Featuring: Lydia Russo, Broker, Owner, Russo Real Estate, Teaneck, New Jersey

LYDIA RUSSO: Spring is right around the corner, daylight hours are getting longer, interest rates remain at a reasonable, low rate, inventory is growing and buyers are coming out looking for their first/next forever home. Today’s buyers feel as though they are experts in the home-buying process as the Internet has provided them with a wealth of information, both good and bad. As a seller in today’s market, you can best protect your interest in the process by connecting with a Realtor® who is in tune with the local market and familiar with the inventory and the process. The market is constantly evolving with new listings, price changes, houses coming back on the market, new rules and regulations. A good Realtor® will keep you apprised of these market changes and regulations as they happen. This can position you to strike when a good offer presents itself. If you’re not aware of the market changes in a timely fashion or rules and regulations in the process, it may lead to you missing out on a great deal.

Here are three of the most important steps in the home-selling process:

Know why you are selling. If you know exactly why you are selling, then it is easier for you and your Realtor® to set the right plan of action to get what it is that you want.

If you are a seller who needs to close a sale as quickly as possible, then you should know that getting the highest price possible is not one of your priorities. It does not mean that you won’t or cannot get the highest price, but it means that the price is not the deciding factor. A buyer who can give you a quick closing time will appeal much more to you than a buyer who can offer you more money but the negotiation and closing time drag on.

Even though you should consider all offers seriously and take into consideration the terms of each offer, sometimes, if you and your Realtor® know the bottom line and are strict about it, you can save yourself time.

Once you know what your limits and reasons are, discuss them with your Realtor® so that they can help you set your goals realistically. The key is to be realistic and to know what your goals are so that they can be met.

Setting the price.

The price is the first thing buyers notice about your property. If you set your price too high, then the chance of alienating buyers is higher. You want your house to be taken seriously, and the asking price reflects how serious you are about selling your home.

Several factors will contribute to your final decision about your asking price. First, you should compare your house to others that are in the market. Your Realtor® can provide you with a Complimentary Market Analysis, or CMA. A complete CMA will reflect the houses in your price range and area sold within the last half-year, asking and selling prices of houses, current inventory of houses on the market, features of each house on the market. From the CMA, you will find out the difference between the asking price and selling price for all homes sold, the condition of the market, and other houses comparable to yours. Your Realtor® should also be able to tell you what types of houses are selling in your area as well as the current trends in the market. All of this information can help you set your price.

Preparing & staging your home for buyers.

Besides identifying why you are selling and setting the price, Russo Real Estate Agents will guide you on how to brighten your house and remove some extra furniture to help your rooms look spacious and more inviting. They will also give you tips for making your house inviting from the outside. If your home’s curb appeal makes a great first impression, potential home buyers will want to see what’s inside!

Lydia Russo

Russo Real Estate is a family-owned business that has been servicing the northern Bergen County area of New Jersey for over 40 years. Lydia Russo and her son Robert offer a personal service not often found in large, corporate-owned agencies. Our agents have the knowledge, experience and dedication needed to make the process of either buying or selling a home an easy one. From start to finish our agents will provide assistance with any of your questions. Please visit us online at www.RussoRealEstate.com or call us directly at (201) 837-8800.