FACTS VS FICTION - Selling Tips

By Fran Campbell - June 23, 2015

How do we provide the best possible service to our clients? By going above and beyond to ensure that their needs are met and by doing everything we can to see that our clients are properly educated on all things regarding real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks. This week, we're excited to introduce a new series of blog posts that will continue to educate our clients on the world of real estate.

Our new "FACT VS FICTION" blogs are designed to clear up any misconceptions and help provide guidance on important topics. This week, we're kicking things off by examining the facts versus the fiction surrounding selling your Lake of the Ozarks home.

FICTION: I have to list my home in the spring in order for it to sell
FACT: Any home can sell, regardless of what time of year it was listed
Spring and summer are known as the most popular times to view homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks, but the fact is that people buy homes all throughout the year. Your listing photos may be more attractive if taken when the leaves are on the trees, but otherwise it does not matter what time of year you list. Anyone can pick apart data to try to determine the best possible month (and even day of the week) to list your home at the Lake of the Ozarks, but you can save yourself the extra time and hassle by trusting that your home will sell no matter when you list it. You should list when you are ready to sell - simple as that!

FICTION: Kitchen remodels yield the biggest ROI when it's time to sell
FACT: Bathroom remodels yield the biggest ROI
Kitchen remodels are popular, but they may not get you the best return on investment. Buyers tend to be extremely picky, and remodeling a kitchen specifically to your taste may make it less appealing to a wide range of buyers. It's hard to go wrong with a bathroom, however - upgraded bathrooms will almost always help a home sell more quickly.

FICTION: As long as my house is priced appropriately, I don't have to worry about the exact number.
FACT: The exact number you choose to price your home can influence buyers
The numbers in your sale price can actually have an underlying psychological impact on your buyers. As an obvious example, you should always avoid $666,000 as a sale price! Certain numbers are considered lucky, however, and could subconsciously draw buyers to your home. Threes, sevens, and eights are all great numbers to use in your listing price.

FICTION: My real estate agent can tell me how long my home will be on the market.
FACT: No one can predict how long your home will be on the market
Unfortunately, no one can predict the housing market - and even fewer people can predict how any single home will fare while on the market. We can certainly identify trends and make general assumptions regarding how long we think any given home will be on the market, but there is no way we can know for sure. Hopefully your home sells quickly, but you should be prepared for it to take several months (just in case).

FICTION: I should accept any offer with the right price.
FACT: You should consider the accompanying terms and conditions first.
Price is only part of the equation. Your buyer may be offer you a great price, but if they want to move into the house before you are able to move out, you're going to run into problems. Similarly, you may not wish to accept an offer that comes with a lot of different contingencies. Of course you want to get the best possible price for your home, but you have to keep the other factors in mind!

We hope you find this information helpful! If you have any other questions about selling your home at the Lake of the Ozarks, don't hesitate to give us a call. We would be happy to assist in any way we can!

Contact the Fran Campbell Team to schedule a showing!