How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast!

 

Written By

Jeff Shea

Shea Team

Prudential California Realty

16969 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego CA 92128

 

Here’s All The Information You Need To Sell Your House For Top Dollar Fast!

 

Dear Friend,

 

 

You’ve made a smart decision to send for this information, because with it you will probably be able to sell your house for more money in less time than you ever thought possible.

 

What you’re about to learn could literally be the difference between thousands of dollars in your pocket or thousands of dollars in your buyers pocket.

 

This report is part of one of a complete home selling system that I have developed over years of testing and experimenting to find the absolute best home selling strategies.

 

After you’ve read this booklet I’d like you to call me for your free over the phone evaluation and I’ll explain part two of this special system to get you on your way to top dollar fast!

 

Yours For A Quick And Profitable Sale,

 

Jeff Shea

Shea Team

858-485-5100

 

“You’re About To Learn Marketing Secrets That Not One In A Hundred Home Sellers Knows – And It’s Going To Give You A Big Advantage Over Your Competition?”

 

1. Why buyers love model homes and how to make your house show like one……………………………………………………………………pg. 2

 

2. How a 25 cent upgrade could earn you an extra $500 - $1000 more when

you sell………………………………………………………….…… pg.6

 

3. How to avoid the 10 most expensive mistakes people make when they buy or sell a home..……………………………………………………….………………………pg. 6

 

4. How to find out what houses in any neighborhood are really selling for – and how long it takes……………………………………………………………………………...pg. 8

 

5. Why most real estate advertising will never sell your house and what to do about it ……………………………………………………………………………………..pg. 9

 

6. How to sell your house in as little as 24 hrs – without ever putting it on the market……………………………………………………………………………..pg. 10

 

7. Find out how much your house is worth for free over the phone………..……..pg.11

 

 

Why Buyers Love Model Homes – And How To Make Your House Show Like One…

 

One of the major factors in getting your house to sell quickly is simply put: make it attractive.  Most buyers select their home based on emotion and then justify the decision with facts, so it is important to make the house inviting and pleasant.  Yours is not the only property the prospective buyer will see.  You are competing with model homes, homes that may have been professionally decorated and homes that have no children, no pets and Mr. and Mrs. Perfection as owners.

 

Start with the outside.

Are shrubs overgrown?  Oil in the driveway?  How does the grass look?  Do the flowerbeds need weeding and mulching?  Try very hard to see your yard through an independent observer’s eyes.  Trim the shrubs or plant new ones if they are lacking.  Houses with no landscaping in the front lose thousands of dollars of value in the mind of the buyer.  Adding several well-placed blooming flowers also adds appeal.

 

If the grass in the front yard is particularly non-existent, consider sodding.  Do some price shopping on this; sod is not cheap but there are some good prices available.  Let’s say it cost $600 to sod the front yard, but your house payment is $800 per month.  If you save one month of selling time, you are $200 ahead.  (By the way, you can probably get away without sodding the backyard.)

 

Kitty litter in the driveway will absorb the oil and grease stains.  (Then remove the kitty litter.)

 

Next, go around and clean up the yard.  Remove any toys, tools and/or building supplies.  Here’s the acid test: if you don’t see it in a model home yard, don’t have it in yours.  That goes for the bag of charcoal by the grill, too; however, the (non-rusty) grill can stay.  If your grill has rusted, remove the rust spots by scrubbing with a wire brush or with coarse steel wool dipped in kerosene.  After the rust is removed, clean the entire piece with mineral spirits.  When the grill is completely dry, paint with a brush or spray paint.

 

Now look at the exterior. 

Is the paint fading of chipping?  Is the color outdated or too personal?  Is mildew or mold growing?

 

If the house needs painting, choose a neutral color.  White, cream (not yellow) and light gray are good colors for appealing to most people.  If you want some ideas for combinations, go look at 3 or 4 model home communities that cost $20,000 - $50,000 more than your neighborhood and copy one of them.

 

One last note on painting: always give the front door and door trim a fresh coat of paint or stain even if you paint nothing else.  Buyers stand at the front door waiting to get in; give them a good first impression.

 

Now let’s go inside.

Go through room by room and pack up 30% of the accessories.  If you doubt the wisdom of this, go back to those model homes and compare their countertops with yours, their coffee tables and end tables with yours.  See what I mean?

