Hermosa Beach, one of California's nicest coastal communities, is a very desirable real estate market. Our ideal location, quality beaches, award winning school system, unbeatable climate, and community involvement are just a few of the unique qualities that drives our real estate markets value.

Property in this area is in high demand and can command top dollar, sometimes well above that of surrounding areas. Now, much of what drives these prices is location, location, location and here in Hermosa location is what we have to offer. If you have a home that you are considering selling it is important that you prepare your home to show its best. As a 5th generation Hermosa Beach resident and a top producing Realtor, I have a good idea of what sells homes here in Hermosa Beach. I have put together a list of the most important steps I take when listing a clients home to insure that they get TOP DOLLAR for their property. All eight tips are designed to help you make the most out of what you have to work with.

1. Price Your Home Right

The Current Market will determine the price of your home. The importance of pricing your home correctly for the market cannot be overemphasized. Over-pricing your home could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Listings that are over-priced to start with often take a long time to sell, this may cause them to sell for less than they are worth or could have sold for if priced correctly to begin with.

It is hard to be objective about the value of your own home, which is why its important to get a professionals help with this. As an agent my job is to find out the market value of your home by preparing a comparative market analysis (CMA). I research comparable sales and available properties in your area and advise you of the appropriate price range for your property. With this information, you can better determine an accurate asking price for your home. Competitive pricing is the best way to get the most money possible for your sale.

A buyer wont pay more for your home just because you think you need more money in order to purchase your next home. After you know what your home is likely to sell for, your lender or I can prepare a sellers net sheet for you. With this tool you can tell approximately how much cash you will receive from the sale. This information will help you in your discussions with your mortgage broker when determining what price range you can afford when purchasing your replacement property.

2. First Impressions Are Golden

First impressions are lasting ones. Buyers and agents remember what they see. If a property shows well from the beginning it is to your advantage. If your home shows like a model agents are more likely to bring their most qualified buyers. If a property looks like a mess when it hits the market that is how agents and buyers will remember it. Believe it or not sales have gone south thanks to unkempt lawns, cluttered closets, unpainted front doors, hard-to-work locks, blown light bulbs, bad colors, stains, unlit areas, and unpleasant smells.

My advice, spend time on the little things. Paint the front door for a fresh look, and evaluate the door knob. Quality hardware shows pride of ownership and is the first thing that the buyer will notice when they are evaluating your home. Double up on your gardening, plant new flowers in the yard to give a pleasing curb appeal. Keep things cleaner than usual, and take serious control of your pets during this time period. Putting a little extra time into your home to help potential buyers see it the way you do can make all the difference. You wouldnt put your car up for sale without getting it washed and waxed so why treat your home any differently? Most people lack the vision to imagine what your home will look like with their furniture in it, let alone what it will look like when its completely fixed up. Also, realtors are more excited and likely to show your home when it is in mint condition. It is usually best to delay marketing a home until its spruced up and ready for sale.

3. Stage Your Property Correctly

In order for someone to want to buy a home, they must be able to envision themselves living there. Depersonalize your home when you are showing it. Most sellers have to de-clutter and clean their homes in order to get it ready for that For Sale sign. Put some items in storage, create more light, play music, light candles, put fresh flowers on display, and otherwise improve the ambience. Remember, buyers pay premium for homes that are in move-in condition.

4. Use The Latest Marketing Technology

Make sure your agent utilizes the latest technology, such as internet sites that cater to homebuyers like Realtor.com, L.A.times.com, Craigs list, etc. Plus make sure your realtor is using the sites that they have exclusive access to, to your best advantage. For Hermosa the Greater South Bay Multiple Listing Service (GSBRMLS) is the site where your Realtor will list your home. This will allow buyers agents to search your home when looking for their clients needs. Make sure that your property is accurately described, beautifully represented in photos, and that its best attributes are accurately highlighted. I make sure that each one of my listings is represented on at least 20 of the online sites that I have access to. Some agents also use 800-number interactive voice response systems. A good agent will know where you can get the best exposure.

5. Make The Right Kind Of Repairs

Before making improvements, prior to listing, consult a real estate professional. Some upgrades will not yield any real increase in value, while others may increase property value substantially. For example putting in granite countertops to attract high ticket buyers in a home with a very tiny kitchen most likely will not do much to up the value of that home. Most buyers in the market for a home with granite countertops are also looking for a highly functional and spacious kitchen. You may be putting money into a project that will potentially be remodeled anyway. However, emphasizing the properties assets like its fantastic yard, for example, could potentially double your money in repairs. If you have a great outdoor space refinishing the deck and planting a few colorful flowers could draw attention to the properties best quality and therefore show potential buyers what a good find your home is. Each property has different pros and cons, ask for low-cost solutions to minor repairs that will yield the best profits.

6. Make Your Property Accessible To Buyers

Lock boxes are a great way to make your home most accessible to agents for showing. Realtors in our area have tools called Supra Keys that will allow them to safely access a home with a lock box. Each realtor has their own access code and each entry can easily be traced for follow up and security reasons. Plus the lock box can be set to restrict hours of access to accommodate the sleeping patterns of a new born baby for example. These tools are fantastic for home showings because they allow a buyers agent to easily access a listed home when the owners are not around. A buyer will never know if they want to buy your property if they cant take a look around and if it is difficult to get in they may just skip it all together. Appointment-only showings are the most restrictive. If your lifestyle is not compatible with frequent showings, your agent will help you determine a solution to suit your needs. Remember, the easier a home is to show, the better the odds are of getting the deal you want.

7. Screen Prospects Adequately

One of the best reasons for hiring a Realtor is their ability to pre qualify a prospective buyer financially so that you dont lose valuable negotiation time. Your agent will screen the offers as they come in and determine if the buyer is qualified for the purchase of your home. When I look at potential offers the first thing I look at is their total offer packet. Are they eligible homebuyers? Will this offer see its way to the end of escrow? Just because someone likes your home and is willing to purchase it is no guarantee that they have the necessary means to see the deal through.

8. Give The Sales Process Enough Time

Homes may take 3-6 months or more to sell in any market. Estimate how much time you have before you need to sell and then plan ahead to allow extra time. You dont want to be forced to accept a disappointing offer. As your agent it is my job to keep you abreast to the market condition, average days it takes in a given market to sell homes, what is happening with pricing and what to expect as a seller. I always consider each offer that comes in and give you the necessary tools to make the best decision as to what offer to accept. After each week on the market I take inventory and make strategic decisions as to how to better market your individual home in order to get the best results possible.

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