Tips for Negotiating the Best Price on Your New Home

egotiating the best price on your new home

A brick house for sale

It’s not easy to buy a home, but if you do your homework, you can probably get a better deal on the house you want. Today, we will discuss strategies for successful negotiating. It’s possible that during house hunting, you’ll come across a few listings that are just a tad bit too expensive for your budget. Even if they’re fantastic deals, such homes are out of reach if you can’t afford them. Not quite. You might be able to negotiate housing costs to fit your budget if you’re knowledgeable and know what you’re doing. You can still find sellers open to haggling over price, even in a seller’s market. If you want to buy a property at a reasonable price, you need to know the tips for negotiating the best price for your new home. 

Get familiar with the market

When negotiating the best price on your new home, you must first assess the current market conditions. There will be more properties on the market and fewer people looking to purchase them, making it a buyer’s market. The buyer will have more room to negotiate a lower price, below the asking price, if there are other houses to choose from.

However, in a seller’s market, where there are fewer homes for sale than buyers, the seller has all the cards, and the buyers must compete with one another to secure a purchase. The seller may be unwilling to budge on price if there are several potential buyers.

Ask questions

Have your agent gather some information to learn more about the sellers’ financial status and motivation. What kind of transaction is this – a foreclosure or a short sale? Do they want to avoid paying two mortgages, so they’re willing to take a hit on the asking price since they just bought a property or relocated? How long has the house been on the market, if at all, or is it new? Did they receive many offers? Why, therefore, did they fail if that was the case? Your offer should be lower if there is a strong indication that the seller is eager to sell.


Questions encourage critical thinking.

Offer the seller something they can’t refuse

In an auction, the price the seller receives is the primary motivation. As a buyer, you want to avoid an auction at all costs, so put your understanding of the seller’s motivation to good use. Some sellers may be anxious that the right bidders won’t show up to the auction on the day in question. According to experts from Verified Movers, people who have already put down a deposit on their next home may be more tempted to sell quickly. Some sellers may choose to find a buyer who will keep the property instead of tearing it down.

Start by pre-approving your money, inspecting for termites or building issues, and contacting a lawyer about the deal. Send a check for the down payment to the real estate agent’s office or phone them. A serious offer must be communicated to the seller via the agent. If they reject your first offer, offer more, but don’t exceed your limit.

Talk to a real estate professional

Working with a real estate agent, especially if you’re a first-time buyer, can help you obtain a better deal on a property than you would if you tried to negotiate the price alone. These pros know their way around the real estate market and can help you make sense of things like property taxes and interest rates. In addition, they will do all their power to get the best possible terms for you in the purchase agreement.


A real estate agent’s knowledge is invaluable.

Strategy for buying a house at the auction

Make an offer that will expire at 11:59 p.m. the night before the auction if the property is scheduled to be sold at auction. If you want to sweeten the deal, you might offer to forgo the standard cooling-off period. The real estate market is slow, making it more challenging to attract counterbids. If a seller receives a strong counteroffer, they may accept it instead of taking the risk of losing the property at auction. And hopefully, by the end of it, you’ll get a new home. However, don’t forget to leave some of your funds for moving, as auctions are where you can quickly lose track of the money spent. 

Choosing a reliable moving company is crucial when buying a new home. Suppose you need to move somewhere you’ve never been before. When choosing a long-distance moving company in Ann Arbor, for example, you should always compare multiple reviews. This way, you’ll have a clear picture of what to expect during relocation. It might not seem like an important step, but having professional movers hired in advance will save you the money you can then spend on the house you intend to purchase.


pKnowing how to offer properly is the key to a successful negotiation.

When all else fails, take baby steps toward bigger and better things

If you’re negotiating the best price on your new home and you’re starting to feel out of choices, try taking baby steps forward. The sellers will assume you made every effort to buy their house. This might be the case even if you just bid up the price by $500 or $1,000. If you’ve used up all your money, you might still try to bargain for other parameters like the settlement date and the number of inspection days.

You should be prepared to compromise or go on

You can’t always get what you want, and it’s unusual to obtain the price you want when buying a home. Be flexible and willing to work with the other party in the negotiation process from the outset to meet everyone’s needs. You and your agent must have the same goals and understandings regarding the arrangement’s terms.

