| So how long has your home been on the market? | | | | above all do not assume the realtor is showing |
| Do you find yourself checking your voice mail | | | | your home. |
| during the day to see if anyone has called about | | | | The third action you can take is to trade your |
| your home that is for sale? Do you constantly call | | | | "For Sale" sign with a mailbox. Now you may be |
| or email your realtor to see if a potential | | | | asking yourself, "What does he mean by that?" I |
| homebuyer has even so much as glanced your | | | | mean make your home more appealing from the |
| way? Are you stuck in a home that has what | | | | outside. |
| seems to be an invisible "For Sale" sign in your | | | | Your home has value. It probably has more value |
| front yard? If so, you are like many other | | | | than the market is going to give you during this |
| Americans. | | | | time of economic crisis. You can expect to |
| I can personally pull out of my driveway and by | | | | automatically lose 2-10% of value off the top |
| the time I have made it to the end of the street | | | | depending on where you live because of the |
| I can count more than 10 houses that either have | | | | credit problems of the economy. I am not |
| "For Sale By Owner," "For Sale," or "For Rent" | | | | suggesting that the inspector or appraiser will low |
| signs in their front yard. The market is flooded | | | | ball the value on purpose, what I am suggesting is |
| with homes for sale which spells bad news for | | | | that your home is only worth what someone is |
| people trying to sell their homes. | | | | willing to pay for it. If an appraiser says it is worth |
| If you understand the dynamics of economics or | | | | $125,000 but the market is only willing to pay you |
| even if you don't, when there is too much of one | | | | $115,000, then you have two choices: 1). Decline |
| item in the market, what will happen is that the | | | | the offer and continue to wait or 2). Take the |
| price will be reduced to rid the market of the | | | | offer. If you take the offer then you have left |
| backlog. In this case it's houses. Currently the | | | | $10,000 on the table. At that point, you have to |
| supply is high and the demand is low for houses. | | | | decide what is more important. Moving or staying. |
| So how can your house compete in a seller's | | | | So what does a mailbox have to do with this? |
| market? | | | | Simple, a good quality cast aluminum mailbox adds |
| One avenue you can always take is to trust a | | | | much curb appeal to your home. The fact is your |
| realtor to sell it for you. I can tell you that before | | | | house is only as valuable as the market dictates. |
| you try to sell your home on your own, please do | | | | Do not give the market a reason to take |
| research. I am not a realtor nor have I ever been | | | | anymore money from you. Replacing your old |
| a realtor, but I am a firm believer that when you | | | | standard mailbox with an Imperial Mailbox will add |
| let an expert perform a service for you it will | | | | curb appeal to your home; guaranteed. Now I |
| save you time and many headaches. However, if | | | | obviously cannot make the claim that if you buy a |
| you are set on selling your house by yourself so | | | | mailbox your home will automatically sell. But what |
| as to maintain your equity, then let me assure | | | | I do suggest is that if you have not thought |
| you that in order to compete in the current | | | | about curb appeal, you are leaving money on the |
| market environment, you must be competitive. | | | | table. |
| You will be competing with others who are just | | | | Your home is worth it. Walk out to the street in |
| as desperate to sell as you are. So having a | | | | front of your home and look at it from the |
| realtor will give you a slight advantage over the | | | | outside. What do you see? Look at it as a |
| "For Sale By Owner" signs. | | | | potential buyer would look at it. If you yourself |
| A second recommendation is to be actively | | | | were the potential buyer, would you stop and be |
| involved in the selling process. Do not completely | | | | interested in your home? Ask a friend or neighbor |
| leave it in a realtor's hands. While this may sound | | | | or family member to ride by your home and give |
| contradictory to the first recommendation, it | | | | you a perspective of what they see. The truth is |
| actually is not. The truth is, during this time, a | | | | that if your home is going to sell it will first sell |
| realtor may be committed to up to 10 or 15 | | | | from the curb. If your house does not appeal to |
| other homes to sell. Depending on the value and | | | | the potential buyer from the street, they will |
| sell ability of your home will determine where your | | | | keep driving by. |
| home will fall on the depth chart of that particular | | | | Do not give them a reason to drive by. Add the |
| realtor. Do not be afraid to be actively involved. | | | | #1 rated cast aluminum mailbox (and a lamp post) |
| Ask questions, stay on top of the process and | | | | to your curb today. |