Does a for sale sign on your lawn help you sell your house? Of course it does!
The for sale sign is responsible for a few things in the process. Let's first look at what it's use was in the past. In the dark ages (pre-internet) if you wanted to sell your house, the for sale sign was very important. It was one of the only ways to advertise your intention to sell your house. The only other ways were classified ads, bulletin boards, and the well connected real estate agent.
In today's age of the information super highway (do we still use that term?) your online listing is your for sale sign screaming to people zipping by at the speed of a Facebook news feed. But does the old school for sale sign, the one in real life, on your lawn, still offer you value?
To answer that question you have to go around the complete circle. What is the purpose of the sign and what information does it provide to it's intended audience? The main purpose of the sign has not changed. It is to tell people your house is for sale and how to get more info. An agent`s sign usually provides their phone number because they want the buyer. Maybe for your house or for another if your's isn't exactly what they are looking for.
On the PropertyGuys.com sign we have our ContactPro phone number so questions can get answered and appointments can be booked. We also have your Sign ID# to direct people to your online listing. This is where the virtual viewing of your home happens. It all starts with the buyer falling in love with your home and this can all start with an innocent drive through your neighbourhood and seeing that 5 foot tall lollipop sign on your lawn.
Don't underestimate your sign, it says you are selling and should connect people with your house, not someone looking to sell any house!
For the past 5 years we have been working with an amazing home stager based out of New Dundee. Lynda Schmidt is the real deal when it comes to getting a home ready to sell. One of the keys she always points to is the little details. No matter how ready you think your home is I guarantee you Lynda can put your home over the top with a few hours at your home.
One of the big keys she always points out is "clean, clean, clean". By clean I don't mean give the carpet a once over with the Dirt Devil while the wife is out and tell her how hard you have been working. In order to have buyers falling in love with your home they have to know how much you cared for it while you lived there. If they see dusty base boards, cobwebs in the corners of the vaulted ceilings, or that off colour spot in the "stainless" kitchen sink you may just show them you were more worried about your Dirt Devil than anything else. So you had best get the rubber gloves and the cleaning supplies out.
If you are like me and you would rather do anything than grab the paper towel. If that's the case I suggest hiring a local cleaning company to give it a once over after you have finished up working through Lynda's suggestion list so we can ensure the best possible photos. You want your home to show perfect both online and during your open houses.
Now get going on those baseboards so you can be confident it is ready for buyers.
Just like a home, an antique is only worth what a buyer will pay for it. In my travels I have heard the "oh that's an antique" as I looked at what I thought to be a junky old piece of furniture. The question I have is why are you keeping it? Most times it is a family heirloom of some sort and the guilt of parting with it might just out way the pittance.
Fact is when you are looking at selling your home it pays to ensure your house "matches". If you have an antique mahogany side table, an art deco dresser, an Ikea bed and a chandelier for a light the flow in your room may not work. Buyers will be too distraught over the jumble of styles they won't be able to picture their room. That will cost you money in the end! Don't be afraid to ask for help. A professional stager can effectively allow you to mesh your styles and better your flow, most times using what you already have in the house.
The other issue is just having too much stuff. Often times we take pieces of furniture that were our parents' or grandparents' because we need to hold on to something to remember them. Here is an idea. Make a scrapbook including pictures of the items (both now and from the past in their original settings) to remember them by. This allows us to hold on to the memories but not the items which are just cluttering our already cluttered lives!
Now what to do with the item(s)? I would suggest contacting a local antiques dealer and have them give you an idea of value. At that point they may decide to purchase at a fair price or even allow you to put it up for sale on consignment in their store. Renting a truck and borrowing a friend to lug everything down to the store/market may end up as a huge disappointment as most people don't get the "Antiques Roadshow Surprise" they are hoping for. A couple of ideas. If you have a fairly big "collection" of items most dealers will do a site visit to asses what you have. The other option is using the power of the internet. Green Spot Antiques in Cambridge ON has taken the old world to the 21st century. To quote Vince the owner "like having your own antiques pro at home". You can connect with Vince via Twitter, Facebook and even talk via phone or video with him on skype.
As a Private Sale Professional I meet many people with the desire to do things their way. Peopl that are not interested in paying the high cost of commission to some real estate agent and looking for the best way to avoid it. This is generally why they get in touch with PropertyGuys.com.
They are in search of knowledge and expertise to help guide them through a process. Not a difficult process, just one that is some what foreign to them. It is not everyday one sells a house so why would you know the process in which you go about the deed?
I had a couple that called me a few years back in a bit of a panic. They had gone down to Canadian Tire and purchased a black and orange "For Sale By Owner" sign, stuck it to a 2" x 2" stake and hammered it in the lawn. They went in side, sat down with the pride of accomplishment. Before long the hearts started pounding. They looked at each other and said "Now what?". That's when they called me.