Keep in mind that not all sales are made and that it is common to negotiate several times throughout the process, especially in a competitive market. Think of haggling over a property’s price as an education; not all negotiations end in a deal.

Money doesn’t mean everything

When negotiating the best price on your new home, you should know that money isn’t everything. The most important thing to remember is that there is more to discuss a final price for a new home than just pricing. 


Meta:
Buyers who negotiate property prices set the stage for a fair bargain. Here are some tips for negotiating the best price on your new home.

Keyword:
negotiating the best price on your new home

Photos used:
https://unsplash.com/photos/pvdx8c6Y5BY
https://unsplash.com/photos/aWf7mjwwJJo
https://unsplash.com/photos/n95VMLxqM2I
https://unsplash.com/photos/oFMI6CdD7yU

Do These 6 Things Before Putting Your Home on the Market

Do these 6 things before putting your home on the market

Selling a home is never easy. On the one hand, it can be a very emotional process because of all the memories you have there. On the other hand, it can be hard to find a buyer willing to pay the asking price. After all, there are many factors affecting home affordability today. These include increasing home prices and mortgage rates. Therefore, if you want to attract the right buyers, you have to put in a bit of work. At the same time, not everyone has the time and money to do a complete home makeover. That’s why we’ve compiled a small guide on the essentials. Do these six things before putting your home on the market to attract buyers and maybe even increase the property value.

1 The first step before putting your home on the market is to declutter

We tend to accumulate a lot of necessary and unnecessary stuff throughout the years. And even if you try to declutter regularly, you usually do it superficially. However, now that you’re planning to sell and move into a new home, starting with a thorough decluttering process is essential. 

You must declutter your home before putting it on the market to let buyers notice its beautiful features.
A woman decluttering her home.

First of all, you’ll have fewer items to transport when you move. And second, it will enable buyers to see your home’s stunning features instead of being distracted by all the clutter. Furthermore, when a home is overcrowded with stuff, it appears smaller.

A piece of advice: take your time and don’t leave it until the last second. Decluttering an entire home takes time. You should carefully assess every item to decide what stays and what goes. You can even organize a yard sale to sell some of the things in good shape. Or you can donate them to local charities.

2 Take care of updates and repairs

You might be wondering if your should update your house before you sell it. Well, this depends mostly on your budget. Of course, any update you make will increase the property value. However, if the budget is tight, you can simply add a fresh coat of paint to the walls. This will immediately spruce up the place. Just make sure you use neutral colors if you want to attract more buyers. Bright colors usually scare them off.

Regarding the repairs, you should consider doing a pre-sale home inspection. This will enable you to identify and fix all minor and major issues early. It would be best to wait until a potential buyer asks for an inspection. Because if they find any problems, they can negotiate a lower price or back out of the deal.


One of the most important things to do before putting your home on the market is to take care of all the repairs.
Various tools used for repairs.

3 Depersonalize your home

The main reason to depersonalize your home is that buyers need to be able to imagine themselves living there. So, before putting your home on the market, here’s how you can achieve this in two easy steps:

  • Remove all personal items. This includes family photos and mementos, as well as collectibles. Furthermore, don’t forget to hide away your toiletries when potential buyers come to view the property.
  • Remove all the valuables. Firstly, your taste in antique furnishings and artworks might not match the buyers’. Secondly, they can get stolen or damaged during an open house.

Since these items are precious, you should hire professionals to handle them. That’s also why you should hire movers even when moving locally. Furthermore, this is the safest way to transport your belongings. Plus, movers often offer packing and storage services, which might come in handy until you sell your home.

4 Make it squeaky clean

Even if you sell your home as-is, you still have to clean it properly. This is one of the easiest and most effective staging techniques. And if you want to do it right, you should consider hiring cleaning professionals. Once their job is done, keeping the property clean will be much easier. Just dust and vacuum before viewings.


Make your home squeaky clean by hiring cleaning professionals.
Two cleaning professionals cleaning a home.

