Kelowna Real Estate Blog – Paige Guernsey

Creative tips for selling your house

Posted by paige on September 20, 2010 | No Comments

Like the rest of the country, Kelowna real estate has been impacted from the recent economic conditions of 2008 and sale prices have dropped. However, depending on location, this does not mean some sellers won’t get a  price for their home they’ll be happy with and that will allow them to move ahead with their plans. The sale may take longer than in the past, but a little creativity can help get your home SOLD without having to drop the price too much.
Here’s a couple of creative tips that I’ve tried recently to help bridge the gap between a buyer and a seller.
Offer a “seller’s contribution.” Sellers can sweeten the deal by including assistance to the buyer in ways that do not require lowering the asking price.  Examples include:

• Offer to pay a portion of the closing costs.
• Cover the buyer’s mortgage payments for up to the first six months. Depending upon the size of the mortgage the buyer can save several thousand dollars and the seller still gets the original asking price for the home. Again, depending on the mortgage, the seller will get more for the home than if he or she dropped the asking price by $10-, $20- or $30,000.  
• Many condos, townhomes, and bare-land stratas have monthly strata fees. Paying the first year’s fees could be a big incentive to a buyer nearing the limit of his or her liquid assets.  
• Offer to pay off a buyer’s bills. According to Realty Times, some loan programs allow sellers to pay off the credit card debt or auto loans of the buyer which will help him or her qualify for a better mortgage and prevent the need to buy a smaller, less expensive house.

Remember, everyone needs a home and with level-headed negotiations and the help of a professional real estate sales associate, you will be able to sell your home. Even with tougher economic conditions, it truly is a smart time to buy.

If you’d like to know how I can help with creative ideas on how to get maximum dollar for your house please call me directly at 250-862-6464 or email at paige@kelownahome.com

Talk to you soon…

Paige