Selling your home in Phoenix can be fast and easier if you follow a bit of expert advice. According to recent real estate market report statistics, the average number of days a home stays on the market in Maricopa County is 37 days. While this is an impressive number, you want to make sure you’re doing all you can to reach potential buyers and make that number even better for your home sale.
📝 Have a Pre-Appraisal
Getting a pre-appraisal is a wise thing to do. Many sellers have an idea of what their home may be worth, but that amount can be off by thousands of dollars. Since appraisers are objective and must be lawful expectations, you’ll get a better idea of what your home is worth by having them complete a pre-appraisal.
We call this a pre-appraisal because this is not the official appraisal that will be ordered by the buyer’s mortgage lender after you accept an offer.
An expert uses reliable data to give you the worth of your home. There are several factors they consider, keeping in mind that every location has its unique characteristics.
Suggested: Click here to learn more about Getting a Pre-Appraisal
🏡 Stage It
Why should you invest time and money in staging your home and property? Research shows that a home buyer may take their time touring your house, but most buyers have made up their mind whether they are seriously considering the purchase after just a few minutes. Make those minutes count by creating an appealing environment that captures their interest.
Often, a staged home will sell for more than a home which is not staged. A home that is poorly arranged can cause buyers to turn away before they have seen the potential in the property. A well-staged home that presents all the best features in an appealing light will have a better chance of generating serious offers.
Help the buyer see themselves living in the home by removing personal photos and collections. Make the rooms neutral with pops of color for interest. You want your home to look clean, bright, and inviting. Start with curb appeal and work your way inside. If decorating isn’t your strong point, you may want to consider hiring a professional house stager to help with this part of the home selling process.
Suggested: Click here to read helpful tips on Staging Your Home to Sell
👥 Choose the Right Agent
You’ve come to the right place! You want a real estate agent with the experience that makes selling your home easier. Our team is made up of real estate professionals that sell some of the most desirable homes in the Phoenix area.
Our team members are well-known for being honest, reliable, and passionate about excellent client services. Best of all, we are committed to communicating at the highest level and genuinely listening to your needs. We also value your time.
You’ll find that we strive to maximize the marketing potential for your property using traditional and virtual methods that are proven to be most effective in this area. We want to reach potential buyers across the globe, and we’ll work hard to make that happen.
Suggested: Click here to learn more about How to Find the Right Real Estate Agent
💲 Price it Right
The median sale price of a home in Maricopa County is around $273,500, but you’ll find that that amount rises and falls with the tide of real estate market trends. To ensure that your home has the best chance of selling fast, you’ll want to make sure it’s priced right the first time.
Having a pre-appraisal will take you down the correct path for pricing, but there are other factors to consider before you set a firm asking price. You may want to check the online value estimator to get a general idea of what your home is worth. Keep in mind that this calculator does not take into account things like upgrades, recently sold homes in the area or current market trends.
We’ll provide you with a comprehensive report that does take those factors into consideration. We’ll look at the numbers and help you set an asking price that makes sense and catches the attention of potential buyers in the Phoenix area. We’ll avoid exaggerated numbers and focus on the amount that makes sense.
Suggested: Click here to get tips on Pricing Your House to Sell
💵 Market It
Before we place your home on the market, we’ll sit down and discuss the benefits of marketing your listing in both traditional and virtual ways. We’ll look at the unique features for your property, the neighborhood, and the city as they relate to your listing. We’ll develop a solid plan for selling your house as fast as possible.
Understanding your target buyer goes a long way when it comes to marketing. We’ve tested and measured these factors and have valuable insight when it comes to reaching the buyers who are looking for your type of property.
You want your real estate team to be comfortable using technology to market your listing. We’ve spent time researching what works and putting those methods into practice. We strive to stay at the top of the field when it comes to technological advances that enhance our marketing efforts. One of the most important tools we can have on hand for marketing are professional photographs of your home and property.
Many potential home buyers are searching online for listings. Often, the first time they see your home will be through the eye of someone who took a photograph. You have that one chance to impress them enough to make them want to take a closer look and contact us for a showing.
Social media is a powerful force when it comes to spreading news, and we understand the potential when it comes to reaching buyers.
☑️ Certified Pre-Owned Home
The best way to introduce another level of comfort for a potential buyer (and yourself) is to list your home as a certified pre-owed home. This means that your property has undergone an inspection and those results are provided to potential buyers. Potential buyers will appreciate the level of transparency and the process can save you time when it comes to incoming offers. You’ll know from the start that your home does not need certain repairs or renovations, which can make your asking price solid and help your home sell faster.