In case you can’t afford to hire professionals, don’t despair. Just ask some friends or family members to help you out. It’s not that you can’t do it by yourself, but you’ll finish faster if you have some help. Make sure you scrub every inch of that place. You should also pay close attention to the windows. Because dirty windows keep the light out and can make your home look gloomy.

5 Don’t forget about the exterior

Don’t forget about the exterior when you prep your house for sale. After all, this is the first thing that homebuyers will notice. Even if you don’t have the money to repaint the outside of your home or the fence, you have other options. 

For instance, you can improve curb appeal by mowing the lawn and trimming trees and shrubs. Or, if you want to put your home on the market during winter, you should always shovel the snow and create a clear path to the house. Furthermore, make sure that your home is properly lit. This will make it more inviting and enable buyers to see its features.

6 Find a good real estate agent

Before you put your home on the market, you should find an excellent real estate agent. A person who has a lot of knowledge and experience in this field will help you sell your home faster:

  • They can advise you on increasing property value and staging.
  • They’ll market your home using every means at their disposal. Thus, they’ll attract more potential buyers.
  • They can take care of all the paperwork for you.

In conclusion

Once you decide to sell your home, you shouldn’t rush to place a “for sale” sign outside. Take the time to do these 6 things before putting your home on the market. This will enable you to make the property more appealing to buyers. At the same time, things like updates and repairs can increase property value. Once you take care of all these things, finding the right buyer and profit from the sale will be easier.

Images used:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-a-woman-holding-a-home-for-sale-sign-8469937/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/concentrated-woman-carrying-stack-of-cardboard-boxes-for-relocation-3791617/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/set-of-instruments-on-floor-4792494/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/women-in-orange-uniform-cleaning-the-floor-6195277/

Real Estate: The Definition and Importance

definition of real estate
Photo by S Migaj on Pexels.com

Let’s explore the definition of real estate. What is real estate? This is a question that many people ask, and there is no one answer to it. Simply put, real estate is the physical property that makes up our world. It includes land, buildings, and anything else that has a physical existence. But real estate is more than just a collection of bricks and mortar. It is an investment, a way to generate income, and an essential part of our economy. In this blog post, we will explore the definition of real estate and discuss its importance!

Real estate is defined as the land, buildings, and any other improvements on it, as well as the natural resources that are found on or beneath it. This definition encompasses a wide variety of properties, from single-family homes to commercial office buildings. Real estate can be either residential or commercial in nature. Residential real estate includes properties such as single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums. Commercial real estate, on the other hand, encompasses office buildings, retail space, warehouses, and industrial facilities.

The importance of real estate cannot be understated. It is an essential part of our economy and plays a vital role in creating jobs and providing housing for families. In addition, real estate generates significant tax revenue for local, state, and federal governments. And, finally, real estate is a key driver of economic growth.

There are many different types of real estate, but they all share one common goal: to provide a safe and comfortable place for people to live, work, and play. We hope this blog post has helped you better understand the definition of real estate and its importance. Thanks for reading!

Houses like yours are selling now.

Renovations That Make Your Home (and Household) Healthier

House prices have been on an upward trajectory for some time now. But with the rising cost of living, it may just be worth your while to sell and take advantage of that sweet deal!

Have you been considering selling your home? If so, now is a great time to do it! House prices have gone up and may be just what’s needed for buyers. Knowing the projected sale price can help get an idea of when we’ll actually see results from our efforts…

It’s a great time to buy in the Ann Arbor area! There are so many people looking for their next home and you’ll have an advantage if your house is on sale now. Get ahead of all those other sellers by getting sold fast while interest rates remain low. The spring market in the Ann Arbor area is about to start. Our spring market starts in January but this year seems to have a little delay. I’m starting to see houses come on the market daily. It’s far better to be the first on the market when there are a ton of hungry buyers, than be one in a sea of many houses on the market. Get on now, get sold fast and while the interest rates are the lowest. To you, the seller, this means the buyers are in a stronger position to pay more.

Need a little reading material?

Here’s an online PDF, nothing to download, just read in your browser for a safe experience.

