For Sellers

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For Sellers working with Desiree

Selling a home is a very involved process, when done right.  It must be done right, for you have a significant financial investment at stake.  You can trust Desiree to help you maximize your price, in the shortest time, with the least inconvenience to you.

Desiree’s philosophy on marketing a home is to position it in the marketplace where price can be maximized in an efficient timeframe.

Desiree continuously previews the market to be familiar with all available properties. This enables better positioning in the current market.

Desiree takes into consideration market comparables to consider the best price point for the home.

Here’s the Exceptional Service Desiree provides her seller clients:

  • Always communicate in a timely, efficient manner
  • Consult with you to determine your needs, expectations and priorities
  • Help you determine an effective Pricing Strategy
  • Develop and implement an effective personalized Marketing Plan, designed to promote your property
  • Advise you on the preparation of your property for the market
  • Represent you in negotiations with prospective buyers and their real estate representatives
  • Work to protect your interests throughout the transaction
  • Help coordinate a smooth closing of the transaction
  • Provide relocation assistance and other after-sale services you may need
  • Personally attend the closing

Preparing Your Home for the Market and Showings

Desiree will personally advise you on the best way to present your home.

Her experience as a buyer’s agent will provide you with information on how potential clients will view your home.

Preparing your home for “Show Ready” condition

Here is a good checklist of ideas.

Outdoors…

  • Be sure the entrance to your home is clean and inviting
  • Keep the lawn mowed and the steps swept
  • Store hoses neatly and be sure sprinklers don’t water the walkways
  • Repair gates, fences, and sidewalks

Garage…

  • Keep the floors clean and swept
  • Store or neatly arrange tools and supplies

Bathrooms…

  • Replace shower curtain if necessary
  • Repair grout and caulking
  • Repair running toilet or faulty plumbing
  • Paint and repair cracks as needed
  • Put away personal items
  • Polish the floor, mirrors, and fixtures
  • Hang your best towels and open a fresh bar of soap
  • Freshen up with plants or flowers

Closets…

  • Keep the lights in working order
  • Hang clothes and store shoes neatly
  • Help you determine an effective Pricing Strategy

Kitchen…

  • Clean and deodorize vents and garbage area
  • Repair faucets and appliances
  • Wipe away fingerprints
  • Be certain counters and floors are clean and garbage is taken out

Overall…

  • Repair, clean and paint
  • Remove clutter
  • Clean or replace carpets
  • Open drapes and be sure windows are cleaned inside and out
  • Keep lights on and doors to main rooms open
  • Eliminate unpleasant odors
  • Place fresh flowers throughout
  • Play soft music during showings

Negotiating the Sale

Desiree’s tested negotiating skills and thorough attention to details provide the foundation for a smooth transaction.

The selling process will include:

  • Presenting all offers to you immediately
  • Assisting you in keeping current on market activity directly related to your property so that you can make appropriate decisions on pricing and marketing strategies
  • Providing input on financing activity which may affect the strength of the offer
  • Ensuring compliance with disclosure laws and ordinances

Completing the Transaction

When an offer is accepted the transaction process begins. The transaction period is a crucial part of the selling process. Communication and cooperation between seller, buyer, and Realtor are keys to a successful closing.

Transaction activities may include:

  • Management review of all contract and all addenda
  • Preparing Transaction Fact Sheet to track the due diligence period and specify necessary disclosures
  • Coordinating the appraisal, pest inspection and personally attending home inspection
  • Coordinate Deed & Lien preparation
  • Verifying buyer’s loan commitment
  • Scheduling the closing with an experienced closing attorney
  • Counseling seller on any issues that arise subsequent to the original negotiation of the offer, ex: addressing repair request from buyer’s home inspection
  • Being prepared to provide appraiser with supporting comparables for sales price
  • Confirming contingency removals and assuring that pertinent documents are signed off and on file in the office
  • Follow-up with the lender to assure smooth loan process
  • Arranging final walk-through with buyer and buyer’s agent
  • Attending the closing with seller
  • Confirming the recording of the property with the closing attorney

Sellers Doing Their Due Diligence

The 2011 Offer to Purchase contract allows potential Buyers of a property time to decide if they 1) can, and 2) desire to close the sale. This is known as the Due Diligence period, at the end of which Buyers may terminate the contract or agree to move to settlement and closing.

During a Due Diligence period, the property is more difficult to market to other potential Buyers. Therefore, the shorter the Due Diligence period, the better for sellers. However, the period must be long enough for Buyers to do their Due Diligence, or there is a risk they may terminate.

Sellers can proactively shorten the Due Diligence period if they provide Buyers with much of their Due Diligence up front. While Sellers cannot provide loan assurances, they can perform most of the property related Due Diligence. Buyers can be expected to verify or duplicate some of this work, but their confidence in the transaction is much higher if they have independent verification of the property’s condition and status.

Doing this Due Diligence work up front will entail some cost for Sellers, but you may be more likely to attract an offer, and will certainly be better prepared to move confidently through the Due Diligence process.

Due Diligence Sellers may do up front:

  • Get your home pre-inspected, and either complete the repairs or get price estimates for repairs. Presenting an inspection report and invoices or costs for repair will assure Buyers your home is in tip-top shape.
  • Have your survey available and update it if you or a neighbor has done anything near a property line. You are responsible for clearing up issues anyway.
  • Get a new appraisal. Appraisals have caused more contracts to fall apart than almost any other reason. If you get a new appraisal, you will price with assurance and the buyer will have more faith in your home’s value.
  • If you are anywhere near a flood zone, get an updated flood map.
  • Have your insurance agent provide a C.L.U.E. report on your home.
  • If on well/septic, test and inspect and provide permits.
  • Fully provide any HOA documentation.
  • Consider a Home Warranty for extra buyer reassurance.

Your Realtor can help you get most of these Due Diligence items accomplished. The more you are able to do up front, the more likely your home will attract Buyers, keep the Due Diligence period short, and result in a successful sale.