As depicted and visualized in the book and movie, ‘The Perfect Storm‘. Sometimes forces outside of our control and some within, can align just right to transform an at first unexpected event, into not only a predictable (with hindsight) but even the inevitable outcome. …whoa, that was a mouthful wasn’t?
The analogy I wish to apply is of course discernible from the title of this article, however there is one huge difference. In the case of a perfect storm for a Huntsville Home Seller most of the forces involved in selling your home are controllable.
The Market Savvy Seller
One of the most important elements in setting up this perfect home selling storm is a market savvy seller. One that will look closely at their neighborhood market conditions and their own personal financial situation and make the correct choice; either to list their home now or wait on market conditions to improve.
No matter what all of us local real estate sellers may wish, we can only set the listing price. Buyers are the ones who actually set the real market price in any given market. Given that, the perfect storm seller also understands the need of staging a home for sale, and how effective curb appeal is in attracting buyers.
The Internet – Changing The Home Selling World
As we have discussed in a previous article, Marketing Your Home Online and How to Measure It, the marketing effort that will most likely effect the sale of your home is not fancy radio advertisements, news papers, open houses, or even Sunday morning TV shows. In today’s world, the advertisement that pays is the Internet. After all least we forget, 2010 is just around the corner.
Selecting The Right Listing Agent
The listing agent you choose is also one of the most important elements in setting up the perfect home selling storm. If you are a savvy seller and have studied your market segment, you will have no problem weeding out the chafe.
First don’t let the agent control your meeting, have an agenda preset in your own mind and don’t mention value or price up-front. Be patient and wait. Moreover never discuss commission until the meeting is more than over.
Second give the agent you are interviewing a tour of your property inside and out and ask along the way what improvements you should make. Then when you are back at your place of business, the next question should be; ‘If I implement your property improvements what is the listing price that will sell my home in 1 -4 weeks, seriously? Listen and take in the answer. Then and only then, let them have the floor via their presentation.
When the presentation is wrapped up, you will need to introduce a shock effect to bring the interview back under your control. Your ‘minimum must have price’ should do the trick. Except be sure you place this price now under discussion, much higher than market value but not so high as to make it completely ridiculous. If the interviewing agent accepts your unrealistic listing price then you have a problem and just move on.
Two Concurrent Agendas
In this situation there are always two agendas at play; yours and the agent’s you are interviewing. There are lots of valid reasons agents will take your listing with an unrealistic listing price.
One, they get to put a sign in your yard and that will generate phone call leads commonly known in the business as ‘sign calls’ and this is in many ways free advertisement for the listing agent.
Second they will likely get to open your house to the public on a few Sunday afternoons and staff the event with their own subordinate buyer-agents. Here is the truth, Open Houses Will Not Sell Your Home, but will more than likely provide your listing agent’s buyer-agent staff with leads that will close in other neighborhoods and in other price ranges.
Why Not Shake Up Our World
Sure I’ll place your sign in my yard and yes I’ll do some open houses. …How much commission discount are we talking about? …Want to talk more?
By all means give us a call or an email.
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