With a little guidance and the transfer of knowledge they were prepared for what came next. They learned the proper way to show their home, what it takes to ensure they have the home staged properly, how to compliment your home with photography, how to deal with buyers, how to deal with buyers that have signed a buyers agency with an agent, how the offer process works, what it means to "close", what a suitable deposit amount is, when to do an open house, how to price your home effectively, how to judge the market based on your traffic, when to involve a lawyer, how the different conditions work, what to expect in the negotiation process, and on and on.
The point here is anyone can sell their own property. All you need is the knowledge of the process. It's not rocket science!
So what is "rocket science"? I'll let her explain....
Is there a higher power involved in your decision?
Have you ever walked in the door of a home and just knew? What was it that did it? Floors, colours, windows, backyard or maybe the master bedroom.
Have you considered this as a seller?
Have you focused on the key features of your home?
When a buyer pulls up out front what do they see? Not just at your house but in your neighborhood. Are the lawns kept? Is there always cars parked on the road? Can you see the park from your driveway?
They come up the walkway. Knock, knock, knock. You open your door and what do they see? Is there a predominant smell?
What makes your house stand out? Will it help you sell?
This guy knows how to sell it. I mean seriously this is the best 8:04 house tour EVER!
A key point of an internet listing is to show your home at it's best all the time. Knowing that you may not keep it pristine 24/7 you can still have it shown 100% of the time in the best shape. Before you plan to have your photos taken make sure that your house is ready. Here are a few hints you will want to ensure you pay attention to for your photos:
Demagnetize - Although the kids art work is dear to you a buyer wants to see the fridge! Take all magnets and associated artwork, pizza coupons, to-do lists, and extended family photos off the fridge and into a drawer.
Zamboni the Counters - You are selling space, especially in the kitchen. Feel free to leave one, maybe two small appliances if you have more than three counter spaces (U shaped kitchen or L shaped with an island). Photos have a tendancy to make things look restricted. Clearing off the counter tops will assist in opening up the kitchen and giving the perception of having a larger kitchen. This goes for bathrooms as well.
Reflect When Selling - As in the photo above you need to be very cautious of where mirrors are in relation to the camera. Sometimes it is darn near impossible to avoid having the camera in the shot, but that's why they have tripods and self timers on cameras. Don't get caught in the mirror!
Tall and Skinny - No not a Starbucks order. Landscape (wide) versus portrait (tall) should be the standard shot. The only exceptions that I would use would be in a small powder room or the front shot of a townhouse where you pick up 3 units when trying it landscape.
Sleeping In - Make sure you have made the bed! Don't laugh I've seen it more than you would think. The bedroom is a personal space but not so much when you are loading it onto the internet. Underwear, bras and "personal items" should be taken into consideration before the thought of a camera as well.
Pee Wee's Playhouse - Toys everywhere worked for Pee Wee but not for selling your home. Even in the kids to room hide most of the toys in closets or out of the room to take the picture. Even the neatest, most organized room with 300 toys looks cluttered.
The Dungeon - Call it a man cave or parlor or games room any way you slice it you need to appeal to both sides of the relationship. Not sure too many people will want to walk into the "Private Club of the Satan's Helpers!"
Do you think any of them will help you in the garden?
Can you feel it? That dull ache in your lower back. The one caused by countless hours of shoveling, raking, digging and planting?
Spring is upon us and that means it is time to get out and spruce up the yard. The first impression your home gives is an important one. Keeping the lawn in good shape, the garden beds weeded and the bushes pruned ads to the value of your home, not to mention curb appeal. Having a prospective buyer pull up and say "I think this is the place" before they even step foot on the property is the aim of every home seller (or it should be).
What is the first step? Call the garden center and get some dirt delivered? Problem is one of two things will happen. You will end up with a big messy pile of dirt on your driveway or a large unsightly yellow bag where your car should be. There has to be a better solution.
There is...
For those of you that expected an AC/DC video, here is a rare Live Bon Scott one
Easter is upon us. Family, food, chocolate and hopefully the end of winter like weather.
Like so many people this holiday we have family visiting us. If you are thinking of selling your home in the next little while take full advantage of these extra eyes (and backs). When a visitor arrives at your door, sweet potato pie in hand, ask them to imagine they were looking at buying your house. Don't let them in until they agree. They need to be judgmental and harsh. This usually is no problem for most relatives.
Have each and every person give you their 3 favorite and 3 least favorite aspects of your home. Having these additional eyes and opinions will prepare you for the buyer onslaught. Since they were nice enough to tell you they didn't like the layout of your living room, put them to work to move furniture. Maybe even send them home with an end table that you just don't need.
Give in the spirit of Easter!
To get you ready for your furniture moving here is a little something to get your blood flowing.
The other day I was making myself a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch. I work hard on my grilled cheese. Butter right to the edge. Just the right amount of time to pre-heat the pan. Precise timing on each side for a golden brown colour and gooey cheese.
I was so impressed with my sandwich making ability I could not help but take a photo with my Blackberry and send on to my Facebook page. This sandwich was a thing of beauty and needed to be let loose on the world.
