It’s that time of the year when homeowners planning to move think about listing their property. Many of them believe it makes more sense to wait until season is here to list their homes for sale. Although there are some benefits to presenting a new listing in season, it still makes far more sense to get a jump on the season.
Most perspective sellers don’t realize that it can take 30, 60, or even 90 days to prepare the home for sale and develop a powerful marketing campaign. Make a list of all the issues that must be addressed in preparation for presenting the home for sale. This list should include the following:
- General maintenance and cosmetic improvements to show the home in the best possible light.
- Identification of the ideal target market.
- Development of a specific marketing campaign designed to reach the target market.
- Photo shoots and/or video production.
- Creation of brochures and e-marketing material.
- Preparation for broker and general public open house.
You should remind perspective sellers that once they have agreed to let you represent them, a great deal of strategic planning will take place to ensure they’ve received the highest price for their home. Some sellers may want to prepare the home for sale before they sign the listing agreement. Do not allow this to happen as too many things can go wrong in that short period of time and you could lose the listing to another agent. A better strategy is to have the perspective sellers sign the listing agreement and leave the listing date open to be determined once the work is complete. Remember, once they sign the agreement, they are committed to you and will let other agents know they have already signed an agreement with you.
It is also strongly recommended that you take the listing for a minimum of 9 months or 1 year. The 60-day preparation close is also an effective way to get the seller to commit to a longer period of time.