Sellers: Looking for Ways to Set Your Home Apart Once the Tax Credit Ends?

If you are looking to sell your home this spring or summer in Maplewood, South Orange, Short Hills / Millburn, Springfield, Livingston, Summit or West Orange, New Jersey - you may want to read on. I'm highlighting this program because I truly believe it will give you an edge in setting your home part and increasing buyer traffic to your property. 

Coldwell Banker has just announced the launch of a new "Buyer Bonus Program", a promotion intended to build on the momentum of the Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit expiring this Friday (April 30).
 

On May 1, immediately following the expiration of the government initiative, home sellers participating in the Coldwell Banker Buyer Bonus Program will be offering a credit of 3 percent (up to $8,000), of their home's purchase price to buyers who sign a contract before July 31, 2010. As an added plus, unlike the Federal Tax Credit, there is no deadline for a closing date and no income or price point limitations.  Jim Gillespie, President and CEO for Coldwell Banker has stated, “we are trying to encourage buyers who haven't found a home yet to continue looking… the Buyer Bonus Program will keep our market moving in the right direction.”

Working with buyers, I've come to find that they ideally want to put all their cash into a sizeable downpayment (to make their offer stronger in multiple bid situations, to get a better interest rate, etc..). This doesn't leave much to pay for the closing costs which can add up and easily cost $8,000 to $10,000, depending on the price point of the home. The Federal Tax Credit was enticing in that it helped cover those costs. The new Buyer Bonus program we are rolling out is just a creative way of telling buyers to keep looking because there is still a possibility of getting help covering these costs. And for those buyers who aren't as cash strapped, it might make your home appealing to them if they can equate that $8000 with paying for a bathroom renovation, landscaping, waterproofing the basement, installing new windows. Catch my drift?

Participating homes will be identified by Buyer Bonus Sales Event yard sign riders and tagged as a Buyer Bonus home online at www.coldwellbanker.com and on the Garden State Multiple Listing Service (GSMLS), on my websites (www.TalkToCaroline.com and www.CarolineGosselinHomes.com). Furthermore, all sellers who take part in the Program will receive broad marketing support from Coldwell Banker, including:

• National television commercials beginning May 1, 2010
• Extensive online advertising
• Promotion on www.coldwellbankermoves.com
• Updates on the event on Coldwell Banker's Facebook and Twitter pages and the Coldwell Banker blog
• A You Tube video highlighting the practical value of $8,000 will also be posted to my very own You Tube channel, Prominent Homes.

So if you are thinking of selling your home between now and July in Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange, Springfield, Livingston or Summit, New Jersey and want to hear more about the program - call me, I’d be happy to discuss how my personalized marketing program and this Buyer Bonus can get your home sold!

Best,

Caroline