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BY ANDREA MARTONE
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
It goes without saying the real estate market has been challenging as of late in New Jersey and around the country. While the federal housing tax credit gave the market a bit of a jump start, selling a home can still be a challenge. Here are some helpful tips to get potential home buyers in the door and hopefully make a purchase.
Use a Local Broker: It is important to use an experienced real estate broker when listing your home for sale. This will expose your property to the largest potential audience. Additionally, by using a broker that is familiar with the area, the agent will be able provide expert analysis on that area's current market, which can help facilitate a quicker sale than going alone. Your real estate agent can also provide valuable insight about the selling process, as well as the all important price negotiation with a potential buyer.
Price it Right: Selecting the right asking price is an important step. An overpriced home is not likely to get any offers, and buyers will see this as an opportunity to negotiate even harder. Right now, everyone is looking for a bargain. As a result, the seller may need to be a bit more flexible than they would like. There are a number of ways to help entice a buyer without lowering the asking price. For example, many potential buyers will worry about closing costs. By offering to assist with closing costs, instead of lowering the price of the home, you may turn a potential buyer into a contracted buyer.
Make an "Extra" Offer: If there are appliances that you will not need after your move, consider including them in the sale. In this market, many first-time home buyers may not have large appliances like a washing machine or refrigerator. If there are other items that are not important to you, consider including them as part of the sale as well. When a buyer is counting every penny, saving a few hundred dollars on an appliance or two could go a long way.
Keep Your Listing Up to Date: If your home has been up for sale for a while, make sure to update your photos. If there are photos with snow on the ground or bare trees, potential buyers will know your home has been on the market for quite a while and may think the home buyer is desperate. Always keep photos up to date in the season you are currently in.
In the end, don't give up hope! The current market may be slow, but things are turning around a bit and the New Jersey legislation is working on a new incentive plan for home buyers to help in turning the market around.
Andrea Martone is a Morris County Re-Max Realtor. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.andreamartone.com; 973-886-2626
Pictures are worth a $1000 dollars. Houses like people have their good picture taking days and their bad days. I have shown a number of houses that almost didn't get much "buyer love" because of bad pictures. Then there are pictures of SNOW in summer which automaticly triggers a buyers into thinking:
"There must be something wrong with the home",
"It must be a short sale",
"Definitely overpriced."
Fresh (Good) pictures, accessibility, the right price is the best receipe for seller success.