 

The cardinal rule is this: “The way you live in a home and the way you sell a home are two different things.”  I know this will take some time and may seem like a nuisance, but remember you are in competition with other properties.  He who wins the “Good Housekeeping Award” probably sells his house first…and for the highest dollar.  Also look at it this way; you are going to be moving away, so just consider this advance packing.  By the way, label the moving boxes and stack them in the garage – floor to ceiling. 

 

Specifically, pack any collections and family photos you have displayed.  Too much of your personality in evidence does not allow for the potential buyer to “mentally move in.”

 

Pack everything from the cabinets and all closets that you do not need on a routine basis.  You want to create the perception of roominess.  In the linen closet, remove everything but a week’s worth of linens.  Fold them neatly and color coordinate them.  I’m not kidding; this is the stuff sales are made of.

 

In the clothes closets, remove all out-of-season clothes.  Pack them away and put them in the garage.  Arrange your shoes neatly.  Hang your clothes by category: all blouses together, all shirts together and do on.

 

Now take another walk around the house.  Are there rooms that are cluttered with too much furniture?  Remove extra chairs, side tables and maybe even the 100 foot sofa which is really too big for the room.  (Notice how decorators use small pieces of furniture.)

 

Minor redecorating is recommended.  If your carpet and vinyl are outdated colors or style, change them.  Off-white carpet and vinyl are best; this makes the rooms look larger and cleaner.  If the existing carpet padding is 5/8” thick or more and is not worn down, reuse it (unless the pets have done a number on it.)  If replacing the pad, select a very thick one and then install just the modest grade of carpeting.  The feel will be plush and expensive but it’s not.

 

If carpeting is in good condition and neutral color, have it cleaned.

 

If your vinyl flooring is worn or outdated, replace it with off-white vinyl.  If the vinyl is in good condition and light colored, scrub it thoroughly paying special attention to build up of dirt or wax around the baseboards and in corners.

 

Off-white painted walls are best.

If painting is required, use flat latex except in kitchen and baths where you will use semi-gloss latex.  If walls are dirty, experiment to see if scrubbing them is easier than painting.

 

If you have wallpaper, make sure it is clean and up to date. If not, strip it.  (Hint: some wallpaper is easy to strip if first sprayed with window cleaner.)  After stripping it, either paint or re-wallpaper, depending on the condition of the walls.  Sponge painting is also an easy, attractive alternative.

 

Repair badly cracked plaster, loose doorknobs, and crooked light fixtures.  Correct faulty plumbing.  Leaky faucets can discolor porcelain and call attention to plumbing defects.  To remove mineral stains from such leaks, pour hydrogen peroxide on the stain, and then sprinkle with cream of tartar.  Leave this for 30 minutes before scrubbing.  Bad stains may require 2 or 3 applications.

 

Next, make your house sparkle.

If you do not have time for the inclination, hire someone to thoroughly clean the house.  Clean windows inside and out.  Clean with white vinegar using newspaper.  Clean mini-blinds, curtains and drapes.

 

In the kitchen, clean appliances inside and out.  Remove grease and grime by scrubbing with undiluted vinegar.  Scrub the inside of the refrigerator with baking soda; not only does it not scratch, but it removes odors.  Get rid of kitchen odors by pouring hot salt water down the drain twice a week.  Grind citrus peelings or apple cores in the garbage disposal.  Leave a small-uncovered container of vinegar in the corner of your kitchen counter.

 

Have bathrooms scrubbed to pass a white glove inspection.  If tubs or sinks are rusting, have them reglazed.  Clean grouting of the tiles with Tilex.  Recaulk the tub and shower.  Clean fixtures with white vinegar.  If you are at home, light a small candle for the atmosphere and pleasant (not overpowering) aroma.  Hang a set of designer bath towels on the most prominent rack complete with verbal instructions to your family not to use them!  (Remember, you’re in show biz now.)

Pets should be out of sight and out of smell.

If you have pets, you need to get rid of pet odors and it is recommended that the pets themselves are kept out of the way and out of the house during showings, if possible.  Some people are uneasy around animals and they may detract from the prospect’s attention.  Getting pets out of the way is, unfortunately, much easier than getting pet odors out of the way.

