Ideas for a Realtor to Sell a Home
Using the right ideas to sell a home is important for a realtor at any time, but it is especially important to come up with a clear strategy in a down market. After arriving at an appropriate market price, the agent can help the owner clear the house of clutter, provide the needed repairs and "stage" the home for sale. Once it is ready for customers, the agent can put an attractive virtual house tour on the Internet and hold an open house. Innovative marketing ideas can also draw buyers.
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Price it Right
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One of the most important ideas for selling a home is for the realtor to review "comps" with the owner so that he will price the home competitively. "Comps," as they are known in the industry, are comparisons between the home for sale and comparable home sale prices in the neighborhood. The comparison homes should have sold recently and have a similar location, layout, lot size and amenities as the client's home. It is possible to arrive at an appropriate sale price by adding to the price for upgrades like renovated kitchens and baths, and subtracting for needed repairs or a "tired" look. For more accuracy in determining the market value of a home, the real estate agent may recommend hiring a professional appraiser.
"Stage" the Home
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After repairs are made and clutter is cleared, a real estate agent can direct the seller in "staging" the house. Some basics of staging are to set the dining room table, upgrade bathroom accessories like towel racks and soap holders, use attractive lighting and even bake apples or cookies to give the kitchen a homey aroma when prospective buyers come to look around. Think about who your possible buyer might be. For singles, concentrate on the living room, hanging a flat screen TV and placing candles in the bedroom. For families with young children, use age-appropriate linens in the bedrooms, bright area rugs in the play areas and organize toys and sports equipment to show off your storage capacity. Empty nesters like quality amenities like granite countertops and upgraded appliances. Use neutral colors with splashes of brighter colors if needed to add interest to an accent wall or small bathroom.
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Virtual and Real House Tours
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These days many people are introduced to a home for sale on the Internet. Real estate agents can make sure they have a professional virtual tour up on the website. Once the buyer is interested, a real estate agent can maximize her time by holing an open house for buyers. Signage and advertising can direct people who have not seen the website to the home. Another idea is to hold a broker's open house for agents outside of your company and conduct a "caravan" to inspect the property when it goes up for listing for fellow agents working out of the home office.
Use Innovative Marketing Tools
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Real estate agents can make use of a wealth of innovative marketing tools that are now available. Besides print advertising, which can get costly and is not always as effective as it used to be, agents can reach prospective buyers through social media. Direct emails to targeted lists of buyers and social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube can draw people to the home for a look. Innovative Tag barcode technology can place a logo-like graphic on your printed pieces to be "read" by a Smartphone application and open up to the a website featuring the home. Flash drives can be preloaded with information about the home and distributed as a promotional giveaway.
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References
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