Hi All,
Time for an update!
I decided on my own (Based on what I saw on MLSLI) that I wanted to sell my house in Wantagh for 419K. I was contacted by HomeFinder15 (Ann) and she came over to the house to give it a look. She also brought a full set of comps in the area and convinced me to list at $429,888. I listed my house with Ann who works for Century 21 in the middle of March. We had a brokers party where all said the house would sell for less that 410K
and most said it would take 6 months or more.
One said it would sell for 350K and another said it would take up to a year to sell.
However because I did the whole staging thing (emptied the closets, removed all personal things like pictures, and kept colors neutral) the brokers thought the house showed well.
I had 27 showings in the first 2 weeks. It was like Grand Central Station!
My first offer came in on day 3 for 350K.
I countered and we went back and forth for 2 days and they came up to 400K. On day 9 I got another offer and the same back and forth and ended at 400K as well. On day 14 I got an offer for 410K….CASH!
No bank involved.
Yes…I sold my home in 2 weeks! I closed on the house in Wantagh on May 19th and I closed on my new home in PA on May 21st.
What I learned?
1, Choose a agent you can trust, who stays close to you and can keep you posted on various things that can come up. Ann was all this and MUCH more! I had a few brokers I was interviewing but Ann contacted ME. That shows a real desire to sell in my book. She was prompt, was super quick on e-mail, and gave GREAT advice! She had other houses listed but I felt I was her only client. Amazing!
2, Staging a house makes a HUGE difference! It is a lot of work…but do it! It makes your house stand out against the rest. (There were 115 houses for sale in Wantagh at the time of my listing. I would say I had 25 houses as direct competition…and a few in my own development!
)
3, Walk every inch of your home and property and look with a “buyers eye”. That means fix anything that doesn’t look pleasing!!! If you can’t do this honestly, get a neighbor or a relative.
4, PICTURES! Take lots of quality pictures with a wide angle lens! If you do not have a camera, hire a professional. I heard people coming in and looking into a room talking as if they knew the room already. That means they were studying the pictures.
5, If you do not have a CO for something, get it now! BEFORE you list! I needed a CO for an existing bathroom upstairs and it just creates a lot more stress in and already stressful event!
6, Broker parties are good because it introduces other agents to your home. Just remember that they too want a quick sale at your expense so they say things to make you think you should lower the price. Basically ignore the comments…
7, Just because AndreaII and LIgirl74 are having a hard time doesn’t mean you will.
To be perfectly honest, if the house is ***priced right***, has no issues, and shows well, there is no need for it to be on the market that long. If it is, you need to take a look at my points 1-6 again
To see my house in Wantagh that sold in 2 weeks for 410K
ann Photo Gallery by Brian Chang at pbase.com
To see my new house (for those that are interested)
170 SPRINGDALE LANE MILLERSVILLE , PA 17551 Photo Gallery by Brian Chang at pbase.com
Good luck to all!
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Update time!!!
