Are you struggling to sell your home because your housing market is in a recession? Don’t feel overwhelmed if your house has been on the market for several months with no buyers. There are many people across the United States that are facing the same problems your are. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure you sell your house during the recession. Alleviate as many concerns a buyer may have. Buyers often have many concerns when purchasing a house including closing cost, realtors cost, and home inspections just to name a few. By eliminating as many of these as possible it will help you chances of closing the real estate deal. Here are some key elements to helping put your potential buyer’s minds at ease. -Have your house inspected by a certified home inspector. -If you are not on a city water supply have your septic tank inspected. -Gather any existing warranties on home appliances that will be sold with the house. Another great way to entice buyers is to throw something extra in with the house. Houses built on lakes or canals often come with boats of jet skis, this will give your house a differential advantage over other houses in your neighborhood. Cars trucks and RV’s have also been noted to be sold with houses on several occasions. Get an idea of what other houses of similar size and style are selling for in your neighborhood. Also look for similar house that have sold within the last 2 months this will give you a better idea of the current market value of your home. After deciding what your house is worth, decide what sale price you are willing to let the house go for. Since it is a buyers market you may want to give a 3-5% discount off the market value of your home. This will give you a competitive edge over other houses in your neighborhood. It’s no secret that buyers are in the market for a green home. Installing water saving toilets and appliances can help to sway buyers to pay more because of money that will be saved later on. A water saving or dual flush toiletcan save a family of 4 as much as 15,000 gallons of water a year over a conventional toilet. Upgrading windows and doors to be more energy efficient will also help when selling your home. Another selling point for homes is luxury appliances. Hot tubs have been helping to selling homes for the last twenty years or so, however there are new better luxury appliances on the market. Whirlpool bathtubs have become common place in the master bathroom so buyers are looking for a master bath with at least a whirlpool bathtub. There have been many innovations in luxury appliances over the last 10 years. Whirlpool bathtubs now have built in features like air massage jets, fm radio, television monitors and more. Steam showers are another Luxury appliance that has stormed the bathroom remodeling industry. Modular steam showers cost between two and five thousand dollars and can be installed in under a day. These are a great replacement for standing shower stalls and are what potential buyers are looking for. Selling your house during a recession doesn’t have to mean that you loose out. Carefully following this advice will help to maximize the profitability of your house, and also eliminate many of the buyers concerns and wants when looking to by a new home.
Posts Tagged ‘Sales’
Tips to Help Sell Your Home During a Recession
Sunday, January 24th, 2010Selling Online
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009There are so many people out there nowadays claiming to be sales guru’s. It seems like every where I look I see some self proclaimed “sales master” telling me I can become a millionaire if I just read his “free” report! These guys crack me up. The sad part about it is that they’re still around because people fall for their cunning sales pages and buy their products. What actually qualifies you to be a sales “expert” worthy of selling your secrets to someone anyway?
Have you ever done hard core, 100% commission, door to door sales in 115 degree weather (or -20 degrees for that matter) wearing a 3 piece suit? Have you ever built a power house team of cold contacting sales experts from scratch, selling pizza coupons door to door none the less? Let me guess.. “NO!” . . . to that one as well.
I would love to do an experiment one day and take one of these “sales gurus” let him pick the time, place and product, then put me on one side of the street and him on the other and lets see what happens. No need to wait for the results, I’ll can tell you right now what will happen, I will BLOW them away! That is a fact. I’m not trying to be cocky or arrogant here I ‘m simply stressing a point. I ‘m an accomplished professional, hard core sales expert and I ‘m available to prove it any day of the week.
I believe what sets me apart from the rest of these clowns is my attitude. I am always in sales mode, I am relentless in my pursuit of buyers. That is the key. I don’t just find the closest human being with a pulse and try to cram my product down their throat whether they need it or not. Instead, I smother my territory moving from prospect to prospect till I identify a buyer.
