Creativity in
Home Selling
So, your home has been on
the market for a longer time than you find comfortable and it still hasn’t sold despite all the open houses, advertising
and even incremental price reductions. What can you do to stimulate buyer-interest
in your property? Here are a few ideas you can use to stand out from the herd
in our crowded market.
If you have your home listed
with another agent, please check with that RealtorŪ to make sure any tactics you pick coincide with that person’s marketing
strategy.
1)
If you haven’t already done so, consider freshening up the interior by a major overhaul of the furnishings
and arrangement of furniture, often called staging.
2)
Do likewise for the exterior to improve curb-appeal.
3)
Before making another price reduction, consider an increase in the buyer-agent commission.
4)
Offer another SPIF (incentive) to the buyer’s agent, such as bonus or inducement similar to what you’d
also provide to the buyer.
5)
Provide some form of a financial incentive to the buyer by covering some or all closing costs, buying down the
buyer’s mortgage or other inducement.
6)
Throw in a free car, plasma TV or other high ticket item.
7)
Solve an obvious cosmetic or other problem with the property through carpet or flooring allowances, fence issue
remediation, painting credit, etc.
Professional buyers’
agents show the best in the inventory that meet their clients’ requirements and try to remain above being influenced
by incentives that enrich them. Many of these incentives can be found in the
hidden “confidential remarks” portion of MLS listings.
If you’re a buyer,
it’s fair to ask your agent to concentrate on those listings that have added inducements.
If you’re a seller,
it’s just as fair in a tight market to consider using some form of an inducement to “sweeten the pot” for
a buyer or the buyers’ agent.
If you’d like more
information on any of these ideas or to explore how listing your home to present the most attractive package for buyers, please
give me a call:
888-525-6268
Or email me: jerry@jerrykalman.com
