By : Kaitlin Madden
You've lived in the same home for 10 years. It's comfortable and dependable, and the neighbors are great, but you're ready for a change. You know it's time to move on, but you're afraid your house won't sell in a market where buyers are super-selective and have tons of attractive housing options.
Sound familiar?
Selling a home in the current buyer's market is a lot like looking for a new job in an oversaturated applicant pool. It's risky, you may have to invest time and money and try some unconventional methods in order to get results, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.
We've combined tips from MSN.com's real-estate guide with the advice of Joan Armon, a Chicago-area real-estate broker and certified home stager, to offer up these tips on selling a home in a buyer's market -- and how you can apply them to your job search.
Do your research
Before you decide to sell your home, check out the housing market in your area. Are a lot of houses listed? What's the typical asking price for homes with features comparable to yours? Is your area up and coming, or on the outs? Finding the answers to these questions will help in determining the price of your home and how long it will take to sell.
How it applies to your job search: When starting a job search, it's important to get a sense of the market you'll be entering. Find out where the jobs in your industry are, in terms of both sector and geographic location. Have salaries in your field decreased since the start of the recession? Are job openings in your field being advertised? Conducting such research will help you decide where and how to target your job search. For example, if there aren't many job openings where you live, you may start thinking about a move to an area with greater opportunity.
Prepare to sell
Before you put your home on the market, clean it from top to bottom, touch up the paint and make any repairs to restore functionality or visual appeal. Home improvement is important for two reasons: When you take pictures for the listing, your home will be in top shape, and if you happen to get buyer interest right away, the home will be ready to show.
Armon says that showing your home in top-notch condition is especially important in the current market, since buyers are looking for homes in move-in condition and don't want to take on the extra cost of making repairs themselves once they move in.
How it applies to your job search: Like a house up for sale, it's probably been awhile since you were "on the market," so it's time to take an inventory.
First, check out your interview clothing. Is it in good shape? Does it still fit? Does it need dry cleaning? If it can be repaired or needs cleaning, take care of that before sending out résumés, so you will be prepared should interviews come up quickly. If your clothes are dated or no longer fit, buy new ones so you'll have plenty of time to pick out the right outfit and have any necessary alterations made.
Second, make sure all of your professional skills and certifications are up-to-date. (For example, if you're a flight attendant, ensure that all of your requisite training is current. If you're a nurse, renew your license.) Like a homebuyer, employers are going to want new employees to be "move-in ready."
Make the most of your listing
A good listing will help you gain a buyer's interest and distinguish your home from all the others on the market. It should focus on the features that make your home unique and appealing.
For example, Armon says, "Highlight the location if it is close to schools or transportation. Also important are any improvements that have been done ... [for example] if the home has granite, stainless steel appliances, finished basement, crown molding or hardwood floors."
This is also where your research comes in. If you found that a lot of young families have moved into your neighborhood recently, emphasize how great your school district is.
How it applies to your job search: Just like a home listing, your résumé should highlight your best features and what sets you apart from other applicants. Ask yourself, "What are my key selling points?" Do you have special training relating to your field? Did you start your last job as an hourly worker and leave as a manager? Have you worked at "name brand" company? If so, highlight these features on your résumé.
Evaluate the offers
In a buyer's market, sellers often go one of two ways. Some have a hard time accepting any offer because they can't let go of what their house used to be worth or what they paid for it a few years ago. Others believe they are lucky to even get an offer on their home, so they jump on the first offer they get, even if it is well below the asking price. In either situation, it's important to be realistic. Negotiation is key, Armon says. "Even the smallest counteroffer lets the buyer know that you are willing to work with them," she says.
If months have gone by and no offers have been received, it may be time to re-evaluate your asking price. Is your home in the same price range as other homes on the market in your area? Have prices in your neighborhood dropped since the original listing? If your price is high or even in the same range as comparable homes in your area, you may consider dropping the price, even if it's only by a few thousand dollars.
Often, though, if your home is reasonably priced and well-maintained, the only thing that will sell it is a little bit of patience, so be prepared to wait awhile.
How it applies to your job search: Like home buyers, companies are watching their budgets. That means that even though you may have been worth X amount of dollars five years ago, your value may have depreciated. Make sure to evaluate any job offers in terms of today's market, not by what you used to make. That's not to say you should just blindly accept the first job that comes your way. If the salary is downright unlivable or the job isn't at all what you're looking for, you may want to consider declining the offer.
Like a home, if you've been out on the job market for a few months and haven't gotten any interest, it may be time to re-evaluate. First, rethink your starting salary. You may be scaring away employers by putting out a number that is too high. Second, re-evaluate your search. Are you applying for the right jobs? Are you taking the time to put forth quality, targeted applications?
If you believe your "asking price" is fair and you have a stellar résumé, you may just have to be patient. In job searches and in selling a home, good things come to those who wait.
