Smart Sellers Think Like Buyers in Current Housing Market

Ron Darby, ERA Justin Realty Broker-of-Record has been a strong influence on the area real estate industry for the past 44 years. Beginning his career as sales manager for K Realty Co., he advanced and has led the way for ERA Justin Realty's many successes since 1980. The firm consistently is an ERA Top-100 firm nationwide in listings and sales. With Jennifer Darby Metzger they co-chair ERA Muscular Dystrophy fundraising efforts in New Jersey and attend the NASDAQ closing bell ceremonies on MDA day. Darby offers the following report for sellers in the current 2011 real estate market. 

 

                          Smart Sellers Think Like Buyers in Current Housing Market

There are qualified homebuyers intent on buying while they can still lock in a low mortgage rate. So, the summer and fall 2011 housing market should continue to present good opportunities for sellers who understand how to maximize profit in this new selling environment. The first step is to start thinking like a buyer, not a seller. Although buyers are anxious to buy before rates rise, they know that they can select one of possibly dozens of houses on the market, meeting their criteria.

Ron Darby,  ERA Justin Realty Broker Co-owner stated, "As reported in the press, when the market is rising quickly, buyers are less concerned about overpaying because they're sure they'll recoup the excess payment within a short time because of robust appreciation. This was the psychology of the past. Now, buyers are much more concerned about value. For this reason, pricing is more important than ever, as is property condition. Buyers are less forgiving of defects. So, ideally, you should fix defects before you put your house on the market.

Listings are most salable when they're new on the market. To maximize your opportunities, your house not only needs to be priced right and properly prepared for sale, you also need a comprehensive marketing plan. You want to make sure that information about your listing reaches as many potential buyers as possible. We provide all of this information for our sellers.”

The ERA Justin Realtor professionals are proactive in advising potential sellers with comprehensive information when reviewing the sale of their house. They provide you with a marketing plan with samples of the marketing materials that will be used to promote your house, as well as strong Internet exposure. As reported, 90 percent of today's homebuyers start their house search on the Internet and ERA Justin Realty promotes its listings on over 50 local, regional and national websites. Two such Internet websites to search 1000’s of houses include www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

Darby continued, "A listing on the Internet isn't enough, though. Buyers don't look at listings that don't have photos. You can gain an edge on the competition if multiple photos and a video tour of your house is on the Internet as soon as your house is opened to the market. It's important to have a good working relationship with your Realtor professional. For these reasons, lists of sellers who had positive experiences buying their house through our firm then decide to list with our Realtor who represented them as buyers. Selling through an outside area discount brokerage firm may result in a lower sale price, inadequate marketing with little knowledge of the area markets.

Your aim is to sell for the highest price possible, yet presenting your house to the market properly priced. Some sellers think it's a good idea to list at a price that's way under market value to generate a bidding contest and send the price higher. Be realistic and hope for multiple offers, always keeping in mind that overpriced listings won't sell. Your house is in daily competition with many similar houses on the market at any given time.

Our ERA Justin Realtor professionals who are active in your area will be able to advise you about an effective list price for your home. We offer our Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), a comprehensive study of your house in comparison with others that are on the market, that have sold, that have expired, as well as the 2011 market update. It's offered at no cost or obligation simply by phoning our office."

ERA Justin Realty proudly received the prestigious ERA 2003 through 2010 Commitment to Excellence Award, from all across the ERA nation. For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice. Their professional staff can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at

118 Jackson Avenue

and

57 Park Avenue

, by office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD.