Selling

WHEN WILL IT SELL?

Every house is unique

Some sell within hours of listing on the market, some take months to sell, and some never sell at all. I believe there are three primary reasons why a home does not sell.

It is in poor condition.
The house is priced too high.
There exists a poor housing market.

If your property isn’t sold within 30 days, a price adjustment should be made!

Homes Sold as a Percentage

SSold within, as a percentage of homes sold:

1 Month	40%
2 Months	7%
3 Months	7%
4 Months	20%
5 Months	10%
6 Months	7%
7 Months	9%

Statistics are based on National average of homes sold.

MOVING CHECKLIST

1 Month Before

Eliminate items you no longer use/want – have a garage sale or make donations to local charitable organizations. Why pay to move it when you don’t need or want it?
Start getting boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc… anything you will need to pack up, and make notes of what may need special attention.
Obtain change of address cards to contact any of your regular mail senders.
Obtain medical and dental records as well as children’s immunizations if moving out of the area
Arrange for your children’s school records to be transferred to their new school.
Make travel plans and reservations.
Use up food supplies.
Dispose of hazardous goods.

2 – 4 Weeks Before

Start packing and begin with items in your home you do NOT use on a regular basis.
Be sure to clearly label or number your boxes to make unpacking and finding items easier.
As you pack, make notes of items of significant value (LCD/plasma TVs, stereos, computers, etc.) as you may need to declare items of value if they are lost or damaged during the move.
Look to change some important information online.
Go to your local post office to fill out a change of address form with your new address.
Don’t forget to contact the following places to notify change of address: banks, cable/phone providers, insurance companies, utility companies, credit card companies, doctor/dentist/vet offices, investment companies, etc.

1 Week Before

Confirm your reservations with your movers or truck company if you haven’t already done so.
If required, cancel or transfer your newspaper delivery service.
Finish all of your packing.
Have your car serviced if driving a long distance.
Close charge accounts.
Arrange shipment of pets if necessary.
Arrange utility service disconnects (disconnect after moving day and connect prior to or on delivery day).

A Few Days Before

Reconfirm arrival time of your movers and make sure they know exactly where they are going and have your mobile number just in case.
Start dismantling furniture if you are moving yourself.
Pack a travel bag with items you may need on moving day such as toothbrushes, clothes, medications, toiletries, etc.
Set aside items to take in the car, including jewelry and passports.

Moving Day

Make a note of all utility meter readings (both at the old home and the new home).
Be there when the truck is being loaded and unloaded just in case your movers have questions.
Before the movers leave, check your belongings and make a note on their paperwork and yours if there are any damaged items.

FOR SALE BY OWNER

Some sellers try to sell their home on their own, and this is referred to as “For Sale By Owner”, or FSBO for short. Some sellers have success with this, and others have very little.

From a Seller’s Standpoint

Marketing is just one of the benefits of using a REALTOR®. Using a REALTOR® gives your property more exposure than you could ever get on your own. We utilize the Internet through our own personal websites as well as MLS®, one of the most frequently visited websites in the world. Most agents also use other forms of marketing such as open houses and do in-house marketing with other agents.

The other great advantage when you are selling your home is having a professional to guide you in pricing your home. The general public knows what a home is listed for, but it is harder to know what a house actually sells for. You may be leaving money on the table by not using a professional. Sure you save in not having to pay commissions, but the hassle and the possibility of not getting the most you can for your home in the current market should balance out and make using a Real Estate Agent a no-brainer.

REALTORS® have the advantage of weekly meetings and can preview new listings during these meetings so that each agent in attendance of the meeting can preview your home. This is an advantage to get your home instant exposure and is a great way to have your home showcased to other agents in our company.

Branding is also a key component, and using a REALTOR® gets you attention.

