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KEYS TO SUCCESS IN SELLING YOUR HOME IN A BUYER’S MARKET
Two years ago the home down the block sold for over the asking price. Plus, it sold in only a couple days. Unfortunately, that was two years ago. In today's market, buyers not only have more properties to select from, but those properties are also staying on the market for a longer time. In many cases, it is taking two to three times longer to sell the average home than it did just a couple years ago.
In terms of home value, prices in California and San Diego in particular have declined by as much as 30% in some local communities. Since 2005, many sellers are experiencing long delays in marketing their homes.
Before placing a home on the market, the seller must give thorough thought to correctly pricing the home. They must also take into consideration the improvements and the location. Also, and most importantly, consider the present market conditions. The price your neighbor's home was sold for a couple of years ago has absolutely no relationship to the value of your home in today's market. Buyers aren't concerned with what your improvements cost, how much you paid for your home, or the fact that you're not in a rush to sell immediately.
Your home value is determined by current market home sales in your area within the last few months. About 20 years ago gold hit a peak ounce. Let’s say you purchased a one ounce Krugerrand at that time and stored it away in a safe deposit box. Though you had kept the gold in extremely good condition, today, 20 years later, it would be worth around $670. That is a extensive loss when one takes into account that during that total period of time you earned relatively no interest on that money. Does anybody really care what you paid for that Kruggerrand or that you maintain it in excellent condition? No. All that buyers care about is what the market has established the value of that Krugerrand is today! Another analogy would be the stock market. What you paid for your IBM shares a week ago has absolutely no relationship to what you can sell them for today.
Of course your home improvements, upgrades, location, general upkeep and landscaping all account for the value of your home and its salability. The most important factor that still remains is what the current market for your location will pay for homes similar to yours. Most real estate agents concur that 95% or more of proper marketing of a residential property is determined by the initial suitable pricing for the home.
In order to be successful and get top dollar for your property in a buyer’s market, a seller must first step back from the home. They must emotionally remove themselves from the property and establish what the market is willing to pay for the property. The best way to do this under the current market conditions is to team up with your local realtor, who will provide a no cost or obligation CMA. CMA stands for comparable market analysis which is an objective assessment of what you can expect to realistically get for your property under the current market conditions. Aside from seeing homes that have sold in the CMA something just as important how long homes were on the market, what homes expired unsold and/or were canceled during the listing. All these factors will come into play to properly determine the price for your property.
When selecting agents/brokers, sellers must bear in mind that many less experienced agents (due to lack of experience or just wanting to please their client) will propose a listing price that is unrealistic for the current market. As is apparent, sellers must never list their property for sale based solely on the recommended selling price of the property. It is imperative to consider agents by their experience, personal knowledge of the neighborhood, analysis of the market, and perhaps most importantly, their specific and intricate marketing plan for your property.
The key to success in today's buyers market is properly pricing your home from the very beginning and selecting an experienced, competent realtor to professionally market your property.
NOTE: The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this website or Brokerforyou/Promotions Unlimited. Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is general information on the legal issues presented and should not be regarded as a substitute for individual legal advice from an attorney. The above article is presented as a community service with the permission of the author. Disclaimer The information presented in this web site is of a very general nature, provided for general informational purposes only. It should therefore not be relied upon to address individual legal concerns, as each client's situation differs. Because each situation is different and the law is constantly changing, you should consult with a Lawyer well versed in this field. The benefits and risks of taking or not taking any legal action can be assessed only after consultation with a Lawyer. By providing the information in this web site, we do not intend to any make any promises or give any assurances about the outcome of your individual situation, and none should be presumed. Prior to retaining a lawyer, one should check with The State Bar. Any information provided or contact received from this web site does not constitute a client/Lawyer relationship. Disclaimers: The information provided on this website is not intended to be legal advice or real estate advice, but merely conveys general information related to legal/real estate issues commonly encountered. Your access to, and use of this website, is subject to additional Terms and Conditions.
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