COMPREHENSIVE LISTING SERVICES FOR HOME SELLERS

Why Should You Choose A Professional Realtor?

You may think about selling your home by yourself, but there are many excellent reasons to let me assist you.  For most families, their home represents their largest form of wealth and I’ll help guide you through the complicated sales process from the initial agreement to the final documents to help you get the most out of your property.

What To Look For In A Realtor?

Education: The most important factor in choosing a real estate professional is their education in the real estate industry

Experience and Expertise: You want a full-time agent who is familiar with your area and with the type of property you intend to sell

Availability and Commitment: Can your agent easily be contacted in case of emergencies and Is your agent available on the weekends or in the evenings when most buyers are out looking?

Rapport: Your agent will be your partner and guide in this complex transaction, so it is important to find one whose personality matches yours

What Is Your Property Worth?

Without a professional agent, most For Sale By Owner listings tend to overestimate the value of their property which can lead to lost opportunities, delays, and increased costs. Call me today to discuss your property and how I can help you Find Your Way Home

There is a lot you can do as a homeowner to increase the appeal of your property and to create an impact for potential buyers

Curb Appeal

Simple things such as keeping your landscaping neatly trimmed and adding small touches to your yard, such as colorful flowers, will create an inviting and welcoming first impression for potential buyers.

Property Repairs

Simple upgrades such as window screen repairs, polishing doorknobs, and a fresh coat of paint in the most frequently used rooms will instantly improve the property and make it more appealing to potential buyers.

Cleanliness and Staging

Keep every room of your home uncluttered and well-lit.  Pay attention to the small details: put away toys, place a vase of fresh flowers near the entryway, have your carpets cleaned, and on open house day, put a batch of cookies in the oven.  Before the property is listed for sale, I’ll inspect the property with you to see what other steps we can take to maximize your selling price.

Disclosures and Inspections

I understand all of the legal procedures involved with real estate disclosures and am ready to help develop a comprehensive disclosure statement that will be beneficial to you as well as the buyer. Additionally, I can suggest minor home improvements that should be completed because they could decrease your selling price and create complications at closing. 

Open House

Presenting your property to potential buyers is our job. Buyers feel more comfortable having open discussions about the property with the agent, especially if the property owner is not present.  I understand exactly what buying signs to look for and the critical information to share when speaking with prospective buyers.

The Price Is Not Always Right

“The higher the price, the better the offer.” Do not let yourself be fooled by this popular misconception. Price is not always the determining factor when accepting an offer. The initial offer is usually not final, and there are a number of terms and conditions that may influence the final price. I’ll thoroughly evaluate every proposal without compromising your desires or timeline

Negotiating The Right Way

It’s my job to find a win-win agreement that is beneficial to everyone involved. You may even have multiple offers to consider before accepting the one that you decide is best for you.  As your agent, I guarantee a thorough and objective assessment of each offer to help you make the right choice.

The Initial Agreement and Deposit

An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between a potential purchaser and the property’s seller, accompanied by an initial deposit that is held in the closing agent’s escrow account, pending the fulfillment of conditions or contingencies outlined in the agreement.

Property Inspections

Most buyers will have the property inspected by a licensed property inspector within the time frame that was agreed upon in the effective contract to purchase, and some may choose to have different inspections completed on the property if they wish to obtain professional opinions from inspectors who specialize in specific areas (roof, HVAC, mold). If the agreement is conditional upon financing, the property will need to be appraised by a licensed appraiser to determine the value for the lending institution via a third party.

The Closing Agent

Either a title company or an attorney will be selected as your closing agent, and they will hold the deposit in escrow while they complete the property history research to ensure that the title is free and clear of encumbrances by the date of closing and that all new encumbrances are properly added to the title.

Contingencies

A contingency is a condition that must be met before a contract becomes legally binding. For instance, a buyer will usually include a contingency stating that their contract is binding only when there is a satisfactory home inspection report from a qualified inspector.

Before completing his or her purchase of your property, the buyer goes over every aspect of the property, as provided for by purchase agreements and any applicable addendums. These include:

• Obtaining financing and insurance

• Reviewing all pertinent documents, such as preliminary title reports and disclosure documents

• Inspecting the property. The buyer has the right to determine the condition of your property by subjecting it to a wide range of inspections

Depending on the outcome of these inspections, one of two things may happen:

1. Each milestone is successfully closed, and the contingencies will be removed, bringing you one step closer to the close. 

2. The buyer, after reviewing the property inspection report can request a renegotiation of the terms of the contract.

Loan Approval and Appraisal

Buyers who have a lender’s pre-approval, approval letter, or written loan commitment, are a better guarantee of loan approval than a pre-qualification or no documentation from a lender. An appraiser from the lender will review your property to verify the sales price is appropriate.

Final Walk-Through Inspection

More of a formality than anything else, the final inspection takes place a day before, or the day of the closing. The buyer visits the property to verify that everything is in working order, the same as when you last viewed the property, there are no extra items left behind, and that everything included in your purchase is still at the property.

Cancel Home Services and Utilities

I’ll provide a list of useful numbers for the termination of home services and utilities after the closing occurs or you can visit the Resources Page of our site for this helpful information.

Be Prepared

We’re ready to assist you if any unforeseen circumstance should occur, even at the last minute.  If something at the property breaks or some other minor detail needs to be completed, there’s no need to worry. We’ve encountered these issues before,  so we know how to handle them quickly and in a stress-free manner.

Closing

The closing agent will furnish all parties involved with a settlement statement, which summarizes and details the financial transactions enacted in the process. The buyer(s) will sign this statement and then you will sign as well as the closing agent, certifying its accuracy. 

If you are receiving funds from the transaction, you can elect to either have the funds wired electronically into an account at your financial institution or have a check issued to you at closing.  

The seller should arrange to have all property keys and any other important information for the new owner at the closing so that they leave the meeting with everything needed to move into their new home.