Everybody wants to be a winner, right? Whether you are a football fan, baseball fan, basketball fan, 
NASCAR fan, hockey fan, or fan of any sport, you more than likely understand the ins and outs of competition.
The process of selling your house is NO DIFFERENT! To be a winner in the Killeen Fort Hood real estate marketplace, you have to buckle down and realize that being a winner is the result of intense preparation, insightful coaching, a willingness to look at the market with open eyes and to be flexible when the situation requires it.
Preparation
Most of the homes built in the Fort Hood area are, suffice it to say, basically the same home over and over with a twist on the floorplan and a tweak on the exterior design. Out of all the homes for sale in a subdivision, 50% of them may be the exact SAME floorplan.
To make your home a winner in this competitive market place, you have to differentiate yourself from all the other homes that are just like yours. The easiest way to do this is to get serious and really condition and prepare your home, making it the best it can be:
- CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN your house from top to bottom. Make it shine! If you don't have the time to do this, HIRE someone to help you. You will make the money back and MORE at closing.
- MOW AND TRIM the yard. Tidy the flowerbeds. Get rid of all the evidence that pets live in your home and yard. HIRE help if you need it.
- REPAIR everything that is broken, and I mean EVERYTHING! If your front doorknob won't work, how in the world can a real estate agent get inside to show your house? With so many homes on the market, the agent and his/her buyers will walk away without making much effort to get into your home. If your carpet is dirty, smelly and stained, REPLACE it, before going on the market. A home with new carpet will sell before a home offering a flooring allowance. You want to be a WINNER, right? HIRE help and make your home like new.
- REMOVE all clutter and unnecessary furniture pieces. Make your home look slick, clean and spacious inside. Let buyers see what they are buying, not spend time looking at your personal items!
- WALK through your home with the eyes of a buyer. Would YOU buy it? If the answer is YES, you are on the right track to a win!
Hire Your Coach
Every winning team has a coach with great heart, great attitude, and the willingness to share his or her knowledge to help the team win. Your coach in the Killeen Fort Hood real estate market is your realtor. Interview several realtors until you find one that you feel can be a great coach for you and help you get your home sold. This is not about who will do the job for the lowest commission. This is about who has the best experience, the best knowledge of the market, and the best ability to educate you on what it is going to take to get your home sold. You may NOT LIKE what the agent is telling you as far as pricing goes, but isn't your goal to be a WINNER? Listing your home too high when going on the market will result in you accepting less in the end than if you had priced it right from the moment your house hit the market. Don't feel like you need to "build in room to negotiate". Almost all homes that sell in the Killeen Fort Hood market usually sell for the listing price or within 1%-2% of the listing price. Ask your agent to show you the statistical information available to him/her through the local MLS.
Flexibility
The real estate market is an ever changing beast, just like the weather at a sporting event. It's up, it's down, it's slow, it's overbuilt, and it's moving fast again! You and your agent need to stay in touch with what is going on in the Killeen Fort Hood market, and then adjust your marketing and price accordingly. Just because your agent said your house should sell for $120,000 the day you listed doesn't mean that will be the correct price a month from now. Ask your agent for updates on recent solds and new listings in your area so you can see how the market is trending. Be willing to lower your price if necessary to stay competitive. Also, be happy to RAISE your price if the market shows you need to go that way!
Based on feedback from showings by realtors and their buyers, you may need to do more repairs, change paint colors, do some landscaping, etc. to be even more competitive. Be open and thankful that your "coach" is gathering this information for you so that you can be a WINNER as soon as possible.
Be a winner! Prepare your home, find your coach and stay informed and flexible to win the real estate game when you put your home on the market at Fort Hood.
Click the link to see the most updated information on Killeen area homes for sale.
About 20% of the homes on the market today in the Killeen Fort Hood area are under contract, pending closing.
A Buyer signed a contract to purchase a Killeen Fort Hood property. Buyer asked for no termination option period. Buyer was fully approved by his local lender. Buyer tendered earnest money that was deposited with the closing agent. Lender appraisal was completed, termite inspection was completed, title work was completed and title commitment was issued. Survey was ordered and scheduled to be completed. All this work was done on the behalf of the buyer.