PRIME SELLING TIPS

Have a Schedule in Mind

Sit down with us and figure out a time frame, working backwards from the time of escrow. It usually takes about 30 days to close escrow (though this is negotiable), and can take anywhere from 2 days to a few months to sell your home. Do you need to make improvements to your home before you can sell it? Find a replacement property? You want to determine that you can be ready to sell as soon as you put it on the market before listing your home with us. We ask our clients to really think about when and why they want to sell; because once a property is listed there is a great deal of traffic. We aggressively market all of our properties with weekly newspaper ads, online postings, potential buyers who are already in the market for a new home, the real estate community (over 8000 brokers in Manhattan) and different multiple listing services used by our industry. We will host open houses and other promotional events to give your property maximum exposure.

Set a Realistic Price

We look at the numbers, analyzing comparable sales in the area over the past few months and taking into account any improvements and special features of your home. Most of our properties sell within a few weeks, many with multiple offers.

Disassociate Yourself with Your Home

Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours. Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.

De-Personalize

We highly recommend that you remove any personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls. We will make your buyers want to say, "I can see myself living here."

De-Clutter

If you don't need it; donate it…or we can help you schedule with the proper carting services to discard unwanted items that are “renting for free” in your home.

		Remove all books from bookcases.
		Clean off everything on kitchen counters.
		Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
		Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.

Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets

From our experience, Buyers love to investigate and will open every closet and cabinet doors. Send a positive message that you are organized & that you take very good care of your home.

For Kitchens:

		Alphabetize cans/jars.
		Neatly stack dishes.
		Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.

For Bedrooms:

		Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.
		Fold all garments neatly in drawers.

For storage closets:

Line up shoes.

Rent a Storage Unit

We believe every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around.

Remove/Replace Favorite Items.

We recommend that if you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. The other option we recommend is to include the personal belongings in the negotiation process…it could be that the wine fridge you purchased a few years ago is coveted by a potential buyer & could be the deal maker, besides you can upgrade to a new one when we help you find your new home.

Make Minor Repair.

We have access to designers, architects, contractors - all the resources you need to make your place picture perfect for its sale. Just as we encourage our buyers to look beyond simple cosmetic problems that are easy to fix, we encourage our sellers to improve those simple things because it increases the appeal of the home to many potential buyers.

		Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
		Patch holes in walls.
		Fix leaky faucets.
		Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
		Consider painting your walls neutral colors.
		Replace burned-out light bulbs.
		Put out your best linens: bedspreads, towels, etc.

Make the House Shine

		Wash windows inside and out.
		Clean out cobwebs.
		Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
		Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
		Clean out the refrigerator.
		Vacuum daily.
		Wax floors.
		Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
		Bleach dingy grout.
		Replace worn rugs.
		Hang up fresh towels.
		Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.
		Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are offensive as you don’t want to turn off your potential buyers.

Scrutinize
We recommend that you imagine yourself as the buyer: Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. You want to feel that warm inviting feeling…perhaps a bouquet of flowers.

		Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer.
		Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.
		Make sure window coverings hang level.
		Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull-we want your home to have major impact on your potential buyers.
		You want your home to give off the impression that it was never lived-in.

A Picture says a thousand words

Photos sell your property, and great photos are essential to a successful marketing campaign. We are the Prime Photo experts: we know which picture, which exposure, & which angle to take to best represent your home. We use professional digital photography equipment for crystal clear picture resolution. 

The PRIME Virtual Tour

Virtual tours aren't just to showcase million-dollar homes anymore. Every home should have a virtual tour, even if it's only two spins. Our virtual tour will grab a buyer by the hand and lead them from room to room, showing a 360-degree view.

Print Advertising/Internet Advertising

We want your neighbor to tell you "Everywhere I look, I see your home advertised!" We will aggressively market your home to gain maximum exposure in the following media forms:

		Major newspapers
		Real estate publications
		Digital news media
		Real Estate Databases
		Direct mail
		E-Flyers

Open Houses

		We schedule according to your lifestyle.
		We will arrange any midweek appointments with a 24hr advance notice.
		We will obey any special instructions: i.e.: taking shoes off to ensure no damage to carpet or floors.
		We will effectively advertise your home in advance with various media forms listed above to gain maximum exposure and response from all potential buyers.
		We want to draw as many buying brokers as possible to view your home. Brokers who linger in your home will better remember details to later describe to buyers.
		We entice brokers and buyers alike with food. It’s a known fact that on a weekend, brokers& buyers will attend Open Houses that offer a little snack. It’s simple, yet effective…the power of food!