{"id":11279,"date":"2021-03-22T20:42:01","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T03:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/in-house\/?p=11279"},"modified":"2021-03-22T20:48:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T03:48:16","slug":"aazami-on-homesfor-sale-by-owners-are-they-an-asset-or-an-expense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/in-house\/in-house-news\/aazami-on-homesfor-sale-by-owners-are-they-an-asset-or-an-expense","title":{"rendered":"Aazami on Homes<\/em><\/u>
For Sale by Owners: Are They an Asset or an Expense?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This spectacular home in the Judson Estates gated community in Paradise Valley includes a multi-car collector’s garage on the lower level. It is available through the Private Client Group at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty in Scottsdale.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Frank Aazami<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The housing market has been strong, especially in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and some sellers are thinking, \u201cI don\u2019t need a professional Realtor\u00ae; I can pocket the commission for a down payment on a new car. The house will practically sell on its own. No problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For sure, the demand for resale homes has increased nationwide since the advent of COVID-19. Those who are looking to invest, for instance, have seen the rent roll from single-family homes increase 40\u201350 percent during the year as inventory has shrunk and seller activity expanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here at Russ Lyon | Sotheby\u2019s International Realty in Scottsdale, luxury home inventory has decreased 61 percent during the past year, while homes priced $3 million or more have spiked 140 percent in market value and jumped 18 percent in median sales price according to ARMLS for Maricopa County as of February 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those properties that include spaces making them even more attractive during the pandemic have become particularly valuable. These homes have, for instance, two or more split offices with Zoom walls, inspiring mountain or garden views and sound protection from outside noises and inside distractions such as your children playing a loud hide and seek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Home gyms are most popular, lap pools are high in demand as are tiki bars; indoor\/outdoor disappearing glass sliders are appealing, and private court yards and larger balconies are now necessary luxuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, slapping up a For-Sale-By-Owners (FSBO) sign isn\u2019t going to ensure your home attracts your price. Homes don\u2019t sell themselves; they get sold by knowledgeable, experienced and seasoned sales experts. We\u2019ve seen it at Russ Lyon | Sotheby\u2019s for years. Self-representation is typically much riskier and often costlier than you\u2019d think; ask folks who chose that path and regretted it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Luxury homes require luxury-standard representation. Photo courtesy The Private Client Group<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It Takes a Marketer to Market Right<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For one, FSBOs often fail because they have limited marketing power behind them, such as Zillow and that buyer-magnet sign on the front yard. Even if you have great imagery, your design and visual appeal may not be sophisticated. Remember: Your home is competing against all other homes whose owners believe theirs is just as good as or better than yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The selling process must be artfully choreographed, and that requires patience, effort and experience. A qualified agent builds interest and momentum and systematically follows up with serious buyers. Homes sell themselves? Salesmanship takes time and commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when you\u2019re staging the home for showings, basic strategies aren\u2019t enough, such as disburdening it of excessive memorabilia, knickknacks and other items that suggest it\u2019s a home you really don\u2019t want to sell.  It takes an expert to plan a winning sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything must be in check, ready for the Architectural Digest<\/em> photo-shoot. Are you prepared to activate all four major senses of your buyers? The home must smell, look and sound well, and, yes, touch well, too. Invite your buyers to feel those special textured upgrades. Or smell the jasmine in the garden or the citrus trees in spring bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, use popular Zoom or FaceTime, but these virtual tools should be handled adeptly to create meaningful experiences, not over-hyped sideshows. The person behind the software should know enough about the best features and benefits of the home in order to portray it accurately. Often that\u2019s not you, the owner; like a parent to his\/her child, you\u2019re just too close to the product. As seasoned experts, we involve architects and interior designers to help us navigate that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n