Report #513: Marketing Your Home to Sell Fast & First

Before you even list your home for sale, there are some things YOU can do. The better your home looks, the more curb appeal it will have for buyers. So spruce everything up, put on a new coat of paint, remove everything from the house that doesn't have to be there to eliminate that cluttered feeling. In other words, put your best foot forward. Most buyers don't want to hear that the carpeting will be replaced in a month or that you will be painting the walls. If there is another home in better shape, they may choose that one. Don't let that happen to you!

So what happens after that? How can your home be marketed to the greatest number of prospective buyers, and how can you avoid having unqualified buyers look at your home? This report is full of suggestions that will help you and your real estate professional. These ideas are taken directly from the customized marketing program that The Kleimer Company uses when they list homes and properties. So learn from the experts!

1. Price it right the first time. This is the one single most important thing you can do. Although there may be a temptation to raise the price of your home because it is in better shape, you need to understand the mind of the buyer. The Kleimer Company will help you determine the right price by looking at comparable sales and other properties in the same neighborhood and price range that may be in competition with the sale of your home. If you want to sell first and fast, you have to attract the attention of agents AND of the buyers. Pricing is the best way to start. Remember, the longer your home is on the market, the less likely agents are to show it to prospective buyers‹they have seen it and may think that it is overpriced. They will normally choose to show another home that is on the market that is priced better and, in their opinion, provides more value to their buyer.
    
2. Get the word out. Many sellers expect that their home will be promoted through newspaper advertising. However, The Kleimer Company's experience is that very few buyers actually come from newspaper ads. The Kleimer Company has found other ways to find buyers that are much more effective. This includes: regular communications faxed to agents to keep your property foremost in their minds (including immediate information when a price adjustment or upgrade has been made), signs on the office window, a lawn sign (where permitted), flyers featuring your property that are placed in select businesses and visitor centers throughout the valley as well as flyers located in your property that buyers may take with them when they preview your home, a fax cover sheet that includes a picture and brief description of your property that goes out with faxes from our office (this keeps your property in front of people we might not normally contact, but that might know a buyer who is interested in YOUR home), mailings to your neighbors to let them know that your home is on the market‹since they live there, they may know someone who is looking for a home to buy, a site on the Internet that allows millions of potential buyers to see your home, and a 24-hour hotline that makes it easy for buyers to get information regarding your property at any time of the day.
    
3. Use referrals and past clients. The Kleimer Company sends mailings to nearly 7,000 individuals every month. Those mailings include information regarding your property. Again, this makes sure that these individuals know of the excellent value your home has to offer in hopes that they or someone else might be interested in your home.
    
4. Listen to what the market is saying. One of the best things you can do to sell your home is to know what is happening in the market. How much competition is there? Have there been any price adjustments? Have there been any sales recently? Has something happened in the news that would impact the value of your home? The Kleimer Company stays on top of the shifts and trends in the real estate market AND they communicate with you as to what is happening. This allows you the opportunity to make the changes necessary to make your home the best value available.
    
5. You need to know who your most likely buyer will be. You need to be aware of who the most likely buyer will be. The Kleimer Company will be very helpful in this area. Based on their past experience, they can create a profile of the buyers in your neighborhood and for your home. And then, they will develop a plan to market to these potential buyers. If you have a lot you want to sell, not only will The Kleimer Company contact individuals who might want to build a home, they will also contact area builders who might be looking for a site for a home to build.
    
6. You need to know what agents and buyers are saying. If you have ever sold or tried to sell a home before, one of the most frustrating things can be to know that buyers have been in your house, but you don't know what they said. That's why The Kleimer Company contacts each and every agent who shows your home. They ask for honest feedback‹did the buyer like the home? What were its best features? What features need to be improved? What do they think the selling price will be? What other comments do they have? Sometimes this can be difficult to hear, but remember‹these are the agents that are bringing potential buyers to your home. It is important to evaluate their comments and opinions.
    
7. Tell your friends. Don't be afraid to tell your friends and family about your home. Maybe someone YOU know is ready to buy and loves your home.
    

By pricing your home, getting the word out, and listening to what agents and potential buyers are saying, you should have an edge over other sellers.

And by selecting The Kleimer Company as your real estate professionals, you are assured of a customized marketing program with a proven success record‹a record that can help your home sell first....and fast! Find out how The Kleimer Company can help you sell YOUR home. Call them today at (970) 845-7776 or (800) 303-7355 for this free, no obligation consultation. Or, if you prefer, you can send an email to kleimer@ kleimer.com. You can also visit their Internet site at www.kleimer.com.