Selling Your Wrigleyville Home
Before you stick that sale sign out front, take these money saving steps. Remember how much of a process it was when you made that decision to buy for the first time? Well, selling your home is just as important and involves just as much list making, researching and negotiating
But don't be too quick to pull out that notepad and pen, first let's make sure you're motivated. Are you one-hundred-and-ten percent committed to selling your home? Putting your property on the market takes a serious amount of ambition, even when you plan on hiring a Realtor. But it is also an exciting and rewarding time that can lead to even bigger and better future real estate ventures.
Get an Agent
Hiring a real estate agent is a process in itself. You'll want to do a bit of research before making any phone calls on this one. Seek out friends, family and colleagues who have had home-selling successes. Find out who their agents were and give them a call. Another good way to go about picking an agent is to host a broker's tour of your home. This will give you a chance to meet several different Realtors, while the agents take in all the glorious details of your property. Narrow it down to the agents who bring their A game to the table. Who's going to offer you the most bang for your buck? Be as selective with choosing your agent as you were with picking your home.
Market Your Home
Okay, it's time to think like a publicist. Your home is your product and you need to let the world know how great it is. One good way to do this is by providing high quality photos. Since most buyers begin their search online, you can upload images to real estate websites and various online outlets so that potential buyers will be alerted to your great home. Make sure you provide both exterior and interior photos and focus on architectural details and inclusive amenities. And for heaven's sake, make sure the rooms are clean before snapping any shots!
Write Detailed Descriptions
Now you need something to put next to those photos. This is where professionally written descriptions come in handy. If you're not the best with words, you may want to befriend a writer or have someone edit your blurbs. When crafting your descriptions, don't forget to include details! Telling buyers the location and square footage is all fine and dandy, but it's not going to make your phone ring. Homebuyers want to know what you can offer them that the guy on the next block can't. Give a couple sentences that will boost mental imagery -- do you have vaulted ceilings or newly finished hardwood floors? What about granite countertops or stainless steel appliances? Play up those features that make you sad to leave your home.
If you're technologically savvy, you should consider creating a virtual tour. Or if you've got a little extra cash to spare, hire a freelancer to do it for you. These typically cost a couple hundred dollars, depending on the size of your home and desired number of shots.
Of course, many real estate agencies take care of all these details for you, coordinating professional photographers and copywriters to produce high-quality marketing materials and online advertisements. Talk with your Realtor about what they can offer, especially in the way of Internet innovation -- seeing as over 80% of home buyers begin their house hunting on the web.
Make the Most of Your Location
If your home sits on the corner, put up a sign on each side of the block. If you are wedged in the middle somewhere, it's time to bring your neighbors cookies... Ask the corner residents if they'll help you out by placing a sign in their yard. Just make sure it has an arrow pointing in your direction with your address prominently visible.
Advertise in Print and Web-based Publications
Don't forget the basics. With such a web-based real estate market these days, it's easy to overlook advertising outlets like newspapers. But it's just as important to get your ads in print as it is to post them all over the Internet. Take out classifieds in major papers, local papers and all of the relevant real estate publications you can find. Oh yeah, and be sure to post them online, too.
Open Your Doors to the Public
Are you ready for an open house? More importantly, does it make sense for you to host an open house? Let's get back to your location here for a minute. Are you in an easily accessible spot? Will buyers have difficulty finding parking? If you expect a good number of people to swing by, go for it! You've got nothing to lose and you never know when that future buyer is going to walk through the door. While you're at it, you might as well invite the neighbors (especially those who have your signs in their yards). Sure, they're not there to buy (although you never really know), but it doesn't hurt to have those extra bodies browsing around while serious buyers are in the room.
All right, ready for a recap? Take note of these dos and don'ts before putting your home on the market.
Do:
- Be motivated to sell!
- Find a real estate agent. Going at it alone is just no fun and causes the seller a world of avoidable stress.
- Provide appealing photos (clear the clutter!).
- Use signage in your front yard (and possibly your neighbors').
- Send out flyers.
- Mention details and amenities in your property description.
Don't
- Hire an inexperienced real estate agent.
- Try to sell a property that's in bad condition.
- Overprice. Check out comparable markets first.
- Omit important information. Is your home a fixer-upper? Note the positives first.
- Post bad photos. No photos are better than poorly taken ones.
- Restrict showing hours or require 24-hour notice before a showing. A simple call-ahead and lockbox should suffice.