Selling
Your Home At A Glance
Simplify
Your Experience
From
preparing your home, to setting the price, and showing your
house when it is on the market, a Realtor will simplify
everything. Keep in mind the right agent is often the key
to a successful real estate transaction. Our qualified professionals
will guide you through the entire process.
Pricing
Your Home
Correctly
pricing your property is vital. Price your home too low
and you'll lose money; price it too high and buyers will
shy away. Your Realtor will be able to give you a Competitive
Market Analysis for your particular property, which will
help you determine the value of your property as well as
advice on the condition of the present market.
Promoting
Your Property
When
selling your home, you will want effective advertising and
marketing. From descriptive, colorful ads to internet options,
our Realtors are able to attract potential buyers. Promotional
campaigns work best when the home is priced right, the home
is properly prepared, and the market is a sellers market.
Other factors that would limit the affect of promotional
campaigns would also be the competition and the financing.
Prepare
Wisely
Whatever
work has been done up to this point to sell your home, will
only have an effect when a buyer walks into your house for
the first time. Never underestimate the affect of positive
showing. There are numerous ways to prepare your home for
a showing.
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Rewards
There
may be a variety of reasons if you've decided to sell your
home. From up sizing, down sizing, cross-country move, it’s
exciting to start new adventures. The internet can be an
amazing resource for any property seller and we’re
here to help.
Challenges
Selling
a home can be stressful and time consuming without the right
resources and information. There are plenty of practical
matters that need your attention. With our online services,
you can avoid the potential hazards.
Resource
Tools
A
Team Effort
The overwhelming majority of home sellers find it advantageous
to team up with a Realtor. Rather than attempt to learn
about selling a home, most home owners feel that it is
better to entrust the sale of their biggest investment
to a professional. There are a number of complexities
of modern Real Estate transactions that should be considered,
not to mention the access to MLS, advertising, marketing
and screening which are available to assist the seller.
Advice can be given on the condition of the market at
the time you are considering selling. Your Realtor will
also be able to give you a Competitive Market Analysis
for your particular property, which will help you determine
the value of your property.
Money
Matters
Today’s buyer is well informed and price sensitive.
A property that is priced over the market can often deter
buyers who are serious about finding a property. If the
property is under-priced, it most likely will sell quickly--to
the detriment of your net proceeds. Care and research
should be taken when establishing the original listing
price.
There are many factors that will affect the selling price.
The following should help you determine the price you
can expect to receive:
- What
are the prices (listing and selling) of similar homes
in your area?
- What
is the size, layout and condition of your home?
- What
is the location of your home, are you in a desirable area
that is in demand?
- Does
your home have amenities that are currently popular in
the marketplace?
- What
is the estimated appraisal?
- What
is the experience of your Realtor?
-
Is is a buyers market or a sellers market?
Get
Ready, Get Set to Show!
It
is time to now see look differently and unemotionally
at your home. Look at it no longer as your home, but as
a product to be marketed. Be aware of what you can and
cannot change about your home. This knowledge will allow
you to concentrate on those items that will bring the
highest rewards
First
Impressions
The first thing a potential buyer sees is your home
from the street. They call that first impression "curb
appeal." Take care to:
- Remove
any junk or clutter from the yard.
-
Have a clean, crisp lawn, a bit of fertilizer makes for
a greener lawn
- Trim
shrubbery and hedges.
- Wash
decks and porches make sure they stained or painted.
-
Clean and paint or stain your front door.
-
All exterior lights should be operational.
-
Exterior windows should be clean and operational.
-
Clean out gutters and downspouts.
- Walkways
should be swept and free of snow or ice during winter.
- Make
sure the garage door is closed.
Through
Open Doors
Most buyers do not have vision. So help them. Present
your home dressed in its best! Do not do anything expensive,
such as remodeling. Here are some minor investments, which
may have some major returns.
Paint
- when it comes to preparing a house, painting gives
you the best return for money spent.
Flooring - at the very least, all carpeting needs
to be steam cleaned. Any worn, stained or foul smelling
carpet should be replaced. Any flooring that is cracked
or damaged, should be replaced, if possible.
Clutter -If something is not necessary for your
day-to-day life, box it up and store it or throw it out!
Closets – Closets need to be neat, clean,
and organized.
Cleaning – the cleaner, the better. Dusting,
washing, waxing, polishing everything will always make
a good impression.
Lights – clean the fixtures and make sure
the bulbs work.
Windows – replace any cracked windows.
