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| Seller's Tips |
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Interest Rates If You Plan To Purchase Another Home The Best Time To Sell Is During A Period Of Low Interest Rates. Low rates benefit buyers and sellers alike, and you will be both. A "sellers market" is also helpful, but this competitive benefit will be canceled out if you plan to buy a replacement home. Determing the Best House Price Pricing your home competitively based upon your real estates unique features and a comparison to other properties in your area will yield the best result fro selling your home. The unique features of your home combined with a competitive price will attract buyers. If your home is overpriced at first, you run the risk of your home staying on the market too long and going stale. If your home is on the market too long buyers get warry because they think something is wrong. I can help you price your home right! The Home Listing Agreement The listing agreement is an agreement between you as the seller and the real estate broker. This agreement explains your legal rights as a seller and also defines the commission the broker will receive. By signing this agreement you are giving the real estate broker the exclusive right, for a limited time, to market and sell your home. Showing Your House Showing your home to the prospective buyer is your opportunity to highlight all the positive and unique qualities of your home. Be sure to keep the front yard and entry way clean and neat; repair any loose knobs or doorjams around the house; keep blinds open to allow the natural sunlight to come in, if it is dark out then use soft white bulbs; finally buy fresh flowers to add color to your living area. It is the little things that make a difference and set your home apart from the others the buyers may be viewing. Marketing Your Home When selling your home, you must realize that it's not likely that the right buyer will simply walk through your door on their own. Generally, you have to bring your home to the buyer, and that means counting on a real estate professional to put forth a successful marketing campaign. You'll want an agent who will make the best use of television and newspaper advertising, and one who uses state-of-the-art techniques such as an interactive voice-response system, a front end MLS system and the internet. And, you'll want to have a number of open houses to expose your property to a wide variety of "window shoppers". Make sure your agent is trained not only in the financial aspect of a real estate transaction, but the marketing aspect as well. An Offer When you have a home for sale, eventually a prospective buyer will "make an offer." As the seller, you basically have three options: you can accept the offer, reject the offer or give a counter offer. A counter offer usually will encourage a buyer to continue their negotiations. You may also receive multiple offers. You may prefer to take slightly less for your property from someone who is willing to pay cash, versus someone who needs to sell their current home first. Contingencies, move-in dates, and financing are all things to consider when weighing an offer. If things seem a bit overwhelming, rely on your experienced real estate professional, who can go over the various points with you, and help you choose the best offer. The Closing Once you've accepted an offer on your property there's a number of details that still need to be finished. There will probably be an inspection of your home by a professional who will determine the condition and integrity of your property for the buyer. The buyer's mortgage company may chose to send out an appraiser who will assure the lender of your property's worth. The title company will warranty that there are no liens or existing encumbrances which would inhibit a transfer of title to the buyer. Either you or the buyer may chose to be represented by an attorney. First time sellers and buyers often feel more comfortable to have the paper work reviewed prior to signing. Rest assured that you can always rely on your real estate professional to make sure the entire home selling process proceeds smoothly. |