You, Too, Can Have a Successful Open House

Many real estate agents and homeowners across the country would agree that selling real estate isn’t what it once was.  The way we sell real estate constantly changes to help meet the needs of the current economy and way of life.  However, in a really slow market, we will see more open houses than usual. 

Having an open house is a very effective way to get word around that there is a new property on the market.  And, open houses in neighborhoods will lead to even more people.  When you’re close to your neighbors, they can be your best sales team.  They will tell their family, friends and co-workers who may be looking to buy a home.  Therefore, it is important to have a successful open house and I would like to share some advice on how you, too, can have a successful open house.

Post Your Open House Online

Since you can find so much information on the Internet, more people are going online to find open houses that they can attend when househunting.  Your real estate agent will list your open house online or you can list it online for free.  Just remember, almost everyone has a computer these days and more people are doing their own research to find their dream home.  Therefore, posting your open house online is very important.  Websites like www.craigslist.org will get your open house a lot of attention and it’s free to post.

Open Houses Are Big Motivators

Believe it or not, many potential buyers often impulse buy at open houses.  This is when a buyer sees the home as well as their competition to buy it and falls in love with it.  Open houses also show the regular buyer that there is real competition for your home, which helps get an offer on the table a little faster.

More Tips For A Successful Open House

* Make sure your home is clean on open house day.  Consider having the home professionally staged.

* Have your open house on Sunday.  Sunday afternoons seem to attract more buyers to an open house.  However, this will vary in different areas of the country.

* Mail those post cards to invite prospects and even neighbors.  Remember, neighbors can be your best sellers.  And don’t forget to list the open house in the local paper.

* Real estate professionals should be invited to your open house if you don’t have an agent yet.  They will give valuable feedback if you ask them to hang around and listen to what potential buyers have been saying during the open house.

* Tell everyone you know by word of mouth.  This is another great way to let prospects know you’re having an open house.  If you have kids in school or sports, tell the parents of those kids, tell the people at your gym, tell those you attend church with, etc.  The list of people you can tell about your open house is endless.

These tips and advice should help you have a successful open house when the time comes.  Good luck with it.  Everything will be great.

Realtor® Cheryl Westwood  ~  Lake Havasu City Real Estate

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Selling Your Home against the Competition of Foreclosures and Short Sales

Realtor® Cheryl Westwood  ~  Lake Havasu City Real Estate

 

Distressed sales now make up almost half of all home sales across the nation and many home sellers are finding themselves competing with the discounted prices that come with foreclosed properties and short sales.  Therefore, I would like to offer some tips and advice to help the traditional home seller out and attract buyers that will help them compete against these discounted properties.

Keep the home in tip-top shape.  Most foreclosed homes are in desperate need of repair or renovation.  Typically, the homeowner takes many valuable items from the home, such as light fixtures, appliances or anything of value.  And, if the home sits vacant for any length of time, there is a high chance of the home being vandalized.  This can cost new owners thousands of dollars to get the home in livable condition again.  Traditional home sellers can stage their home to make it look move-in ready.  Keep the entire house and closets very clean and clutter-free.  This will make the home feel more spacious.  If you have old carpet, appliances, lighting fixtures or anything else that is really outdated, you should consider updating them.  Also, consider giving the interior and exterior of the home a fresh coat of paint.  Sellers can also make their home stand out from others by landscaping their yards with beautiful curb appeal. 

The price is right.  Price the home correctly and according to today’s market, not based on what your neighbor may have gotten three or four years ago.  Your real estate agent will be able to determine the proper price for your home in the current market or you can hire a licensed home appraiser to set an accurate price based on recent sales activity in the area.

Marketing is key.  Marketing your home more effectively is key in today’s real estate market.  Traditional home sellers have unlimited marketing access, even more so than distressed properties.  Traditional home sellers can market their homes in a number of ways, including the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), popular websites, blogs, etc.  These homes will reach a larger audience of buyers than foreclosures will.

Say yes to quick closings.  There is an advantage to quick closings, so offer this to buyers.  Many buyers want to close and move in quickly and they can only do this if the property is move-in ready.  Traditional home sellers have the upper hand here.  Be prepared to offer a 30-day closing date.  This will help attract buyers who want to move quickly.

These tips should get you on the right path to getting your home ready to go against the competition of foreclosures and short sales. Just remember to consult with your real estate agent on any questions you may have that was not covered here in my blog.

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New Trends for Staging Your Home

Home staging is one of the most crucial steps that many homeowners seem to often overlook.  It’s more important than ever to keep up with today’s trends to stay ahead of the competition while your home is on the market.  Therefore, I would like to let homeowners know some of today’s new trends for staging your home to help you compete in this tough market.

One of the biggest trends in home staging is that home staging has now become greener.  Home staging professionals are seeing more and more trends towards eco-friendly home staging, which is a viable market niche.  The inventory the stager can provide is “green” to help the seller.  This will help any homeowner, investor or builder put their green foot forward.  Home staging is also catching the attention of mainstream media.  You can now find several shows on HGTV that are devoted to the process of preparing a home for sale.  This is a trend that will continue as long as the public is interested in finding value in things to do in and out of the home when getting ready to sell.  Professional home stagers know how to assess a home’s strengths and weaknesses.  They also know how to provide a concise and effective plan of action.

Home staging really comes in handy when it comes to foreclosure, short sales and REO’s.  Many professional home stagers have developed relationships with banks and investors, which gives the homeowner using them the upper-hand. 

When interviewing your professional home stager, be sure to ask for lots of referrals and ask them everything they will be doing during the staging process.  Also, ask them if they offer a “green” staging option.

Realtor® Cheryl Westwood  ~  Lake Havasu City Real Estate

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