Here’s the best part… when I find a potential buyer, I’ve hit the jackpot! This is because I’m not just going to sell him one item. I’m going to sell him (or her) everything I can! Thats the difference between me and them. I smarten up, I open the market up! I don’t waste time turning an obvious “NO” into a shaky “YES” cause thats only going to bite me in the rear-end later. Instead, I pick up on the buying and non-buying signals and make an instant decision of wether or not this person is worthy of my entire presentation.
Here’s 3 simple things you can do to increase your sales regardless of what you sell or where you sell, Internet, face to face, telemarketing, whatever… It doesn’t matter. This stuff works everywhere and if you’re not doing it your just missing the boat!
#1 Always be in a hurry. This is called “Urgency”.. Sorry Mr. Prospect, I’d love to stay and chat the day away. Prospect. I’ve got BUYERS to get to. So lets get this deal closed and we can both get on with our busy day.
#2 Be prepared for EVERY objection. A sale without an objection is like a bowl of cereal without the milk. Expect several objections during every presentation. Thats whats supposed to happen!!! Edify the prospect, give them your pre-rehearsed rebuttal and CLOSE the deal!
#3 Take Control! Nobody, I mean NOBODY is going to walk up to you and say “Are you selling something?? Here’s my money I’ll take everything you’ve got!” You have to get over the fear of rejection and TELL them it’s time to pay for their product. Train your customer to say yes to you throughout your pitch with close ended questions. This way they wont hesitate to reach for their wallets when you tell them it’s time to pay.
Selling a Yacht
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Selling a Yacht – Where to Start?
Whatever your reason for selling your yacht, be it upgrading or simply moving on to the next adventure, the process can be simple and easy. The easiest place to start is to decide how you are going to sell – through a broker, privately or as a trade-in. From there, the process is simple. With a broker, you can rest assured that all the work will be done for you at a price. If selling your yacht yourself, following these easy guidelines can help make the process a pleasant and successful one.
Getting Your Yacht Ready for Sale
As with all things, presentation is key and a clean and well-maintained yacht will only impress and sell quickly. It goes without saying that the deck should be scrubbed, the varnish restored to its original shine and the galley be free of crumbs and dirty dishes. If you intend to keep any of the yacht’s extras, like the waverunner or skis, remove them before a viewing – buyers could be put off by what they then see as misleading features.
Make sure the engine is checked and clean and starts the first time that it is fired. Any dirt around this area is a sign of poor maintenance that could make buyers question the value of the yacht. Once everything is clean and smelling fresh, set the scene for the viewings. Have the table set with beautiful tableware suggesting a romantic onboard meal. Lay the deck out with sun beds and bright towels, simply inviting guests to imagine what it would be like to laze the summer afternoons away on their new yacht.
When to Sell Your Yacht
The best time to think about selling your yacht is at the beginning of the yachting season in your area. Buyers are most interested when the sun is shining and they can picture themselves on the deck enjoying a cocktail while the waves splash beneath them.
How to Sell Your Yacht
There are three basic choices when choosing to sell your yacht – selling it privately, trading it in or using a yacht broker. Smaller vessels can usually be sold easily by their owners but larger yachts require complicated papers and negotiations that are best left to the professionals. While you may make the most profit out of selling privately, the time and hassle involved usually outweigh the benefits, sending most people straight to a broker.
Trading in your yacht is only best done when purchasing a new one. Many dealers prefer not to take trades on used yachts and the amount offered varies considerably amongst dealers, usually well below market value. Trade-ins can however save you money, as sales tax is only worked out on the selling amount less the trade-in value, which for some, makes this option the most cost-effective.
The Paperwork and Legalities Involved in Selling a Yacht
As with any asset changing hands, there is paperwork that needs to be filled out and legalities that need to be taken into account. Selling privately means that you need to type up a bill of sale that includes the names of all involved, their details, the price and the type of yacht along with its registration numbers. This document can act as the receipt of the transaction. A cashiers or certified cheque is the best option for payment, for both the deposit and the final amount.
Do not simply sign over the pink slip of the boat to the new owner. Send in the accompanying form to the registration authorities specifying that the yacht has been sold and to whom it now belongs. Failure to do so could result in you being held liable for accidents caused by the new owner.
