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Advice for Sellers in a Slow Real Estate Market

The first part of this decade was glorious for home sellers. Just stick up a sign on your home and get an offer. Well, things have changed and so must your approach. Here are some advice that will help.

1. When you are selling your home, allow it to be shown at a moment's notice. Qualified buyers aren't "a dime a dozen."

2. It is important to remember that a home can only support the value of homes around it. When making home upgrades, make sure you do not spend more than you will recover when you sell it.

3. When you decide to sell your home, giving the kitchen the once over is a good first step. Kitchens are unique in our daily lives. For some reason, we always seem to congregate there. Buyers know this and will be focusing on the condition of yours.

4. With the fluctuating home prices we are currently seeing, buyers can have problems getting financing regardless of their credit. Don't drop the buyer! Instead, offer him or her a second mortgage.

5. When it comes to selling your home, your driveway tells potential buyers a lot about your property.If it has cracks and nasty oil stains, it is a blight on your property. Make sure to clean it thoroughly and repair all cracks.

6. When searching for homes, buyers focus on those they can see. Regardless of where or how you market, you must include home photographs in your marketing material.

7. Buyers aren't a dime a dozen but they are out there. Showing flexibility can make your property more attractive than the competition. Be willing to vacate quickly for a qualified buyer who wants it.

8. If someone gives you their word they will do something, but doesn’t put it in writing, you cannot force them to do it. Make sure you get everything in writing!

9. The true price of a home is the market price. The market price is not the asking price, the appraised price and so on. It is what the seller and buyer agree it is. If you are selling, do not hamstring yourself with anything other than that.

10. Many people ask escrow officers for advice or help. Don’t expect any! Escrow companies are supposed to be neutral third parties. They handle the paperwork, not negotiations or problems.

At the end of the day, the real estate market slows down and speeds up. It never comes to a stop. Put another way, you can always sell a home. You just need to pay attention to the details and now you can.