How To Be The Perfect Land Seller

Tips for Being a Great Seller

There are some things to consider when selling a piece of land, and it’s important to choose the right method of selling for you. Will you use a listing or an auction? Each method is much different, and each method fits each scenario differently. No matter your choice, here are some tips to help you achieve the best sale possible!

#2 Avoid Micromanaging the Land Sale

It’s important for you as a seller to avoid trying to micromanage or redirect the processes of the professional you hire. Unless you can truly articulate a specific reason for it, it’s best to let them do their job! A healthy relationship with your agent, or auctioneer, will go a long way. If you encounter something that makes you uncomfortable, having that open line of communication will make it easier to resolve the issue at hand.

#3 Do Not Disclose Crucial Information About Your Piece of Land

The best sellers will follow the golden rule: say nothing to anybody and avoid any conversation of the upcoming auction. This means not speaking any details beyond date, time and location. It is crucial to never talk about reserves or price to anybody.

DreamDirt Farmland for Sale This will serve you very well when a sale happens! We realize it may be uncomfortable to sidestep these conversations, it can be done easily by offering a potential buyer with, “you will need to talk with the auctioneer” or simply stating, “I have an agreement with my agent that I will refer all questions to him/her”. This can remove you from the hot seat and avoid all the discomfort that comes with it.

We’ve seen many cases where the sellers are removed from the area of the farm and may experience a phone call or two by people that know how to contact them. In that case, it’s important to mention as well that you should even avoid talking to family members or close friends that still live in the area of the farm. We’ve found that when one person knows something, it gets around fairly quickly. It’s in your best interest to keep all information between you and your agent or trusted legal advisor.

#4 Try to Attend the Auction

We understand there are some circumstances where sellers want to attend the auction, and others do not. Nonetheless, if you were to attend the auction, it’s important to be approachable and gracious to the buyers in attendance. It’s also important not to argue, offer opinions or speak of your expectations in terms of price.

We love it when a seller attends and can mingle and shake hands with the buyers ahead of the auction. From our experience, the buyers seem to be appreciative of this opportunity, too. This is especially true when we are selling estates where everybody knew the person that owned the farm. I have found that buyers genuinely enjoy the opportunity to talk and catch up with the seller or heirs following an auction. Maybe it’s a Midwestern thing, but we think in certain situations, it gives the auction a very personal touch. Does that mean more money? We would never tell you that, but we can tell you that selling to a “warm” crowd is much different than selling to a “cold” crowd!

#5 Share Everything With Your Sales Professional

It is in your best interest to not leave out any details. We want to help you achieve the best price possible, but sometimes we get blindsided by the unsaid details. Those can range from estranged relationships, debt issues, neighbor conflicts, access issues or a myriad of other things. The perfect sellers disclose everything so we can act and plan accordingly.

#6 Focus on the Task at Hand

One of the dirty, ugly things about selling farmland is it very often cultivates hard feelings amongst families. We’ve experienced many situations where brothers and sisters were torn apart by farmland ownership or the sale of the farmland. This creates potentially hazardous situation for everybody involved. We know that this is just as difficult for you as it is for us. We ask that everybody focus in the task and agree on the goal so we can all work towards a common goal that is acceptable to everybody. Setting aside personal feelings for others in the process will serve you best because it elevates the outcome which is in your best interest.

The Most Valuable Mechanism for You

There is a reason so many farm sellers have relied on DreamDirt to sell their farms. We understand Midwestern farmland prices and can spot value quickly. The proper evaluation of your assets by an appraiser is the first step and often the foundation of your decision-making when selling farm land real estate. We have developed the tools leveraging the right data on Midwest farmland prices and machinery sales to produce accurate results. Thus, we are able to pinpoint selling prices so our sellers walk away with peace of mind.

We would be happy to provide you with a FREE MARKET ANALYSIS to help you understand the value of your farm! Whether you’re ready to start the selling process, or even remotely curious, we will gladly provide this to you! Please fill out the form below and our team will get the process started!