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Room
to Room
Entry
way :
- Clean
and polish everything.
- Make
sure it’s well lit.
- Make
it clutter free.
Kitchens are under close scrutiny:
- Clean
the exterior of all appliances, including the stove hood
filter.
-
Clean counter tops and cabinet faces, the shiner, the
better.
- Clutter
free
-
Remove magnets and messages from the front of the refrigerator.
-
Clean floor, consider new if it is worn.
-
If you have ceramic tile, make sure the grout is clean,
there are whitening products.
Bathrooms are also extremely important:
- If
faucets drip, repair or replace them.
-
Remove stains from all fixtures.
- Make
sure all lights have the highest wattage safe for each
fixture.
-
Put out fresh, clean towels.
-
Check ceramic tile, make sure the grout is clean.
-
Remove any evidence of mildew.
-
Make sure drains are clog free.
-
Show doors should sparkle.
Bedrooms:
-
Arrange the furniture for the flow of traffic.
-
Make sure its clutter free.
Living room/amily Room/Den
-
Arrange the furniture for the flow of traffic, give the
illusion of space.
-
Remove ashes from fireplaces and woodstoves.
-
Make sure all light switches work.
-
Clean the drapes
-
Polish, mop the floors
Storage Areas
-
Basement, Garage, Attic
- Remove
all junk and clutter (do you detect a theme?)
-
If the basement is damp or musty, try a dehumidifier.
-
Make sure these areas are well lit.
Finishing
Touches
Most
of the time you will be given at least a couple of hours
notice before showing your home. Before you show your
home add these small but important finishing touches.
Your home will then put its best foot forward!
Light and Bright – whether day or night, a
lit house gives a “welcome home” impression.
So turn on all the lights, indoor and outdoor. Open all
curtains and drapes to let in maximum light. Your home
looks more cheerful and it also prevents harsh shadows.
Out of Sight – prospective buyers may feel
like intruders if you are home during a showing. Allow
the Realtor the opportunity to speak freely with buyers
and emphasis your home’s best features. If possible,
take a walk, visit the library, go shopping or take the
kids to the park. If you cannot leave, try to remain out
of sight and do not accompany the buyers from room to
room.
The Scent of Success – Scented sprays are
too obvious and may be found offensive. For a pleasing
fragrance, add a few drops of vanilla extract on a stove
burner or boil water and add some cinnamon. Refrigerator
cookies are quick and easy to bake as well as lighting
a scented candle prior to a showing, both will make your
home more attractive.
Waste Not – Empty the trash in the kitchen
and any other waste baskets before a showing. Garbage
does not send a positive message, even in small amounts.
Comfort Counts– Make sure the thermostat is
set such that the house is at a comfortable temperature.
Turn off the television and turn soft, melodious music
on.
Pets – It is best to try and take your pets
with your while your home is being shown. If that is not
possible, at least keep them outside. Animals under foot
will put a damper on a showing.
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Once
an offer is made, if you intend to accept the offer, or
make a counter-offer, do it as soon as possible. Realize
that at any time prior to accepting or countering, a buyer
can withdraw their offer.
When you make changes to an offer, they require written
approval of all parties for the contract to be enforceable.
Know that even minor changes facilitate the opportunity
for either the seller or buyer to change their mind.
Closing
To put it simply the last part of the home selling process
is closing. It is the time between signing the purchase
contract (once an agreement on price and terms has been
reached) – and the day the deed is actually recorded
transferring title. Once everything is signed, then escrow
closes and your home is sold.
Moving
On
It doesn’t matter if you have moved once or several
times, it is never an easy task. There is a lot of emotion
associated with selling a home. So on to a new adventure.
The following are some tips you may find helpful.
-
Notify the post office of a forwarding address.
-
Cancel subscriptions that would not be forwarded.
- Arrange
for new checking account if needed.
-
Arrange for utilities and telephone at your new location.
-
Plan for needs of children and pets during the move
-
Plan for sufficient cash/travelers checks during the move.
-
Are you packing/moving yourself or will a professional
mover handle the move?
-
Once you are reasonably sure you will be proceeding with
the sale, begin weeding out your possessions.
-
Pack one room at a time.
-
Keep the weight of your boxes reasonable.
-
Start packing and marking every box according to contents
and room it will go in.
-
If bubble wrap is not available, use towels and blankets
to wrap fragile items.
-
If possible, pack audio-video and computer equipment in
their original boxes.
-
Do not pack valuables, carry them with you.
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