Comments on: In Graphics: How to Sell a Home http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/ The blog of the free, simple personal finance solution. Track all your spending automatically, find the best deals, save more money. And save the world. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:28:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Toby Barnett http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111347 Toby Barnett Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:15:01 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111347 As a buyers agent, I've seen sellers get personally offended on a buyer's low ball offer and never take the time or effort to formally respond. Some buyers feel they need to start low and then enter negotiations to arrive at a fair price. On a similar note, sellers sometimes feel they need to list their house high and negotiate with buyers as offers are presented. Both instances can be harmful as an offer may never get countered or an offer will never be presented. As a real estate broker, its our job to represent our client even if the client sometimes does not take the advice. As a buyers agent, I’ve seen sellers get personally offended on a buyer’s low ball offer and never take the time or effort to formally respond. Some buyers feel they need to start low and then enter negotiations to arrive at a fair price. On a similar note, sellers sometimes feel they need to list their house high and negotiate with buyers as offers are presented. Both instances can be harmful as an offer may never get countered or an offer will never be presented. As a real estate broker, its our job to represent our client even if the client sometimes does not take the advice.

]]> By: Andy Jones http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111243 Andy Jones Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:39:22 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111243 Selling ones beloved home for a low price will be the last thing that anyone will ever want. The trick while dealing with the buyer can be, not to show that you are in hurry or you are needy. Selling ones beloved home for a low price will be the last thing that anyone will ever want. The trick while dealing with the buyer can be, not to show that you are in hurry or you are needy.

]]> By: Lily http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111216 Lily Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:50:59 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111216 It's amazing that people still think home prices can only go in one direction: up. It’s amazing that people still think home prices can only go in one direction: up.

]]> By: Robinson http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111211 Robinson Sun, 27 Mar 2011 23:53:34 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111211 There are a number of generalizations in this article which make for inaccuracies. Real estate law varies from state to state. In Florida where I am a Realtor, "accepting the buyer's offer" means signing the purchase contract. Verbal contracts are binding, but not legally enforceable. There may be contingencies, but certainly no further negotiations, with or without an attorney involved. Many transactions here are closed by a title company, not an attorney. Selling a house yourself without a Realtor does mean marketing it yourself. But it also is risky business without a thorough knowledge of the market (pricing), having strong negotiating skills and most importantly a knowledge of your state's real estate laws. A *for sale by owner* can endanger themselves and/or their possessions by letting strangers into their home who have not been properly screened or pre-qualified for a loan by a professional. Finally, February existing sales weren't down everywhere--they were up in Florida overall. Real estate is local. There are a number of generalizations in this article which make for inaccuracies.

Real estate law varies from state to state. In Florida where I am a Realtor, “accepting the buyer’s offer” means signing the purchase contract. Verbal contracts are binding, but not legally enforceable. There may be contingencies, but certainly no further negotiations, with or without an attorney involved. Many transactions here are closed by a title company, not an attorney.

Selling a house yourself without a Realtor does mean marketing it yourself. But it also is risky business without a thorough knowledge of the market (pricing), having strong negotiating skills and most importantly a knowledge of your state’s real estate laws. A *for sale by owner* can endanger themselves and/or their possessions by letting strangers into their home who have not been properly screened or pre-qualified for a loan by a professional.

Finally, February existing sales weren’t down everywhere–they were up in Florida overall. Real estate is local.

]]> By: David http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111209 David Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:50:00 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111209 Sounds like they weren't serious. Or they were... seriously deluded. There are always lowballers out there. Every try to sell a car on your own via a newspaper ad or Craigslist? Any realtor should know this and should advise you appropriately. I wouldn't waste too much time on them, but maybe send a shot across their bow by counter offering with something you can live with but specify final offer. But you are free to let them expire too. If you don't cash the deposit check then the contract is just null after their 'respond by' time. Sounds like they weren’t serious. Or they were… seriously deluded.

There are always lowballers out there. Every try to sell a car on your own via a newspaper ad or Craigslist?

Any realtor should know this and should advise you appropriately. I wouldn’t waste too much time on them, but maybe send a shot across their bow by counter offering with something you can live with but specify final offer. But you are free to let them expire too. If you don’t cash the deposit check then the contract is just null after their ‘respond by’ time.

]]> By: john denver http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111208 john denver Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:56:42 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111208 just respond with your list price. just respond with your list price.

]]> By: Wendy Bentley http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111207 Wendy Bentley Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:53:29 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111207 As a Realtor, I t ink that you should always counter an offer. It doesn't have to be much of a counter, just something to show that you want to sell your property. Buyers are listing to national news and not their Realtor. National news is leading buyers to believe that they can buy any property for 70 percent of the value. Here in Destin, FL we are selling at 88 percent of the asking price. Wendy Bentley, Realtor As a Realtor, I t ink that you should always counter an offer. It doesn’t have to be much of a counter, just something to show that you want to sell your property. Buyers are listing to national news and not their Realtor. National news is leading buyers to believe that they can buy any property for 70 percent of the value. Here in Destin, FL we are selling at 88 percent of the asking price.
Wendy Bentley, Realtor

]]> By: Louis Carabini http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111189 Louis Carabini Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:38:21 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111189 It was the statistics first decline in three months and one that suggests that the housing sectors recovery is likely to remain uneven through at least early 2011...The consensus of economists surveyed by had been that sales of pending homes would rise 3 in September after a revised 4.4 gain in August and a 4.5 increase in July. That decline occurred despite the fact that the total was likely skewed somewhat higher by Congresss extension of the closing deadline for the home buyer credit to September 30 2010 from June 30 2010. The extension meant that buyers who purchased homes by April 30 had three additional months to close on the transactions and take advantage of the tax credit which may have drawn out the stimulus effect...However as noted whatever effect that may have had was not enough to push the pending home sales figures higher in September when they fell in three of four regions. It was the statistics first decline in three months and one that suggests that the housing sectors recovery is likely to remain uneven through at least early 2011…The consensus of economists surveyed by had been that sales of pending homes would rise 3 in September after a revised 4.4 gain in August and a 4.5 increase in July. That decline occurred despite the fact that the total was likely skewed somewhat higher by Congresss extension of the closing deadline for the home buyer credit to September 30 2010 from June 30 2010. The extension meant that buyers who purchased homes by April 30 had three additional months to close on the transactions and take advantage of the tax credit which may have drawn out the stimulus effect…However as noted whatever effect that may have had was not enough to push the pending home sales figures higher in September when they fell in three of four regions.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111179 Ryan Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:34:24 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111179 Good stuff to know, I actually just sold my house 2 days ago! Good stuff to know, I actually just sold my house 2 days ago!

]]> By: Jacob http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/how-to-sell-a-house-03242011/comment-page-1/#comment-111154 Jacob Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:31:46 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=23703#comment-111154 When I sold my condo, back a few years, I immediately got a really awful offer. Wanted me to pay all fees, way below my asking price, etc. I didn't feel like the offer even deserved a response. This seemed to make my realtor really nervous. Is this just bad form? Do you always have to respond, or can you just let offers expire? When I sold my condo, back a few years, I immediately got a really awful offer. Wanted me to pay all fees, way below my asking price, etc. I didn’t feel like the offer even deserved a response. This seemed to make my realtor really nervous. Is this just bad form? Do you always have to respond, or can you just let offers expire?

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