I have more reading material to share, more videos and am always willing to talk. Please reach out to me today, and let’s start that conversation. No obligation, just some free information for you to help you decide if moving, at this time, is right for you.

photo
Middy Matthews
Licensed Realtor, Arbor Move Team
The More Group
734-239-3796  | Middy@ArborMove.com
ArborMove.com
22 Barker Road, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189

Schedule a call:  https://calendly.com/arbormove/phone-call


Quick links:
NEW LISTINGS IN THE LAST WEEK (bookmark these for future use)
Ann Arbor: https://search.arbormove.com/search/results/AnnArborNewListings
Chelsea: https://search.arbormove.com/search/results/AnnArborNewListings
Saline: https://search.arbormove.com/search/results/SalineNewListings
Brighton: https://search.arbormove.com/search/results/BrightonNewListings
Ypsilanti : https://search.arbormove.com/search/results/YpsilantiNewListings
Milan: https://search.arbormove.com/search/results/MilanNewListings
Dexter : https://search.arbormove.com/search/results/DexterNewListings
Whitmore Lake:https://search.arbormove.com/search/results/WhitmoreLakeNewListings

Ready to buy? We have the knowledge and expertise to help you get you in the home that fits you. If you want your offer to get accepted, our updated buyer’s guide (https://www.arbormove.com/home-buying-process) has 10 essential tips to help you lock down your dream home. And best of all, it’s totally free—just let us know where to send it.

Whether you have questions about pre-approval, contingencies, or bidding wars, you can trust our team to provide the hyper-local advice you need to succeed. Drop us a line to get started, or request your complimentary guide for even more information!

Retirement May Be Changing What You Need in a Home

Retirement May Be Changing What You Need in a Home | MyKCM

The past year and a half brought about significant life changes for many of us. For some, it meant entering retirement earlier than expected. Recent data shows more people retired this year than anticipated. According to the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, 2021 saw a retirement boom:

“At least 1.7 million more older workers than expected retired due to the pandemic recession.”

If you’ve recently retired, your home may not fit your new lifestyle. The good news is, you’ve likely built-up significant equity that can fuel your next move. According to the latest Homeowner Equity Insights report from CoreLogichomeowners gained more than $50,000 in equity over the past 12 months alone. That, plus today’s sellers’ market, presents a great opportunity to sell your house and address your evolving needs.

You Can Move Closer to the Ones You Love

The 2021 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) provides a look at the reasons people buy homes. For those reaching retirement age, the number one reason to buy is the opportunity to be closer to loved ones, friends, or relatives.

If you find yourself farther from your loved ones than you’d like to be, retirement and the equity you’ve built in your home may enable you to move closer to the people in your life who matter most.

You Can Find the Right Home for Your Needs

Not only can your equity power a move to a new location, but it can also help you purchase the right size home. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, says many homebuyers 55 and older choose to downsize – or buy a smaller home – when they make a purchase:

“Clearly from the age patterns, young people want to upsize, and the older generation is looking to downsize. . . .”

Whatever your home goals are, a trusted real estate advisor can help you to find the best option for your situation. They’ll help you sell your current home and guide you as you buy your next one while you move into this new phase of life.

Bottom Line

If you’ve recently retired and your needs are changing, you’re not alone. Let’s connect so you can get a better sense of how to find a home that will match your situation.

Renovations That Make Your Home (and Household) Healthier

Renovations That Make Your Home (and Household) Healthier

Thinking of buying a home or selling your current home in Ann Arbor? Then it’s time to contact The Arbor Move Team, your Ann Arbor real estate resource! (734) 239-3796

We spend a lot of time in our homes, and more so over the last year. However, we often don’t truly appreciate how much of an impact this environment can have on our health. Certain details about our home, from the materials it’s made with to the way it’s decorated, can make your health better — or indeed, worse. 

A healthy home makes you and your family feel great. It’s also an attractive feature for potential buyers, meaning these upgrades could boost your home value down the line. Arbor Move Realtors wants to help you figure out how to make your home as health-boosting as possible. Let’s get started: 

Pre-Renovation Considerations 

Before you make any upgrades to your home, it’s important to think about the financial aspect of your plans. As we said above, ideal changes are those which both improve your quality of life and offer a decent return on investment. Speak with a real estate agent like the team at Arbor Move Realtors about changes you’re thinking of making to get a sense of whether or not they’ll boost your home’s value. This isn’t the sole reason to make (or not make) a change, but it can help you figure out what to prioritize and how to make your renovations work for you. 

