What Should You Do When There Are Multiple Offers on Your Home?

As a home seller, how do you know which offer to pick in a multiple offer situation? 

Want to sell your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value report

Want to buy a Central Iowa home? Search all the homes on the MLS

The central Iowa real estate market is pretty hot right now, which creates unique challenges for buyers and sellers. For sellers, it’s incredibly important that you choose an agent who has experience with multiple offer situations, as they are common in our market.

When you receive multiple offers on your home, how do you know which is the best one? There are a few things you should consider:

1. Price. Obviously, we want to maximize your equity and get you the best price available for your home. Our expertise really comes in handy when it comes to looking at the full terms of the offer, because the offer with the highest price is not necessarily the best one for your interests.

2. What kind of time frame are they looking for? How flexible will the buyer be on possession? As a seller, that can make or break your ability to get into your next property, so it’s important to know that up front.

The offer with the highest price is not always the best one for you.

3. What kind of contingencies does this buyer have that might cause stumbling blocks in the process? Inspections, HOA documents, or having a survey completed are just a few examples of little things that might seem irrelevant, especially if the buyer is offering a high price. However, each of those contingencies gives the buyer a chance to renegotiate after they’ve won the deal, which could make the transaction unpleasant for you.

4. What are the financing terms? We love cash offers, but cash isn’t always better than financing. Someone who has a loan commitment is just as important as someone who has cash. The fortunate thing about working with an experienced agent is we know what to expect from different lenders. We know if a buyer is working with a reputable lender or a lender that we’ve had issues with in the past.

Ultimately, we will sit down, look at all your different options, and work together to make sure that your needs are being met and that you choose the best offer possible.

If you have any other questions about selling your home in our current market, just give us a call. We would be happy to help you!

Spring Curb Appeal Tips for Central Iowa Sellers

Selling your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value report  
Buying a Central Iowa home? Search all homes for sale

We expect a really great spring home selling season in 2016, and we’ve seen a lot of great work on the interior of homes in our area. However, now that spring has arrived and the Iowa winter has left us, it’s time to focus on the exterior of your home.

What can you do to make it more appealing?

1. Make sure your home is clean. Power wash the sidewalks and wash your windows. Even wipe down your railings or repaint them.
2. Pay attention to your landscaping. Replace dead bushes and get some fresh mulch. Plant extra flowers and trim your hedges. Don’t forget to clean your gutters, too!
3. Make a welcoming entrance. Do this by replacing your front door or a freshly painted front door. You could also install a new light fixture and a fresh welcome mat. These things can really make an impact on a buyer walking into your home.

If you want more tips, or if you’d like us to come view your home and make a curb appeal plan for you, please don’t be afraid to give us a shout. We would love to hear back from you!

Should You Wait Until Spring to Sell Your Central Iowa Home?

Selling your Central Iowa home? Get a free home value report  

Buying a Central Iowa home? Search all homes for sale

Is fall the right time to sell your home? A lot of our clients at this time of year think they should wait until spring to put their home on the market. However, fall is a wonderful time to be on the market, especially with Iowa's beautiful fall weather!

One great advantage of being on the market in the fall is that a lot of people have the traditional notion that homes only sell in the spring and summer. They wait to list their homes until spring, which means less competition for you!

Today's buyers do most of their searching online, so the home search is no longer seasonal. You can sell your home at any point during the year. Those buyers are just waiting for the right home to come onto the market before they pull the trigger. That home might just be yours!

Another advantage of selling in the fall is that summer buyers are not always serious. They often casually look at homes. Serious buyers who have a real need to make a change are out there house hunting in the fall.

Finally, Google reveals home searching online goes up dramatically during the holiday season and the cooler months. During this time, having exposure online makes you a great focus for potential buyers.

Let go of the misconception that spring is the best time to sell. Fall can be an especially great time to sell your home. If you have any questions for me, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!