How to NOT Sell Your Florida Home.

You want to not sell your house?    Well here is a short primer on how not to sell your home.

• Smell.  Odors, whether from smoking, last night's fish or whatever will turn a prospect as quickly as anything.
• Inaccessible.  Rarely will a house sell if a buyer has to jump through hurdles to get inside.  Having an "agent must accompany all showings" or "24 hour notice required" will not promote viewings.
• Competition/price.  There is a reasonable price range based on your competition.  If too much above it, then buyers may skip your house.
• Location.  This goes right along with the pricing and competition.  Your neighborhood or location will command only a certain range of prices.
• Neighbors.  Although its only the house for sale it is also your neighborhood and neighbors.  Loud music, cars parked on the lawn, overgrown, and neglected lawns all tell a story.  
• Photos and clutter.  The home is for sale.  Too many photos or personal items (actually anything whatsoever) that distracts from your house is not a good thing.  If it has a handle buyers will open it!
• Dated.  I had someone stop by an open house on Saturday. They have their home for sale.  They proudly stated they were the second owners since it was built in 1957.  They also indicated it needed updating as it still had the original pink stove, etc.  Most buyers do not want original equipment in a 1960s or 1970s house.  Shag carpet was nice back then!

Want to know how to sell your home?   Consider doing the opposite of the above items...

• Clean
• De-clutter
• De-personalize
• Be flexible with scheduling showings
• Enlist your neighbors help
• Do some basic updating (within reason and budget)
• Price it right for your location, motivation and circumstances (choose the right real estate agent!) 

Home Buyer Tips: Multiple Offers and "Winning"

I remember a few years back when I advised a Viera, Florida home buyer that there were multiple offers and the seller wanted his best offer.  He responded with a simple question,"Is this a scam?"

In the real estate world I must assume the existence of other offers to be real.  Realtors operate under a code of conduct.  Still, I have no concrete evidence of other offers.

Multiple offers happen frequently when it is a seller's market AND a property is priced right.  [Read Signs Your Home is Not Priced Right.]

Sellers who receive multiple offers are in the catbird seat - maybe.  Offers are more than price only.
Each offer must be evaluated independently. 

Still, regardless of "winning" price, if a mortgage is involved then the property has to appraise.
Those are words every seller and buyer should understand.

Just this week I had buyers get into a situation that involved multiple offers.  In this case my buyers understood the situation and knew what they were willing to spend.  That is the key point.

These buyers were not emotional.  They had not formed an attachment to the property. 

As much as sellers would like buyers to view the process as a competition, not all buyers fall into an emotional trap.

They did not. 

If you plan to buy a home in the Viera, Florida area I want to help.  I will make sure you understand the market, your budget and the home buying process. 

Home Buyer Tips: New Paint is Not Always a Good Thing

Fresh paint sounds like an automatic positive selling point.  In many cases it certainly would be.  But, as a buyer, there is one time when new paint may not be your friend.

Flips...you know, investor quick sales. 

No, this is not an accusatory post. 

Rather, consider it as a cautionary post.

As a general rule sellers disclose and buyers verify.   But very often investors are quick to point out they have "no disclosure because seller never lived in house."

Still investors should know if they previously repaired a leak in the roof, had an AC issue or whatever if there were tenants in place for any given time. 

And with a foreclosure sellers may have idea of previous issues based on the condition when purchased.

So when buyers walk into a new foreclosure flip, the new paint will look clean, the plumbing fixtures and the like will be new but what about any underlying issues.

That is the reason I always urge buyers to have a property inspection performed.

While a property inspector may not be able to tell a prospective buyer what is behind the paint they may be able to tell if moisture is present.  And they do a lot more!

Here are a few more articles on buying a home.

• Cheat Sheet for Home Buyers
• Buying a foreclosure - Due Diligence is Required.
• If its a defect, its a defect!
• Contract to Closing in 20 Steps.
• Keys to a Successful Closing When Buying a Home in Florida

Ready to buy a house in Viera, Florida?  call or text me at 321-693-3850 if I can help in any way.  If you prefer, send me an email.
 

Things Sellers Say..."I don't have to sell" and more.

Anyone who has ever been on more than a few listings appointments has likely heard the words "I don't have to sell" uttered.  To be honest it is most often followed by a "I am not going to give it away" statement.

As a Melbourne, Florida real estate agent I don't get defensive or respond to these comments in an adversarial manner.

Very often, what is said is not what is meant. 

So, what does it really mean?

On the surface it means...uh oh...not motivated!  

The gut response from an agent who is only interested in listing their house is "Why did you call me then?"

But deep down it could mean something else...

Any real estate agent worth listing your home for sale (good real estate agent) should have the skill-set to address this response appropriately.

• Part of being a good real estate agent is being a good listener.
• Part of being a good real estate agent is knowing what questions to ask (and when).
• Part of being a good real estate agent is being able to advise in a positive, reassuring, easily understood manner.  
• Part of being a good real estate agent is knowing that "Why did you call me?" is rarely an appropriate response.

"I don't have to sell" may really mean  "I have an interest in selling but I am not desperate." 

It may signal a distrust of the real estate agent in front of them at the moment. 

It may be the seller's way of saying...Tell me why I should hire you to sell my Melbourne, Florida home.
 
Sellers need to know their real estate agent is working for them and not against them.
Part of being a good real estate agent is being a team builder beginning with the prospective seller....even if they don't have to sell!

Ready to sell your your Melbourne, Florida home?  Call me or text me at 321-693-3850, please!