Lazy Sellers Wont Succeed

(The title of this article reads like the most obvious statement ever and your intelligence may be insulted if you read on.)

But the fact of the matter is that many homeowners that enter the active real estate market with the intentions to sell their property really don't try hard enough. On top of that, these same lazy sellers complain when their property has been on the market for several months. And what's to blame, well they say it's the market.

Granted, the market is not in the seller's favor right now and many sellers are having a difficult time adjusting after experiencing the "boom" for about five years from 2000 to 2005. All that means is that you have to try a little harder and take a smaller pay in order to execute a sale.

Kaye Thomas helps you identify if you are ready to enter the selling process, in the article, "Are You Really a Seller," which was posted on ezinearticles.com.

"Many people who have their homes for sale are not really sellers. that are people who are motivated to sell. Many of today's sellers only want to sell if they get their price which may or may not be very realistic."

The pricing scams that worked during the "boom" will not succeed anymore either. If your home is valued at $1 million and you price it at $1.5 million and then reduce it down to $1.1 million; today's buyer will catch on and leave you with a home that's still overpriced and now scarred.

So what can you do to really try and sell your property?

First you should make sure it shows well. Remove any clutter, add new paint and consider installing hardwood floors (carpet is out).

"A few years ago you could get away with getting top dollar for a fixer. Today's buyer wants it in good shape or deeply discounted."

In order for prospective buyers to see your new paint and hardwood floors, you need to create a pleasing curb appeal.

"Re-plant flower beds, add pots of flowers, re-sod if necessary and paint the exterior. Most buyers make a large part of their home buying decision based on the exterior of the property."

Now that you know your buyer will love the property when they see it, you have to get them there. The first thing you need is an effective asking price.

You need to determine your market value through an appraiser and comparing neighborhood sales. Your property should not be overpriced but you do not want to ask for too little either. A low asking price may prompt questions about why the buyer is so desperate to sell.

The next step is to concentrate on the marketing aspect.

"Make sure your home is marketed in places other than the local papers. 75% of buyers start their search on the Internet. You need to be there. If your agent is not marketing your property on the net you are losing access to a lot of potential buyers."

And most of all, you need patience. This is a buyer's market which means that they are in control of the market. They are waiting for the best deal and are hoping for prices to drop even further. Do not despair. The average length a home is on the market before generating a sale is now two to six months.

People will buy. As long as you are active and do not make any hasty or lazy mistakes, you should become one of the success stories of the slowing market.

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