Selling Your Home

I always make a significant investment in the properties I sell. Before putting a home on the market, I will work with you to optimize the presentation of the home and establish a competitive price. This process helps to identify the target market, develop a strategic marketing plan, and to prepare customized marketing materials including brochures, floor plans, and photography. Once listed, I offer a comprehensive mix of high-quality print and web-based advertising as well as feedback after each showing.

A Note from Joanne

"I try to price your home as if it were my own. In doing so, I work hard to find the perfect balance of realistic value and opportunity for maximum return on investment. Therefore if your future includes a move, please don't hesitate to contact me."

Joanne's Selling Tips

Selling a home can be stressful and time consuming without the right resources and information. There are plenty of practical matters that need your attention. With my guidance, you can avoid the potential hazards.

Pricing Your Home

Correctly pricing your property is critical. Price your home too low and you'll lose money; price it too high and buyers will shy away. Joanne will be able to give you a Competitive Market Analysis for your home, which will help you determine the value of your property, as well as give advice on the condition of the present market.

Promoting Your Property

Effective advertising and marketing are essential when selling your home. From descriptive, colorful ads to internet options, Joanne knows the best ways to attract potential buyers. Promotional campaigns are most successful when the home is priced right and shows well. Competition and current interest rates can also affect the success of a promotional campaign.

Prepare Wisely

The presentation of your home will impact the buyer's first impression. Buying a home is an emotional process and Joanne can advise you on simple and inexpensive ways to prepare your home for a successful showing.

A Team Effort

The overwhelming majority of home sellers find it advantageous to team up with Joanne. Most home owners feel that it is better to entrust the sale of their biggest investment to a professional. There are a number of complexities of modern Real Estate transactions that should be considered, not to mention the access to the MLS, advertising, marketing, and the screening of buyers which are available to assist the seller. Joanne will know the condition of the market at the time you are selling and will also be able to help you determine the value of your property with a Competitive Market Analysis.

Money Matters

Today's buyer is well informed and price sensitive. A property that is priced over the market can often deter buyers who are serious about finding a property. If the property is under-priced, it will most likely sell quickly - to the detriment of your net proceeds. Care and research should be taken when establishing the original listing price. There are many factors that will affect the selling price. The following should help you determine the price you can expect to receive:

What are the prices (listing and selling) of similar homes in your area? The selling prices are most important.
What is the size, layout and condition of your home in comparison to others on the market?
What is the location of your home, are you in a desirable area that is in demand?
Does your home have amenities that are currently popular in the marketplace?
Is it a buyers' market or a sellers' market?

Get Ready to Show

It is time now to look objectively and unemotionally at your home. Look at it no longer as your home, but as a product to be marketed. Be aware of what you can and cannot change about your home. This knowledge will allow you to concentrate on those items where change will bring the highest rewards.

Download the Checklist

The Offer

Once an offer is made, if you intend to accept the offer, or make a counter offer, do it as soon as possible. Realize that at any time prior to accepting or countering, a buyer can withdraw their offer. When you make changes to an offer, they require written approval of all parties for the contract to be enforceable. Know that even minor changes facilitate the opportunity for either the seller or buyer to change their mind. Everything must be in writing.

The Closing

To put it simply the last part of the home selling process is closing. It is the time between the signing of the purchase contract (once an agreement on price and terms has been reached) to the day the deed is actually recorded transferring title. Once legal documents are signed, and the payment and mortgage are transferred, then escrow closes and your home changes ownership.

Moving On

It doesn't matter if you have moved once or several times, it is never an easy task. There is a lot of emotion associated with selling a home. So on to a new adventure. The following are some tips you may find helpful.

Send Change of Address

Post office: give forwarding address.
Credit card companies.
Magazine/newspaper subscriptions.
Friends and family.
Doctors
It's always a good idea to leave several large, pre-addressed, stamped envelopes with the new owners for mail that is still delivered to your previous address.

Don't Forget

Clean and remove everything that is not built in or attached, unless otherwise excluded from the contract.
Cancel subscriptions that would not be forwarded.
Arrange for new checks for your bank account if needed.
Close accounts for all utilities and services at your old address as of date of closing.
Be sure the new owner has assumed responsibility of utilities as of closing date so there is no lapse or turning off of service.
Arrange for utilities: Water, electricity, gas, cable, internet, and telephone service at your new location.
Empty freezer and refrigerator.
Defrost and clean refrigerator and freezer.
Check insurance coverage and labor costs; confirm moving day, and payment costs and method with your mover.
Transfer your child's school records if changing schools.

Packing Guidelines

Once you are reasonably sure you will be proceeding with the sale, begin weeding out your possessions.
Pack one room at a time, and be sure to label all boxes.
Keep the weight of your boxes reasonable.
Start packing and marking every box according to its contents and the room it will go in.
If bubble wrap is not available, use towels and blankets to wrap fragile items.
If possible, pack audio-video and computer equipment in their original boxes.

On Moving Day

Plan for needs of children and pets during the move.
Plan for sufficient cash/travelers checks during the move.
Do not pack valuables, carry them with you or move them ahead of time if possible.
Be sure to leave all of the following for new tenant or homeowner:
1. Keys, padlock combinations, garage door openers, remote switches.
2. Codes to security system.
3. Owner's manuals for all appliances.