Seller's Tips for a Successful Sale

 

Negotiating Factors

 

Negotiations for the sale of a home can be affected by emotional factors. For example, it is easy to be offended by someone who is making an offer on your property. Even if the buyers love your house, they are trying to negotiate the best possible price and terms. They probably will not let you know how much they want your home until they have negotiated a purchase agreement.

Buyers almost never write offers that please the sellers entirely. Offers and counter offers may be traded back and forth over days or weeks. Terms of the sale will be discussed and deadlines will be set. When there is finally a meeting of the minds, both sides may feel relieved but exhausted by the process. One of a real estate agent's most important jobs is to act as the intermediary during such negotiations. With your agents knowledge of financing, negotiation procedures, and the tax laws affecting real estate sales, agents come up with creative solutions to the challenges that may arise.

Low Offers  

In every real estate market, there are buyers who make offers that are far below the current market value of the property. How should you react if your agent brings you one of these "low ball" offers? Here are some scenarios for the seller.

If your home is priced very close to its fair market value, you can simply reject the offer and be reasonably confident that a better one will appear. However, if you have priced your home higher than other comparable homes in the neighborhood, the offer may not be unreasonable.

Ask your real estate agent for advice about the buyer's overall strategy. Do they really want your house or will they move on to another property if you make a counter offer? Can they afford to pay a higher price? Are there ways to close the gap with a small owner take-back, or with terms that will increase your bottom line? Take a hard look at your asking price and explore all your options before saying "no", especially if you are selling in a buyer's market.

Is First Always Best

Your home has been listed for just a few days, and your real estate agent calls with great news. The people who looked at the house last night have come in with an offer to buy it! When the agents arrive to present the offer, you are excited and hopeful. As they explain the price and terms, however, you feel that the price is a little too low and that the offer contains some terms that will be inconvenient for you to meet. Should you try to work it out or wait for something better? Work it out!

Often the first offer to come in is the best one. When a house is fresh on the market, there is usually a flurry of activity and the buyers who see it during the first few days of the listing are likely to be very interested. If you are fortunate enough to get a solid offer right away, it will probably be to your advantage to accept it or try to work out a compromise.

Do these tips help?

I've learned these tips through years of experience as a top real estate agent. But I know that YOUR situation might be different. That's why I'm here. 

It's my job to personally advise homebuyers and sellers. Call me for more information at 201-924-6451.

 

Contact Me

 

Preferred Partners Check out the best in local home-related services.	Automated E-mail Listings Service Sign up to automatically receive new listings today!
Home Advice Get the answers on home selling and buying.	Real Estate News Find out what's happening in real estate.