Selling Your Home

        For most families, their home is their largest financial asset, and deciding to sell it is a big decision that involves a lot of preparation and hard work. When you're ready to sell it's important to have an experienced real estate professional handle the necessary details involved when considering the condition of the resale market today. As an experienced professional who has helped hundreds of area residents to sell their homes, I know how challenging it can be in today's declining market. That is why it is so important not to overprice your homes. The buyers in today's market are certainly at a slight advantage, whereas there is so much inventory available that they can literally take their time and pick & choose. However, if your home is priced properly in today's market, you will prevail over the competition in time. Pricing, location and condition are three important variables when establishing value.

        To help you to better understand some of what the buyers are looking for in today's market, I will send you my FREE outlined "Personal Home Assessment Package", which will help to point out areas of concern when making minor improvements to your home that will make the difference, and improve the value. It is my pledge to provide you with the utmost comprehensive and quality service by utilizing the most up to date software, marketing techniques and stategies available in today's expansive Real Estate market place. You will feel confident when utilizing my services. contact me

 

The following articles are a great place to start if you're looking for information about the sales process and how you can get more for your home when you sell.

Receive red carpet treatment as you prepare to sell your home. The Seller's Preferred Service is designed to provide home sellers with the pinnacle in one-on-one customer care. My team and I will focus on ensuring that your needs are met when selling your home and that my years of experience will work for you. We will ensure that your home is marketed aggressively and will do what is needed to attract the greatest number of buyers in order to sell your home for top dollar.

 

Sign Up Is Easy
To receive more information regarding this service, please take a minute to fill out the form on my Home Page in the blue box called Market Snap-Shot. Once the form is submitted, you will also have full access to my site, which will provide you with information ranging from the basic sales process to how to hire a mover. You will also be given access to reports on neighborhood homes that are either currently on the market or have sold in recent months. This information will be directed to your Email address within 30 minutes of your request.

 

Get The Red Carpet Treatment
The red carpet is here! This service will help you sell your home fast and for top dollar. Plus you will receive special attention from my team and I at all times. This service is free if you signup through the web today!

 

 

WORKING WITH A REPUTABLE COMPANY

You’re ready to buy or sell a home. Now, you are looking to select the company and agent to work with. Finding the right company to help you sell or find your next home is the key for a smooth process. A reputable company that has a well-known name in the area will gladly provide both solutions and credibility. A company that has a track record means they have systems. Their experience has allowed them to do the fine tuning in the home buying and selling process that many younger firms lack. As a result, the transaction time is reduced, a greater product is released and more clients are happy with the end result. For home sellers, the credibility of the company selling their home is essential.

        When someone drives by or sees the listing in the paper, they know that the attached company to your house being sold has a track record, which means they will find greater comfort in buying your home, rather than ACME Real Estate Company. This will allow you to find more quality buyers in less time. Larger, established firms tend to have more resources. This is beneficial to you as a homeowner: you’ll have more access to homes and other agents. If you are a home seller, then your marketing is likely to be more efficient with greater results obtained. Therefore when you’re ready to shop around for an agent, we encourage you to select one that has the necessary credentials.

 

COSTLY SELLING MISTAKES

Some houses on the market sell before they even get a sign up in the front yard while others just sit there without taking any action.

 

You've had your house on the market and right now, the market is hot. Why isn't your home selling? There could be several reasons that a house doesn't sell quickly. Here are some considerations:

