Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire:
Not serious about selling. Actions speak louder than words in this market. Discretionary sellers should wait for a less competitive enviroment.
Improper pricing. A home properly priced is half sold. No amount of full color ads, glossy flyers, multiple photos, virtual tour or agent lucheons will compensate for the wrong, timid retail price.
Not listening to your agent. Attorneys believe if you represt yourself, you have a fool for a client. Doctors don't self-diagnose. Professionals use professionals. Even though most people believe they are experts on raising kids and real estate; full-time, career pros usually know what's best. Listen very carefully.
Micromanage the marketing. Just because you sold cookware in college or you had a real estate license years ago does not qualify you to second-guess your agent. Share your concerns and timelines, but leave the details to the listing pro.
Don't stage the property. Someday shag muti-colored carpeting will come back. Whitewashed cabinets, Navajo white walls, linoleum flooring, southwest decor, lots of personal photos and Elvis paintings on black velvet should be removed.
Let Fido run loose. Recently, I entered a house and two frisky, friendly black labs ran to sniff me. Unfortunitly, I had light grey dress pants on that day. Both wet stains lasted for hours.
Talk to the buyers. Life gets lonely at times. Why not ask the buyers where they grew up? Or how much they qualify for. Tell them about the vacant rental next door. Or, the sex offender who left the neighborhood.
Sell personal items. Wow, maybe the buyers want to buy the patio furniture, rotary lawnmower or the life size statue of Saint Anthony. Why not ask for a donation for the March of Dimes, the Humane Society or the local PBS station? Remember the saying, "loose lips sink ships?"
What's that smell? My house doesn't smell of pet odors, baby diapers, curry powder, garlic, fried fish, or cigars. The buyer must be confusing my castle with a track home.
Avoid feedback. What do buyers know anyway? Imagine the fact they don't appreciate my barbed wire fence, heavy duty rebar, backyard bomb shelter, airport runway views, light from the power plant, hum from high voltage line, railroad trmors, termite mud tubes and pet snakes.
When you've decided to sell, I will be your advocate, your guide, and your fierce negotiator. I will wok hard to make yours a great sale.
*Parts of the above article was taken from an article published in the Broker Agent News