3 Most Important Goals When Selling Your Home (Part Three)

The three most important goals when selling your home are: selling your home for the most amount of money in the least amount of time with the least amount of inconvenience to your lifestyle. The following are some important tips to help you achieve these goals:

Part Three – Selling Your Home with the Least Amount of Inconvenience to your Lifestyle.

If you haven’t already I’d suggest reading part one of my series to get some tips on how to prepare your home for showings that – once done – will save you from a lot of inconvenience in the long run.

To recap my previous post, remember you’re selling your space and not your things. If you have a fair amount of decorations, kids toys, or other things that aren’t used on a daily basis then put them away in the extra bedroom or storage space. You’ll find yourself having a much easier time getting your home in order for a showing because there will simply be less around to clean and put away. It’s better to have one room clearly used as a storage space than to have things spread throughout the house.

Kids Bedroom

This childs room feels spacious and easy to clean because there is no clutter.

If you have children the rule of thumb is…10, collect your 10 favorite toys, 10 favorite games, 10 favorite stuffed animals, 10 favorite videos, and then pack everything else. Your children will have everything that they enjoy most – and you will have everything else out of the way.

When you’re getting ready to list your house it’s a good time to think of potential questions buyers may have about the condition of the home. Any relevant information you can collect and present to your selling agent beforehand will inevitably make your experience selling your home much less stressful. If there are any association dues then make sure you communicate that to your agent. Calculate what your average utility bills are for the year so that information is available for your Realtor to answer those questions on your behalf. Again, getting this information organized before you list your home will smooth the process for your family because, there will be less “back and forth” over details about your home. Your days will be less interrupted and much more enjoyable while your home is on the market.

Calculator

Calculate your association dues and average utilities in advance.

In short, to sell your home with the least amount of inconvenience to your lifestyle you need to take the steps necessary to have your home and your family prepared before you list your home. Doing this will take the majority of the stress and disruption to your daily life out of the equation.

As a Realtor my first priority is making sure seller’s get the most money out of their home as possible. If you’re thinking of selling your home please contact me and I will perform a free market analysis (CMA) to help you determine the best strategy to price your home correctly and achieve your goals of the most amount of money in the least amount of time.

Northview, 8 Bedrooms, 6 & 1/2 Bathrooms | $1,200,000

If you’re saving the best til last, start here and end your search. Once in a rare while will a truly wonderful home such as this be available. Built without compromise, this house reflects the best in architecture and craftsmanship. The French country residence is privately situated on 1.4 acres in the golf community at Thousand Oaks. Rooks Landscape designed and executed this award winning setting. The list of amenities is exhaustive and has everything on your wish list, and more. With more than 9,000 square feet of finished living space, each room is spacious and inviting. The gourmet kitchen includes superior appliances, tumbled marble floors, a walk-in and a butler pantry. There are both formal and informal living and eating areas. There are two bedroom suites on the main level and additional bedrooms/bathrooms on both upper and lower levels. The landscaping and in ground pool are exquisite. It is a world class residence with remarkable detailing and finishes.
virtual tour

Property Details:

Status: $1,200,000
Listing Price: 4410 Mystic Ridge Ct. NE
Address: Grand Rapids
City: MI
State: 49525
ZIP: Northview
School District:
MLS #: 12011421
TFLA Sq Ft: 9,000 +
Bedrooms: 8
Bathrooms: 6.5
Garage: 3+Stalls Attached
Fireplace: Yes, 4
Other Located in Thousand Oaks

Forest Hills, 4 Bedrooms, 3 & 1/2 Bathrooms | $299,900

This house is located on one acre, on one of the most picturesque streets in Cascade Township and surrounded by homes of much higher value. Built by Ben Brinks, this 4 bedroom,3 1/2 bath, executive, walk-out ranch has almost 3000 square feet of finished living space. It has a newer roof, furnace, electrical and appliances. The 4th bedroom on the lower level is currently used as a reception area for an in-home business. The rooms are spacious and have architectural features that define space while keeping the floor plan very open. There is a neutral color palette throughout. The sun-drenched interiors have six sets of sliders that lead to an expansive deck and patio overlooking the park-like setting in the rear of the property. There are two, floor-to-ceiling brick fireplaces with raised hearths. The walkout lower level salon is easily converted to a 14 x 25 rec room. It has a fantastic location, Forest Hills School District and a meticulously maintained home and property.
virtual tour

Property Details:

