How to Get Gold Star Feedback for Your Homes Showings

Feedback from your potential buyers is important and although you may not always like what you hear, getting feedback at all is a Gold Star in my book.  My job as your real estate professional is to follow up with the prospective buyers agent and ask for feedback.  Often times I will use an online showing request though the MLS which sends a feedback request automatically. Sometimes I will need to speak to the buyers agent before allowing them to go show your home and it all depends on the instructions you give me on handling your appointments. This is something we discuss at our listing appointment so I have a clear understanding of how you want me to work for you. 

In any event, feedback on your homes showings is requested and it is my job to make sure we get a response from the buyers agent one way or the other.  Whether or not you home receives a Gold Star from the buyer is completely in your hands. Unfortunately I cannot do certain things before every home sowing and it is up to you to help out with this.

Simple Ways to Get That Gold Star Review

• It's Florida. It's Hot. Turn down your homes air conditioning system to a cool 75 degrees. If a home is hot the buyers don't like to stay long and may not even look at the entire home.
• Smells can be a deterrent and if you have pets you will want to address any odors. I have 2 dogs and they are family but your buyer may not like pets or may be allergic. Give your surfaces a dust and open a neutral scented air freshener. 
• Clear your surfaces and counter tops of unnecessary items. You want the buyer looking at your kitchen and not be distracted by your toaster, mixer or mail. I suggest that while your home is on the market keep a basket on your kitchen counter for your mail so you can easily tuck it away when you have showings. 
• Curb appeal is your homes first impression so you will want your lawn neat and flower beds free of weeds. Lay out a new welcome mat and keep the entrance to the home free of pesky cobwebs and dirt. The idea is to make the buyer want to go inside with positive attitude.
• Music. Everyone likes music. Set your homes stereo system to a contemporary station and leave the volume down low. 

You want your buyers to have a welcome feeling while in your home. If you prepare your home as if a guest was coming for dinner, you should be ok with the buyer and earn that Gold Star which can lead to a Golden Offer on your home.  I am your local real estate expert in Port Richey and New Port Richey Florida and I am here to assist you in any way I can. Contact me online with any equations you want answered. 

Top 5 Things You Should Know When Selling Your Home

Selling your home may feel like a big challenge to

some people, so much to do and so many questions.  It really isn't that difficult to sell your home and after years of experience I have come up with a list of the top things you should know in advance to make the entire real estate transaction easier on yourself.

Top 5 Things Home Sellers Should Know
The buyer doesn't care how much you paid for the house and how much money you put into it. They only care about your homes current "Market Value" and if it will appraise.

Think of your home as a product you are selling an try your best to remove all emotional attachment to the home. The buyer may love your home or really want it, but if you are thinking from an emotional perspective you may not negotiate as well.

No One wants to look at your home wile you are there! You may be the nicest person around but buyers want to be able to look at your home without feeling like they are intruding. Its very awkward for most people and often times the buyer will leave your home quickly and not really see all of it just because they are uncomfortable. 

Pet Odor will hinder your sale and quite possibly turn buyers away. You will need to neutralize any pet odor and your Realtor(R) should be the first person to point that out to you. I have 2 dogs and think every home should have a pet. We just don't want it to smell like it when we are selling.

Buyers Look in Everything! Every closet, every bathroom vanity, every nook and cranny. Be prepared. Lock your hand gun away, tidy up your closets and cabinets. They will be opened and looked at.

Now that you are a little more prepared for selling your home you will find it to be much easier when the time comes. I want you to remember that these are just a few things you need to be aware of. There is also curb appeal, furniture staging, lighting, air conditioning, basic cleanliness and of course the advertising of your Realtor(R) that all come together when selling your home.

If you or someone you know is in need of a real estate professional in the western Pasco county Florida area, contact me online 24/7 and I will respond within 24 hours. 

5 Things Your Real Estate Agent May Do That Might Stop Your Home from Selling

Hiring the right real estate agent to sell your home

is important and you may not always know if you made the right choice in real estate professional.  There are a few things that almost all real estate agents do to advertise your home to attract buyers and their agents to your home.  These include an MLS (Multiple Listing Service) advertisement, web advertising, open houses and email blasts.  However not all agents do these things well and to the best of their ability.

1- Your homes MLS advertisement is syndicated to all of those real estate websites and the photos of your home that are in the MLS are the same photos that are published on all of those real estate websites so you will want to review the photos of your home before the agent shares them all over the internet.  Bad or Small photos will stop buyers from viewing your home.

2- You filled out and signed certain disclosures about your home, your home owners association and others.  Your "Sellers Property Disclosure" is important and your potential buyer must review and sign the disclosure before they write their offer.  Your agent has the ability to add disclosures as attachments to your MLS advertisement so the agents can give them your potential buyers.  Not having these disclosures available on the MLS means that the buyers agent must request them from your agent and if your agent is not available or quick to respond, the buyer may not view your home or make an offer on your home.  I recommend you ask that your agent attach these documents to your homes MLS advertisement.

3- You should be receiving feedback from the buyers who are viewing your home.  Your agent may need to follow up with the buyers real estate agent to get the feedback and if your agent is not organized and professional, they may not request this information which can be important to you in selling your home.  Not getting buyers feedback may hurt your homes sale. 

4- Your homes MLS advertisement has a section where your agent writes a description of your home and can point out positive things about your home which buyers and their agents read.  This written description is also syndicated out to websites along with the photos of your home.  You should request a copy of your homes MLS advertisement so you can be sure that your agent is doing your home justice in their advertising. 

5- Scheduling buyers appointments is of course super important.  If your living in the home you are selling and your agent needs to contact you to schedule the buyers showings and the buyers agent has trouble getting your agent on the phone to schedule the appointment you may have less showings.  I suggest you ask your agent if they use a showing appointment service that will always answer and always schedule the showings with you.  One of the most common complaints we have as agents is listing agents who do not answer their phone or cal back in a timely manner in order for us to show the home. 

You deserve excellent service from your Pasco county Florida real estate professional and you should always ask to see the advertising your agent is doing on your behalf.  Poor advertising and mis handling of appointments can result in fewer showings of your home and may cause your home to be on the sales market longer than necessary.  Keep in mind that the longer a home is on the market the less money it will eventually sell for since buyers know how long you have been listed and relate longer days on market to mean your home is less desirable then others. 

    

written by Michael J. Gallo