Major Health and Safety Renovations

There are a few checks that every homeowner should make to ensure their home is safe. For example, if your home was built before 1974, you should have lead testing done to see if your paint contains this harmful metal. If it does, there are several ways to keep yourself and your family safe. 

Asbestos and radon are two cancer-causing substances that might be in your home. Older homes should be checked for asbestos and, if any is found, it should be professionally removed or sealed away. Many homes contain radon gas, which is odorless, colorless, and one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Radon tests are easy and inexpensive to perform, and radon mitigation systems are extremely effective at removing the gas if it’s a problem. Radon can appear at any time, so even if your test comes up negative, you should check every couple of years to make sure you’re still safe. 

Reducing Allergens 

Another great way to make your home easier on your health is to reduce allergens. One extremely effective way to do this is to replace (or just remove) old carpeting. The older a carpet is, the more dust and grime gets knocked into the air when it’s stepped on. Regular vacuuming and cleaning can reduce the amount of dust, but it will still accumulate over time. 

Dust also tends to collect in furniture. Reduce this by using dust covers on your couches and upholstered chairs. The covers are easy to remove and clean when needed, and they prevent allergens from embedding themselves into your surfaces. Also consider enlisting the help of professionals to clean your furniture. Check online for upholstery cleaning specials to fit within your budget, and call a handful of local, experienced companies that will come equipped with industrial-grade equipment and cleaning products to do the job right for a deep clean.

Mental Health Renovations 

Finally, the following renovations can go a long way toward improving mental health. One of the best tools for ensuring mood stability is to ensure you’re living in a space with plenty of natural light. Use blinds and curtains that let in as much light as possible, and consider decorating with mirrors. Reflective surfaces keep light bouncing through a space and can significantly increase brightness in a room. 

It’s also wise to create a calming, quiet space in your home. This can be a library or a meditation room. It can even be a garden or other outdoor space. What matters most is that it’s a peaceful place where you can rest your mind for a little while. Our minds spend so much time working through stress and to-do lists: This can be your refuge. 

Your environment might feel like background noise in your life, but it has a real impact on your health. These measures can go a long way toward improving your well-being and making your house a more inviting place for all! 

Photo Credit: Unsplash

5 Favorite Home Design Hacks on a Budget

Leading interior design professionals offer up some of their favorite affordable ideas for sprucing up a home this summer. Courtesy of the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors

You may not have the budget for floor-to-ceiling renovations but that doesn’t mean you can’t still make a big difference to a home’s appearance. Interior designers from across the country respond to the question: What is your favorite summer design hack on a dime? Here’s what they said.

Refresh the Color

Blue Bathroom Vanity
Photo credit: Laurey Glenn

“What works for summer—and all year round, really—is making a statement with color. A fresh coat of paint on the wall or repainting your furniture and adding new hardware offers a renewed look to any room. Don’t be afraid to try cool, summery colors; they create a tranquil mood to the space.” —Mel Bean, Mel Bean Interiors, Tulsa, Okla.

Dark Kitchen Cabinets
Photo credit: Kacey Gilpin

Move Around Accessories

Dresser & Mirror
Photo credit: Molly Culver

“Sometimes the best furniture and fixtures are right under your nose – in your own home. Rearranging your furniture can give the illusion of a new home; all it takes is some creativity. Move your entryway chandelier to your bathroom. Rearrange artwork. Use a living room side table for seating at your vanity. The possibilities are endless.” —Mary Patton, Mary Patton Design, Houston

Bath With Wallpaper and Chandelier
Photo credit: Molly Culver

Add Some Finishing Touches

Plant and Accessories on Coffee Table
Photo credit: Patrick Cline

“Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Create intrigue and give richness to a room with bright throw blankets or pillows and add eye-catching lighting fixtures. For summer, I also like to add gold picture frames and mirrors to accentuate white or neutral walls.” —Marlaina Teich, New York-based Marlaina Teich Designs

