» I Really Want to Answer Your Real Estate Question, But NEI (Not Enough Information)

I Really Want to Answer Your Real Estate Question, But NEI (Not Enough Information)

In my email was a message: How long would it take to sell a mid-entry style home with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in Kirkland? How many days would it take to sell a home with these specs? I can’t answer this question. Of course, I can tell this person what the average number of days are to sell a home, but it’s just a very general number and may not apply to this home.

Why can’t I give a better number? NEI-Not enough information.

Here’s what I’d want to know to give a more accurate market time:

How large is the home?
The age of the home?
What’s the lot like? How big is it? Is it private?
How do the street and neighborhood look?
What are the neighboring homes like?
What surrounds this particular home?
Are there updates/remodeling? When and what has been done?
And most importantly, can I see your home to get the “feel” of the home?

Okay, this is what I’d need to know about your home.

Now what are you willing to do ?

How old is the roof and are you willing to replace it if needed?
How old is the furnace? Will you clean and service it and replace if needed?
What’s the condition of the landscaping? Are you willing to dress it up?
Are the decks and patios in good condition? Are you willing to make any necessary repairs?
How does your home show? Is it fresh and clean?
How do your baths show? If needed, are you willing to update the bathrooms before selling?
Does the home need carpet or paint? Are you willing to do it before listing your home?
Do you have a lot of clutter? Are you willing to start packing before you sell your home?
Does it need to be staged and are you willing to stage it to sell it?

And the grandaddy of all the questions: Are you willing to price your home to stand out from the competition?

It’s not enough for me to just spout numbers without the right data. Market time and selling a home are based on so many details. The home, its condition, its price, its location, its price, and its competition play into the number of days it takes to sell a home. Oh, and did I say its price?

I have to know how your home is “dressed” and if you are willing to “dress it up” to come to the home selling party. What are you willing to do to have your home market ready? Without that information, I can’t answer the question. I can’t tell you how long it would take to sell your home. If your home is not updated and staged and/or it’s not competively priced, it may take months longer to sell. If your home is “dressed” for the party, in its finest when it steps out into the real estate marketplace, and well priced (did I say price?) your market time can be drastically cut by months, not days, but by months.

So, if I can see your home and find out what you’re willing to do, I can answer your question and tell you more accurately how long it might take to sell your home.

No related posts.

http://www.kenmoreundressed.com James Lupori

Hi Debra – This is an important blog post. In a sense, it’s emblematic of what happens when a product or service has been commodified: in this case, the proces of home valuation. To wit: when the public believes that home valuations can be spit out by websites utilizing anonymous algorithums, then the perception is (conscious or unconscious) that there is no value in what real estate professionals do. On the flip side: agents help this perception along by hosting websites that advertise themselves as “local experts” when, in fact, these sites are designed for no other purpose than to capture leads. It doesn’t seem to matter that the agents have no expertise in a particular neighborhood. As a result the industry has managed to marginalize itself.
The bottom line is this: pricing a house involves, walking through it, smelling it, touching it, etc. It also involves comparing it to other homes in the neighborhood and knowing that the house next door has a car up on blocks covered with a blue tarp. It also involves sitting down with a “real live professional” to help you in your quest.
http://www.debrasinick.com Debra Sinick

Well said again, James. Real estate is a people business above all. It’s a relationship business in which a buyer or seller hir an me to represent them and help them through the moving process. It’s team work between the client and me, so the client can make the best move possible.

But it’s not a one way street. Particularly in this market, the client has to put their best foot forward with the house in order to sell. I want a commitment from sellers that they will be market ready. I help sellers before the house ever goes on the market. Helping to pick out paint colors, carpet, vinyls, you name it. I help with it all. If the seller and I do not make that commitment to each other to have the home be market ready when it hits the market, we will be dead in the water and languish on the market. Nobody wins in that kind of a situation.