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Easy Tips for Home Sellers

Posted by Blog Admin on Thursday, August 26th, 2021 at 10:26am.

If you’ve just listed your home for sale and it’s your first time on this side of a sale, it can be hard to know just what to do to help the selling process go smoothly. But trust us, after more than 38 years in real estate, Peggy Slappey Properties knows that a helpful seller is the best ingredient to a quick, easy sale.

So, how can you as the seller help most?

  1. Leave! This is, perhaps, the most important rule of “Selling 101.” Real estate agents the world over will tell you that buyers are more comfortable and more able to picture themselves in the home when the current owners are nowhere in sight.  Although you might be tempted to stay to hear feedback, it’s better to clear out, giving shoppers the opportunity to peruse without the pressure of feeling like their every move is watched.
  2. Remove Pets During Showings.  Whether you own a 5-pound Yorkie or a 50-pound Bulldog, it’s best to move ALL pets out of the house when buyers are touring.  If you can’t take them off-site, at least kennel them in an isolated area.  Buyers won’t like being greeted by a barking dog or a hissing cat, and many people have allergies, so seeing pets could be an immediate turn-off.  Plus, having strangers in the home puts added stress on your furry friends, too.
  3. Move vehicles out of the driveway or garage. This is an easy way to allow potential buyers to feel a little more at home on their very first visit.  Take yourself and your pets for a drive, leaving plenty of easy parking during showings.
  4. Provide simple refreshments.  This one is so easy and can make such a good first impression!  A pitcher of lemonade on a hot summer day or freshly brewed coffee when it’s chilly outside can be left in the kitchen, along with cookies or candy and a note welcoming buyers to make themselves at home.  In light of current conditions with coronavirus, pre-packaged snacks and bottled water or soda are easy replacements. House hunting is hard work, and refreshments are always appreciated.
  5. House-Specific Documents.  Leave copies of your appraisal and home warranty where buyers can see them. Not only will this make you, the seller, look very prepared, but it also proactively answers questions right on the spot.  You can also leave a summary of average monthly utility costs, quickly answering questions like, “How much does it cost to heat this house?” 
  6. Listen to your Realtor.  You hired your Realtor because he/she is an expert… So, listen when your agent makes recommendations on price, repairs, staging, etc.  Be patient while waiting for feedback from buyers. Rest assured that, when your Realtor knows of an offer or a potential problem, he/she will let you know about it.  Finally, be willing to negotiate.  Your agent will know and recommend where to draw the line.  Heeding good advice can produce a fantastic deal.

Peggy Slappey Properties, Inc. is a Metro Atlanta real estate brokerage with over 38 years of experience in real estate sales and marketing.  From new home construction to resales, we can help you find the home of your dreams.  To see our current listings, visit www.psponline.com and call us for expert advice at 770-271-5555.  Keep up to date with the latest PSP events and offers by checking in on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peggyslappeyproperties and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/psponline.

 

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