7 tips to help you sell your Real Estate Listing faster

Do you ever wonder how some Real Estate agents are superstars making all of the money where others are struggling to survive? Is it because they have been in the business longer, or because they have connections? NO! The reason is because they follow a carefully planned path to success in this industry. In this issue of My Agent News, you will see a breakdown of what the myths are and what the FACTS are about making the big time as a real estate agent!



First, ask yourself a few questions:



Do you have any listings you would like to sell quicker?



Are you seeing the trend of the housing market demand slowing?



Are your listings sitting on the market longer than usual?



Could you use a larger database of qualified buyers actively seeking a suited property to buy?





One fact is that many agents nowadays, believe that taking listings is a waste of time, versus finding qualified buyers.



The truth however is that having listings, is the key to success in Real Estate for top producing agents.



The reason having listings to be successful is that the best way to find buyers is through the promotion of your listings.





Now that the facts are out of the way, once you have a listing, there are many facts that only top producers are aware of, and the broker often overlooks to train you about. The purpose of this article is to help you sell your listings in a way that benefits not only the seller, but your future database of qualified buyers to find other properties for. This is the key to what the top producers don't want you to know!



Let's talk for a bit about the top 7 ways to make your listing stand out from others.



1. Price



It is no surprise in today's market that there are so many listings, especially in certain markets. With the trends of the last 5 years in particular, many homeowners of investment properties are feeling this is the end of the ride. With values on the decline nationwide, there are many sellers willing to take a cut in selling price just to get out before the bottom completely falls out. This is especially particular in inflated markets like California. The bottom line: If your listing has been shown 7-12 times without a single offer, you should consider the price being too high as a factor. Also, be sure to do your homework on what an effective selling price would be.



2. Financing/Terms



In today's market the majority of Real Estate Brokers are in contract with a lender of favorite. This however does not prevent you as an agent from seeking alternative financing elsewhere make it possible to close the sale. In fact, the contract allows the Agent to choose any lender for financing for their clients. With the choices of lenders and programs available, if you use only one lender, and you have buyers being declined, it is time to look elsewhere. In addition, if your lender is not providing tools such as instant prequalification letters, and customized case scenarios for your listing, you are working with the wrong lender. A customized case scenario is a half page flyer, listing the features of the property, and what Fico scores are needed to qualify for 3 different programs, as well as what net income is needed to qualify, along with other information such as what they can expect as far as payments. This way you can stop wasting time trying to sell a house to a buyer that cannot qualify, and either find a price ranged property that will work, or move on. For information from a lender that provides these services, visit www.GreenStarFinancial.com or Email Allan@greenstarfinancial.com. Their phone number is on their website as well.





3. Buyer incentives



With the extreme competition to move inventory in many markets, many sellers including builders, will offer incentives that drive the sale all the way to the bank. Everything from including appliances, to existing furniture such as flat screen tv's, sofas, or dining room sets that fit with existing colors. Consider talking to your seller about offering such incentives to buyers that are serious, but not quite over the edge enough to sign.



4. Marketing



Many agents believe that less is more when it comes to giving information about the property. ?Just get the opportunity to speak to them is the task at hand? It is no question that Real Estate sales is in fact a sales industry. There is work in convincing not only a buyer to make concessions to buy the home, but for the seller to make concessions to sell the home as well. For the most part they are correct, ?less is more?. However, we are talking about the task at hand which is to create the opportunity to communicate with the buyer to sell the home? to generate the buyer lead, to potentially sell a more suitable property to. Most agents believe that Flyers, newspaper ads, just listed cards, notepads with their name and picture on it, business cards, posting the listing on www.craigslist.org or www.myspace.com or other means are all they have in their arsenal to sell a property.



Now there is a new concept just emerging into the industry due to new technology that is skyrocketing sales for the agents that have listings. It is called a ?Talking Property?. This new feature has two caveats. First is the idea of placing an FM transmitter on the property with a sign stating ?tune in to this station to hear information about this property.? The problem with this method is that it does not create an opportunity for the agent to speak with the interested buyer. The latest in technology features a simple and effective solution called My Agent Phone. This new technology allows you to place any marketing piece, including a sign rider, such as you would use for insurance sponsors or other information, that features a toll free number and an extension, that also states ?Free 24 Hour Recorded Information about this property? with an extension number. When a buyer calls this number and extension, they relieve their fears of having to speak with an agent and get pressured into the sale. They also will hear detailed information about the property including square footage, bedrooms/baths, and other relevant features of the property that help it to stand out among the other properties listed.



The best part of this new technology is that when the buyer calls and listens to that information, the agent instantly receives a text message on their phone showing the address of the property called on, and the phone number of the person that called. This even works with restricted or blocked numbers! Now you as the agent, can instantly call back the buyer, asking them if you can answer any questions for them about the property, and ask them what in particular they are looking for. This is one of the secrets of the top producing agents that you now have in your hands!! If the property they called on was NOT what they were looking for, now you have the opportunity to find a property that is suitable for their needs and budget! Instead of a buyer just moving on, now you have a new buyer lead! For information on this exciting new technology, visit www.My-Agent-Phone.com



5. Staging



As much as the marketing category has to play on sales of your listing, and attracting new buyers, there is however other important factors to selling your listing. The benefits of staging your listing are obvious. Not only does it make the home stand out, but it helps the buyer feel more like they are already home, and that this is where they belong. It is not only important for your listing to have plenty of staged furniture, but too much clutter can also prevent the sale of that house. There is only one chance to make a first impression, and what they see is what you get. Make sure that lighting shows the features you want to enhance. Take into consideration small things that should be enhanced and others that should not.



6. Accessibility



To many agents this seems like a no brainer however, this concept often times goes overlooked. If your listing is only shown by appointment, and you must be there, and your schedule is limited, more than likely the property will not get shown very often. Make sure all of your listings have a lockbox, even if it is owner occupied, so that you may show by appointment unescorted.



7. Curb Appeal



The first thing a buyer thinks when they pull up to a house, is whether this is THE ONE. Does your listing make them jump out of the car? Or does it cause them to keep driving to the next listing? Make sure all obstacles are clear of the view of the home from the street and that the front yard is properly groomed. A few extra potted plants/flowers, along with a trimming of all shrubbery and trees can make all the difference in the world.



Good luck with selling your listings, and look forward to the next issue, where we will address how to acquire more listings. For more information on how to increase your business, visit the National Association of Realtors website, at www.Realtor.org