 

If flooring has been repeatedly stained with animal urine, you’ll probably have to replace it to get rid of the smell.  And that means the carpet, the pad, the carpet strips and the baseboard trim, the sub flooring will need to be treated to kill the odor.  Put a small-uncovered dish of vinegar in the room where your pet sleeps; this will remove “doggy” smells.  Of course, put the dish off the floor so the dog doesn’t drink the vinegar!  To absorb odors in the cat litter box, add a cup of baking soda to the litter.

 

Food smells can work for you or against you.  Baking bread, cookies or pies all smell good.  Spaghetti is a delicious smell.  Frying fish or liver and onions is objectionable.  And of course, nowadays the smell of cigarette smoke is offensive to many.  If your house has an unpleasant smell, use scented candles or fragrant fresh flowers.

 

Finally, tackle that thing called the garage.

This area is the catch-all where everything goes that has no place to go, so it is usually a mess.  Therefore, if your storage area is neat, one would surmise that you must really take good care of the whole house.  Now you are going to say I am becoming extreme, but believe me, this works every time.  Empty everything out of your garage.  Hose down the floor, if there are stains remaining, paint it porch gray.  Paint the garage walls off-white using latex paint.  If the hot water heater is in the garage, wipe it down so it looks brand new.  Polish the copper pipes.

 

Now- after the paint is dry-put everything back in the garage piece by piece.  Throw out what you will not be taking with you.  Pack what you can and add to the stack of neatly labeled boxes.  Then organize what’s left.  If you have a storage shed, organize it the same way and if it needs a coat of paint or a stain, do it.  An open bag of charcoal will absorb moisture off the storage shed.

 

If you have too much “stuff” for the shed, rent a small storage unit.  Un-cluttering can make all the difference in the world.

 

Lighting plays an important part.

During the day have all your curtains and blinds open.  If the day is cloudy, turn on all lamps as well.

 

At dusk, put blinds down but leave them open.  Leave drapes open.  Turn on all lamps.  Overhead lights should be turned on but dimmed by 40%.  (Installing dimmers is easy and very effective for “setting the stage” and I highly recommend putting a dimmer on every switch plate in the house.)  At night, use the same lighting formula as above but close all the blinds and drapes.  Adding candlelight is very effective.

Turn off the television during all showings of your house as they are distracting.  Put on soft background music.  Once you have “set the stage” leave the house for the agent to show it.  Prospects can more easily look at the house with no distractions.  They will also feel free to ask questions of the agent.  Finally, buyers can mentally move in better without the current owners around. 

 

Here’s How A 25 Cent Upgrade Could Earn You $500 - $1000 More When You Sell

 

One of the secrets that the top interior designers use to make a room appear brighter and more desirable is to light it up.

 

If you have 60-watt bulbs or low watt bulbs in your house it can make the house seem smaller and less appealing, especially in the kitchen and family rooms.

 

Upgrade all your light bulbs to 100 watts and your house will appear bigger, more inviting and may just earn you an extra $500-$1000!

 

How To Avoid The Most Expensive Mistakes People Make When They Buy Or Sell A home…

 

Home Sellers:

 

Mistake #1: Basing their asking price on needs or emotion rather than market value.

 

Many times, people make their pricing decisions based on how much money they paid for or invested into their home.

 

This can be an expensive mistake.  Overpriced homes take longer to sell and eventually net the seller less money.  Consult with a professional real estate agent.  They can assist you in pricing your home correctly from the beginning.

 

Mistake #2: Failing to “Show-Case” their home.

 

First impressions are the most important.  Experience shows that for every $100 in repairs that your home needs, a buyer will deduct $300-$500 from their offer.  Thoroughly clean and prepare your home before you put it on the market if you want top dollar.

 

Mistake #3: Signing a listing contract with no way out.

 

Most traditional real estate agents want you to sign a listing contract with no way out.

 

When you list you home with me, you can cancel your listing agreement at any time before we find your buyer, no questions asked.

Mistake #4: Choosing the wrong agent or choosing them for the wrong reasons.

 

Many homeowners list their home with the agent who tells them the highest price.  Or they list with the agent who works for the biggest company. 

 

You need to choose the agent with the very best track record and guarantees to sell your home.

