Seller Tips & Info

My goal is to help you get the most amount of money for your home in the shortest amount of time with the least amount of inconvenience to you.  This can be done by pricing your home competitively, marketing your property effectively, and by preparing and showing your property correctly.

Pricing Your Home Competitively:
The single most important factor in getting the best price and selling your home quickly is pricing it competitively.  If you price it too high, it will sit on the market for so long that when a buyer does make an offer, it will likely be far below the asking price.  If you price it too low, you may sell it for less than what it is worth potentially costing you thousands of dollars.  In order to price your property competitively, you need to look at competing homes (active listings) homes that have sold (comparable sales) and homes that didn’t sell because they were over-priced (expired listings).  The best way to evaluate the market is with a CMA “Comparative Market Analysis” prepared by a real estate professional. This report will help you evaluate the market conditions and determine the price range that your home is most likely to sell.

Marketing Your Home Effectively:
There are a limited number of people looking for homes like yours in your area at any given point in time.  The best way to ensure that you sell your home quickly and get the best price is to make sure the maximum number of interested buyers have available information on your home.  While putting up a For Sale sign and creating a good flyer/brochure are a must, the majority of buyers will find out about your property either from a full time REALTOR®, through the MLS, or from a real estate Internet web-site.

While running classified ads and/or print ads are still effective, they are quickly becoming a thing of the past.  Over 70% of all home buyers start their search for homes on the Internet, so it is important that your home is listed on all of the major Internet sites.  In order to maximize your exposure and reach as many ready, willing, and able buyers you must list your home on the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service).  By doing this, you not only expose your property to the potential buyers of every real estate agent that participates in the MLS, but you get important “Listing Syndication” to Internet sites such as: Realtor.com, Homes.com, HomeSeekers.com, MLSHomes.com, Trulia, Zillow, etc.  By listing your home on the MLS, your home will also be searchable on MLS participants MLS “IDX websites” (like this one) to thousands of potential buyers worldwide.

Never underestimate the power of a good “sales person“. In today’s market, you need a real estate agent that knows your home and can help potential buyers see how it fits their price range and needs.  Most out of town buyers will work with a REALTOR®, and when your home is promoted to the other Realtors in the MLS, it is much more likely to sell than if you try it alone.

Preparing Your Home To Show:
Many sellers under estimate the importance of preparing your home to show.  As surprising as it may seem, many buyers are influenced by emotions and feelings as much as they are hard facts.  If they are distracted by pictures on the wall or messes in the kitchen, they may not be getting the “buying feelings” they might otherwise have.  Before the first potential buyer ever walks through your door, you should: clean up, box up, and fix-up as much as possible.  Following are some helpful tips for preparing your home to show:

Interior:
___ Box up and place in storage as much as possible
___ Check electrical (lights, doorbells, appliances etc.)
___ Clean appliances thoroughly  
___ Clean blinds and curtains  
___ Clean handrails, light switches etc.  
___ Clean out closets  
___ Close garage doors  
___ Make sure all beds are made  
___ Make sure all rooms are clean  
___ Make sure garbage cans are out of site and empty  
___ Open blinds and curtains  
___ Park cars on street or around corner  
___ Pick up all toys, tools, bikes, etc.  
___ Remove/replace old furniture  (extra clothes from closets, toys, knick knacks etc.)  
___ Repaint or touch-up walls  
___ Repair or replace faucets & fixtures (if needed)  
___ Repair or replace old molding  
___ Replace burned out light bulbs  
___ Replace old bed spreads  
___ Set thermostat to comfortable level  
___ Shampoo carpets  
___ Turn on all lights  
___ Turn on some soft music  
___ Vacuum the floors  
___ Wash windows and mirrors  
___ Wash/wax floors

Exterior:  
___ Mow lawns, trim hedges, sweep sidewalks  
___ Paint siding & trim  
___ Remove anything that doesn’t add to the curb appeal of property  
___ Repair &/or paint all rain gutters, fences, & railing  
___ Seal driveway and clean any oil stains from cement (if possible)  
___ Weed lawn & shrubbery, replant (fertilize) any bad spots in lawn

Other Suggestions:  
___ Ask your agent to create a virtual tour of your property  
___ Give your house a good smell with air freshener or home-made cookies or bread  
___ Meet the agent who will be showing your home, get a business card, and then leave if possible  
___ Ask your agent to walk through your home and offer additional ideas and suggestions  
___ Prepare a Binder “Home Book” with property information including: Information Sheet (flyer) on Home   list of upgrades, appliance &/or home warranties, floor plan (if available), current property tax receipts, paid   utility bills, and information on community and schools