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You've lived in the same home for 10 years. It's comfortable and dependable, and the neighbors are great, but you're ready for a change. You know it's time to move on, but you're afraid your house won't sell in a market where buyers are super-selective and have tons of attractive housing options.
Sound familiar?
Selling a home in the current buyer's market is a lot like looking for a new job in an oversaturated applicant pool. It's risky, you may have to invest time and money and try some unconventional methods in order to get results, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.
We've combined tips from MSN.com's real-estate guide with the advice of Joan Armon, a Chicago-area real-estate broker and certified home stager, to offer up these tips on selling a home in a buyer's market -- and how you can apply them to your job search.
Do your research
Before you decide to sell your home, check out the housing market in your area. Are a lot of houses listed? What's the typical asking price for homes with features comparable to yours? Is your area up and coming, or on the outs? Finding the answers to these questions will help in determining the price of your home and how long it will take to sell.
How it applies to your job search: When starting a job search, it's important to get a sense of the market you'll be entering. Find out where the jobs in your industry are, in terms of both sector and geographic location. Have salaries in your field decreased since the start of the recession? Are job openings in your field being advertised? Conducting such research will help you decide where and how to target your job search. For example, if there aren't many job openings where you live, you may start thinking about a move to an area with greater opportunity.
Prepare to sell
Before you put your home on the market, clean it from top to bottom, touch up the paint and make any repairs to restore functionality or visual appeal. Home improvement is important for two reasons: When you take pictures for the listing, your home will be in top shape, and if you happen to get buyer interest right away, the home will be ready to show.
Armon says that showing your home in top-notch condition is especially important in the current market, since buyers are looking for homes in move-in condition and don't want to take on the extra cost of making repairs themselves once they move in.
How it applies to your job search: Like a house up for sale, it's probably been awhile since you were "on the market," so it's time to take an inventory.
First, check out your interview clothing. Is it in good shape? Does it still fit? Does it need dry cleaning? If it can be repaired or needs cleaning, take care of that before sending out résumés, so you will be prepared should interviews come up quickly. If your clothes are dated or no longer fit, buy new ones so you'll have plenty of time to pick out the right outfit and have any necessary alterations made.
Second, make sure all of your professional skills and certifications are up-to-date. (For example, if you're a flight attendant, ensure that all of your requisite training is current. If you're a nurse, renew your license.) Like a homebuyer, employers are going to want new employees to be "move-in ready."
Make the most of your listing
A good listing will help you gain a buyer's interest and distinguish your home from all the others on the market. It should focus on the features that make your home unique and appealing.
For example, Armon says, "Highlight the location if it is close to schools or transportation. Also important are any improvements that have been done ... [for example] if the home has granite, stainless steel appliances, finished basement, crown molding or hardwood floors."
This is also where your research comes in. If you found that a lot of young families have moved into your neighborhood recently, emphasize how great your school district is.
How it applies to your job search: Just like a home listing, your résumé should highlight your best features and what sets you apart from other applicants. Ask yourself, "What are my key selling points?" Do you have special training relating to your field? Did you start your last job as an hourly worker and leave as a manager? Have you worked at "name brand" company? If so, highlight these features on your résumé.
Evaluate the offers
In a buyer's market, sellers often go one of two ways. Some have a hard time accepting any offer because they can't let go of what their house used to be worth or what they paid for it a few years ago. Others believe they are lucky to even get an offer on their home, so they jump on the first offer they get, even if it is well below the asking price. In either situation, it's important to be realistic. Negotiation is key, Armon says. "Even the smallest counteroffer lets the buyer know that you are willing to work with them," she says.
If months have gone by and no offers have been received, it may be time to re-evaluate your asking price. Is your home in the same price range as other homes on the market in your area? Have prices in your neighborhood dropped since the original listing? If your price is high or even in the same range as comparable homes in your area, you may consider dropping the price, even if it's only by a few thousand dollars.
Often, though, if your home is reasonably priced and well-maintained, the only thing that will sell it is a little bit of patience, so be prepared to wait awhile.
How it applies to your job search: Like home buyers, companies are watching their budgets. That means that even though you may have been worth X amount of dollars five years ago, your value may have depreciated. Make sure to evaluate any job offers in terms of today's market, not by what you used to make. That's not to say you should just blindly accept the first job that comes your way. If the salary is downright unlivable or the job isn't at all what you're looking for, you may want to consider declining the offer.
Like a home, if you've been out on the job market for a few months and haven't gotten any interest, it may be time to re-evaluate. First, rethink your starting salary. You may be scaring away employers by putting out a number that is too high. Second, re-evaluate your search. Are you applying for the right jobs? Are you taking the time to put forth quality, targeted applications?
If you believe your "asking price" is fair and you have a stellar résumé, you may just have to be patient. In job searches and in selling a home, good things come to those who wait.
Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia
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