Teri B. Clark on Selling Your Home

When it comes to getting your home ready to sell, you want the advice of Teri B. Clark. The writer has become quite a specialist on the home selling front—her book, 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home NOW and For More Money Than You Thought has helped many sellers through a tough market, and the book was recently awarded the Eric Hoffer Award, given to excellent titles from independent publishers. Here, Clark tells us the common pitfalls home sellers encounter, and how you can come out on top.

Do you have any tips for trying to soften the emotional blow of selling a home?

In general, remember that a home is only the shell of your memories. The actual memories are about people and events, and you will be taking those with you!

How much has the internet changed home selling? How important are good photographs?

With more than 80% of buyers looking on the internet to determine what house they want to see in person, using the internet to sell your home is a must. Surveys have shown that listings with inside and outside photographs or video go to the top. Minimal photos or poor quality photo listings come next. Exterior only photo listings or those with no photos do poorly. Be sure to have the house staged before you take them to make the house as beautiful as possible—a picture is worth 1,000 words and you want those words to say nice things.

How valuable is a professional stager in selling a home?

A professional can help you step back and see your home in the same way that a potential buyer will see it. They help you take yourself out of the home so that the homebuyers can see themselves in it!

Can you walk through your home and instantly list 10 inexpensive ways to increase the value of your home? Home stagers can. They know how to make the changes in a timely manner so you can get your home on the market quickly. They view your home from the buyer's point of view and can tell you what to store, what to keep, what to move, and what will add that pizzazz that will make your home sell.

What’s your perspective on the current housing market? Should people wait to sell?

The housing market is not at a standstill, and, in some areas, is still going strong. Whether a buyer should wait to sell or not depends on many factors. For instance, if you have to make a move for work or some other pressing reason, then, of course, you have to sell regardless of the market. If, on the other hand, the move is optional, you may want to wait it out. Keep in mind that it doesn’t cost you any more to put your house up for sale now than it will later. If you can make your home stand out among the rest using home staging techniques, there are still buyers out there looking for the right house!

Tell us the top mistakes sellers make in the first 30 days, and how to avoid them.

1. Listing with an agent before home staging. Your agent will suggest a price based on what they see in your home. They are trained to look past the clutter. If your house feels spacious, looks clean, and has that extra pizzazz, then your agent is going to suggest a higher asking price.

2. Leaving the house completely empty. Empty homes do not sell as well as homes with furniture. If you have to move before your sell, it is best to rent a few things to put in the home to help the buyer see the potential of each room. You should at least stage the kitchen, living room and master bedroom. Adding pretty touches to bathrooms is also recommended.

3. Reducing your price too quickly. Many sellers get worried and assume that the house is not selling because of the price within the first 30 days. If your home is priced similarly to other homes in the area, dropping the price may not be the answer. Instead, try to see what might be turning off potential buyers. Walk through other homes in the area that are for sale and notice the good points and the bad points of each. How does your home compare?

SIGNATURE QUESTIONS

What is the belief you go to during times of change?

I believe that change is a necessary part of life. Each time things change, we learn and grow. I always keep in mind that most changes do not have to be permanent. This is comforting to me, especially if the change is not one I initiated!

The best thing about change is…

…seeing things in a new light. Whether you have changed your hair color or moved to a new city, changes shake up the status quo.

What is the best change you have ever made?

The one that has influenced me the most and brought about even more changes is becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Through this change, I have become a better wife and mother, and have had the courage and strength to face many challenges.

For more information on Teri B. Clark, visit www.teribclark.com.