There was once a time where a realtor could simply place a home on the market and wait for the offers to roll in. That is not exactly how things work today. Although the market is still filled with potential buyers, a realtor must go above and beyond to not only capture their attention but convince them to place an offer.
Fortunately, there are ways to go about accomplishing this, even within today’s market. The following includes a list of ways to earn top dollar when selling your home.
Staging is Key
Some may say that a home should be left blank in order for the buyer to picture themselves in it. However, because buyers are within the space for only a short amount of time, they don’t really have the opportunity to picture every single thing they want.
When a realtor stages a home, they are essentially taking care of the imagination part and making it real for the buyer. They don’t have to come in and wonder how a sofa will look or how bedrooms can be transformed into additional living spaces. Staging a home can be all a buyer needs to convince them to put in an offer with you.
Bring in a Professional Photographer
One of the best things you can do for your property is to bring in a professional photographer to take pictures of the property. Your smartphone can take some good pictures, but they really don’t compare to that of a professional photographer’s services.
A photographer can capture the property’s best details and thus help entice buyers to make an appointment to come to look at the property. It should be noted that you should never have a photographer edit the pictures, as this can lead to a negative reputation for yourself and your business.
Utilize Social Media and other Marketing Strategies
It’s safe to say that most people today are on social media. That is why adding and promoting your listings on these platforms is so critical. Your post can serve as a way to quickly communicate with potential buyers and answer any questions or concerns they may have about the listing. Another route you should add as a part of your marketing strategy is sending out flyers through email and direct mail company for real estate.
When you seek and use the services of a direct mail company for real estate marketing purposes, you are placing yourself in front of many more people than your competition. One of the best companies out there for this type of promotion includes Wise Pelican. Have your flyers professionally created to see the most effective results with Wise Pelican.
Host an Open House
Although the concept of an open house has diminished over the years, the fact is that it’s still a very effective tool to use in order to show off your home and potentially receive offers.
Even if people come in who are not in the market for a new home, they are likely to tell their friends or share it on social media. You also have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with those who are in the market for a new home rather than messaging back and forth through the internet.
Never Accept the First Offer
When you see the first offer come for the home, it can be a very emotional time. Your head will tell you to take the offer and get the whole process over with. However, accepting the first offer is never a good idea. This doesn’t mean you can’t work with the first offer.
You may seek to counter with a higher price and go from there. However, when you do not accept, you are gambling the very real scenario of being on the market for months. This is why it is important to take all factors into consideration.
Pre-appraisal and Pre-inspections
One of the most common issues that hold up a deal from being struck is a lack of acceptance of the price. In order to get the property sold and receive top dollar, you must ensure that you have all your ducks in a roll. This starts by having a pre-appraisal done on the property.
A pre-appraisal will provide you with the necessary evidence needed for when you are negotiating the price of the home. A buyer can not make assumptions for the property’s price when you have solid proof of its worth. In addition, you may also have a pre-inspection done onto the home to reduce the chances of issues arising during the final walkthrough.
Invest in Upgrades
You might not have the funds nor the time to invest in large upgrades. Fortunately, there are ways you can improve the property in order to increase the value of the home. One of the best ways to upgrade the property is to improve the curb appeal.
This can involve removing any old tree-stumps, re-paving the driveway, or adding a new paint-job to the outdoor window shutters. These changes are instantly noticeable and can greatly improve the chances of a potential buyer submitting an offer to you.
Learn to Fail Rapidly
As a realtor, you’re going to fail a lot in the real estate industry. However, how fast you learn how to fail can make all the difference in selling a home. For example, if you’re noticing that there is little to no interest, then the price might be the issue, and that must be changed quickly.
However, if you notice that you receive a lot of interest on the property but no offers, then the price might not be the issue but rather the home itself. This is where you then need to consider changing your staging layout or how you’re presenting the home.
Summary
Selling a home can be challenging, but with the right marketing strategy, you can be successful as a real estate salesperson.
