As REALTORS, we give our clients, both buyers and sellers, lots of information on the real estate transaction process.  Here are a few “commandments” that I put together for you Sellers out there.  

  1. PAINT THY HOUSE WELL:  Paint can be the cheapest improvement with the most return for a seller.  BUT a poor, amateurish paint job can almost be as bad as not painting at all. If you can afford a professional, it’s worth it.  If you want to DIY, be sure to at least get some professional advise and use that blue painters tape to avoid a sloppy looking job.
  2. REMEMBER TO KEEP THY DWELLING SMELLING YUMMY:  I viewed a home recently with some other agents and the first thing out of EVERYONE’s mouth was — “smoker”.  The house truly reeked of stale cigarette odor.  I don’t care how wonderful your house is, non-smokers will most likely walk out and even smokers may find it offensive.  This invisible deal breaker needs to be addressed! 
  3. THOU SHALT NOT BE PRESENT WHEN YOU HAVE A SHOWING:  Get out, leave, vamoose, skedaddle.  Buyers are intimidated to look around when you’re there.  I don’t care if you’re watering the plants in the backyard or pretending to be engrossed in a game of Parchesee, your potential buyers won’t open cabinets, drawers, doors, closets, all of which are GOOD signs for you.  You want them to be comfortable enough to imagine themselves living there and that ain’t going to happen if you’re there showing them last year’s vacation video. 
  4. THOU SHALT NOT LIE on the Seller’s Disclosure or to your agent.  I make it clear to my clients that they need to be totally truthful when filling out this form.  Lying about problems or hiding the truth about potential issues will only be a nightmare for you during the sale or potentially after the sale. 
  5. THOU SHALT REMOVE YOUR VALUABLES from your home, well at least put them in a safe or locked drawer.  I had a client who once scared me to death when he said that his Diamond Rolex was missing after a showing.  He found it later but I had advised him to lock it up when we listed the house.  Don’t scare me like that!
  6. THOU SHALT KEEP YOUR YARD WELL MAINTAINED:  Keep your yard maintained extra nice during the time your house is on the market.  First impressions, you know.
  7. THOU SHALT NOT KILL YOUR FIRST WEEKS ON THE MARKET BY PRICING TOO HIGH.   Be sure you get the most recent sales comps, weigh carefully the good advise from your agent and price your home right from the start.  Do not decide to tack on $50,000 for a “cushion”.  Your best chances of a sale come in the first three weeks.  If you overprice it, you’ll scare away alot of potential buyers that may not be there when you decide to lower the price later. 
  8. THOU SHALT NOT BE ANGERED BY LOW OFFERS.  This is not personal, this is business!  Handle it like a business transaction and have your agent negotiate with a potential buyer.  What do you have to lose by trying?  If you must get angry, be angry at those dozens of folks who saw your home and DIDN’T make an offer!
  9. THOU SHALT PAY ATTENTION TO FEEDBACK you may get from agents or people who viewed your home.  If you’re getting the same remarks over and over again, if possible, address the issue.  What do you want, someone to hit you over the head with a 2 X 4?  They’re telling you possibly what’s keeping your house from getting an offer.  Don’t take it personally and be happy that you have something to go on. 
  10. THOU SHALT DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU WILL DO.  If you’ve agreed to make repairs, don’t wait until the day of closing to do it.  If you’ve promised to have the carpet cleaned, don’t wait until potential buyers are ringing your doorbell.  If you’ve agreed to move out on a certain date, don’t start packing ten minutes before that time.  Prior to showings, if you’ve promised to lock up the dog or cat or ferrett or (God-forbid) snake or pet rats (true story), then PLEASE do it.  (You won’t believe how fast you can run in heels when you have to!)  Agents and buyers hate surprises!  It really puts a damper on falling in love with your house.

There you have it, a few commandments that will help to make your home sale go smoooothly.  If you’re thinking about selling in the San Antonio, Texas area, check out my website at www.beckyflores.com for more great selling tips or contact me, I’d love to speak to you about selling your home.