has kicked of strong.  We've seen increased activity in our local market with the incredible interest rates available and the prices of homes are very reasonable.  For many this spells a perfect recipe for first time homeownership with affordable payments.  If you'd like to know more about what is going on locally please give me a call or send me an email.   I'm always available to answer your questions.

We all know that the internet is both a blessing and a curse. It is amazing the extensive information you can find on almost anything by just typing in a few words. Well, as is the case for most things the quality of the information varies by who is doing the data input. And again, as with most things there is a reasonable amount of error that one should expect. This is definitely the case for many of the so-called Real Estate “information sites.”

You know the kind of sites I’m talking about, you want to know all about investing in foreclosures for example but before you get the information you have to pay a subscription fee. Or, what about the ones where you can enter in your address and find out exactly how much your house is worth? Well, let me be the first (or maybe not) to say that for what my two cents are worth… I think you should actually put your trust in a real live breathing local professional to help you with these kinds of things. I love the internet as much as the next person but I know that a database has limitations and when it comes to the most substantial investment you are likely to ever make, I think I’ll stick to someone I trust. I wouldn’t perform my own surgery from instructions on the internet. Surgeons go to school for years and years to learn to do what they do. A good real estate agent will also have undergone and continue to seek extensive training and knowledge.

So before you go thinking that your house is valued at what the internet says, invite a real estate agent you know and trust to discuss what is really going on in your local market and how your home compares to the others that are selling in that area. And I would never pay a site online to find out about local foreclosures.  It is likely that your Realtor has access that data for you or can direct you on how to find the information in your area.

Remember that the internet often is full of misinformation and only very general diluted data. If you want to be certain that you have all of the pertinent facts you should consider contacting that professional real estate agent that you know or trust. If you don't know anyone you should ask a friend you trust about their agent.

Well, we’ve been talking about selling in a buyers market and I think it’s important to talk about all of the emotional ups and downs that happen when we decide to sell our property. Even from the get go, if we are honest meeting with the Realtor can be a difficult time. We worry that they might pass some kind of judgment about our property that they might want to know too much about our financial situation that they’ll want to put a lockbox (gasp) on our home. Well, no worries… you’re normal.

Buying and selling property is one of the most stressful emotional things you can do. Having an experienced, educated Realtor who is not afraid to help educate you also, is priceless. The Realtor will know the market, they’ll help you to see the big picture and give you facts to make your decisions easier. The Realtor should be able to negotiate strongly and help separate the emotions of buyer and seller and create a win-win contract to buy and/or sell. This is a business transaction and should be treated that way.

Ok, so let’s talk about that awful feeling that someone will be forming an opinion directly about you. It is not about you personally. It is about getting your property (if you’re the seller) SOLD for the highest amount of money in the shortest amount of time. The best thing a seller can do BEFORE meeting with the Realtor is to mentally move out of your property. Realize that the small discomfort in your routine being upset is just a minor inconvenience compared to the joy you will experience when you achieve the “next step.”

A Realtor should be someone you trust enough to give a clear picture of your finances in regards to your motivation for selling and what that “next step” will be for you. They will need to have your permission to open “pre-escrow” so that you can find out ahead of time exactly what is owed against the property and make sure there are not any surprises. This can relieve loads of stress when the offer comes in because you’ll know exactly where you are from where you want to be.

Finally, a lockbox is really a beautiful thing. The lockbox has hours that can be set for access and provides a reporting system to the Realtor that is available online showing what agents have accessed the home and at what time and date. The lockboxes and their electronically monitored keys are only available to licensed approved individuals who’ve passed strict guidelines. If for some reason you still have an adverse reaction to the thought of a lockbox, talk to your Realtor… I am sure together you can come up with a plan that is more suitable for you and your situation.

So, get excited about the prospect of moving on, up, out… whatever the case may be for you. (The theme song for that old sitcom “The Jefferson’s plays in the background) Do yourself a favor and mentally move-out in preparation for the future.