Whether it be through a Realtor or a Sale By Owner, home sellers should know what makes homes stand out in today’s market.

This is may be blasphemous in my industry to reveal these insider secrets, but I believe in always putting the customer first. After all, it takes more than just a for sale sign and a listing on Trulia these days to make your home stand out as the premier offering in the market place. So, here are some helpful tips that will help homeowners sell their homes for the most in today’s competitive market place.

• Take Videos. We live in a world where compelling content is king. It doesn’t have to be any more elaborate than taking video with your smartphone and incorporating it into a software that can splice your footage into a really nice video showcase. You may also want to consider employing the use of drone arial video and 3D virtual reality to really stand out from the crowd. Surprising on how many real estate professionals in the business miss the mark on this!
• Work With Mortgage Brokers/Bankers. They’re working with the buyers who are qualified to buy your home. You can even work with them to negotiate terms that generate a higher price for you and a lower mortgage payment for their buyers. You might even want to consult with credit repair specialists because their clients are now qualified to buy.
• Use Social Media, THE RIGHT WAY. Usually the first thing that we do when we roll out of bed now-a-days is troll through our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn accounts. So, place your house where your buyers are looking. Take advantage of the boosting campaigns to accurately target and invite those buyers that may be most interested in buying your home. And the key is to be consistent. Your goal for posting on social media, is to generate the type of content that get people to SHARE YOUR POST, just like a YouTube video gone viral!
• Zillow, Trulia, Craigslist, Real Estate.com, ListHub, MLS, Realtor.  There are many ways you can go to get great exposure for your house for sale. Some ways require more of your time invested, some other ways require you to pay a significant percentage of your sale to a professional. There’s no one right way. But remember, the goal here is to NET MORE FASTER! I am of the belief that you should be able to get more than the market value for your home within 30-45 days AND negotiate a price that’s no less than 98% of the list price.  Whether it’s you or a professional tasked to do this, the value you get from your home equals how intelligent and well-thought out your marketing proves to be.
• Create a Mortgage Breakdown During Showings. Just like shopping at a store where the prices are clearly visible, your mortgage breakdown sheet that you disseminate to buyers should include monthly mortgage costs at 10 percent and 20 percent down payments. Don’t forget to state yearly the property taxes (and HOA fees, if applicable.)
• Schedule Weekend Showings. Make an event during the weekend so that you can build more attraction and buzz over your home. Use open houses strategically and never let buyers dictate what time is convenient to show your home. Consider inviting only people whom you know are pre-approved to purchase (see the section on ‘Work With Mortgage Brokers/Bankers.’
• Stage and Engage the Senses. Your home should excite buyers’ sense of vision, smell, feeling, hearing and taste. How do you do this? Of course, de-clutter and present a clean home. Use air fresheners, preferably Glade plug-in apple cinnamon to engage the olfactory and gustatory senses. Play relaxing music (either jazz or classical), and be hospitable by offering bottled water.
• Have an ‘Offer To Purchase Memo’ Ready. So, you have agreed to accept an offer from a buyer. Now what? Put it in writing! You may also want to collect an earnest money deposit from your buyer and notarize this in lieu of sending it off to your attorney for contract drafting to solidify the deal.
• Choose a SAVVY Real Estate Attorney. Good real estate attorneys are an asset. You should never settle for an attorney just because he comes recommended from a friend or maybe because they save you money. You’ll want to interview three to five attorneys and choose the one that offers the best expertise and negotiating skills.  You’ll want to see what contracts they use, what title companies they’ve worked with in the past and what types of deeds they use.  These elements can not only save your deal if things stall or protect you from liability even after the sale of your home.

Whether you choose a professional or are looking to sell your property on your own, make sure you exhaust these methods, as they have been proven to generate great results and eliminate the frustrations during the home selling process. With the real estate home market flush with inventory, it’s important for your home to stand out from the crowd. Home offerings that swiftly sell for the most money are those that are are perceived as unique, which translates to an increased home buyer demand. Create and execute a home marketing plan that targets the people most likely to find your home unique and that would seriously consider buying your home. For more questions or a market analysis, please feel free to contact us (914) 295-2744. HAPPY SELLING!