sell your home

10 Ways You Are Sabotaging Your Own Home Sale!

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

You want to sell your home, right? Really? Because your behavior says otherwise. Your actions are sabotaging your own home sale. If you’re wondering why your home isn’t selling, read on and see if you fall into one or more of these examples… then STOP IT!

Issues of availability:

It makes sense that the more people that see your home, the more likely one will buy it. So why in the name of all that’s holy are you being so restrictive in your showing hours?

1. If you aren’t making the home available at times when normal people are looking, then it won’t be seen.

2. And for goodness sake, use a lockbox for a house key so other Realtors besides your listing agent can show the home!

3. If you don’t want it to be obvious for security reasons, put it on a door that is out of sight, but use one!

Pets and pet smells:

4. That “adorable” yet huge dog of yours, you know, the one that you swear “doesn’t bite” and is a huge sweetheart? Yeah, even the nicest dog can be territorial about strangers in their home. When you leave for the showing, take Fido with you.

5. And that cat smell? Total turn off. Find a place for Fluffy to stay while the house is for sale so you can dispense with the litter box.

6. Same goes for snakes, lizards, rodents and other small pets. Even if they don’t smell, they can scare or turn off buyers. That person who fell in love with the rest of your home but is terrified of snakes will NOT buy because you have one, trust me.

House condition:

7. We get it, you have to live in your home while you try to sell it, but when it’s going to be shown you need to CLEAN IT! That means pick up toys and clutter, clean bathrooms and kitchen counters, leave on some lights (as discussed with you when the home was staged) and…

8. DON’T SMOKE ANYWHERE! Yes, that means even no smoking in the garage since it‘s attached to the house.

Sabotaging interested buyers:

9. You have offers! You refuse to negotiate them. Not cool.

10. Oh, and those major home problems you know about? You are required to disclose them to buyers. And yes, a sinkhole qualifies.

Why Listing Your Home For Sale During The Holidays Makes Sense

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. You’ve decided to list your Clearwater home for sale, but you’re not sure if you should wait until after the holidays to put it on the market. Well, good news! No need to wait! The holidays are a great time to list your home for sale.

Serious Buyers

So why should you list your Clearwater home for sale during the holidays? Well, there are several reasons. First, you will find a stable of more serious buyers. People are busy during the holidays and don’t have time to spend time browsing through homes, meaning fewer “tire-kickers.” Those looking will be much more serious about buying. There are also fewer homes on the market, lowering the competition. Many people decide to take their homes off the market during the holidays. They think they won’t sell, or don’t want to be “hassled” with showing during the holidays. Wrong thinking, but it will work to your advantage. Serious buyers means your home will sell!

Holiday Decorating

Other reasons? Well, do you decorate your home? Think about how great it looks. You move extraneous furniture, put up a tree, wreaths, lights. Your rooms look beautiful and roomier. Buyers will be able to picture what it would look like during THEIR holidays. It brings up positive emotions that help them hook their hearts on your home. Buying decisions are made on an emotional level, not a rational one. Holiday decorating may help you sell your home.

Taxes

Did you know that there are tax reasons why buyers might have to buy by the end of the year? What about those who can’t wait until spring to buy? Moving may be necessary between school semesters, or because of a job situation.

Is It A Hassle?

So what about that “hassle”? Selling during the holidays is no more of a hassle than selling any other time of the year. Yes, you have to keep the home clean and staged, but as with any other time of the year, you control when it is shown and have the option to decline showings.

So, don’t wait, list now and give yourself the gift of selling your home!

If you would like to find out how to list your Clearwater Home For Sale during the holidays, give The Deb Ward Team a call TODAY!!! 727-410-0336

Are You Willing To Do What It Takes To Sell Your Home?

October 27, 2021 By Tara Jacobsen

It’s time to sell your Clearwater home, are you willing to do what it takes to sell it? Do you even know what to do? Even just the basics? Well, here are some things you should do if you are willing to do what it takes to sell your home.

Check Out Your Fridge

Ok so first, take a look at your refrigerator. Yes, really, your refrigerator. What’s on it? Is there a collection of clutter on top of it? Cereal boxes? Extra containers? What about on it? A dozen magnets? Menus? The latest art project or projects from your kids? Not what prospective buyers need to see. It’s a bit hard to see themselves in your kitchen if it looks like your kitchen!

Cracks and Dings or Nail Holes

Next, walk room to room and look at the state of the walls. Are there holes, dings, cracks or other things that should be fixed? Remember that really ugly picture you took down? Well, the hole from the nail holding it up should probably be spackled. If you were buying a home would you want to buy one that obviously needed some work to be done? Cracks and holes are signs to a buyer that you might just be leaving other things undone.

How’s the Paint?

As you look at all those walls check the paint? Remember when your kids had you paint their rooms all those wild colors? What about that dark “accent” wall gone awry? Yeah, it might just be time to make all that just a bit less wild and a bit more neutral. You might have liked having your living room colors of your favorite football or baseball team, but your buyer might not!

Last Thing

Ok, last thing. Sweep up the dog hair and pick up the kid’s toys. Who wants to step over toys or watch the dust bunnies blow around as they look at your home? I bet they don’t come back to look again! So do what you have to do, and mostly listen to your Realtor when they tell you what really needs to be done to sell your home!

If you are ready for a truly honest opinion on what it will take to sell your Clearwater home, give us a call today!

727-410-0336

Why Getting Out of Area Agent Referrals are a Good Idea

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

When you sell your home and buy one in the same area, you know you have a reliable Realtor and you can depend on them to help you. What if you are moving out of the area? You will need a new area agent. How can you be sure to find a reliable Realtor you can depend on as much as the one you know? Have your Realtor give you a referral to an agent from the new town. The new area agent referred from your current Realtor is the best way to find a reliable Realtor that you can trust.

When you are moving to a new town or area, finding businesses or services can be stressful. You’re new and asking other people about who you can trust is difficult because you don’t know anyone. You can take a chance, but buying a home isn’t like picking a grocery store. This is the biggest purchase you will make. When you are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a place to live and raise your family, trusting your Realtor is paramount.

More likely than not, you went back to the same Realtor to sell your home that helped you buy it. They have experience, you had a good experience with them and you trust them. Obviously they were good at their job if you are going back to them to sell your home now. Now you need to find another Realtor in another town so you can buy a home there and settle in. How can you find one you can trust like your old one? Ask the Realtor you trust to give you a new area agent referral to a Realtor you can trust in the new town.

The agent referral has an element of trust. Someone who you know is experienced in their field and has provided you with good service is now telling you that someone else is also as experienced and trustworthy. You can rely on that referral. So if you need to find a new Realtor to buy a home out of town, ask your current one. They can point you in the right direction.