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Tips For Sellers
In the lawsuit happy society we live in many of the new laws
and state and federally mandated forms were intended to relieve
the number of suits coming from buyers against a seller they
recently bought a home from who felt that the seller had not
fully disclosed all the defects in the property. The
most important of these to a seller is the state mandated
Sellers Disclosure Statement. Make sure you contact one of our
agents to get a sellers package which will include most of these
forms so that you can do your homework without feeling rushed or
pressured at a critical moment during your real estate
transaction.
Examples of Sellers Package contents:
- Sellers Disclosure Statement (State
Mandated)
- Agency Disclosure Statement (State
Mandated)
- For unplatted homes or land Notice to
Assessor regarding future rights to division of property.
- Lead Based Paint Disclosure (Federally
Mandated forms & booklet)
- Purchase agreements, addendum's etc.
for your review.
Starting with you
Before the yard sign goes up, your sales associate and you
must do some homework—and it makes all the difference. With the
Home Marketing System, we’ll combine your knowledge of your home
with the expertise of your sales associate to make sure we
attract the best buyer.
Gather the facts
Buyers want to know details; having the answers is a powerful
sales tool. Your sales associate will use the information you
provide to answer questions, create an advantageous listing and
create an exciting marketing campaign that targets the right
kind of buyer.
Help your sales associate by collecting or providing the
following information:
- The legal description of the property.
- The number of rooms and their sizes.
- A list of things not attached to the
house that you’re offering for sale, such as window
treatments, carpet, fixtures, swing sets, etc.
- Past utility bills, property taxes and
insurance.
- Information about your mortgages’
assumability.
- Any liens against the property.
- If you live in a condominium or a
development with an association, include a copy of the
association’s declaration, bylaws, and financial statement,
monthly fees and special assessments.
- Special items or improvements about
the house. (Point out things that may not be apparent on a
walk-through.)
Setting the price
Before you set an asking price for your home, you and your
sales associate will complete a Comparative Market Analysis.
Using this process, we will establish a realistic which will
ambitious listing price and increase the percentage of qualified
buyers who look at your property. When setting a realistic fair
market value of your home, you’ll want to consider a few points.
- Don’t base your asking price simply on
what you paid for the home or how much you want out of the
home. You may be asking too little or too much.
- Determine how much time you have in
which to sell your home. If you must sell quickly, your
sales associate may suggest a more competitive price; if you
have some flexibility, you may choose a slightly higher
price.
- Ask your sales associate for
information on recent sales of comparable homes in your
area.
- Consider hiring an appraiser to give
you his or her opinion of the market value.
- Don’t price your home too high as a
means of making more profit. You will lose a large pool of
eligible buyer who won’t even look at your home because they
can’t afford the price. Likewise, you’ll disappoint those
buyers who can find more house for their money elsewhere.
- The value of your home is based on the
buyer’s perception of that value, rather than the amount you
originally paid for the house. The
Home Merchandising System will offer tips on how to make
your home even more appealing to buyers.
Merchandising your home
As you prepare your home to be shown to prospective buyers
you must look at your home through a buyer’s eyes. With the
Home Merchandising System, your sales associate can help you
spot the little things that buyers will notice—things they might
otherwise use to try to negotiate a lower price. The Home
Merchandising System combines ideas from the H.G.T.V. web site
and / or
magazine with real estate expertise and the knowledge of what
buyers are looking for in a home. Ask your sales associate for
brochures about how to merchandise your home. Here’s a sample:
- De-clutter all areas of your home to create an impression
of spaciousness.
- Clean everything thoroughly. Ask a
friend to help you assess your efforts – especially in
sensitive areas such as odor removal.
- Neutralize your home by making any
improvements in neutral colors that appeal to any decorating
scheme. Your sales associate has helpful decoration
information available in the written form or on video
tape---ask for tips from him or her.
In the yard
- Keep the lawn well-trimmed and edged.
Keep shrubs and trees trimmed.
- Put away lawn equipment, toys and
other outdoor items. Stack firewood neatly.
- Repair and paint or stain fences.
- Check exterior surfaces. Make repairs,
clean or paint as needed.
- Clean, paint and repair or realign
gutters.
- Fix broken windows and screens, then
wash.
- Wash down the exterior of the house,
driveways and sidewalks. Fix holes in pavement.
- Check the roof and repair loose
shingles or flashing.
- Make sure the entry light and doorbell
work. Replace house numbers and welcome mat as needed.
Paint, stain or clean the door if needed.
- Brighten your landscaping with
moveable, potted flowers.
In the home
- Discard all unused items to reduce
clutter.
- Arrange clothes neatly in closets.
Store a limited amount of items on the floor and overhead
shelves.
- Leave kitchen countertops as clear as
possible. Clean and organize cupboard interiors.
- Check walls for smudges, chipped paint
and torn or loose wallpaper. Make repairs and paint surfaces
in neutral colors.
- Clean and organize the basement, attic
and garage.
- Launder window treatments and carpets.
Replace worn, stained or smelly carpeting.
- Tighten loose doorknobs, switch
plates, cabinets, drawer pulls and the like.
- Fix sticking doors and windows, and
squeaking floors and steps.
- Fix leaky faucets, and remove water
stains.
- Repair or clean caulking on tubs and
sinks.
- Replace all lights with higher wattage
bulbs and open all drapes.
- Arrange furniture to give an
impression of spaciousness in each room.
Showing your home
Your sales associate will try to give you as much advance
notice as possible for a showing, but always be ready to show
your home.
- Ask your sales associate if you should
have an Open House, usually scheduled for a weekend
afternoon.
- Consider hanging a lockbox on your
door to allow licensed sales associates to show your home
when you’re not there.
- Take the name and number of all
drop-in buyers and refer them to your sales associate.
When your home is to be shown
- Turn on all your lights, including the outside entrance,
even during the daytime.
- Turn off the TV.
- Ask a friend to keep pets, especially
during your Open House.
- Put out fresh flowers, your best
towels, a nice tablecloth and other accessories.
Try to leave when the sales associate brings a buyer over, so
the buyer feels free to ask questions or to linger. If you stay,
be polite but let the sales associate handle the questions.
Glossary of Real Estate
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