Financing Incentives

One often overlooked method of attracting buyers is to have the seller pay points-buy down the buyers rate. For the seller it is usually cheaper than lowering their asking price, and obviously lowering the price is not popular with sellers. For the buyer this is a huge incentive as getting a lower rate affects their payment for as long as they hold the loan. Buyers are also very rate conscious, and consider purchases relative to monthly payments (can I afford this payment). By buying down the rate, a seller can make the difference in affordability. Over the long term this can actually be more valuable than getting the property for a little less money. Also, in a psychological way, it is better for a seller to offer value to the buyer than to cut percieved property value. It is a gift to the potential buyer and sets the seller’s property apart from the competition, and as we all know there is alot of that! It’s a win win situation!!! Sellers can also offer incentives such as  free cars, or anything else of value to attract attention to their property. In this market it’s important  to cover all the bases and be creative.

6 Timely Tips To Sell Your Home FAST

Have You Noticed How Many Homes Are For Sale in Our Area Lately? Which ones are selling and which ones are not? Being a sucessful seller in todays market means being one step a head of your competitors in the race to entice a buyer to purchase your home. Roll up your sleeves, have a positive attitude and follow these important steps to sell your home and sell it fast!

1. Price it right. This is the number one most important step!That’s right. Skip it and the rest doesn’t matter! Don’t even read the other steps unless you follow this step! Pricing it right means pricing it to sell to todays buyers. These buyers are savvy. They want a good product at a fair price. I know, your neighbor got so and so for their house last year. This isn’t last year! This is now. So show them you’ve got what they want and be smart on the price. Have a qualified real estate agent show you market comparable properties to find out the best price that will sell your home fast. Don’t choose the agent who will market it at the highest price! Todays buyers know the market, they will not buy an over priced home and many will not bid any amount for it!They will pass on it and go to the next one. You have lost them before they even walked into your home!! Don’t go there!

2. Clean is King!These savvy buyers want a home they can move right into. That means clean. Clean walls, woodwork, windows, blinds, drapes, carpet and floors.  Bathrooms and kitchen have to sparkle. If you have to paint to get that fresh ,crisp look, do it! Paint is the cheapest fix-up there is with the most financial gain. Choose modern, light colors, don’t just paint it the same color it was. Move up with the times! Also, adding fragrances attracts people subconsciously. Purchase plug-in air fresheners that have fragrances like cinnamon, apple pie or vanilla. These inexpensive fragrances makes a home feel ‘homey,’  and buyers feel good. Remember, buyers are looking for a place to call home. Let’s give them plenty of reasons to feel special in yours. When they walk in you want them to say ’Wow’!

3. Remove Clutter. Be a Minimalist.  Why are model homes so inviting? Because no one lives in them! They don’t have the reqular items lived-in homes have, like toothbrush holders and coffee makers on the counter. I know it’s sometimes hard to do, but stashing stuff away is a must.  A good rule of thumb, to make your home look more spacious and clutter free, is to remove two-thirds of the items from the rooms and walls. You say ‘Thats alot’! It is. But it works!Personal items such as family photos are best put away so buyers don’t feel like they are in someones else’s domain. Equally important, remove unnecessary items from all the closets too and organize what’s left.  You want these to look spacious and roomy too. Store items you don’t use regularly in the garage or a storage unit and figure you’ve already started packing! The keepers like the coffee maker, put away in the cabinets when not in use.

4. Create drama at the entry to your home. Does your front door say ‘Welcome, you are special’ or does it say ‘I’m old and tired’? Sometimes just giving the door a fresh coat of paint in a modern color is all that is needed to revive it or if it’s really tired, consider replacing it with a new door. A nice door is a turn on and an ugly door is a turn off, it’s just that simple! If your door sticks and is hard to open, fix it! Remove the screen door if you have one and leave it in the garage for the buyers. Add a wreath or fresh potted flowers by the front door. Make sure the outside entry light is clean. You may want to replace it with a new modern one to enhance the appearance of your home. Remove spiders and webs, keep the front walk swept and bushes or low lying tree branches trimmed away from the front walk. First Impressions are Very Important!

5. Give Your Yard Curb Appeal! Flowers, Flowers and Flowers! Did I say Flowers? Being a Landscape Designer for 15 years, I know what works. In the ground or in pots, annual flowers are inexpensive and add pizazz! I like to choose a three color palette, and use these colors through out the back or the front. Figure out the feeling or look that you are trying to create. For ex: hot colors like yellow, orange and red says energy, excitement, happy.  Pink, blue and purple are more soothing colors. These cool colors make surroundings feel peaceful and tranquil, a place to escape to.  What kind of look do you want your yard to be? How about both? Use warm colors in the front and cool in the back. And while you’re at it, add a hammock and inexpensive plug in water feature for sounds to sooth the beast!

6. Last but not Least Make Your Home Easy to Show. Many folks forget this one, but it is as important as the rest if you want it to sell quickly. When an agent calls to show your home be flexible with showing times and days. Ask the agent to be sure and leave a business card. If possible, leave the house and take the dog for a walk before the buyers arrive. If you can’t do this, make sure the dog is locked up or at least outside and you leave. This makes the buyers feel more comfortable commenting and asking questions if the seller is not home. Plus they will stay longer. This is a good thing…remember we are trying to entice a buyer to buy your house.  Remember to turn on all the lights before you leave and give 30 minutes for the buyers to view your home.

Directions: Take Tips, stir with good attitude and grace. Swirl in a touch of elbow grease and creativity and Voila’, a delicious SOLD HOME!