How To Get From “Sale” To “Sold”

We all understand the pressure to get a home sold fast. Whether you’ve already purchased your next home, or you want to sell in order to find that dream house, getting your house under contract quick is the main goal for every seller. But just how do you do it? It seems like some houses get scooped up after just days, while others spend agonizing weeks on the market. So what’s the difference between these two types of houses? Here are three quick tips to get your house bought faster than you can say “under contract”.

Know Your Market

As you embark on this adventure of listing your home it’s wise to do a little research. Is it a buyers’ market (where there are more homes for sale than buyers), or a sellers’ market (where there are more buyers than homes for sale)? If it’s a buyers’ market you’ll likely have a great selection of houses, but yours might take some time to sell. And oppositely, your home might sell really quickly and you’ll need to find a new home fast! Either market has its benefits but be prepared and know whether you need to potentially be on the market for some time, or if you need to have a new home picked out when yours sells.

Then think seasonally. Do people want to be out house shopping in the snowy winter months? Usually, no. But when the spring sunshine rolls in you can bet that people are out looking and your house can get more traffic. But besides the weather forecast, take some time to check the prices of houses in your neighborhood. How long have those houses been on the market? Do they seem priced reasonably or is the market down? If houses are selling fast and at good prices, now is the perfect time to sell! But if houses are sitting ducks, decide if it’s a pricing issue or if the market just isn’t hot right now.

Knowing the difference can be one of the biggest factors in a sale.

Luckily, a good real estate agent can do this heavy lifting and logistics for you. Smart agents can price your home right for any type of market. They help guarantee the foot traffic you need for the sale.

The Sale Price is Right? Maybe...

Bob Barker had it right - pricing can be a tricky game. If you price your house too low, it might invite lowball offers – or no offers at all. Too low and people will think something is wrong with the house and that you’re desperate to vacate. But on the flip side, if you price too high you might make your home undiscoverable or just plain turn people away. If your price exceeds the comparable prices for homes like yours, people’s search filters will sift your over-priced home out. And if they do see it, you want to invite buyers – not scare them! As a seller, you’ve got one initial attention grabber: the first picture of your home with a price tag. If you can have a great picture with an equally great price tag, you’ll be setting the right stage for multiple showings.

Updates – Think Less Rather Than More

Everyone always throws around how updates will help a home sell fast. And while that is true it’s important to know what kinds of renovations and updates will actually turn a profit for your home. The key here is to NOT go crazy. While completely remodeled bathrooms and kitchens can incentivize buyers, you don’t have to shell out thousands just to sell your home. Elaborate renovations can sometimes be so individualized and specific it can turn buyers away. Studies are actually showing that minor indoor and outdoor updates actually help sell your home faster. So think things like safety issues:

• fix loose siding on your house or shingles on your roof
• Repair any heating or cooling issues
• Repair broken fencing or damaged windows.

When people look at your home, they’re not just looking at how showy it is, they’re looking to make sure the foundation of your house is durable. Having the essentials fixed and ready to go makes a huge impact on sellers. It shows you’ve taken care of your property and that makes them willing to invest their money into making it their own.

So going from sale to sold doesn’t have to be a tricky game or take eons. Find a good real estate agency like New Mexico Dream House who knows the market. Follow these tips, and you’ll be moving out so quick others will be asking YOU for moving tips.