January 31, 2011

Some Words of Wisdom on Selling Your Home

Posted to

My husband Dan and I are both realtors for Keefe Real Estate in Lake Geneva WI. We just sold our home. It’s the home we got married in, blended our families, laughed, fought, cried and prayed in, for the last 10 years! We lived in Darien Township in the country with 8 acres, a stocked pond, beach, and gardens that I planted and tended to myself. Dan built this dream of his, and loved all the mowing and the endless up keep. Like most sellers these crazy days, we took far less for our home than the market once supported, and far less than what we thought our home was worth, which is /was priceless, there really is no price on all the memories. We needed to move on like a lot of folks in these economic times, we needed to downsize and tighten our belts. Dan and I encounter the heartbreaking task of telling so many folks their home is not worth what they thought it would be, or that the offer that has come in is so much lower than we had anticipated, and for so many of the sellers today there is no negotiating, as the offers are far and few between and there is little choice. I now know firsthand the heart break of this situation, but there is another side that I can now share. We are lucky enough that we have been able to get to know the young couple who has purchased our home. They are so excited and Dan and I are so happy that such a great couple is moving in to make great memories and make it their own home. My reason for such a personal blog is because the real estate market has changed and continues to change, for how long this adjustment will go on, no one really knows. For those folks who have their home for sale, hang in there. 

* Try if you can to not take it personal when your agent brings you a low offer.

* Trust your Realtor when they tell you it is a price driven market, it really is.

Our home had been on the market for two years, so we opted to try a new strategy. Our strategy included lowering the price of our home every other week, and letting our entire Keefe office know. We also knew that every price adjustment on our home went onto the MLS “Hot sheet,” so we continued this until we received “offers.” Selling a home is stressful no matter what, make sure you work with an agent that truly is understanding not only of the business side of the sale, but also has the compassion to “get” what your personal circumstances are. We are so very grateful for our great buyers, but also their great realtor, it is really important in these days to keep your patience and roll with the punches, she did just that and made the sale all the better! Just some tips from experience, on selling your home today! Good Luck!

Posted by:  Allison Oleston

Leave a Comment