Status: $299,900
Listing Price: 1936 Beard Dr. Se
Address: Grand Rapids Twp
City: MI
State: 49546
ZIP: Forest Hills
School District: $131,600
MLS #: 11046292
TFLA Sq Ft: 2,900
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3.5
Garage: 2+Stalls Attached
Fireplace: Yes
Other

Forest Hills, 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms | $225,000

This free standing, detached, one-owner condominium has been meticulously maintained and beautifully updated. Located in Forest Hills School District and on a cul-de-sac within the development, you will find new countertops, new carpet, wood flooring and paint, new furnace & central air and new electrical. This former model unit in Sabal Pointe has two fireplaces, both with raised hearths. The rooms are generously sized and offer a wide range of versatility. The second bedroom on the main level is currently used as a den/study. The owner’s suite has double closets, walk-in shower and soaking tub. There is a large, well designed kitchen with eating area and ample cabinetry. The finished daylight lower level has a large family room, bedroom, bathroon and a large storage room. Sabal Poine is conveniently located within minutes of everything in Grand Rapids. It’s a great location and a beautiful neighborhood. You’ll find quality construction and functional design.
virtual tour

Property Details:

Status: $225,000
Listing Price: 1928 Thorn Run Ct. Se
Address: Kentwood
City: MI
State: 49546
ZIP: Forest Hills
School District: $102,100
MLS #: 12006920
TFLA Sq Ft: 2,370
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Garage: 2 Stalls Attached
Fireplace: Yes
Other Sabal Pointe Condominiums

3 Most Important Goals When Selling Your Home (Part Two)

The three most important goals when selling your home are: selling your home for the most amount of money in the least amount of time with the least amount of inconvenience to your lifestyle. The following are some important tips to help you achieve these goals:

Part Two – Selling Your Home in the Least Amount of Time

Before we get into all the details about how to sell your home quickly I think it’s important to discuss what a seller controls and what they can’t.
A Seller has Control Over: the condition of the property, the availability for showings, the price of the home, and whether  to offer a  home warranty.
A Sell has No control Over: the competition, the condition of the market, interest rates, and when the perfect buyer walks through your door.It’s important to keep this in mind because if you understand what you have control over – you can make wise decisions or adjustments to your strategy.

Every seller, understandably, wants to get the very most money out of their home when they decide to put it on the market. Sometimes the temptation is to set your price as high as you feel the market will bear and hope for the best. This is often the first mistake a seller will make.

There are many reasons why this can lengthen the time your home sits on the market. A potential buyer may not even look at the home thinking they simply can’t afford it. An overpriced home will help other homes in your neighborhood or area appear to be the better value. If a home sits on the market too long it will become “shop worn” causing people to assume something is wrong with the condition of the home. Overpricing tends to make it less likely that a buyer’s agent will show it.

Overpricing inevitably lengthens the marketing time resulting in a lower selling price than would normally otherwise be obtained. Today’s home buyer has endless tools to shop and compare homes. Lastly, because nearly every buyer needs to obtain financing through a bank, it’s futile to overprice a home.

So what sells a home faster? The right price, and the right condition.

To get your home sold for the most money in the least amount of time you have to price it “in the market.” In a market where the home values are rising, if a seller wants to get a price that is ahead of market values, you’re essentially betting that the market values will rise enough to make your home value attractive. It’s important to balance out how much time you want to have your home on the market vs. the amount of money you’re hoping to get from the sale of your home.

In a buyer’s market – like many agree we are in now – it’s important to price your home realistically so that you aren’t chasing after lowering home values because home values tend to drop faster than price reductions. Price your home competitively and there is a much greater likelihood that your home will sell faster.

Setting your home price “in the market” is important because a property generates the most interest when it firsts hits the market. Also, the number of showings is greatest during the first 30 days if it is priced at a realistic value. Starting too high and dropping the price later misses the excitement and will fail to generate strong activity. Many homes that start too high end up actually selling below market value.

Pricing your home competitively will generate the most activity from agents and buyers. Pricing your property too high will make it seem like less of a value against newer, well-priced listings. Ultimately, the value of your property is determined by what the buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept in today’s market. Buyers make their pricing decisions based on comparing your property to other SOL D properties in your area. Historically, the first offer a seller gets is usually the best.

As a Realtor my first priority is making sure seller’s get the most money out of their home as possible. If you’re thinking of selling your home please contact me and I will perform a free market analysis (CMA) to help you determine the best strategy to price your home correctly and achieve your goals of the most amount of money in the least amount of time.