Fsbo

You’re trying to sell your home in a rational manner. You’ve played by the book for over a month now, and you’re just not getting noticed. It’s time to shout louder, time to stand out from the crowd, time to go a little crazy! Here are some ways to do it according to Barbara Corcoran:

Send Your Broker First-Class to Paris

But not before he or she sells your house, of course. Lifestyle incentives can work wonders and don’t have to break the bank. In a market like this, your broker has lots of homes to choose from, but probably only one that can put her on the Champs Elysee. Hey, if the two of you are still talking by the time this is all over, you may even want to go with her.

Throw In A Luxury Car For Free

Don’t run out and buy one, but if the car in your garage is pricey, consider including it in the deal. It’s a lot more exciting than the washing machine that goes with the house next door, and it’s guaranteed to get talked about.

Buy A Billboard

Advertise your house on a local billboard. It sure beats a little ad in the classified section, and monthly rent for a billboard in most suburbs is as little as a few hundred dollars. You’ll have the whole town talking; in fact you might become somewhat of a local celebrity. And when you’re trying to sell your home, that’s a good thing to be.

Gift-Wrap Your Gardener

Provided your yard looks good (and it better), offer free maintenance of your trees, shrubs, and lawn for a few years. We’re talking maybe five thousand dollars here, but this way the grass will look greener in your backyard.

Deliver A Chef

Once a month for a year, dinner’s on you, and in the comfort of your buyer’s new home. This one has lots of style and good taste. Once your prospective buyer pictures herself feasting in your dining room, the mood has been set for seduction, and you’ll have her eating out of your hand.

Make A Mini-Movie

Here’s how to make good use of that camcorder you haven’t taken out since the kids were little. Shoot a video of your house and post it on-line. Check out “You Tube” or “My Space.” An on-line profile can give your home invaluable cache, and the listing and membership is free.

Bring Your House To Life With A Dead Celebrity

Imagine Marilyn Monroe in your living room. Through the magic of Photoshop, your on-line listing can really cut through the clutter. Of course, you’re not saying Marilyn ever lived in your house, but you’re not saying she didn’t. Either way, both brokers and buyers will be saying the same thing, “Did you see the house with Marilyn Monroe in the living room?” Word of mouth works.

The whole idea is to stand out from the crowd. And as that crowd of unsold homes continues to grow, the more important having a point of difference becomes. So make that movie, gift-wrap that gardener, and rent that billboard. It certainly can’t hurt, it’s apt to get you noticed, and I’m here to tell you I’ve seen these things work.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 13th, 2007 at 6:55 am and is filed under FSBO, FUN. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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