How to Sell Your Home in a Slow Market

Even though the real estate market has slowed down in recent months, there are still plenty of homebuyers eager to make a purchase. Knowing how to prepare your home for sale, when to allow access for showings, and how you can offer buyer incentives will help you find the right buyer, even in a declining market.

Before you even put your home on the market, make sure that all basic repairs are completed. Nothing can turn off a prospective buyer quicker than loose railings, torn screens or missing hardware on cupboard doors. These easy repairs do not cost a lot of money. If a home buyer sees that the little things are not attended to, they are likely to believe that the larger things are neglected too. Let buyers know that you have pride in your home by making sure that all of the small repairs are taken care of.

Keep your home clean throughout the time it is on the market. In a slow real estate market, it is important to have your home available to show at a moment's notice. The more often your home is shown, the likelier it is that your home will sell. Keep your home available to your Realtor and they will be able to show your home quickly to any buyer that shows interest.

Conside having your home staged by a professional. Home staging has become a booming business and a professional home stager will help you remove clutter and depersonalize your space. Prospective homebuyers want to picture their family in the home, not yours and a home full of personal clutter will not show off the potential of your home.

Keep pets contained during a real estate showing and make sure that your cat litter box is always clean. Pet owners tend to get used to the odors caused by litter boxes and it is important that you remember to clean it every day. Nothing will turn off a prospective home buyer like a home that smells. Many people are fearful of dogs, especially ones that they do not know. Make sure that you either take your dog with you for a showing or put them on a leash outside.

Be realistic in your expectations of the price you will be able to sell your home. Forget about what could have been if you had sold it last year and focus on what your home is worth now. In a buyer's market, buyers don't have to negotiate much. Buyers know that you want to sell your home and a home that is priced too high is likely to be looked over. Ask a fair price for your home to avoid the need for too much negotiation.

In a slow market, hiring a real estate agent is crucial to get your home sold in a reasonable amount of time. Yes, there are ways you can list your home for sale by owner using the internet, but nothing beats the experience that comes from a real estate agent who is able to take care of everything in order to sell your home.

Selling your home can be a stressful time, but you can be successful in selling your home if you remain patient, reasonable and flexible. There are buyers out there and the key is to find them and get them to fall in love with your home.

Questions & Answers Get the answers on home selling and buying.

  Common Q&A About Selling Your Home - Q & A

Q:	Do sellers have to disclose the terms of other offers?
A:	According to experts, sellers do not have to disclose other offers
Q:	Should I add on or buy a bigger home?
A:	Consider these questions before making a choice between adding on to an existing home or moving up in the market to a bigger house: * How much money is available, either from cash reserves or through a home improvement loan, to remodel the current house? * How much additional space is required? Would the foundation support a second floor or does the lot have room to expand on the ground level? * What do local zoning and building ordinances permit? * How much equity already exists in the property? * Are there affordable properties for sale that would satisfy housing needs? Ultimately, the decision should be based on individual needs, the extent of work involved and what will add the most value.
Q:	What are some tips on negotiation?
A:	The more you know about a seller's motivation, the stronger a negotiating position you are in. For example, a seller who must move quickly due to a job transfer may be amenable to a lower price with a speedy escrow. Other so-called "motivated sellers" include people going through a divorce or who have already purchased another home. Remember, that the listing price is what the seller would like to receive but is not necessarily what they will settle for. Before making an offer, check the recent sales prices of comparable homes in the neighborhood to see how the seller's asking price stacks up. Some experts discourage making deliberate low-ball offers. While such an offer can be presented, it can also sour the sale and discourage the seller from negotiating at all.
Q:	How do I prepare the house for sale?
A:	Making your home look as nice as possible may seem obvious. Apparently, it's not, because many sellers don't do much beyond vacuuming the living room rug and maybe cleaning the ring off the bathtub, says George Devine, in "For Sale by Owner," Nolo Press, Berkeley, Calif.; 1993. Short of spending a lot of money, Devine offers several steps people can take to make their home show better:   Sweep the sidewalk, mow the lawn, prune the bushes, weed the garden and clean debris from the yard. Clean the windows and make sure the paint is not chipped or flaking. Be sure that the doorbell works. Clean and make attractive all rooms, furnishings, floors, walls and ceilings. It's especially important that the bathroom and kitchen are spotless. Organize closets. Make sure the basic appliances and fixtures work. Get rid of leaky faucets and frayed cords. Ensure that the house smells good: from an apple pie or cookies baking, for example. Hide the kitty litter. Put vases of fresh flowers throughout the house. Pleasant background music is a nice touch.
Q:	How long do bankruptcies and foreclosures stay on a credit report?
A:	Bankruptcies and foreclosures can remain on a credit report for seven to 10 years. Some lenders will consider a borrower earlier if they have reestablished good credit. The circumstances surrounding the bankruptcy can also influence a lender's decision. For example, if you went through a bankruptcy because your employer had financial difficulties, a lender may be more sympathetic. If, however, you went through bankruptcy because you overextended personal credit lines and lived beyond your means, the lender probably will be less inclined to be flexible.
Q:	What do all of those real estate acronyms in the ads mean?
A:	If you find yourself stumbling over weird acronyms in a real estate listing, don't be alarmed. There is method to the madness of this shorthand (which is mostly adopted by sellers to save money in advertising charges). Here are some abbreviations and the meaning of each, taken from a recent newspaper classified section: * assum. fin. -- assumable financing * dk -- deck * gar -- garage (garden is usually abbreviated "gard") * expansion pot'l -- may be extra space on the lot, or possibly vertical potential for a top floor or room addition. Verify actual potential by checking local zoning restrictions prior to purchase. * fab pentrm -- fabulous pentroom, a room on top, underneath the roof, that sometimes has views * FDR -- formal dining room (not the former president) * frplc, fplc, FP -- fireplace * grmet kit -- gourmet kitchen * HDW, HWF, Hdwd -- hardwood floors * hi ceils -- high ceilings * In-law potential -- potential for a separate apartment. Sometimes, local zoning codes restrict rentals of such units so be sure the conversion is legal first. * large E-2 plan -- this is one of several floor plans available in a specific building * lsd pkg. -- leased parking area, may come with an additional cost * lo dues -- find out just how low these homeowner's dues are, and in comparison to what? * nr bst schls -- near the best schools * pvt -- private * pwdr rm -- powder room, or half-bath * upr- upper floor * vw, vu, vws, vus -- view(s) * Wow! -- better check this one out.

Copyright 1999 Inman News Features