I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Anyone can sell a house. Anyone! If securing a private sale on your home is the only goal you’re likely to find it a snap in this hot Saskatoon real estate market.
Take this lovely little Fairhaven, Saskatoon home for example. It was offered to the private market about one week ago for $145,000. Rumour has it that it sold to the first warm body that walked through the front door. Check today’s classified section of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix if you’d like to have an opportunity to buy it from the first buyer for only $165,000.Act quickly. It looks like a reasonably good buy to me.
There’s another story floating around the Saskatoon real estate community. I have no idea if it’s true or not. These stories are often jazzed up a bit for dramatic effect but this is what they’re saying. A private seller negotiated a deal on his home for approximately $190,000.The offer was subject to a satisfactory appraisal of the home. The appraiser visits the home and after he conducts his inspection of the property the seller asks him, “What’s it worth?”The appraiser tells him it’s worth between $220,000 and $230,000.He’s no longer interested in selling to this particular buyer. We can only wonder if his lawyer will find a way to get him out of the deal but you can bet it won’t happen without a fight.
Selling a home in this real estate market without an experienced, competent and trustworthy agent could be compared to learning to drive at the Indianapolis 500. You’re likely to learn some lessons but those lessons will come at a price.
Ask me what your home is worth today. I’ll most likely tell you that I can’t be sure. I can tell you that I’ll make darned sure it’s properly introduced to a huge number of prospective buyers and that you’ll likely have several offers to choose from. My last listing brought 38 showings and 16 offers. The one before that had 23 showings and 10 offers. Both homes sold at a premium price. Neither of these happy sellers had any doubts about the true market value of their home when the dust settled and they were both pretty darned happy to pay me for the effort. I believe you’d feel pretty good about it too. Give me a week. If I can’t deliver an offer that truly excites you, I’ll give you back the listing and be on my way.
I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.
Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Vidorra