While you are not legally required to volunteer information about the yacht, concealing a defect can be to your detriment and it is in everyone’s best interest to be upfront. Finally, once the yacht is sold and leaves your possession, be sure to cancel your insurance and apply for a refund on any pre-paid amount.
Using a Yacht Broker
All the documentation needed to sell your yacht privately can be overwhelming and in order to keep the process as simple as possible, a yacht broker can be your best option. Handling every aspect of the process, a broker is likely to fetch the best price for your yacht and with the absolute minimum amount of hassle to you.
Brokerage firms are experienced in the buying and selling of yachts of all sizes and make the process a seamless one. Once confirmed as your broker, such a firm will prepare all the full technical specification of your craft and suggest the best price to you. Once agreed upon, a yacht broker will launch a comprehensive marketing campaign that guarantees a quick sale to the right buyer at the best possible price. All aspects of the sale, from the cleaning of the yacht to the showings and paperwork can be covered by the broker, leaving you to simply sign the final papers.
Tips for Dealing with Yacht Brokers
Brokers work on commission which can range from five to ten percent of the selling price, similar to real estate agents. Some brokers specialise in a particular type of yacht and are more likely to have access to specific and serious buyers. In these cases, a higher commission can be beneficial as you receive the pay-off of an experienced broker that is likely to get you the best price.
You should always sign a listing agreement with a yacht broker that has been fully explained to you. All brokers that belong to an association are required to abide by a code of ethics. By these ethics they should outline the best type of listing agreement for you and not for them.
Buyers usually request a marine survey that inspects the condition of your yacht. Any defaults are then used to either negotiate a new price or are requested to be fixed by you, the owner. Make sure your broker is clear on how much you are willing to spend on repairs and how low you would be willing to drop the asking price.
How to Sell More New Boats in 2007
Saturday, November 28th, 2009It’s 2007. What are you going to do to sell more boats this year? Everyday, dealers across the country are always looking for that one thing they can do to sell more boats. For many of these dealers the answer to their own question is a tool they are already using. It’s the Internet!
It’s true; dealers across the country know that in this day and age it’s tough to be successful if you don’t embrace the Internet and technology. In fact most dealers today advertise their inventory on multiple sites, some upwards of 15 different sites. Those advertising on multiple sites do it for one reason, maximum exposure. The more your inventory is displayed the better chance you have at your phone ringing and your boats selling. Unfortunately most dealers’ phone is ringing on their used boats but they are getting little or no activity on their new boats. If you want to sell new boats you must promote new boats.
One of the keys to selling more boats and catching the eye of buyers online is price. Sounds simple yet many dealers don’t take advantage of this very important aspect of Internet advertising. If you want to sell more new boats you first have to show buyers how affordable a new boat can be. Time and time again I see dealers advertising every new boat they have in stock yet not a single one has a price listed on it. Why? The average consumer is not going to take the time to contact every dealer via phone or email just to find out “how much is that boat.” In fact many will skip right over the ads that don’t display a price on them.
When pricing your new inventory there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost you are trying to get your phone to ring or at least an email from prospective buyers. Many manufactures offer multiple packages and equipment for each model in production. When pricing your new inventory price your boats with the least amount of options and equipment possible. This more then anything will show buyers that they can actually afford a new boat. Chances are the customer is going to want more bells and whistles then what this boat offers to them but you now have their contact info and you know what it is they are looking for. If you don’t have a boat equipped that way in stock, use a stock photo from your manufactures website. If the boat is in stock take pictures of it. Dealers will take 20+ pictures of every used boat in inventory while putting their entire new inventory up with a single stock photo or two maybe. Whether the customer clicks on the boat because that’s the boat they are looking for or because the price caught their eye you have do everything you can to make that customer feel like they are behind the wheel of the boat. Take pictures of your new inventory as you do your used and you will see results.
The simple combination of pricing and photos will make a big difference in your response on your new boat ads. While doing this does require some extra time and effort on your part or your online manager’s part it will be well worth it for all parties involved. The Internet is the fastest and easiest way to put your inventory in front of buyers nationwide so before you try and find that one little thing that will help you sell more boats make sure you are using your current resources to their full capabilities.