What To Expect When You Sell Your Home in a Buyer's Market

Posted by Bruce Swedal on Monday, October 4th, 2010 at 7:00pm.

buyers-market_325When you are selling your home, it is important to be aware of what is going on in the local real estate market because this will determine how easy it will be to sell your house and what sort of a price you can expect to receive for it. In a buyer's market, there are more people selling than there are buyers purchasing new homes. Prices tend to be low and houses may stay on the market for a long time. If you do find a buyer, they will be in a more powerful negotiating position than you, and you may have to drop your asking price in order to close the deal. It is a good time to be a buyer, but it will be a far less enjoyable experience if you are selling your home.

You should make sure that you have realistic expectations of what to expect when you put your home up for sale. Look at the recent statistics and reports about the real estate market so that you will have some idea of what to expect, and ask your Realtor about the local market. Try to look at the sale of your home in a practical, business like manner and avoid letting your emotions get the better of you.

It will be important to make your home as attractive as possible to buyers, particularly in a buyer's market when they have plenty of other options available. When a buyer comes to see your property, you should stage it so that it looks its best.

You will need to set a reasonable asking price in order to attract any interest. You should consider what is happening in the local market today and not just how much you paid for the property when you moved in. It will give buyers a much better impression if you start with a good asking price rather than overpricing your house. In a buyer's market, overpriced houses don't sell. They stay on the market for a long time, leaving you waiting. You will be forced to drop the price, leading to buyers wondering what is wrong with the property and possibly waiting to see if you will drop the price again. Make sure you choose a Realtor who values your home appropriately in order to avoid these problems.

Property appraisals are a highly regulated process, so everyone who is valuing your property should be doing so according to the same rules. You can find out how properties are valued by looking for online tools that allow you to compare your home with recently sold properties in your area. This should give you some idea of what to expect from an appraisal. This will reduce the chances of a disappointment.

You should remember that the same factors that may hurt you as a seller will be to your advantage while you are buying. You may be able to afford a larger home, for example because of the drop in house prices. Even if you are moving to a smaller or less expensive property, you will be getting a better price in a buyer's market, so you will still benefit.

Choosing the best Realtor for the job becomes even more important in a buyer's market. You need to find an experienced, hard working Realtor who will get you the best price for your property and make a serious effort to find buyers. It is important to choose a Realtor who has worked with similar properties to the one that you are selling, and who is familiar with your neighborhood. Selling your home is a huge transaction, and you should therefore choose your Realtor on their merit and experience.

signature_228
Bruce Swedal
Licensed Colorado Realtor
Contact Me
Denver Real Estate

Related Links
Blog Tags

2 Responses to "What To Expect When You Sell Your Home in a Buyer's Market"

Olesia wrote:
Could you advice best tools to get idea about market competition and what price a seller can expect?

Posted on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 at 10:57am.

Bruce wrote:
IN the ever changing real estate market where values can fluctuate quickly the best resource for pricing is by contacting a Realtor that is tuned into the nuances of the market and ask based upon your specific situation.

Posted on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 at 11:05am.



Leave a Comment