  • When you get ready to hire an agent, make sure you talk to several before making your final decision. If one agent thinks your house can sell $20,000 more than the others, stay clear. More than likely, that agent just wants your business, will wait a few months for the house not to sell, then, convince you to lower the asking price to what you probably should have asked for in the first place.
  • Make sure your seller's agent is working with a realistic figure. If they have the home overpriced, it won't sell.
  • Be open to the fact that you may need to do some upgrading to get the house to move. Perhaps the interior needs a fresh coat of paint or some of the carpet needs to be replaced. Although it may cost you a little bit of money, it will also get people interested in buying.
  • Another reason a house doesn't sell is location. Unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do about that. However, what you can do is ensure your home is in good condition, neat, clean, and presentable, and work with the price. If you're working with a good Realtor, hopefully you won't have to come down on price too much. However, if the location isn't good, lowering the price will be something you have to consider.
  • If you are working with an agent that has a bad reputation, you could have trouble selling your home. Just as with any industry, agents communicate and network. Therefore, if there is one agent causing problems, others will stay as far away as possible. That means if your home is listed with the "bad" agent, other agents are less likely to show your home to their buyers. This is why it's so important to do your homework at the beginning and find a good, reputable agent.
  • Make sure your agent is doing more than just putting a sign in your yard. Part of the agent's responsibility is to market your home. This means good advertising, open houses, MLS listings, flyers, whatever it takes to get the word about your home out to the public.
  • Have an appraisal done on your home and have the agent do a competitive analysis of other homes similar to yours in your geographical location. Make sure you are working with Fair Market Value for your home and not an over inflated value.
  • When people are looking at your home, if you happen to be there, don't try to help sell the house. Be polite, stay out of their way, and expect that they will look in every closet and under every sink. If asked a question, answer honestly.
  • If you are working through an agent but have someone just show up at the door wanting to look at your house, this is a tough one. Remember that you are under contract with the agent and therefore, are required to have the agent show the house. Immediately contact the agent to see if they can come over quickly. If not, get the name, contact information of the interested party, and get that information to your agent quickly. Showing your home on your own could void your contract with the agent and, end up costing you their fee.
  • It is also very important to know and understand your rights and responsibilities. Understanding your contract and knowing the terms could save you a lot of money in inspections, repair, or maintenance.

If at any time you are not happy with the way things are progressing, sit down and talk to your agent. Explain to them what your concerns are. If they are a good agent, they will listen and make the appropriate adjustment.

 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD YOUR CURRENT HOME?

Buying a house for the first time or upgrading from an existing house is a big decision. It's important that you have a good understanding of what you can and cannot afford to buy.

Contingencies

If you already own a house and have decided to move but don't yet have your first house sold, there is the option of putting a contingency offer on the second house. This means that the second house is being held while you get your first house sold. Keep in mind that contingency contracts usually only hold the house for a limited amount of time, and in some cases, you can get bumped if another buyer shows up with a firmer offer, meaning no contingency, more cash, better credit. Although this is an option, it should be carefully considered. If you have great credit or have cash to put down, you can usually make an offer without a contingency. However, if you need to sell your first house before you have the money to close a deal on the second house, then you have a real dilemma.

        Often sellers are uncomfortable working with contingencies, because they want more certainty. To come to a compromise, sellers might accept the contingency contract as long as it has a "kick-out" clause. This clause states that if a better offer comes through, the seller has the right to accept the new offer, thus canceling your offer.

It is a far better solution to sell your first house before you put a contract on a second house. Going this route will end up saving you effort, disappointment, and money.

If you are uncertain about your financial situation, meet with a financial advisor or mortgage lender before signing a contract.

Bankruptcy and Divorce

Unfortunately, many people become bankrupt as a result of divorce. If you have a good income but need a zero down loan because savings have been depleted, what are your options?

There are viable options, allowing qualified borrowers to finance the entire purchase of a house, including closing costs. These options allow a buyer to purchase a house with no down payment. The catch is that credit history needs to be spotless and with a bankruptcy, there could be problems qualifying. Remember, two years after your bankruptcy is dismissed, if good credit is maintained, you could quality. However, you should really look at your current situation and determine if this is the right time for you to buy. If you have just gone through a divorce, more than likely your bank account has been drained.

        Lenders prefer that you take time to rebuild your savings and get your feet back on the ground. Obviously, from their viewpoint, they don't want to put you in a situation of defaulting on a loan because you weren’t ready. Credit score is one of the factors considered for a mortgage loan. If you aren't sure what your credit score is, contact the three leading credit-reporting agencies and request a copy of your report, plus your score. Scores in excess of 700 are considered the best. Scores over 680 are also good but if you fall below 630, lenders would see potential in you not qualifying. If your credit score is not quite up to par, wait a little while before pursuing a house. Take the next year or two to get all your credit in order, bills paid off, and money socked away in the bank.           

        Although it's tough waiting, it also provides you with a goal, which in the end will eliminate a ton of unnecessary stress. Once that's been accomplished, you should consider a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, which requires only 3% down. In addition, their underwriting guidelines are less stringent than other loans. One of the best things you can do is create and stick with a budget. Once you see a plan written down on paper, you will be able to track your progress much easier. Make sure to speak with a mortgage broker to find out what you can and cannot afford. You may be surprised at the loan you may can attain with lower interest rates. If you can't buy your house right away, don't be discouraged. It's far better to be thoroughly prepared so when you do close, you will be able to enjoy your house and feel much better about your decision.

