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Seller’s Guide

Essential Steps for Home Sellers

Two of the basic questions home sellers ask most often are “How quickly?” and “How Much?” The answers to “How quickly can you sell your house?” and “For how much money?” greatly depends on local real estate market conditions and on preparations you, the seller, make prior to putting a house on the market.

To assist you in better navigating the real estate process in any market, I have compiled a list of essential steps for home sellers. For a more complete understanding of your specific market, I encourage you to complete the Request Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) questionnaire.

Understand your Market

In real estate markets home prices vary frequently and suddenly. To best understand your market, I can provide you with current market statistics on your local market, right down to the neighborhood you live in. My 25 plus years in marketing has given me valuable experience and a keen understanding of the local Northern Colorado market, including deciphering local market fluctuations, which can help sellers, like you, prepare your home for sale.

Price It Right

If you set your selling price too high, you risk limited viewing from potential buyers. Price it too low and you may sell it more quickly, but at the possibility of making less money on the sale. No matter how beautiful your home may be, buyers will compare it to other homes for sale in the market at that time. Therefore, pricing your home correctly is one of the most important factors in getting your home sold. To properly set your price, and your expectations, you will want to examine the record of home sales in your neighborhood over the past several months. It may sound daunting but I am here to help and can provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). I encourage you to complete the Request Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) questionnaire.

The CMA will provide data regarding recent home sales (size, price and number of days on the market) as well as information about homes that have not yet sold. It allows you to view trends and other critical information that can be beneficial as you set a competitive price to sell or possibly decide to wait for conditions to change before listing your home for sale. In addition to considering historical pricing information and market trends, it is recommended that sellers also think about including other incentives in the sales offering such as home warranty, assistance with closing costs, etc.

Get the Job Done: Curb Appeal

LadyPainting_300x450Staging and Maximizing the Value to get the most for your Home
What more could you want than to sell your home for top dollar in short order without hassles? If you take a moment and read through the following suggestions before you put your property on the market, you will be on your way to a successful sale.

Staging your Home
Buyers want to visualize your home with their touches and not yours. Inside your home, begin by removing personal effects such as photos and memorabilia. While these are the items that make your home yours, your goal is to create an environment that a potential buyer can envision as their own.

As part of my marketing plan, I will advise you on how to stage your home, giving you easy tips and quick fixes to maximize your home’s appeal. Your primary job during the sale of your home is to keep it neat and clean for showings and open houses. A large part of a home’s appeal involves staging, which is everything from furniture placement to home fragrance.

Drive-up Appeal

  • Trim trees and shrubs
  • Doorbell working properly
  • Keep the porch swept
  • Keep lawn mowed
  • Invest in a few flats of colorful flowers
  • Paint the front door
  • Wash the mailbox
  • Get an attractive doormat
  • Clean-out flower beds

Absolute Basics

  • Home MUST be Odor Free
  • All carpets cleaned
  • Bright light bulbs in all fixtures
  • Clean out/organize closets, cabinets and drawers
  • Clear out unnecessary furniture – rooms appear larger with less
  • Select best furniture pieces-put others in storage
  • Wash windows, inside/out
  • Bare floors waxed/polished
  • Floors & shelves clutter-free

Unrelated Suggestions

  • Trim trees and shrubs.
  • Keep unnecessary items on kitchen counters put away.
  • Keep children’s toys out of yard, sidewalks, decks & porches.
  • Recognize the difference between decorator touches and clutter or sterility.
  • Clean the ashes out of the fireplace.
  • Make sure that the pull-down staircase is working correctly. Be sure there is a light in the attic or basement.
  • The pool needs to be sparkling and free of debris.

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Willing To Go The Extra Mile and Add Flair to your Home?

  • If your home is dated, replace wallpaper in entry, kitchen and bathrooms. Consider replacing outdated fixtures.
  • Fresh paint (neutral colors) on interior and/or exterior where needed.
  • New kitchen appliances can make a difference in a buyer choosing your home over another.
  • Go over the kitchen like a health inspector. Clean oven, range (new drip pans) and dishwasher door seal.
  • Freshly caulk Bathtubs, showers and sinks. Grout should be clean and in good condition.
  • Repair any leaks in the faucets or traps.

Using the Internet to Market YOUR Home

As part of my 12-Step Marketing Plan, the internet plays an important role in marketing your home. Today’s buyers are more tech savvy and research shows…

  • 92% of today’s home buyers used the internet in their home search.
  • For 42 percent of home buyers, the first step in the home-buying process was looking online for properties.

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Your home will be listed on 29 top-ranked websites!
realtor.com; myrealty.com; GoogleBase.com; homes.com; Frontdoor.com; Zillow.com; Trulia.com; Local.com; Homefinder.com; ListingMania.com; Homescape.com; Cyberhomes.com; YahooClassifieds.com; Real-Estate.com; CLRSearch.com; Craigslist.com; Vast.com; HomeSeekers.com; Walmart.com; oodle.com; HomeGain.com; SecondSpace.com; Overstock.com; CityCribs.com; Propbot.com; Military.com; OpenHouse.com ; LycosClassifieds.com; Resortscape.com; Landwatch.com; BackPage.com; CondoQuickFind.com; HotPads.com; ERA.com; ColdwellBanker.com, PLUS MORE!’

Listings on local MLS WEBSITES,
The local MLS Website, ColoProperty.com, is the #1 real estate search website on the internet. By using Featured Listings, Virtual tours and photos to the fullest extent, I will be able to double the exposure with buyers on the internet. I also will be sending you a great feedback report that shows you how many unique visitors are viewing your listing on a weekly basis.

You will know all the activities that I am planning and how I am promoting your property! I am devoted to Communication, which I believe is a key element in my relationships with buyers and sellers.

Prepare to Negotiate

In real estate, the final selling price is negotiable. Plan to negotiate when an offer(s) is received. For example, before you lower the price, you may be able to add value to the transaction by including appliances and / or closing costs. I can assist you with crafting counter offers and negotiating tips and techniques, based on where you want your “bottom line” to be. I also can provide you with an estimated “bottom line”, after closing costs, at different selling price points that will help during negotiations.

Seal the Deal

negotiating.handshakeOnce you come to terms on the sale price, it is in your best interest to close the deal as quickly as possible. To more easily and quickly complete the transaction, it is prudent to have disclosure documents and home upgrade and enhancement records available.