Seller Tips

There are many different reasons that can lead to making a move. There may be a variety of reasons for deciding to sell your home. Whether you're sizing up, down sizing, or relocating, it's always exciting to start new adventure. The Internet can be an amazing resource for any seller and we are here to help.

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 the guidance of a REALTOR®, 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. Your REALTOR® 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, a REALTOR® 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 your REALTOR® can advise you on simple and inexpensive ways to prepare your home for a successful showing.

Back to Top

A Team Effort
The overwhelming majority of home sellers find it advantageous to team up with a REALTOR®. 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. Your REALTOR® will know the condition of the market at the time you are selling. Your REALTOR® 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?

Back to Top

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.

Print "Get Ready to Show" Checklist

Enhance Curb Appeal
The first thing a potential buyer sees is your home from the street - the first impression is called "curb appeal". Enhancing curb appeal helps to get buyers into your home. Buyers may not have a vision - so help them. Present your home dressed its best! Here are some minor investments which may have some major returns. Take care to:

• Remove any junk or clutter from the yard.
• Have a clean, crisp lawn (a bit of fertilizer makes for a greener lawn). Weeds should be removed, and trimming should be done regularly. It is important for this to be kept up.
• Trim shrubbery and hedges. Also remove any tree limbs hanging over the roof.
• Remove any old plants or unsightly structures, and have the grass replaced if needed.
• Fill in dirt under large shade trees and add groundcover or shade tolerant plants.
• Clean and update landscaping beds.
• Wash decks and porches and make sure they are stained or painted. Keep patio furniture in great condition.
• Repaint the house if necessary, otherwise have the worst areas touched up.
• If the home is sided have it power-washed.
• Clean and paint or stain your front and garage doors.
• Replace any missing shingles on the roof.
• Check to be sure landscaping bricks are all in place. These can easily be knocked out of line during lawn maintenance and make a big difference in your homes curb appearance.
• All exterior lights should be operational, and replaced if they are dated.
• Exterior windows should be clean and operational.
• Clean out gutters and downspouts.

Enhancing Your Home's Interior
Take care to address these issues throughout your home in order to present it at its best.

Paint - When it comes to preparing a house, fresh paint gives you the best return for money spent.

Flooring - At the very least, all carpeting needs to be steam cleaned. Any worn, stained or foul smelling carpet should be replaced. Any flooring that is cracked or damaged should be replaced, if possible.

Clutter - If something is not necessary for your day-to-day life, box it up and store it or throw it out! Remember, you are committing to the move so anything you eliminate now helps your home show better and also means less work later.

Closets - Closets need to be neat, clean, and organized.

Cleaning - The cleaner, the better. Dusting, washing, waxing, and polishing everything will always make a good impression. A home should smell clean, but not like cleaning solutions. Light scents can be nice.

Lights - Clean the fixtures and make sure the bulbs work.

Windows - Replace any cracked windows.

Entryway:

• Clean and polish everything.
  
• Make sure it is well lit.
  
• Make sure it is clutter free.

Bedrooms:

• Arrange the furniture for the flow of traffic, in a way that best opens up the room.
  
• Make sure the bedrooms are clutter free.

Living Room/Family Room/Den:

• Arrange the furniture for the flow of traffic and to give the illusion of space.
  
• Remove ashes from fireplaces and woodstoves and clean if necessary.
  
• Make sure all light switches work.
  
• Clean the drapes.
  
• Polish/ mop the floors.

Storage Areas:

• Basement, Garage, Attic.
  
• Remove all junk and clutter.
  
• If the basement is damp or musty, try a dehumidifier.
  
• Make sure these areas are well lit.

Kitchens (under close scrutiny):

• Clean the exterior of all appliances, including the stove hood filter.
  
• Clean counter tops and cabinet faces: the shinier, the better.
  
• Counter tops should be clutter free
  
• Remove magnets and messages from the front of the refrigerator.
  
• Clean the floor and consider replacing it if it is worn.
  
• If you have ceramic tile, make sure the grout is clean and white.

Bathrooms (also extremely important):

• If faucets drip, repair or replace them.
  
• Remove stains from all fixtures.
  
• Make sure all lights have the highest wattage that is safe for each fixture.
  
• Put out fresh, clean towels.
  
• Check ceramic tile, make sure the grout is clean.
  
• Remove any mildew.
  
• Make sure drains are clog free.
  
• Shower doors should sparkle.

Before Each Showing
Most of the time you will be given at least a couple of hours notice before showing your home. Before each showing, take a few minutes to add these small but important finishing touches. Your home will then put its best foot forward!

Light and Bright - Whether day or night, a lit house gives a "welcome home" impression. So turn on all the lights, indoor and outdoor. Open all curtains, shutters, and blinds to let in maximum light. Your home looks more cheerful and it also prevents harsh shadows.

Out of Sight - Prospective buyers may feel like intruders if you are home during a showing. Allow us the opportunity to speak freely with buyers and emphasize your home's best features. If possible, it is always best to leave so that the prospect can imagine themselves as the owner of your home. If you cannot leave, try to remain out of sight and do not accompany the buyers from room to room.

The Scent of Success - Scented sprays are too obvious and may be found offensive. For a pleasing fragrance, add a few drops of vanilla extract on a stove burner or boil water and add some cinnamon. Refrigerator cookies are quick and easy to bake, as well as lighting a scented candle prior to a showing. Both will make your home more attractive.

Waste Not - Empty the trash in the kitchen and any other waste baskets before a showing. Garbage does not send a positive message, even in small amounts (that goes for dirty diapers, pet litter, and etc. too).

Comfort Counts- Make sure the thermostat is set such that the house is at a comfortable temperature. Turn off the television and turn soft, melodious music on.

Pets - It is best to try and take your pets with you while your home is being shown. If that is not possible, at least keep them outside or in a cage temporarily. Animals definitely can put a damper on a showing. Dogs especially!

Holiday Decorations - If it's the holidays, feel free to decorate the home! This will make it appear warm and inviting, and potential buyers will feel more at home.

Walkways- Should be swept and free of snow or ice during winter.

Garage Doors- Make sure you shut them when you leave.

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

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.

Print This Checklist

Send Change of Address to:

• 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.

Remember to:

• 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.
  
  

Back to Top