Accessories on Table and Mirror
Photo credit: Patrick Cline

Try Wallpaper Accents

Vanity and Bathroom Wallpaper
Photo credit: Haylei Smith

“I’m currently loving all of the options for removable wallpaper which can make any room—big or small—look freshly renovated and without breaking the bank. For summer, consider creating an accent wall or wallpapering a powder room in shades of blue reminiscent of clear skies and beach days.” —Lance Thomas, Louisiana-based Thomas Guy Interiors

Highlight the Windows

Light Blue Furniture and Blinds
Photo courtesy Stoneside Blinds & Shades

“For the summer, consider clean, modern cellular shades that not only look great in any space, but also offer amazing interior climate control while helping to reduce energy costs. For this time of year, I’m loving crisp white and seaglass shade colors.” —James Brewer, design consultant with Stoneside Blinds & Shades

Original article can be found HERE

Home Prices | As simple as supply and demand

Are you worried about the housing market? It’s time to relax.

Home prices are determined by supply and demand. Today, it is simple to explain the strong year-over-year home price appreciation because of this concept. As more people want to buy houses than there are available homes on the market, buyers have no choice but pay a premium for those few that do exist. This causes house values in fantastic neighborhoods like Beverly Hills or Palos Verdes Estates soar while poorer regions see their property stocks stagnate or decline in value as they compete with each other for scarce resources.

Here are three maps that show the effects this theory has had on residential real estate:

Map #1 – State-by-state price appreciation reported by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020:

As the map shows, certain states (colored in red) have appreciated well above the national average of 12.6%.

Map #2 – The change in state-by-state inventory levels year-over-year reported by realtor.com:

Housing inventory is at all-time lows while demand remains high and this proves to be a recipe for higher housing prices. In fact, states with the most change in listing inventory also experience greater price appreciation than those without such drastic changes. The best examples are Idaho, Utah, and Arizona where both increased by more than 30%. This correlation between changing listings inventories and state’s property value increase can easily be seen when comparing different maps of each individual U.S state – especially as it pertains to these three cases.

The reason prices continue to accelerate is that housing inventory is still at all-time lows while demand remains high. However, this may be changing.

Is there relief around the corner?

The report by realtor.com also shows the monthly change in inventory for each state.

Map #3 – State-by-state changes in inventory levels month-over-month reported by realtor.com:

As the map indicates, 39 of the 50 states (plus the District of Columbia) saw increases in inventory over the last month. This may be evidence that homeowners who have been afraid to let buyers in their homes during the pandemic are now putting their houses on the market.

We’ll know for certain as we move through the rest of the year.

The rapid price appreciation we’ve experienced over the last year has some people concerned. The maps above show that this is warranted if you look at how much demand there was for homes and what limited supply existed. Going forward, as long as more houses are put on sale to meet the higher level of demand it will be a bit easier for prices to moderate towards their historical levels rather than continuing up so quickly like they have been recently.

The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. The Arbor Move Team does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy of any claims made herein. It is your responsibility to perform due diligence before making an investment decision for yourself or anyone else on behalf of a third party that you may have fiduciary duties with respect to such person’s finances.

The content located here was created by one member from our team at ARBOR MOVE (Please note: This content contains personal opinion)

9 Rules for Effectively Marketing Your Home

homeowners in front of Sold sign

A home that isn’t seen is a home that isn’t sold. Real estate marketing really boils down to that key point. When selling your home, you need to make sure that you’re putting your property in front of as many potential buyers as possible.

Once you have their attention, your home will sell itself. We at The Arbor Move Team want to give you the 9 rules for marketing well and selling your property in a way that is guaranteed to draw potential buyers from all over the country!