From a Buyer’s Standpoint

As a buyer, if you see a property that has a sign in the window, in the newspaper, or online that its owner is selling, do not hesitate to ask us about the house. We have the ability to do additional research on the house for you and contact the seller on your behalf and negotiate the terms for you. We can work our commissions into the price so that we are compensated for our work with you on all houses previously shown, and it will not make much of a difference on your payments. Commissions will need to be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

With a market as busy as our real estate market, there are a lot of “For Sale By Owner” homes on the market. As a buyer, you need to be aware of potential risks with buying privately. From a buyer/seller perspective, you as the buyer are the one taking all of the risks in the deal. By working with a REALTOR® you are protected, as all of our forms are legal and we make all sellers fill out and sign a Property Condition Disclosure Statement which gives you ALL the information they are aware of; if it doesn’t, you are protected under the contract, and your lawyer has the ability to fight on your behalf. If a vendor refuses to sign this form, there may be a reasonable explanation (ie: revenue property, therefore they don’t know as much about it). We, as agents, will do research on the property, as research is essential.

So, beware of FSBO’s. As buyers and as sellers you are not professionals, so why not use our experience and resources to do the job for you? It IS the most significant investment of your life. Would you use someone other than a professional to fix your car, perform surgery, etc?

We can help you with financing options, help you locate potential properties, provide you with objective information about the property and the area in which it is located, negotiate on your behalf with things such as price, financing, inclusion/exclusion of repairs, furnishing, fixtures, etc., and all of the final closing procedures such as communicating with the lenders, lawyers, vendors, and so on.

SELLER TIPS

Make the most of that first impression

A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch help real estate sellers put their best foot forward and make prospects feel welcome. So does a freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. If it’s autumn, rake the leaves. If it’s winter, shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of the real estate seller’s home, the better.

Invest a few hours for future dividends

Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Tidy the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor touch-ups and redecorating. Real estate sellers can benefit from updating the hardware on kitchen cabinets, adding new slipcovers to sofas and keeping a vase of fresh flowers in the entryway. These are some of the simple touches that can go a long way. If you’re worried about time, hire professional cleaners or painters to help get your house ready. Remember, prospects would rather see how great the real estate seller’s home really looks than hear how great it could look “with a little work.”

Check faucets and bulbs

Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned-out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let those problems detract from what’s right with your home.

Don’t shut out a sale

If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect’s mind. Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on the real estate seller’s part can smooth the way toward a closing.

Think Safety

Real estate sellers learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller blades on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low-hanging overhead lights. Make your residence is as safe as possible for visitors.

Make room for space

Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Real estate sellers should make sure attics and basements are clean and free of unnecessary items.

Consider your closets

The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now’s the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.

Make your bathroom sparkle

Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, real estate sellers should display the best towels, mats and shower curtains.

Create dream bedrooms

Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a specious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must if real estate sellers want buyers to be able to imagine relaxing there.

Open up in the daytime

Let the sun shine in! Real estate sellers should pull back curtains and drapes so that prospects can see how bright and cheery the home is.

Lighten up at night

Turn on the excitement buy turning on all your lights – both inside and outside – when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.

Avoid crowded scenes

Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they’re likely to hurry through. Real estate sellers should keep the company present to a minimum.

Watch your pets

Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when real estate sellers are showing their homes. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: keep Kitty or Spot outside, or at least out of the way.

Think volume

Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction. When it’s time for a real estate seller to show the home, it’s time to turn down the stereo or TV.

Relax

It’s best if you’re not there when your home is being shown. However, if that’s not possible, be friendly – but it’s not necessary to force conversation. Prospects want to view the home with minimal distraction from the real estate seller.

Don’t apologize

No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home’s appearance, let your experienced Real Estate Associate handle the situation.

Keep a low profile

Nobody knows a home better than the real estate seller. But your Real Estate Sales Associates know buyers – what they need and what they want. Your Real Estate Associate will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the background.

Don’t turn your home into a second-hand store

When prospects come to view your home, don’t distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.

Defer to experience

When prospective buyers want to talk price, terms or other real estate matters, let them speak to an expert – your Real Estate Sales Associate. As the real estate seller, you might feel tempted to weigh in, but your two cents could cost you much more.

Help your agent

Real Estate Associates have an easier time selling homes if showings are scheduled through their offices. And real estate sellers appreciate the results.

WHEN WILL IT SELL?

Every house is unique

If your property isn’t sold within 30 days, a price adjustment should be made!

Homes Sold as a Percentage

MOVING CHECKLIST

FOR SALE BY OWNER

SELLER TIPS

Planning to sell?

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