Well coached buyers exploit unprepared sellers to gain an unfair advantage during negotiations. Many sellers fall into the buyer's trap by making hasty decisions and scrambling for what action to take. You can avoid this trap with a well prepared pricing strategy. Consider these eight key areas when developing yours:
| • | Understand how market conditions affect the value of a house. Is your subdivision affected by regional economic conditions? Believe me, home values have been preserved in some subdivisions in Illinois despite the downturn in the economy.
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| • | Be aware of how your neighborhood's real estate activity influences the perceived value of your home. Neighborhoods with more activity (sales) preserve home values and give the seller a better negotiating position.
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| • | Be familiar with how buyers use the conditions of your house to justify low-ball offers. These include maintenance items as well as "perceived" items of the buying public. Your house does not need to be in need of repair to be "perceived" as one "needing upgrades or repairs."
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| • | Recognize how your financial situation affects your negotiating mindset. It will help you protect your financial best interest. Know your limits beforehand. It is very tempting to compromise your financial situation when a buyer demonstrates interest in your house and you don't want to lose the buyer.
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| • | Understand how the average time to sell in your neighborhood affects pricing real estate. This fact will help you establish your expectations and moving plans as well.
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| • | Be aware of the impact the asking price has on the number of showings you will have. This number is the first impression a buyer has about your property. If it is not in line with the perceived value for the neighborhood your house will attract a large number of showings (if it is under-priced) or will sit with virtually no showings (if it is over-priced).
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| • | Recognize the impact on your finances and your moving plans if the house doesn't sell quickly. This is to protect you.
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| • | Understand the impact distressed sales have on the value of your neighborhood (and your house). Distressed sales are real estate transactions that include short sales and foreclosures among others. It does not matter if your house is the best one in the block, if you are surrounded by foreclosed homes, the value of your house will diminish in the eyes of the buyer. |
A comprehensive report was prepared that explains in more detail the key areas mentioned above and other factors. The report called "Sell with a Strategy, Not a Price" is free and you can request it by completing the order form at the bottom of this page.
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Thank you for visiting this website. I presume that you are still interested in selling your property so I promise not to waste your time with meaningless information. In a nutshell, two takeaways for you:
| • | Save thousands by following the suggestions on this site, and |
| • | Increase the odds of selling your house (even in this slow market) |
Perhaps you are still disappointed or maybe frustrated at your recent experience because the house did not sell. However, you will substantially increase the odds of selling if you follow the four strategies presented here.
A personal note before you go further ...
| I realize that it is difficult to contact an agent that you don't know personally. That's why I encourage you check my background, read the testimonials, and talk with my past clients. I prefer that they tell you directly about their experience than me boasting about service assertions. To read about my background click here. NOTE: A new window will open with my background information. To return here, just close the new browser window. Also, in one of the reports, I will show you how to determine if an agent has ever been disciplined or has had his/her license revoked. I do this so you can check my own credentials with the state licensing authority. Why I am doing this? Because if I were you, I would be skeptical as well. Unfortunately there many people with a good story out there but in the end, they fail to deliver on their promises. So, my intention is to encourage you to satisfy your doubts about my integrity, business ethics and effectiveness of my services. |
Let's get started ...
It is no secret that the economy is not as good as it was four or five years ago. But the truth is that homes are being sold every day and home buyers are getting financing to purchase homes. Although banks in general are more reluctant to lend money to home buyers, there are buyers that do qualify under the new lending rules. See it for yourself in the table below. These are actual sales by month!
| NOTE: | The tables below depict data from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC, which is the company that operates the MLS service in your town. |
A staging strategy is a plan to showcase your house to prospective buyers while appealing to their emotions. It is more than just cleaning and de-cluttering your house. In fact, the more attractive your house is to a prospect, the higher the probability that you will receive an offer. Conversely, if not showcased properly, a house might drive prospects away or invite a "low-ball" offer.
Based on industry experts' advice, a report has been prepared explaining how you can develop a staging strategy attractive to buyers. With the free report, entitled "Wow Your Prospect Buyers," you will be able to:
| • | Learn the basics of "staging to sell" through video links that explain how to stage key home areas like the kitchen, master suite, dining room, home office and others. The videos will help you visualize how buyers will be attracted to your house once it is showcased properly.
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| • | Use 49 time-tested tips for selling a house. This report will show you where to look in an easy checklist format.
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| • | Find out key areas that buyers notice while viewing a house.
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| • | Request a staging assessment that includes all major areas of your house. You will receive immediate feedback on a 7-page written report before the agent leaves your premises.