The response shocked me. My perfect sandwich was being critiqued. People questioned the symmetry of the bread and the browning, the type of cheese, with or without onions and relish. One comment even suggested seeing a gnome if you looked long enough.
I have big enough shoulders to take this criticism. This sandwich was perfect to me, maybe not everyone else. That is when I realized it. Do you see what I see? That's just it. If everyone has a different perception of what they look for in a grilled cheese sandwich imagine what they would think of my house?
Each and every person has different wants, likes, needs and will see your house through the glasses that they wear. You are in no position to judge whether they should like it, maybe they WANT onions on their sandwich! This is where a Home Staging Professional comes in to the mix. Call them the Iron Chefs of real estate. They can take a plain jane house and whip it into a culinary masterpiece with a few secret ingredients.
Feel free to comment on how you like your grilled cheese. Are you a "classic" lover or more of a "gourmet" aficionado.
As a buyer of a home it is important to ask the seller as to why they are selling. Up sizing, down sizing, job relocation, job loss, neighbour disputes or maybe just "Moving On Up".
As a seller you should be prepared for this question. We all have motivation when we move. Are you ready to answer this question from your buyers? A buyer needs you, as the seller, to let them know that you loved living in your home. If not for the changes in your life you would be happy to stay in the home that you built.
Because your life has changed you can enjoy your deluxe apartment in the sky.
So you listed your home privately. Congratulations, it was probably a big step for you.
If you are like most of the people we see you have not ventured into the arena of Private Sale before. You had looked around the internet, checked out a few different sites, weighed the merits of private vs. MLS, then measured the merits of a few different companies and then finally decided on the one that offered you the biggest bang for your buck. Maybe it was the one with the most experience or the most listings locally. Either way you made your choice based on VALUE.
Your home was then listed on the internet with professional photos, virtual tours, plenty of details. It makes MLS pale in comparison (trust me I've seen some bad photos and virtual tours on MLS).
You are getting some phone calls, doing some showings, hosting some open houses. All things you were expecting to do. But then the craziest call comes in. Some agent calls you and says he wants to list your home for free. Yeah right, free. Anything you had ever heard about agents was all about money, money, money. Why the heck would an agent list your home for free?
If an agent is going to list your home for free there is going to be something in it for him. Here are some of the common situations our clients have run into.
It all comes clear when she states that in order to do this you have to do your new mortgage with them. They are also mortgage brokers. That they are going to get paid from a lender (bank) and that you will only be required to pay the 2.5% commission for the buyer's agent. Hmm, so who exactly is this agent working for?
Another instance we have seen is where an agent comes in and says he will list your home on MLS for a flat fee of $695 (+ or - $100). You can continue to do sell privately. Issue is that the agent's contact info is what goes on MLS so any interested buyers are going to call him, not you. He then shows up with an interested buyer and says he needs 2.5% to facilitate the deal. Hmm, so he gets paid up front and then still collects a commission.
What about this one. "I will list your house on MLS I just want to do Open Houses so I can get some new clients". OK so his whole objective of YOUR open house it not to sell your house but to get some listings that he can get paid on. Seems to me that if an agent is this desperate to get in your door they may not be too good at what they do. There are plenty of successful agents that have built a reputation of service over the years. Do you think they did it by spending every Saturday and Sunday in a non-paying client's home trying to get other people locked into contracts?
Don't be fooled by smoke and mirrors. Best case scenario for you is that you still end up spending 2.5% of your $300,000 house or $7,500 for something you can easily do yourself. I am not saying that you won't have to work a little for your $7,500. We all expect to work for our money, don't we?
Let's figure it out by the hour. At $100 and hour this works out to 75 hours of work. While you are slaving away for the man at your job for just under 2 weeks (hopefully you are making $100 an hour) you could have been selling your home. At a more reasonable $20 an hour you can afford to put 375 hours into the sale of your home. Based on a 40 hour work week that works out to just over 9 full work weeks. Would you expect that an agent is worth $20 an hour (just over $40,000 a year)? Would you think that you will get 9 - 40 hour work weeks for the sale of your home? And that is only if you get one of these "deals". Double it if they are your traditional 5% listings.
Here is a broker in NYC that is looking at a different value model for his agency
Showing a home is not something one does everyday, unless you happen to be a rather busy real estate agent.
When you are out shopping for a home the ideal walk through of a home is when you get to go through and discuss the good, the bad, and the pink shag, to properly weigh out the merits of making an offer on the property.
Have you ever gone to see a home and had the person showing the home shadow your every move? Ask you questions like "What do you think of the colour of this room?" Say something like "This is MY favorite room in the house". The last thing you want is to be pushed into something you don't want.
As a home seller you really need to allow the potential buyer to experience the home free from outside opinion. Point out some key features, yes. Direct them to look at something they could miss, of course. Walk them through every room and then give them a 20 minute video of you walking through the house in great detail to watch at home..... uh no (I had a client do that).
When a potential buyer is sizing up the home, offer them space, offer them light, offer them freedom.
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