-Rule 1: Make sure there are no dead trees or shrubs on any of your lawns – this could be considered hazardous by prospective homeowners if they’re not aware beforehand, so make an effort to clear them out before someone decides too late about purchasing it.   Rule 2: Mowing can sometimes seem like such a hassle but don’t let laziness get in the way; taking care of these things now means fewer headaches later down the road both financially and physically when mowing season rolls

1. Online Presence

The more eyes, the faster the sale. Gone are the days where simply sticking a For Sale sign in your yard sells you home. The internet is an incredible tool that has been used by millions of people to make their homes seen and sold all across America! Listing your property on MLS listings and marketing sites will go a long way for getting it noticed quickly- if not immediately purchased from online buyers who can’t even get enough time nor space to see everything they want during house hunting excursions around town with agents due to lack of time or availability. Reputable listing agent’s should have effective and well thought out websites which make browsing through properties easy as pie – making them essential tools for finding new places, just like Zillow Reputable listing agents should have an effective and well-thought out strategy for this, as well.

2. The Price Is Right (Or Is It?)

You may feel like your home is worth a lot, but you should never let that stop you from pricing it competitively. Buyers will find out if they would be overpaying as soon as they look for other homes in the area and see how much their prices are compared to others’. If yours isn’t priced well enough then there’s no need looking any further!

Pricing too low cuts into your bottom line, so be sure to do research before you set your price. It needs to be justifiable and an excellent “hook”.

3. Photos, Photos, and a Lot More Photos

The buyer wants to know as much about your home (inside especially) before they commit. The exterior is only a small part of the entire package and taking photos isn’t going to sell it.

The real estate agency says that not showing buyers how beautiful or useful something will render them less interested in buying property because there are so many other homes out there on the market for sale, which have more pictures than yours does! Take heed their warning- you risk losing potential clients if you don’t provide ample information through images!

Nowadays buyers are as short on time as you are, so they’ll resist any temptation to waste it. Consider professional photography as well and put that low-quality phone photo away.

4. Virtual Tours

The power of a video is undeniable. It can make those virtual tours come alive and give the buyer that sense that they’re really there in your home, exploring every inch without ever leaving their living room couch! Videos are so engaging and immersive because you get to see more than just photos from one angle – this way buyers feel like it’s them who have found the perfect new place for themselves or family members.

5. Print Advertising Isn’t Dead (Yet)

Open House sign

In the spirit of using every possible outlet to market your home, place a search for local print publications. There are several free papers (typically) that go out locally wherein you pay a small fee and they list a picture with brief description. You’d be surprised how many prospective buyers still head directly to their favorite neighborhood grocery store or convenience store in order to browse through them!

6. Direct Mail

Technology has changed the way people read and obtain information, but it also means we have to get creative. It is rare that someone will go online everyday or head to a local store for their favorite magazine; they’ll check their mailbox instead! When you do this at home, your house can be right in their hands – literally. To make sure you’re on top of things with direct mail campaigns, research options like those available from USPS Media Mail service .

7. Signage

A For Sale sign is one of the most important things to have when selling a home. Some buyers are just more traditional in their approach and choose to drive around looking for homes that are on sale. Having an attractive, well-kept “For Sale” sign will also get people’s attention who might be there visiting friends but want some fresh air or exercise with something new like checking out potential houses they may buy later down the line!

8. Curb Appeal

When a buyer looks up from the For Sale sign in front of your home, they see an attractive and inviting abode. It’s important to keep your house presentable for potential buyers at all times- you never know who is driving by on their way somewhere else or maybe just out for a quick “peek behind” before continuing down the road.

9. Open House

Following the previous 8 rules will hopefully begin to lead to an influx of buyer interest and more importantly, home showings. Be sure you have the right agent on your side that can show you how to stage your home for the individual viewings and to also assist you with pulling together an Open House. This allows several prospects to view the home and ask any questions they may have. Make this emotional in a good way. Light fragrance candles and play some relaxing music.

From “For Sale” To “Sold”

Following these 8 steps will hopefully lead you to a more plentiful of buyers and home showings. Be sure that the right agent is on your side, one who can help stage your house for individual viewings as well as pulling together an Open House where many prospects can see it at once. The benefits are two-fold: with so many people seeing it all in one place you get more questions answered than during just 1 showing, but also if someone likes what they see there’s always time to negotiate after everyone has gone!

When you’re ready for an experienced team of Ann Arbor Area experts to assist you, be sure to contact us at 734-239-3796 or Sales@ArborMove.com. We’re here to help sell your home fast and for more money!