📑 Offer a Home Warranty
Any buyer will appreciate the peace of mind that comes with a home warranty. Selling a home in with such an offer can raise the confidence of the buyer and help speed their decision about placing an offer.
A home warranty will typically garner the interests of the first-time buyers who are concerned about the cost of future repairs. A warranty provides a cushion and peace of mind for the buyer than doesn’t cost you an extreme amount of money. Adding a home warranty is a good way to invest in the sale of your property. Keep in mind that a home warranty is not the same as home insurance.
A home warranty may cover the cost of the repairs or replacements for things like appliances and housing systems that stop working due to age or malfunction. Most home warranties are active for 12 months, and they require an annual renewal. When something breaks, the warranty company will send a qualified professional to evaluate the need for repair or replacement. There can be a service fee for the call, but the warranty should cover the actual cost of the repair or replacement.
Home insurance covers damage that is due to natural disaster or theft. If something goes wrong, someone from the insurance company pays a visit to see the damage and offer you the amount that is suitable for the claim. Insurance policies have deductibles and do not cover the repair or replacement of broken items due to age or malfunction. It’s important that you are clean on the difference so that you know what you are offering to potential buyers.
💡 Allow for Various Financing: FHA, VA, Conventional, Seller
As a seller, you have options when it comes to the kind of financing you’ll accept when your home sells. Some options include seller financing, traditional mortgage loans, FHA Loans, VA Loans, and USDA Rural Housing Loans. Of course, some buyers prefer to pay cash, and that would mean there is no need for financing.
Most buyers will opt for a traditional mortgage loan that is provided by a bank or mortgage lender. These loans are given based on the buyer’s credit score and their debt to income ratio. These loans generally require a down payment that is a percentage of the sale price. Keep an eye out for buyers who have a pre-approval. These buyers have gone through the process of proving they can afford to purchase a house in your price range and are serious about buying.
FHA loans are provided by the Federal Housing Administration. These are government loans that are popular with people who are buying a home for the first time. Interest rates can be lower on these loans, which makes them appealing. If a buyer is using this method, you’ll have a special inspection scheduled by someone FHA approved to ensure that your home meets the requirements of the government. Down payments can be lower for these loans and the credit score requirement is not as high as that of a conventional mortgage loan.
VA loans are not provided by the Veterans Administration, but the loan provided by a bank or mortgage lender is guaranteed by the government. This means that if the buyer defaults on the loan, the government agrees to stand in for the amount of the loan. These loans are used by military personnel, both active and veterans, who meet the requirements. These loans are only to be used for a primary residence, so if you are dealing with a buyer who wants your property as a second or vacation home, you will likely not be dealing with this type of financing.
For most areas, the USDA loan is not an option, but we will mention it here for the sake of information. These loans are approved for those living in more rural areas who may have a lower credit score or lower income. Again, the USDA does not give the loan, they guarantee the loan should the buyer default. The loan must be approved through a bank or mortgage loan company.
💰 Negotiate Offers
Selling a home successful takes more than marketing. You should be acquainted with negotiating skills. Emotions must be set to the side and an objective view taken when it comes time for negotiating offers. Fortunately, we’re here to visit the negotiation table on your behalf. Still, you’ll want to be informed about the process and expectations.
We’ll do our homework to make sure that the data we bring to the table gives us a strong foundation for success. We’ll look at the offer presented and make sure we understand exactly what the buyer wishes to negotiate. If you are uncomfortable with an offer, we can return a rejection on your behalf. We understand the value of homes in the Phoenix area, and we know what makes a difference when it comes to negotiations.
You may want to look at what motivates the buyer. Take a close look at what they focus on when come to view the house. You will be able to close the sale when you discover the specific interest level of the buyer. In some cases, a buyer will submit information with their offer that will help you decide on your negotiation method. Maybe your home appeals to them on an emotional level but they need the price lowered to get it in their price range. Or, it could be that they want you to lower the price for what they feel are needed renovations.
Your response and the start of negotiations may begin with an explanation of why you’re selling the property and the valid pricing. If you feel their offer makes sense, you may want to come to the table with that in mind. We’ll be sure to discuss things completely with you before returning to the client with your counteroffer.
Your real estate agent is the best source of information about the local community and real estate topics. Give the 10X Home Team a call today at 602-352-3600 to learn more about local areas, discuss selling a house, or tour available homes for sale. Contact us here.