North Sound Property News

The market in Mukilteo, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Bothell, Kenmore and Mountlake Terrace has slowed a bit, although market activity is still in the healthy range.  But no matter how crappy the market is, no matter how hard it is for buyers to get a zero down loan, sellers still want to sell their house for the very best price they can get.  This wasn’t that hard to do when buyers outnumbered sellers two to one, but now that buyers are a little harder to find, how can sellers make sure their home is the one that draws in the buyers and gets the offers?

Here are 5 tips for getting your home sold:

1.  Don’t Get Greedy.  Overpricing is the worst thing you can do in a tough market.  Understand not just what has recently sold but also what is currently on the market.  Listings are up almost 50% over last year.  Realize that your home may be one of many currently on the market.  Here in the North Sound area, we have not experienced much in the way of price declines, but the old strategy of “take the last comp and add 5%” isn’t necessarily going to work if there are three other houses to choose from that are equally good and priced lower.  That leads me into #2…

2.  Know Your Competition.  It’s not just about the comps.  In a slow market, it helps to actually SEE your competition, inside and out.  Ask your realtor to bring you with him when he or she previews competing properties.  Look critically at your property and really ask yourself which home you would pick, if you were a buyer.  To bring an offer, your home needs to be the very best one a buyer can find for the price, or he will choose another property over yours.

3.  Create curb appeal.  Before a buyer even walks into your home, he is evaluating how he feels about it.  Many buyers will not even bother to go inside a home if it doesn’t appeal to them on the outside–not when there are others to choose from.  So, create a connection with buyers from the moment they drive up to your home.  Keep the lawn mowed and watered, flowerbeds weeded, entryway and walkways neat and tidy.  You want nothing to interfere with a positive impression of your house.  Click here for a more extensive list of curb appeal “to-do’s”.

4.  Stage Your Home.  Have your property totally ready for the market, inside and out.  Curb appeal, cleanliness and de-cluttering make a big difference in how your home is perceived.  These are a few of the benefits of home staging, and they can make a big difference in a market where buyers can be choosy.  If three homes are priced at $500,000, and all three have three bedrooms, all three have a large backyard, and all three are approximately the same size, buyers will choose the one that stands out the most, and that feels the most like home to them.  That is what staging helps you accomplish–it helps the buyer see himself living in your home.  Click here for articles about staging.

5. Work with Professionals.  No, this is not just a plug to work with a Realtor–although I think you should.  I am talking about getting professional photography, professional staging, and professional marketing expertise.  These services will help you make the most of the marketing opportunities you select.  When there is a ton of competition in a marketplace, good marketing will allow you to show your home to its best potential.  Great photographs will show off everything your home has to offer, and allow you to entice buyers to tour your home sooner than a home that has poor quality photography.  A great marketing plan will create interest in your home.  A great stager can help you make your home into a showplace.  Combine them, and your home will be the one buyers choose, every time.

About the Author: Sandy Kaduce is Associate Broker of Gallery Homes Real Estate. She serves buyers and sellers in North King and South Snohomish counties. She is 2009 Board President of the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce, as well as Vice President of Site Selection for Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County. For more information, visit Sandy on the web at www.sandykaduce.com! Read more from this author