338 Fiesta Road
Greece, NY
Closed 12/7/07
Jack and Mary Ann Wade
January 14, 2008
When it came time for us to sell our home we felt very inexperienced and ill-equipped, since it had been 25 years since the last time we moved. After interviewing a couple real estate agents who wanted the standard 6% commission, it made sense to further explore our options. We did some research on the internet and decided to choose list2move. We liked the concept of paying a small set fee for the MLS. We could offer what we wanted to agents who brought us buyers. We ultimately sold our home for full asking price, and saved approximately $4000 in commission. We would definitely use list2move again and highly recommend it to anyone selling a home. We got advice and guidance when we needed it, so although we were in complete control of the process, we never felt that we were on our own.
A few things we learned along the way:
1. Price your home right. Check out zillow.com, other websites, and the real estate section of the paper, to see what homes in your neighborhood have sold for. Also, check out the asking price of other homes for sale in your neighborhood. Be realistic, objective and competitive in your pricing. It will save you money in the long run.
2. Stage your home. Remove clutter, and all signs that you have a pet. Light candles in the fireplace if it’s summer. Play soft music. Bake some cookies or an apple pie during your open house. Every part of your home, especially bathrooms and the kitchen should be immaculate.
3. Hold open houses, but don’t spend too much on ads in the paper. We kept an Open House sign in sheet, asking for names, address, phone number and where they heard about us. Over 75% said they were just driving by and hadn’t even known there was an ad. We put open house signs on the corners of most intersections within a mile of our home. In our experience, signs bring more people in than ads.
4. Other open house tips . . . Relax and let people tour your home without you trying to sell it too hard. Be confident that it will sell, and don’t ever appear desperate, even if you are. Do point out advantages and things you love about your home. This is where no agent can do a better job than you. “We love this enclosed porch, and eat out here almost every night in the summer. . . This fenced yard has been a wonderful safe place for our children to play. . . .I’m going to miss my kitchen because it has this large pantry and my herb garden window.” A few well placed comments like this may get even casual lookers more interested. Also mention the convenient location of the neighborhood, how you like the school district, and the friendly neighbors, if applicable. As mentioned before, ask people to sign in. The next day, call everyone on the sheet to follow up and ask if they have any questions. Be brief. You will find that some give you disconnected phone numbers but it may bring someone back for a second look and subsequent offer.
January 14, 2008
When it came time for us to sell our home we felt very inexperienced and ill-equipped, since it had been 25 years since the last time we moved. After interviewing a couple real estate agents who wanted the standard 6% commission, it made sense to further explore our options. We did some research on the internet and decided to choose list2move. We liked the concept of paying a small set fee for the MLS. We could offer what we wanted to agents who brought us buyers. We ultimately sold our home for full asking price, and saved approximately $4000 in commission. We would definitely use list2move again and highly recommend it to anyone selling a home. We got advice and guidance when we needed it, so although we were in complete control of the process, we never felt that we were on our own.
A few things we learned along the way:
1. Price your home right. Check out zillow.com, other websites, and the real estate section of the paper, to see what homes in your neighborhood have sold for. Also, check out the asking price of other homes for sale in your neighborhood. Be realistic, objective and competitive in your pricing. It will save you money in the long run.
2. Stage your home. Remove clutter, and all signs that you have a pet. Light candles in the fireplace if it’s summer. Play soft music. Bake some cookies or an apple pie during your open house. Every part of your home, especially bathrooms and the kitchen should be immaculate.
3. Hold open houses, but don’t spend too much on ads in the paper. We kept an Open House sign in sheet, asking for names, address, phone number and where they heard about us. Over 75% said they were just driving by and hadn’t even known there was an ad. We put open house signs on the corners of most intersections within a mile of our home. In our experience, signs bring more people in than ads.
4. Other open house tips . . . Relax and let people tour your home without you trying to sell it too hard. Be confident that it will sell, and don’t ever appear desperate, even if you are. Do point out advantages and things you love about your home. This is where no agent can do a better job than you. “We love this enclosed porch, and eat out here almost every night in the summer. . . This fenced yard has been a wonderful safe place for our children to play. . . .I’m going to miss my kitchen because it has this large pantry and my herb garden window.” A few well placed comments like this may get even casual lookers more interested. Also mention the convenient location of the neighborhood, how you like the school district, and the friendly neighbors, if applicable. As mentioned before, ask people to sign in. The next day, call everyone on the sheet to follow up and ask if they have any questions. Be brief. You will find that some give you disconnected phone numbers but it may bring someone back for a second look and subsequent offer.
