Reuben's post on Tuesday about "How much do you charge?" got me thinking about price vs value. It has been said that price is what you pay and value is what you get. You may have also heard many times, as I have, "You get what you pay for". Unless you are comparing exactly the same thing, price isn't necessarily an indicator of value.
It doesn't usually take buyers long to realize that the cheapest properties often aren't the best values, especially if they are buying a property that is to be their home. Unless you have the time, resources and desire to do your own work and/or have family and friends to help, by the time you factor in the time and money required to get a property to the point where you would feel comfortable making it your home often the cheapest properties don't offer the best value.
Just as many people assume that all inspectors offer the same thing, it would appear that many people also assume that Realtors all offer the same thing. After all, we all sell homes, don't we?
Keep in mind that a home doesn't always sell just because a Realtor lists it for sale…often the lowest commission also comes with minimal marketing. When interviewing a Realtor to help you sell your home, be sure to ask for marketing examples of some properties he or she has sold in the past year…as well as for references and how they plan to market your home.
With about 90% of buyers searching for homes online, the Internet plays a huge role in marketing your home, and how well your home in presented online can be a major factor in the successful sale of your home. As I talked about in a previous post, the three most important things in marketing your home are all related to photos and presentation focused on Internet marketing.
First, your home must be well staged to show and photograph well…that means preparation. Marketing professionals have stylists for photo shoots…think of a stager as a professional stylist for your home. Staging is not the same a decorating…decorating is for living, staging is for selling.
Next, your home must be well photographed to capture buyers' attention online…so they add it to their 'must see' list.
Finally, the photographs must be well presented along with descriptions that beautifully showcase your property. I have had clients who told me they had family and friends contact them asking, is that really your house?! That's exactly as it should be…it should look the best it can be!!
Here are a few examples of presentations of homes I have listed and sold this year, including two that had been on the market for about a year before I listed and sold them in a matter of weeks. Be sure to follow the links to photo and video tours…
Be sure not to base your decision only on price. It doesn't matter what the commission is…if a property doesn't sell your proceeds are zero!
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results REALTOR - Email - HomesMSP.com
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