home selling tips: Lisa Buthlay Maine Realtor

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I am dedicated to achieving my clients goals, and understand the needs of sellers. If you have been considering using a REALTOR to sell you house, read on to find information to help you in your decision.

As the real estate industry evolves it seemingly becomes easier to market your house without the use of a professional. Knowing whether to use a REALTOR® or sell privately (FSBO) can be difficult to determine. It is important to understand what a good agent will bring to the table. Some of the main advantages of using a professional include: emotional objectivity, knowledge and marketing reach.
Before you decide to take on the job of selling your house privately ask yourself a few key questions:

Am I ready to emotionally detach myself from my house?
Sellers generally become attached to their home. Most consider their home a sanctuary where they create an environment of relaxation and exhibit their own style. It is difficult to let go of something that has become a part of you over the years. Additionally, it can be difficult to maintain objectivity as buyers critique your home. Something you find endearing, that makes it special to you, may be the opposite for a buyer. It is important to listen to buyer criticisms and to be open to suggestions for improvement. A REALTOR® will serve as an emotional bridge helping you maintain an air of calm during the selling experience.
Do I have the proper knowledge to price my house appropriately?
Some sellers have an unrealistic idea of the price their house may sell. Whether your idea is low or high, your agent will play a crucial role in helping come to a sensible price range. After completing a comparative market analysis (CMA) and examining other data, they will offer their respectful suggestion as to the price range you’ll be able to obtain. Once the listing price has been settled the marketing of your house begins.
Am I able to market my home effectively?
The initial marketing of your house is the most important aspect of the marketing process. You’re not just selling a house, you’re selling the intimacy and peace a home should make one feel. Once your agent has viewed your house, he or she writes engaging ads focused on the key elements of your house that make it saleable. These ads may be placed in newspapers, magazines and the local MLS and are crucial to successfully selling your house. While you may be particularly fond of the 1970’s feel of your rust-colored carpet, a modern REALTOR® understands that today’s home buyer will be less fond of this characteristic. Instead they may focus on the uniquely large size of secondary bedrooms, the proximity of your home to parks and schools or significantly lower taxes. Even if you’re able to detach yourself from your house and market it appropriately, will you be able to tackle problems presented during the marketing period?
Can I anticipate and respond to problems quickly?
REALTORS® are trained to anticipate and avoid problems or respond to difficult situations quickly. They’ve likely handled countless transactions and run into near deal breakers throughout their careers. The ability to quickly handle problems during escrow can be the difference between a closed deal and one that falls through. Real property vs. personal property can present issues during the closing process. For example, if you are selling your home FSBO and do not stipulate your expensive, antique chandelier will be moving with you, you could run into trouble. An accomplished agent would ensure any questionable items be listed in the listing agreement and disclosure forms.
Do you have time to show your home to buyers and will you make yourself scarce?
Most often FSBO homes do not offer access to their home via a lockbox. This cripples the ability for agents to show your home to potential buyers while you are at work. Further, home buyers generally feel intimidated by the presence of the seller during their visit. They rush through the house and tell you how wonderful it is even if they hate it. They feel uncomfortable looking through every nook and cranny even though this is one of the most important avenues a buyer must travel to make the decision to purchase your house. Hence, your presence hinders the sale of your house.

These are but a few of the issues sellers can run into during the selling process. Depending on your personal situation, knowledge and availability, it may be in your best interest to enlist the help and expertise of a professional real estate agent. I would love to help lead you through the home selling process. If you have questions, please feel free to give me a call.

Tips for Sellers

What can you do to boost your profits dramatically when you sell your home? Most real estate salespeople will answer with one word: clean.

Don’t be offended. No one’s saying your house is dirty, but it does need to be showcased to its greatest advantage if you want to get the best possible price for it. Realtors call this “staging” your home for sale. It involves time and effort and may cost you from a few dollars up to a few thousand, but the payoff will be there.

How much can a little elbow grease and attention to detail actually be worth? A house in tip-top shape priced at $100,000 will get its asking price or close to it, while you might have to take up to 10 percent less - $10,000 – for one without the extra "elbow grease" used!!

I will be happy to advise you on specific ways to present your home. Keep in mind that recommendations aren’t meant as criticisms. Rather, your home is competing against dozens of new and existing house. So enhancing your home’s market value may involve one or more of these factors:

Does your home need ……painting? Is the driveway free of stains? Are the lawn and shrubbery manicured? Do the screens need to be replaced? Buyers believe the condition of a home’s exterior speaks volumes about the interior. Be sure your house makes a great first impression. Here are a few tips:

Front door.
A freshly painted door, new or polished kickplate and a pot of flowers are warm and inviting. Stains, scratches, dents and cobwebs create an entirely different mood.
Odors.
Each home has a distinctive smell that its owner gets used to. Pungent odors, from pets, tobacco or last night’s dinner cooked with garlic, can turn a buyer off. A deep cleaning and deodorizing may be essential. Consider hiring a service if you don’t want to do it yourself.
Lighting and general appearance.
Open up those blinds and let the sun shine in! Most buyers react positively to a light and airy home. Opening the blinds also makes your rooms seem more spacious! Make sure the windows sparkle, wipe the baseboards, and remove fingerprints from the doors and dust blinds and light fixtures. Shine on!!
Carpeting and painting.
If the carpeting needs replacing, sellers should consider investing in that improvement prior to listing. Some buyers may decide to inflate the price of replacement, and subtract that price from their offer. Buyers begin making mental deductions from the moment they arrive at your home. Put your best foot forward, always!
Colors.
Neutral tones appeal to most buyers. A new coat of neutral paint will earn you far more than it costs, including labor. Keep it looking updated, clean, and appealing.
Knick-knacks and such.
If your rooms are crowded and your closets over-full, you might consider boxing the extras, (as you are moving anyway) and rent a space at a temporary storage facility. You want the buyers to be looking at your home, and not your “things”.
Kitchens and bathrooms.
Kitchens and baths sell houses! These rooms must pass the white glove treatment! Think about setting the dining table with china and placemats. A vase of flowers also helps buyers feel right “at home”!
Don’t Forgets!
When you leave the house each day, don’t forget to make the bed, tidy any dishes in the sink, hang-up any clothing, pick up and put away any clutter! Once you do this every day, it becomes easy to do! You want the buyer of your home to feel “right at home” and excited about purchasing your home! Remember, you never have a second chance to make a good first impression!