Lee Morof's Real Estate Blog

The government’s first-time and repeat-buyer tax credits gave homeowners with homes for sale in Southeast Michigan a lot of hope. The potential for getting their homes sold seemed infinitely higher. The credit expires at the end of this month though, and many homes are still on the market. If yours is one of them, what should you do?

Don’t Panic!
The first inclination for many homeowners with homes for sale in Southeast Michigan is to panic.  Often, it’s during the hard periods of life that something miraculous happens. You find the job of your dreams after searching for two years for any kind of job at all. Your life has been plagued by bad relationships so often that you’ve quit looking and then – out of nowhere – your soul mate walks up. You need to sell your house, money is tight, you might have to walk away… and a buyer appears, ready to close immediately.

Don’t scoff; it happens. In fact, life is so full of “sudden happenings” that the miraculous becomes common. By allowing panic to get in the way, you may be locking the door that opportunity knocks on.

Look At Your Options
Sometimes, we’re so full of worry that we miss obvious possibilities. Now is a perfect time to take a deep breath, clear your mind of worry (as much as possible) and look at what you’ve done to sell your home. Once you’ve outlined what you’ve done, you’re then free to look at what you can still do. Here are a few things you might not have considered:

• Research owner financing – Owner financing opens the door to many potential buyers, but it also provides benefits to you. For instance, if you have a lot of bills that need to be paid, the down payment from the buyer may be enough to take care of the important ones. Additionally, monthly payments from the buyer may be enough to keep you afloat while you’re looking for a job, trying to pay rent or feed your family.

• Create a “honey do” list – If you’ve lived in a home for several years, you’ve probably become used to cracks in the walls, peeling paint or squeaky doors. Invite an honest friend or your real estate agent to look around for you and help you create a “honey do” list. If you’re handy, a lot can be fixed with very low cost. If you’re not, hiring a handyman may be something to consider.

• Reassess your marketing – If your home hasn’t had a single view and has been on the market for quite a while, you may not have the marketing reach you think you do. If pictures of your home are on the Internet, make sure they show the home’s best features.  Talk with your real estate agent about marketing techniques they recommend using.

It’s hard to blow off worry during times of high stress. However, if you can step away for just a minute to clear your head and think, you just might find your miraculous answer for taking your home off the list of homes for sale in Southeast Michigan.

If you’re ready to sell your home, I’m here to help.  Turn the marketing of your home and worrying about it over to me.  Call me today at 248-514-2640 or email me at info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com for more information.

Lee Morof
RE/MAX Showcase Homes
Birmingham, Michigan
www.NorthWoodwardHomes.com
info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com
Call:  248-514-2640