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| • | Learn techniques used by professional stagers from a nationally recognized "staging expert." The report will show you how you can borrow this valuable video. |
| 1 | Making sure that potential buyers know that the house is for sale |
| 2 | Finding a buyer that is willing, able, and ready to purchase the house |
If you knew that over 85% of homebuyers use the Internet, mobile phones, "texting," and other modern technologies to search for their new homes, would you still use marketing methods that are 40 years old?
This is one key area that I differ from most agents. Why spend time and money on marketing activities that yield so little success when the bulk of the buyers are somewhere else?
In the free report, entitled "The Marketing Strategy," I explain in more detail new modern technologies that "actively" search for buyers. In addition, the report explains why the agent, not the real estate company, is the key identity responsible for marketing your house. This alone is an "eye-opener" that many real estate agents do not want you to see.
If you thought that your odds of selling would increase by selecting a big-name real estate company, you might be surprised to read how it really works. Like I indicated earlier, it is an "eye-opener" for many sellers. What this means to you is that the agent's investment in marketing resources or lack thereof will have a direct impact on how successful his/her marketing activities will be. Bottom line - choosing the right agent, not the company, is critical in marketing your property.
Using modern marketing techniques is a must in modern times. The the National Association of Realtors.® conducts annual surveys that show where homebuyers are located. I encourage you to read the article called "Open Houses - Are They Worth It (Sellers Beware)?" (click on the article name to access it). It shows statistics and also information about who is really benefiting from an open house.
In addition, The Marketing Strategy report will show you:
| • | Why marketing has changed and how it affects the sale
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| • | How to reach buyers
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| • | What is the "real" role of real estate companies and how it affects the marketing of your house
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| • | What questions to ask agents to ensure he/she has a good marketing system for your property |
| • | Did you feel uncomfortable with the agent during the presentation (bad vibes) but signed the listing contract anyway? ...And then later regretted it?
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| • | How often did you hear from the agent after the listing contract was signed? Were you getting feedback on the progress of the sale and how market changes were impacting the sale of your house?
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| • | Was the agent working with you as a team to help you make the house more attractive to prospect buyers or was the agent focused on their personal accomplishments?
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| • | Is the agent a full-time agent or is he/she working the real estate business on a part-time basis? |
| • | Does the agent have a professional team behind his/her operation? |
For most people, their home represents their biggest financial investment. Would you entrust the sale of your house to someone you don't trust or feel confident about? Or, would you use an agent that has been disciplined by the state board? Absolutely not!
The free report entitled "Hiring a Winning Team of Professionals" explains how to handle these situations plus:
| • | How to eliminate the risks associated with hiring the wrong agent
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| • | Why a part-time agent might cost you the sale of your house
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| • | How to ensure that your relative/friend agent meets your expectations without affecting your relationship/friendship
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| • | How to verify if the agent has ever been disciplined
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| • | How to get truthful answers from references provided by your agent
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| • | How to protect yourself from a poor performing agent
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| • | How to ensure a fruitful relationship that yields a quick sale |
The recommendations are based on time-proven techniques, industry expert advice, and statistical data. There is no cost for any of the reports but only one report will be sent per household.
If you are willing to consider the services of a full-time agent with modern marketing techniques and upgraded technologies, just indicate in the order form below that you are interested. This is an opportunity for you to interview a licensed agent and obtain answers to your questions.
There is absolutely no obligation or cost to you. So, what's next ...
The "Salability Test" is an evaluation of the property to determine if your property meets the minimum standards for a successful sale. The assessment focuses on the physical and "staging" aspects of the property taking into consideration how buyers are "viewing" the homes they buy. You will receive a 6-page written report of the assessment before I leave the premises, which you can use as the basis to improve your house attractiveness to potential buyers.
If it passes the test, I'll be willing to spend my resources in the marketing, advertising, promotion, and other activities to find a buyer for your home should you decide to employ my services.
Whether you decide to hire my services or not, the test and report are absolutely free and it carries no obligation of any kind.
There is no hidden agendahere. Call me (630-759-8021) or send me an email (if that's more convenient) with your questions or concerns. I will answer them without trying to sell you anything - that's my promise.
All rights reserved.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity program of Midwest Real Estate Data LLC. Real Estate listings held by brokerage firms other than this brokerage firm are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo or the Broker Reciprocity thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the names of the listing brokers. Some properties which appear for sale on this website may subsequently have sold and may no longer be available. Information Deemed Reliable but Not Guaranteed. The information being provided is for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Last updated on May 20, 2012.