Almost daily I address home owners over their concerns with what they've heard the night before on the evening News. My favorite quote, in recent weeks, has been "Real Estate is very much like the weather, it is local." San Antonio is blessed with a number factors that have largely sheltered our city and market from most of the trauma that other areas of the Nation have experienced. While this market is stronger than most, it has undergone a necessary adjustment. In considering the sell of your home it is important to properly prepare yourself as well as your home for current market conditions. By making a few decisions before you list your home you will save yourself time and money. The last thing you want is for your home to be the house that sells all the other homes in the neighborhood because it isn't properly priced, is over personalized, or has been improperly marketed. I hope these Tips will help.-Cindy
1. Prepare Yourself Mentally. Separate your emotional ties to your home from the business of selling your property. Don't make it personal. Understand the need for flexibility as it will pertain to a potential buyer. Selling a property requires showing the property, this will disrupt dinner time, naps, and weekends, it will be hard.
2. Proper Pricing Prevents Poor Performance. Accept that the Market will dictate the sales terms for your property. Never take it personally if you don't get the price you expected. Decide when setting price which is more important, time or price. If time is more important when pricing your home you will want to price at or slightly under the price of other properties currently available with similar features. If price is more important then understand your property may be on the market longer to find the one buyer and realize that most lenders are going to require the buyer have an appraisal to justify the price.
3. Picky Buyers Look For Curb Appeal. When buyers feel they can afford to be picky the small things can make a huge difference. A clean well maintained lawn free of pet surprises, updated light fixture and window treatments, recently cleaned or new carpet, and fresh paint can sometimes set your property apart. If these improvements are not in budget you might consider lowering your price. Walk your property with a keen eye and make a list of things that can be easily improved, repaired or replaced and take action. De-clutter and depersonalize. While it is okay to keep a few pictures and mementos you may want to move your family pictures and collections to storage to protect against accidents as well as to de-clutter and depersonalize. A buyer wants to be able to see their family and collections in your home not yours.
4. Educate Yourself To Your Market. Talk to neighbors who have recently listed a property or bought a property in your neighborhood. Interview at least two listing agents who are familiar with your neighborhood, and have them prepare a preliminary Competitive Market Analysis of your property with other s that have recently sold or are for sale in your neighborhood. Have the listing agent of your choice preview other homes in your neighborhood with you to see what the competition has to offer. Stage your home to accentuate the strongest features and minimize the weaker features.
5. Choose a Marketing Partner That Offers The Most Exposure. In selling your home the REALTOR® you chose is a partner in Marketing this property. It is more important than ever that you chose a partner that offers you a diverse marketing package, has experience in your area with great results, and has your best interest in mind at all times. You want to get your property in front of as many potential buyers as possible, pick a REALTOR® that can get maximum exposure for your property.
Cindy Cranston
Specializing in San Antonio, La Vernia, Floresville and surrounding areas.
RE/MAX Vista -Real Esate Agent
Email CindyCranston@remax.net Cell 210-373-8634
Website www.GoSeeCindy.com
Total Edge Team
Cindy Cranston
Representing Home Buyers, and Sellers.
Specializing in San Antonio, La Vernia, Floresville real estate.
Keller Williams Heritage - Agent
Cindy's Cell 210-373-8634 Email TotalEdgeTeam@gmail.com Website www.TotaledgeTeam.com "Total Edge Team, Your Key To A Competitive Edge When Buying Or Selling Real Estate!"
Cindy Cranston and Faye Taylor are the Total Edge Team Realtors® with Keller Williams Realty Heritage living and doing business in the South Texas, San Antonio, Floresville and La Vernia, Texas market. They represents both homeowners and home buyers in these market areas.They specialize in military family and distressed properties. They enjoy the great rewards gained by helping our military heroes and their families buy or sell their home, and assisting distressed homeowners to sell their home and avoid foreclosure.
Cindy has been involved with the United States military her entire life; First as a proud military brat while her father served, then as a Medical Technician in the Air Force, and for the past 14 years as a military wife to her career military husband.
Cindy~ 'Having been around the military my whole life gives me a unique perspective on the challenges that face a military family. I am uniquely qualified to understand this situation from all angles, and enjoy helping relieve some of the burdens caused by your military PCS.'
Faye has earned a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation from the National Association of Realtors®. The CDPE designation makes her uniquely qualified to assist homeowners who risk losing their homes. She works diligently with loan mitigation, asset managers and the homeowner to find an alternative to foreclosure.
Faye~ 'Working with homeowners and families to help them avoid a bank foreclosure is truly rewarding. The prospect of foreclosure can be financially and emotionally devastating, it's important to understand your options. CDPE has equipped me to help homeowners navigate this process and guide them to their best course of action.'
