Each month, FrontDoor.com lists the top 10 things homebuyers and sellers need to know about a different topic. So stay tuned for tips on everything from foreclosures to taxes.
FrontDoor's Top 10 Unique Selling Tactics
Say goodbye to the days when baking a batch of cookies and putting out fresh flowers before an open house would be enough to sell your home. In today's market, it takes more than that to attract buyers, and frustrated home sellers are resorting to some unusual methods to get their homes noticed. From clever to downright bizarre, here are our 10 favorite unusual home selling tactics.
- Hold an open house party.Open houses are the norm when selling a home, but some sellers are upping the ante on the open house by offering wine, catered food, live music and prizes. A fancy shindig could start a buzz on your property and make your home memorable.
Read More >> - Take home staging to the extreme. It's well known that staging your home can help it sell faster, but some sellers are taking staging a step further with an ancient Chinese philosophy. Feng shui stagers rearrange the elements of a home to improve its chi, or energy. Good chi makes potential buyers feel more welcome.
Read More >> - Help serious buyers with financing.Many people who want to buy a home can't qualify for a standard mortgage right now, so sellers are offering a helping hand. Sellers have a few options when it comes to assisting buyers with financing, including offering lease-to-own deals, offering financing themselves, paying for closing costs or paying for points to lower the interest rate.
Read More >> - Have a little faith.Burying statues or medals of St. Joseph in the earth is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years. Most recently, home sellers have been burying the patron saint of family and household needs in their yards to help their homes sell faster. Thousands of sellers swear that a little divine intervention helped them get a sale.
Read More >> - Throw in some extravagant extras.In the past, a free big-screen TV was enough of an incentive to get your home noticed. Times have changed, and incentives are becoming more and more substantial. Sellers are throwing in all kinds of goodies, like free cars, vacations, pricey home upgrades and monetary incentives like a year's mortgage or a furniture stipend. One woman in Florida is even offering herself as an incentive -- she hopes to marry the man who buys her home.
Read More >> - Make your home a grand prize.After conventional methods fall short, some sellers are holding raffles and essay contests and giving their homes to the winners. This method is sure to draw attention, but beware: home lotteries are illegal in many states, so find out your state's regulations
Read More >> - Get Web savvy.If the traditional method of selling your home through a real estate agent doesn't appeal to you, you may find an alternative process on the Web. Some sellers are auctioning off their homes on eBay, while others are swapping properties through sites like Pad4Pad.com and DomuSwap.com.
Read More >> - Let your house do the talking.After taking the traditional route of putting a For Sale sign in your front yard and placing an ad in the newspaper, try some hi-tech advertising. Some sellers and agents are using the Talking House radio transmitter, which allows you to record a customized message about the features of your home. Buyers can tune into a radio station to hear this message as they drive by your house.
Read More >> - Put your house on the auction block.Auctions are no longer just for homes that have been foreclosed on. Sellers looking to sell their homes quickly are choosing the auction route. Keep in mind that the total costs of auctioning off a home are often the same or more than the costs of selling a home through an agent.
Read More >> - Let buyers sleep on it.For serious potential buyers who are on the fence about buying your home, let them sleep on it, literally. By letting buyers spend the night in your home, you're allowing them to get the full experience of living there. A trial run could be just what they need to sign on the dotted line. Be sure to consult with your real estate agent or attorney first.
Read More >>
Archive
You can never get enough Top 10 tips. Check out our past lists for more great advice.
- 10 Ways to Beat the Sluggish Housing Market - Don't let the slow market get you down. Whether you're a home seller looking for offers, or a homebuyer facing stricter loan requirements, rev up your real estate potential with these helpful pointers.
- 10 Things to Know About Foreclosure - "Foreclosure" is the big buzz word into today's market. What exactly is foreclosure and how does it affect you? FrontDoor breaks down what you need to know, whether you're a homeowner in mortgage default or a buyer looking for a bargain.
- 10 Tax Tips for Homeowners - Some of the best perks of owning a home are the tax breaks. Know what expenses you can deduct and how new laws affect you. If you're currently renting, consider the tax advantages of homeownership.
- 10 Red Flags for Homebuyers - Sellers don't always tell the whole truth to potential homebuyers, especially if they're eager to sell (or "motivated" in real estate lingo). But you can't afford to get a professional inspection of every house you tour. So before you spring for the pro, narrow down your choices by doing your own pre-inspection to spot potential problems.
- 10 Ways to Cut Moving Costs - If you're moving into a new home, your pockets probably feel pretty empty right now. You've just paid a down payment, closing costs and broker fees, so the last thing you want is an expensive move. Lucky for you, we've got tips to help you pack up and ship out on a budget.
- 10 Tools for Homebuyers - Buying a house is more than just picking out your dream home -- it's a serious financial commitment that requires many calculations before you even start house hunting. For those of us who are mathematically challenged, figuring out what we can afford and what type of mortgage is best can be daunting. FrontDoor's handy tools help you develop a homebuying strategy and simplify those tough calculations so you can spend more time finding your perfect home.
- 10 Unique Selling Tactics - Say goodbye to the days when baking a batch of cookies and putting out fresh flowers before an open house would be enough to sell your home. In today's market, it takes more than that to attract buyers, and frustrated home sellers are resorting to some unusual methods to get their homes noticed. From clever to downright bizarre, here are our 10 favorite unusual home selling tactics.