Ask McEnearney: How Hard Is It to Sell a Home in Today’s Market?

This week’s Q&A column is sponsored and written by Kim Peele and Hope Peele of The Peele Group and McEnearney Associates Realtors®, the leading real estate firm in Alexandria. To learn more about this article and relevant Alexandria market news, contact The Peele Group at 703-244-5852 or email [email protected]. You may also submit your questions to McEnearney Associates via email for response in future columns.

Question: How hard is it to sell a home in today’s market?

Answer: The short answer, it’s not too difficult to sell a home in today’s market. The longer answer is, to sell a home well in any market, it takes skill, expertise and experience. Selling a home well involves a lot more than just putting a sign in the yard or even getting it sold. Selling a home well means getting the home sold at the best price possible, with good terms for the seller and with the least amount of stress.

In the past six months, there have been 374 expired, withdrawn or canceled listings in the City of Alexandria alone. In a great market for sellers, those canceled listings were unsuccessful at selling, had to adjust, possibly sold later or just pulled the listing from the market. Considering that 1,429 homes sold in the same period of time, that’s a pretty substantial number.

There are many reasons selling a home may not succeed, and we would venture to guess that in most of these cases there was not a clear understanding of how to price the property well, or the property was not “show-ready” for the market. Many people believe that in a strong “seller’s market” such as this, a home can just sell itself. These numbers suggest otherwise.

It’s really important that your listing shows up on all marketing channels. Your Realtor should have access to all the traditional channels, but a strong digital presence and great media partners are especially important. Not all companies are able to provide this, but it is important so that your listing reaches the maximum number of potential buyers. Online marketing should include local news sources as well as national and global channels. Social media has now become a source of first glimpses at listings, so your chosen Realtor should have strong skills in putting out professional exposure in all channels.

Preparing for the market is a huge step in the process. Your home needs to be 100% show-ready, before buyers see it. Your Realtor should have excellent, reasonably priced contractors that can get any work done quickly. We often get homes painted, add granite counters, power wash, refinish floors and more — all in just a week or two. The contractors that a Realtor recommends know how important the “getting on the market” timeline is and work in tandem with your real estate professional to get the job done well and on time.

(The Peele Group has a Dream Team of experts — contractors, staging advisors, photographers and more — to help make the right preparations, minimize stress and maximize profits!)

Creativity is huge in real estate. Not only is it important in marketing your home to the fullest extent, but it makes a big difference once you are under contract as well. Every real estate transaction is different and just when we think we’ve seen it all, a new wrinkle develops. This is normal, and a seasoned professional has a vast toolbox of resources and other professionals to keep the process going smoothly. Our team has trained with everyone — from the Ritz Carlton Hospitality team to FBI hostage negotiators — in order to expand our toolbox and accomplish our clients’ goals!

Your Realtor should be there throughout your entire process, guiding you through every stage. They will keep every step of the real estate transaction organized and on track to close. They will assist with preparation, the selling process, the final sale and even beyond. Their expertise will be key in realizing the highest profit for your home and the best match for your goals.

Selling a home well is an involved process, and it takes a professional to know how to make a plan, implement the steps and to sell your home smoothly. And it certainly means NOT having to be withdrawn or canceled, because it was not planned properly. For more information on selling a home in today’s market, contact Kim or Hope Peele of The Peele Group at 703-244-5852.

Kim Peele is a licensed real estate agent with McEnearney Associates, Inc., lives in Old Town and works in Virginia, D.C. and Maryland. She and her daughter Hope Peele are The Peele Group. Kim is a second-generation Realtor and fourth-generation Washingtonian and is dedicated to helping owners through the challenges of selling their home.

If you would like a question answered in our weekly column or to set up an appointment with one of our Associates, please email: [email protected] or call 703-549-9292.

McEnearney Associates Realtors®, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. www.McEnearney.com Equal Housing Opportunity. #WeAreAlexandria