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How to Ensure You Receive Top Dollar for Your Home!
Most agents will tell you what you want to hear to a song and tune that gets them the sale without having to perform. Agents will make promises to sell your home for top dollar, but see how quickly they dodge this promise when you ask for it in writing. With our years of experience and knowledge in real estate, we can work with you to get that top dollar and we will Guarantee You Results - otherwise we will pay you for our shortcomings!

The Program That Guarantees You Results
We are willing to place ourselves accountable for the promises we make, so if we fail to sell your home, at a price acceptable to you, then we will make your mortgage payment!*

Find Out How Much I Can Sell Your Home For!
I understand your needs as a home seller and can meet and exceed them. Please fill out the form below and I will send you a list of recent clients that have experienced the results from my knowledge and dedication of getting top dollar for their homes. Plus I will give you a quote on how much I could sell your home for and I will send you full details on my Guarantee to Sell Program.

 

THE MOST MONEY FOR YOUR HOME

 

        When selling a house, we all share the same goal - to sell it quickly and at the highest price possible. If you've placed a house on the market, you may have possibly enjoyed the thrill of receiving that first offer. Unfortunately, you may have also experienced the disappointment of a much lower offer, or one that doesn't come for weeks or months. Most people buy a house for emotional reasons, most real estate professionals agree. The desire for a comfortable home and lifestyle propels buyers to purchase a specific house.

        The easiest way to understand this is to remember your own experience of purchasing a home. You had some idea of what you were looking for, and you probably clutched a list of desirable features. You may have looked at several houses, but none of them seemed just right. Then one day it happened when you least expected it - there it was. Within minutes you knew this was the one; you were overtaken by a powerful emotion. If two houses are similar, buyers will choose the one that touches them emotionally.

        The same mind-set applies when the roles are reversed, when you are the seller and not the buyer. Only when a buyer "feels" as if your house can be a home will they acknowledge that it could be. The emotion that overpowers the prospective buyer can be compared to love at first sight.

        There are several ways to approach a buyer, but one of the most important ways is to make sure when your house is ready to be placed on the market, it plays to the largest audience. Selling your house should go quickly, smoothly and profitably. Dressing your house to achieve a profitable sale can help you buy your dream home. Experts say that the first and most important step to dressing for success is uncluttering. Clutter makes rooms and the entire house feel smaller. Uncluttering makes every room in your house look and feel more spacious. Your goal is to create a roomy, comfortable feeling that's inviting to prospective buyers.

        Uncluttering also means organizing. Show buyers that you have a place for everything and everything in its place. By putting everything away neatly, buyers will feel that by living in your house they, too, could be well organized. Ultimately, less is more.

Another important step is cleaning - not just everyday cleaning, but a thorough spring-cleaning, a deeply clean house not only looks great, it feels uplifting, and as new as when you first bought it.

        Removing any old and stained carpeting and replacing it with light colored tiles to give the impression of a large, clean room. An unclean house will create doubt and apprehension in a prospective buyer.

        If anyone in your household smokes, consider smoking outside, and use a carpet freshening agent each time you vacuum. Burning scented candles or baking a batch of cookies to give your house that homey, lived-in feeling. Now that you have done away with the clutter, your house is sparkling clean, and the scent of cookies baking in the oven permeates the entrance to your house, your next step should be to concentrate on repairs.

        A house will not sell for top dollar if any detail, whether large or small, is in need of maintenance. These would include a leaky faucet, a cracked tile, or peeling paint. These may signal a warning to a buyer, creating the fear that larger maintenance problems could be lurking beneath the surface.

        My suggestion to the seller is to make a complete list of repairs, small and large. Look at the house through the buyer's eyes. Replace any cracked or broken window panes, repair wood rot, re-caulk where needed, patch all cracks and nail holes, replace missing or loose tiles, replace old carpet, tighten loose doorknobs, and lubricate squeaky hinges. These fix-ups will ultimately help you receive the offer you want.

        And, finally, a word about a beloved member of your family: your pet. Pets that live in your house will make a strong, possibly negative statement. Research shows that half of all potential buyers are either allergic to, dislike, or are afraid of pets. While your house is on the market, keep Fido outside as much as possible. If that's not possible, be sure to clean, vacuum and neutralize odors daily to keep your house smelling fresh.       Consider asking a neighbor to watch your pet in their home while you're showing your house to prospective buyers. There is no magic to getting the most for your home. Every house will sell;, eventually - it's just a matter of when and for how much. It only takes one buyer, but which one? You decide.

The Basics of Marketing Your Home How to Set a List Price for Your Home
Get Your House Ready to Show Buyers Why Use a Realtor when Selling a Home