You may have read or heard by now that the real estate market is finally thawing. The international real estate market is definitely heating up, and with fewer distressed properties in the system, vacancy rates are falling and demand is slowly starting catching up with supply, which may lead to a rise in prices.
We’ve seen demand continue in the Palm Desert real estate market, and there’s currently no indication of it slowing down. If your interest is piqued, whether you’re a buyer or seller, this series is perfect for you—we’ll share tips for making the most of the real estate market during the rest of this year. Here are a few to get you started.
Tip 1: Vet your team. One of the most important players on your team will be your real estate agent or realtor, followed by your attorney, inspector, appraiser and title company. Get referrals, look them up on websites that provide reviews of their services, and check references. You may even want to go as far as to look them up on the Better Business Bureau website, especially if you’re in the international real estate market and have few, if any, local contacts in the area you’re looking to buy or sell in. Do your research thoroughly.
Tip 2: Get some marketing savvy. If you’re selling, make sure to give your agent free reign to market your property in a wide array of venues and give them stellar materials to work with. Take great photos, and take lots of them—hit every angle you can with a quality camera and get creative. If you have a gorgeous piece of Palm Desert real estate you’re trying to sell, make sure to use the landscape as a setting to appeal to those looking for a luxurious, relaxing lifestyle. If the real estate professional you hire wants to use Twitter, Facebook or any other social networking sites to market your house, by all means, let them. If you’re a buyer, seek out nontraditional ways of finding properties as well as the mainstream outlets so that you can maximize your options and get as much knowledge about the market as possible.
Tip 3. Make a good impression. The majority of buyers start their search online, so make sure your property is represented in its best light and so that it’s most appealing features are highlighted (use the methods described in tip 2). You may even want to take it a step further and hire a professional photographer to create an upscale and attractive presentation, as well as one that is accurate. If you’re a buyer, don’t skim the listings while multitasking—sit down and spend some quality time checking listings out thoroughly. Your time isn’t lost even if you decide not to check out a property in person—you’ll gain solid knowledge of what you can get for the money and will learn what your deal breakers are.
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