 

Mistake #5: Not knowing all of their legal rights and obligations.

 

Real estate law is complex.  The contract that you sign when selling your home is legally binding.

 

Small items that are neglected in a contract can wind up costing you thousands of dollars.

 

You need to consult a knowledgeable, professional who understands the in’s and out’s of a real estate transaction.

 

Home Buyers:

 

Mistake #1: Not knowing how much they can afford before they make an offer.

 

The easiest way to avoid this mistake is to get pre-approved for a mortgage by a lender so you know in advance exactly how much you can afford.

 

A mortgage pre-approval can be free and will give you a basis to make a more informed purchasing decision when you find the house you like.

 

Mistake #2: Not realizing in advance who the real estate agent represents.

 

Most people think that the agent they are working with is working for them.  But unless they are working as your buyer representative, they represent the seller.  There are different types of agency relationships you can have with a Realtor, make sure that you are clear on your options.

 

Mistake #3: Not realizing that the wrong mortgage can cost thousands of dollars in needless interest and taxes.

 

Check with your accountant before you make your final decision on which mortgage you are going to choose.

 

Your CPA will be able to tell you what the long-term effects will be on your income, your taxes and the equity you build in your home over time.  Most people aren’t aware that with a standard 30-year mortgage they will be paying two and a half times the amount of the mortgage in payments.  With some planning in advance and a simple strategy they can cut the amount of interest they pay dramatically and own their homes sooner.

 

Mistake #4:  Not discovering hidden defects before they buy a home.

 

One of the most expensive mistakes is also one of the easiest to avoid, by having a professional pre-purchase home inspection.

 

Don’t get stuck with a money pit!  The cost of a professional home inspection is usually a few hundred dollars, but the peace of mind it can give you and the expense you can avoid needlessly is in the thousands of dollars.

 

Mistake #5:  Not knowing how much their credit can affect their ability to buy or refinance a home.

 

Before you buy a home, many of the clouds on your credit history can be cleared up or even eliminated. 

 

Your mortgage professional can help you review and prepare you credit file in advance. 

 

How To Find Out What Houses In Any Neighborhood Are Really Selling For – And How Long It Takes…

 

Have you ever talked with someone who tells you that they sold their house and “got what they wanted”?

 

You remember that they were asking for $229,000 so that must be what they sold for – or so you’d think.

 

Or someone tells you that all the houses in your neighborhood have been selling for full price because the market is so hot right now, or the buyers are out there like never before. 

 

One thing you can be sure of when you are getting ready to price your house for sale is that most of the information you hear on the street is not what is actually happening in reality.

 

Buyers and sellers tend to over or understate the prices that they are sold for or bought for, but the reality is that you can get information on what houses are actually selling for.

 

Here’s How To Get A Free Market Analysis On Any Neighborhood…

 

Before you consider buying a home in any neighborhood, you need to get the real information on what’s happening in the market.

 

You can find out what houses are really selling for and how long it takes to get the real information on what’s happening in the market.

You can find out what houses are really selling for and how long it takes them to sell by calling my office to tell me what area you are considering and I will complete a market analysis on that neighborhood for you.

 

Having the right information can literally save you thousands of dollars – especially when you are buying a home, so don’t end up overpaying for a house because you don’t know the market.

 

Call me today and get the inside information you need to make an informed decision.

 

Why Most Real Estate Advertising Will Never Sell Your House – And What To Do About It…

 

Most real estate advertising will never sell your house because it’s speaking to the wrong people at the wrong time.

 

When people are looking through the real estate section and calling on ads, they are looking for a house right now, and less than 3% of the time do people actually buy an advertised house they call about.

 

Most sales take place because a person has built a relationship with a Realtor that will work with them to find out what they are looking for in a home, what they qualify to buy, and then show them the houses on the market that meet their needs and wants in a home.

 

The truth is, most of the time, Realtors use property advertising as a six-day marketing plan – they are hoping to advertise the house on Sunday, have someone call on Wednesday and come out and buy that house on Friday.

 

The sad thing is that it happens just enough to keep them addicted to doing it – kind of like playing the slots in Las Vegas.  (The odds are better of hitting it big in Vegas than finding a buyer by advertising your house.)

 

So what’s the answer?

