Selling Information
I offer many services to make your selling process easier and faster. I have a pool of enthusiastic buyers that will see your property as soon as you decide to list it. I can offer you professional advice concerning the price of your property and am trained to sell your property quickly and for a desirable price.
FSBO’S (for sale by owners) ONLY AND FAQ’S Commision
PRICING TO SELL You want buyers to be interested in your property. The first thing most buyers are interested to know is the price. With that in mind, you want to ensure that your property is on the market for a price that will attract buyers, but will still provide you with a good return. What is Market Value? A Real Estate Agent is there to help you correctly price your property. Deciding on true market value is where the agent’s expertise will come into play. Prior experience and knowledge will make certain that your property is priced well. Regardless of the original price you paid for the property, or even improvements you’ve made over the years, market value is still based on what buyers are paying for similar properties at the time you put yours on the market. Don’t Lose a Potential Buyer The rule of thumb is that buyers look at about twelve properties before they make an offer. This will give them a great idea of whether or not your property is well priced. If it’s priced too high, you’ve just lost a potential buyer. The overlap between the price range of the buyer and seller is shown in this diagram - keep it in mind when you’re pricing your property. The overlap between the price range of the buyer and seller is shown in this diagram - keep it in mind when you’re pricing your property. OVERPRICING YOUR HOME You might think that if you put a high price on your home, "just to see what happens" no harm is done. Nothing could be further from the truth. Overpricing your home might seem harmless, but in fact you could miss out on otherwise serious buyers you’ve out-priced. If you’ve priced your home on the high side and later have to lower the price, buyers may wonder what is wrong with your home and lose interest. Pricing your home reasonably the first time is critical to attracting the right buyer at the right time. What you don’t want to do is wind up selling your home for lower than market value because you’ve scared off buyers with your price corrections. If you are able to be realistic with your selling price, everyone wins. PREPARING TO SELL In today’s market, which we’ve come to call a "Sellers’ Market" - there is a bit more flexibility. Homes are selling quickly and there isn’t as much competition - so homes sometimes will sell and actually often do, without being spic and span. Nevertheless ultimately one way or another it will reflect in the price, and you still want to get the best dollar for your house....right? :-) So But pick some areas and work on them as you have time. In a Buyer’s Market, when its extremely competitive the following suggestions would be helpful. We all lead busy lives, and hiring a house cleaner isn’t always an option - but do the best you can! .
First Impressions
Many buyers peruse neighborhoods looking at listed properties from the outside before inquiring with the listing agent to show them the inside. A first impression is hard to shake and if the prospective buyer doesn’t like the house from the outside, they probably won’t inquire at all. To get them past the front door, you need to add some curb appeal. Here’s a list of items that will definitely add value to your home.
Outside Maintenance Clear your gutters and downspouts of debris (leaves, sticks, etc.) that may block the flow of water from your roof.
Properly grade the area under your downspouts and around your house, so rainwater flows away from your foundation. Splash blocks can help rainwater at downspouts flow in the proper direction. If necessary, add extensions to your downspouts.
Plantings should be set away from the foundation to ensure regular watering does not add to soil moisture around the basement. Lawn sprinklers should not hit the house or the area next to the foundation.
Ensure that landscaping around the foundation (sidewalks, patios, gardens, etc.) starts at 8 inches down from the top of your foundation wall and slopes away from the home. Failure to do so may cause moisture to build up at or around the foundation and promote the environment for mold growth.
Keep mulch, dirt and other landscaping material away from veneer drainage system weep holes commonly found on, but not limited to masonry and stucco homes. The veneer drainage system diverts water away from the interior of the exterior wall system and the weep holes allow the water to escape the wall. If the weep holes are blocked or clogged with debris, mold may form on the interior of the exterior walls. The weep holes are found at the bottom of the finished veneer. Sidewalks, steps and exterior foundation cracks should be filled or parged to bring up to date. Caulking around windows, doors, chimney/siding cavity, foundation, and other common leakage points is necessary to prevent any moisture intrusion.
Inside Maintenance Clean everything in sight. The kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and general living spaces, and clean/test household appliances and equipment. No matter what physical condition the property is in, it should be clean, tidy and uncluttered.
You want buyers to view your home as their potential home. Therefore put away family photos, sports trophies, collectable items, knick-knacks and souvenirs. Put them in a box or a rented storage area for a few months.
Shampoo rugs and wax floors
Wash walls and use a broom to clear cobwebs from the corners of rooms and closets.
Wash windows and clean blinds or draperies.
Repair those small things now, like leaky faucets, missing tiles or broken screens.
Replace all burned-out light bulbs.
If you are a smoker, clean, prime and paint any nicotine stained walls and ceilings thoroughly and refrain from smoking in the home.
Basement Neaten up the basement.
Clean up and correct any water problems in your basement, iincluding upgrading the foundation with a mortar parging at all loose cavities and cracks.
Test sump pump.
The Day of the Showing
Before you leave, turn on all lights, open all curtains and shutters to let in as much light as possible but screen out unappealing views.
|
