10 Best Practices for Selling Your Boca Raton Home

Posted by Jean-Luc Andriot on Monday, August 1st, 2016 at 4:47pm.

Jean-Luc Andriot House and Money for real estate transaction

*In an article recently found in the Sun Sentinel, the reporter had pointed out inventory was low in Palm Beach County but not as low as the rest of South Florida. That being said, would mean that Boca Raton is feeling the crunch of home sales. On the contrary, this city continues to flourish with new development and economic growth, which helps drive the real estate market.
On the flip side to having lower mortgage rates, the city of Boca Raton announced today that city council will not raise the tax rates for the 2016-17 fiscal year. With all this information to chew on, we think it’s a great time for those looking to sell property, especially in the high-end luxury markets. Here are some best practices for selling your condo or single family home that can make a difference.

1. Be Open to Realtors Ideology
2. Time You Accept Offers
3. List 'Slightly' Under Market Value When...
4. Advertise and Market
5. List the Home
6. Remodel and Redesign without Breaking the Bank
7. Become Social Media Savvy
8. Learn to Disconnect from the Current Property
9. Get it Appraised
10. Give Potential Home Buyers the ‘As if’

First, when hiring a realtor to help sell your home, look for someone with a good reputation. Once you have placed your trust in the realtor, allow him/her to do the job you hired them for. When you work with an experienced and skilled professional, your stress should be alleviated. You may be anxious to sell the home, and the agent should be doing everything possible to lead people down the path to a sale. But, this can take time. The right realtor will guide you through the process. They will try to make it almost painless, because they understand, have the experience and the right tools that get the job done.

Next, think about the offer and the time in which you get it. In other words, as time goes by and the home sits on the market, it may become less of supply and demand. The asking price will more than likely get negotiated at this level. This is the part where you can let your agent discuss the terms and negotiate with the potential buyers to give you the best price for the home. Be open and communicate with your agent with as much honesty and facts as possible. But, don’t hesitate to really consider a few early deals. With the inventory being lower in the current market, there will be plenty of opportunity for you to get a fair return on investment. Nonetheless, let your real estate professional be your guide here.

If you’re wanting to have a quicker turnaround time for selling your property, condominium or townhome, then list slightly below the current market value to spike interest. This can be a great strategy when it’s done correctly. Often times people will remark that it was taking too long to sell the home. When this happens your broker may suggest looking at alternative pricing methods to help expedite the sale. Many realtors will show a property based on the criteria their clients are trying to meet. When the home is not aligned correctly with the market price, then the chances of the home being sold faster will be a lot more challenging. We aren’t suggesting to undercut the home’s value by any means. We just have to adapt the price to each seller's personal circumstances.  A reputable realtor, who’s been in the fighting front lines will give you the guidance necessary for making a solid decision. This is especially true when it comes to pricing the home.

The team you choose to work with should have a lot of knowledge when it comes to creative marketing and advertising your property. Real estate professionals spend a large majority of their time planning, scheduling and deploying a proper marketing strategy for the respective markets they serve. They will make suggestions based on market trends in real property, past experiences, proven methods of what has worked in the past and of course any propositions you might have.

Another point to make when it comes to selling the home is good realtors will send a professional photography or video team to capture the essence of the home's property. As a reminder, we’ll give you this tip, make sure that the home is ready for film day. If you live in a single home, be sure to have the gardener come ahead of time, preferably not the same day. Make your yard clean and presentable. Whether you live in a home or a condominium, please remove clutter as much as possible.  If you’re still living in the home, make it camera ready. The more you do prior to the photographer's visit, the better the shoot will be and the more quality images will be obtained. These are necessary tools to add to the arsenal of selling the property.

Your real estate professional along with his/her team will list your home on the MLS. There are few cases today where the home isn’t listed. Before the listing is posted, make sure your realtor includes all pertinent points, you feel make the home special for the next buyer. Once the listing is up, double check for errors and or differences. Feel free to confide in your realtor when it comes to the MLS. They can be in-depth with information or just provide the bare-bones minimum. Again, this is an area that your agent will assist you with to ensure they are meeting all the important information necessary for a sale.

Next, some remodeling or redesigning may be necessary for you to sell faster. If you have outdated appliances and bathroom fixtures, buyers might frown upon the selection. Then again, if they aren’t looking for turn-key real estate, you might be fine. It’s going to greatly depend on the buyers, trends and market. This is where the help of your real estate professional will come in handy. They will make recommendations based on the criteria listed.

**Become social media savvy. The reason we are suggesting this, is because a study was recently done from Harvard University along with Facebook where, “they found that people whose Facebook friends experience increases in house prices are far more likely to invest in property over the following two years.” With this idea in place, social media has big influence on buyer’s attitudes. Most likely your realtor already uses this tool since it’s nothing new. But, understanding how it’s used can make a difference in communication for both you and who you’ve hired to sell your property.

This one may be hard for some of you, but, it’s important to disconnect from the home you're wanting to sell. Stay focused on the end goal. It’s understandable that you have become attached to the property. This is particularly true the longer you have lived in it. Yet, the reality is new home owners will fall in love with your home as you have. The most challenging part of selling a home can be to 'part ways' with it. Your realtor is empathetic to your needs and understands your motivation to sell. The old saying goes “You have eyes in the front of your head, so you don’t look back” and this is a reminder why we move on. Look toward the future of your next investment and you’ll be a lot less anxious in selling your previous home. On the contrary, your excitement will come from the passion of your next endeavor.

At some point your agent may suggest to have the home appraised and/or inspected. Each home seller situation is unique. They should be quick to disclose why this might make sense for you. Perhaps there is a conflict with something like market value or what other similar homes are selling for. Whatever the case may be, trust the agent has their reasons why this might or will happen.

Lastly, give potential buyers the ‘As If’ appearance of the home. What we mean by that, is to remove pictures, personal memorabilia and if need be, keep a neutral look throughout the home. The potential buyers want to think how they will feel ‘as if’ they were already living in the home. By following this quick tip, you'll be ahead of the game.

With all these little tips keep in mind, you will have a clearer expectation of what’s in store. The information found in this blog should be a starting point for you and the agent. Lean on your real estate professional for sound advice and consultation. Keep in mind, if anything, that’s why you chose to work with that person in the first place.

For more information on selling your property, please contact one of our luxury home specialists.

 

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