By Steve Levine, President of Steve Levine Inc., and an agent for REMAX Prestige
Overall, I would have to say that the best piece of advice I have always given my clients has been not to “rush” the home onto the market, but to take the time to prepare properly.? For this, a pre-marketing team is an essential value-added service for an agent to bring to the table, and is the second thing you should ask a potential listing broker right after the obvious question of “how many homes have you sold?” I'se spent years assembling a team of professionals to assist us with all aspects of pre-sale preparation.? By bringing in my team of painters, handymen, stagers, landscapers, carpet installers, etc., I's getting homes to hit the market as near to perfect as possible. The better job we can do in preparation, the higher price you'sl ultimately command for the property, and that's a win-win for everyone.
This team has a hidden side benefit as well. Once the home is on deposit, and through the home inspection, we will inevitably have a few nip and tuck items on the Buyers punch list. The team can then polish off the items on the list efficiently, effectively, and affordably.? By removing that layer of stress from the transaction itself, we can add a level of piece of mind that enables a seller to relax, without worrying about the details of the sale.
Now that the market recovery is in full swing, we can begin anew with an exciting and fresh approach. Even as some talk about the market slowing down for the fall, I'se been pleasantly surprised to see many properties still selling with multiple offers.? We'se actually still seeing inventory shortages in many towns and ranges, so if you were on the market in the past, or even if you weren's, now is the time we should be talking, not in the spring.? Remember, the fall and winter market often favors the SELLERS, because inventory is lower.
Working with people re-entering the market is one of my favorite things. ?It's sometimes a bit challenging, but in the end we just need to come up with the most decisive marketing strategy to get the job done.? The one thing we know for sure is that the answer is not that “nothing was selling” last year because we were having a fantastic year.
We all are aware that these are challenging times in the market, but they are not unique.? After 28 years in the business, I'se been through this type of market three times, and know very well just how to navigate it for maximum results. I'se opened up the Homeowners Blend program again, in the hope that we can get 10 or 12 new listings on that program this month.? That's always been a huge hit with the local home sellers, in that it provides real estate fees as low as 2.5 percent, which is a huge difference when your equity position is low to begin with.? We already have five people signed up for November, but still have room for three more – so if you'se looking for a solution that will put a bit more money in your pocket, just give me a buzz and I'sl save you a place in the program.
Steve Levine is President of Steve Levine Inc., and an agent for REMAX Professionals.? He has been ranked 10 times as the top REMAX Agent in the six-state New England region, and can be reached online at www.stevelevine.com or by phone at 508 735-4663.
