All I want for Christmas is a crystal ball plugged into Central Florida and the Dr Phillips Real Estate Markets. Talking to sellers this past month I hear a wait and see attitude and lets see what 2008 brings. I think it’s a good idea but taking control of the things you do have control over now will help you later in this buyers market.
1. Market conditions. NO Control
2. Your list Price. YES Very much so
3. Your Neighbors List Price. NO But would like to
4. How your home shows. YES We live one way but selling. . .
5. How easy is it to show. YES Your home needs to be available
6. Choosing an Agent. YES Interview at least three
7. Time to sell. YES There is a best time to sell
Pick out the yeses and start. First of all you don’t have control of the market conditions and neither does your REALTOR. Understand the market you are in, then go forward. Your home’s list price should be at market value. I hear time and time again “Robert it’s not 2003 anymore”, no it’s not but you can price your home correctly in this market.
How your home shows is what a seller can really take and go with. Be picky, clean clutter and get ride of unwanted or unused items that have been laying around your home. The buyers these days want to have that nice feeling when walking through a home, give it to them. Also make your home as easy as possible to show. Agents and buyers have so many options out there, make sure they don’t pass on your home because they could not get in to see it.
You need to interview at least 3 real estate companies and find one with LOCAL knowledge, works their business full time and has at least 2 years of experience or more (this is not putting down rookie agents, everyone has to start some where but it does take time to understand the selling process and one of those lessons is hard knocks). Do your homework and understand not all real estate companies work the same way. You have your top producers, middle players and then your part time sales associates. Don’t pass over this step!
When is a good time to put your home on the market? Looking at 2008 if I were planning on selling I would have my home on the market at the end of January. The real estate spring market starts right after the Super Bowl. I usually get a few calls Super Bowl night from buyers starting to look. Not sure why this is could be the holiday are over and buyers want to start looking, could be from all the Super Bowl parties and homes people go to and they go home and look at their home and decide they want to move or maybe they bet the on right team and have money to spend. Whatever the reason this is when they buyers start to look and this is why we see home selling a couple of months later. Get a jump on your competition that might not be able to sell until school lets out.
CENTURY 21 Elite Properties is home to TEAMCONNECT and six Realtors call us anytime with your real estate questions concerning the Dr Phillips and Central Florida real estate market.