 

Well, the key lies in understanding that for every one buyer that’s looking in the real estate section and calling on an ad today – there are 10 buyers who are just starting to consider buying a house and will buy in the next six months…

 

The key lies in tapping into the buyers who are just starting to explore the market – and most Realtors don’t use anything but traditional advertising so they are missing out on this market completely.

 

These people are not calling on properties yet, but they’re looking to educate themselves about what they can get in their price range and may be saving for their down payment or waiting for their lease to expire.

 

How do you attract these buyers?

 

You have to offer them something that is of value to them at the point they are now.

 

That means offering them free reports and guides like this that are designed to give people an education that will help them get to the point where they are able to buy a home.

 

The truth is – I started looking for the buyer for your house 180 days ago using something called “direct response” advertising.  (Like the ad you called on to get this report you’re reading now).

 

Making contact with buyers at this stage gives me an opportunity to build a relationship with them and by educating them and providing them with world-class service until they are ready to buy a home.

 

There are several other strategies that can be used to find the buyer for your house instead of relying on traditional advertising exclusively –- it’s using these strategies that can stack the odds in your favor of selling your house quickly and for top dollar!

 

How To Sell Your House In As Little As 24 hrs.  – Without Ever Putting It “On The Market”!

 

There is a principle in psychology called scarcity – it’s the desire that’s in all of us to want something that we can’t have.

 

There are some strategic ways that this principle can be applied to a real estate situation.

 

That’s right I said applied – you can actually control it.

 

Often, the illusion of scarcity can be orchestrated and often appears in real estate situations without people even knowing that it’s there. 

 

Have you ever heard of a situation where a home was on the market and more than one person was interested in it?

 

In many cases like this, the house will sell for more than the owners are even asking for the house – and the buyers feel great about it because they won.  Someone else wanted the house, but they got it. 

 

Situations like his are called “The Auction Effect.”

 

To create this powerful situation requires creating an environment where as many buyers as possible are made aware of the property at the same time and under the right circumstances.

 

As you know now, most of the time when a property is advertised in a traditional way, it’s almost impossible to create this kind of environment, because your property is just another property on the market.

 

You need to be able to reach buyers in a way so that your home is presented as “New Information”…

 

One of the things I do to create this situation is to let my team and all of our buyer clients know about your home as soon as it becomes available for sale.

 

As I mentioned earlier, I started looking for the buyer for your house about 180 days ago.

 

I use various marketing and advertising strategies to attract buyers on a continual basis.

 

We may be able to find the buyer for your house without ever having to put it “on the market!”

 

By the way, Scarcity is just one of the six weapons of influence that can be skillfully applied to the marketing of your home.

 

I’ve created a system using these weapons in the sale of your home that I’ll be able to go over with you later in our relationship – but I’m unable to share them with you here because frankly, my competitors would love to know about them and they are closely guarded competitive secrets. 

 

Find Out How Much Your House Is Worth Over The Phone – For Free.

 

Before you decide to sell your house, the next step for you is to get an idea of the current market value of your property – based on the current market activity in your neighborhood, as well as the total market.

 

This can be done over the phone in just a few minutes.

 

When you call my office, I’ll ask you some questions about your property that will allow me to prepare a market analysis for your that I can go over with you on the phone.

 

Here’s some of the information I’ll need:

 

1.      The approximate square footage of your home.

2.      Your lot size

3.      The number of bedrooms, bathrooms and some basic floor plan information.

4.      Any upgrades you may have done to the home since you’ve owned it.

5.      Do you have a pool?

6.      How long have you lived there?

…and a few other basic questions like that.

Once I have all this information I will prepare a complete market evaluation and call you back on the phone to go over that detail.

 

Just give me a call at 858-485-5100 and I’ll get to work right away!

 

“Yours For A Quick And Profitable Sale,”

 

Jeff Shea

Shea Team

858-485-5100

 

Shea Team’s Mission Statement

 

Provide the highest quality service to our clients by asking questions and listening.  Always provide the unexpected.  Follow up as promised and always tell the truth.  Use all our experience to provide the best possible transaction regardless of the circumstances.  To always do whatever it takes to meet the customer’s needs thereby generating a client for life.

 

Jeff Shea

858-485-5100

Email: Jeff@SheaTeam.com

Web Site: www.SheaTeam.com