| With the economy in a slump it is time to change | | | | for several hundred dollars it may just be worth |
| your thinking about how to sell your home. In | | | | it. |
| tough times you have got to start thinking | | | | 6) You can pay all or part of the buyer's closing |
| strategically rather than just putting your largest | | | | costs, which can be deducted at closing from |
| investment on the market and hoping it will sell. | | | | your sales proceeds, so you have no out of |
| You have got to keep optimistic - homes are still | | | | pocket expense. |
| selling just not as fast. It is a simple case of | | | | 7) Consider leaving the drapes, curtains and |
| supply versus demand. You can sell your home in | | | | appliances the buyer wants. The buyer is looking |
| a down market it is going to take some additional | | | | for a deal and sweetening it for them gives them |
| effort but worth it when you need to get out | | | | more reason to choose your home. |
| from under your home. | | | | 8) Pay the buyer's property taxes for a year or |
| To sell your home there are a couple of key | | | | some period. You may already have paid a |
| things to keep in mind. The first is that the | | | | portion or all of it anyway. Again, no out of |
| prettiest homes are going to get looked at first. | | | | pocket expense. |
| Second keep in mind that buyers agents are coin | | | | 9) Offer free grass cutting or landscaping for a |
| operated and third buyers are looking for a deal. | | | | period of time. |
| Consider the following to attract the right buyers, | | | | 10) Buy down the buyer's mortgage points by a |
| give the agent a reason to show and incentives | | | | point or two. This adds significant value to the |
| that encourages the buyer to act and purchase | | | | buyer in terms of dollars saved and it will cost |
| your home rather than another. | | | | you little. |
| 1) Curb Appeal, before you can close on a house | | | | Backup Plan |
| you have got to get people through the door to | | | | In the event you are not able to sell your home |
| look at it. Get the outside of your home looking | | | | you may need to consider having a backup plan. |
| its best, many times a prospective buyer may | | | | Life events happen, you could be getting married, |
| drive by your home see the outside and keep | | | | moving, loss of job relocating or what ever you |
| driving. | | | | move needs are then you need to think about |
| 2) Have the home professionally staged by a | | | | alternatives to selling. |
| home stager with a good reputation, if you home | | | | If you can swing it consider renting the home for |
| looks like a model home there is a much greater | | | | a while waiting for conditions to improve or |
| perceived value to the buyer. | | | | consider a lease-option-to-buy, this gives a |
| 3) Agents do what compensates them the most | | | | normally unqualified buyer some time to build |
| - the higher the commission for them the more | | | | equity and raise the down payment. |
| likely it will be that they are going to show your | | | | Unfortunately every situation may be little bit |
| home. Offer a 3-4% commission to the buyer's | | | | different when it comes to selling a home. A lot |
| agent. | | | | depends on the area you are in and the |
| 4) If you're in a homeowner's association, pay the | | | | prospective number of buyers versus sellers. |
| new buyer's fees for the first year or more. | | | | Simply put supply versus demand, if you have a |
| 5) Offer a home warranty on the home, there is | | | | high supply of sellers and low demand for buyers' |
| some out of pocket expense but for those | | | | prices will drop. |
| homeowners who want peace of mind it is worth | | | | The key to surviving the downturn is to do your |
| it. Warranties protect the appliances include air | | | | homework keep positive. You may be able to |
| conditioning and heating systems. Prices vary but | | | | creatively get out of your current home. |