Selling
a Home?
"I am ‘Aiken’
to help you with your real estate needs!”
You
have to think of a few things...
Call a professional
Realtor for a correct market price
De-Clutter
Address your pets
Be sure
to check your own ability for a new home loan
Get a home Inspection
Make repairs
Stage or "spiffy up" your home
I am
here to consult and guide you through the trials and tribulations
of selling your home. It's like having an expert know-it-all on
your side - representing you. You do not have to deal with the
buyers or their agents. I am your liaison.
To
find the right price for your home, I do research to discover
on the current market, what have homes cost in your area, and
what your house has that can ad to its desirability. A home priced
right I help you organize your home to look its best for potential
buyers, and accent the pluses of your home to a potential buyer.
First
and the most important thing to do is, DE-CLUTTER. Put your knick
knacks in boxes. Put those boxes out of site.
Making the house look as clean and spacious as possible is the
best idea. You want the buyers to focus on the house’s fine
points. Not your hand-me-down Hummel collection with six inches
of dust!
Get
a professional Home Inspection for your home – know what’s
wrong before buyers start to make inspections of their own. This
costs a few hundred (depending on the size of your home) Your
Realtor can give you a list of licence inspectors.
When
you find out there's something wrong - fix it. Either way, you'll
want to disclose when you go to sell. You can sell “as is,”
but that does not mean you don’t have to advise. It means
when the buyer does their inspections, whatever they find, you
are not prepared to do repairs. As Is a last resort. It’s
for houses in need of heavy TLC. Buyers aren’t looking for
a money pit. On the other hand, maybe they are — to fix
and flip. Your home’s price is designed to show what the
shape of the house is in. If you need thousands of dollars of
work, you wouldn’t list the home for full market value.
You can, but be ready for a lower offer.
Address
pets. I am a huge pet person – but some folks are fearful,
allergic etc.. Make sure litter boxes are out of sight and do
not smell. Make a note for the door if an animal will be home
and tape it to the door. An agent puts this in remarks for showing,
but, if someone shows up and forges, you don’t want Fifi
running out the door. Or if you have an aggressive animal , biting
any one. Also be sure to vacuum daily while in market.
Price
your home right. Your realtor will do this with you. You may have
your heart in it. The numbers don’t lie. And a professional
will be on top of what recently sold — and what recently
sold that’s similar. If your home is 1700 square feet it
is worth a lot more than a cottage with 980 square feet.
Unless of course, the larger home is in bad shape, needs thousands
in repairs or is beside a cemetery. If your buyer isn't Tim Burton
this is probably an issue...
Use
any “spiffying up” monies wisely. Kitchens, bathrooms
and the front of your home are the most important. Spend a couple
hundred to replace that 1970’s two-tone stove. Or take that
icky shower curtain down and get a new bright and inviting swag.
Patch holes in the wall, use neutral paints, and wipe down dirty
shelving. Think
about what the home’s first impression is. A few dollars
in landscaping make a world of difference in many cases.
Remember,
most buyers want ready to move in homes. After a grueling move,
the less they have to do right away, the better.
Why
bother? Your bottom line. You will get much more by following
the rules of selling.
I have tons
of "staging" tips, and advise on how to get your home
ready for show.
Plus
use an agent (even if you go with another). You need a professional
to negotiate and represent you through this transaction. There
are many reasons to hire a realtor rather than try to sell your
own home.
Yes,
there is a fee for my selling you home. It's a professional's
fee, just as you'd pay for any other expert in a field. That fee
includes marketing, advertising, open houses, multiple Listing
Service - which reached all real estate agents; giving you maximum
visibility to potential buyers, I set appointments to show the
home (should you be at work when a potential buyer would like
to see the home), and of course, offer guidance through the real
estate forms and closing procedures.
A
realtor's "For Sale" yard sign can generate more of
calls into my office on your home. And, it tells buyers there's
a professional involved in the transaction, the closing will be
fair, up front, and smooth.
Succinct tips:
7 Terms to Watch for in a Purchase Contract
Moving
Tips for Sellers
I
have a strong ethical reputation within the community. My name
stands for professional assistance.
Call me: 803-641-9957
