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The Home Selling Process
Selling your
home is a major event in your life and requires many steps
to complete. The following outlines the ten major steps
necessary to successfully accomplish your objectives:
Step 1 - Define your objectives.
Understanding
why you are selling your home and what you want to
accomplish is the obvious first step. As your
Representative, we will work diligently to maximize your
return on investment in the shortest amount of time with the
least hassle, while protecting your interests at each step.
Step 2 - Proper home valuation.
In many
respects, this is the most important part of the process.
While you may have grown emotionally attached to your home,
it is best to begin thinking of your real estate holding as
a market commodity which must be priced correctly given the
general condition, location and number of competing
properties of similar size and design in your particular
neighborhood. As full service Realtors, we can perform a
comprehensive Comparative Market Analysis to assist
you during this very critical phase.
We have found
that it is difficult for sellers to be objective about their
home and its current market price. After reviewing our
Market Analysis, it will be better to set a fair market
price on your home for two primary reasons:
1) if you
overprice your home, your home will most likely stay on the
market longer because potential buyers will see similar
properties at lower prices and purchase them instead
of your home; and
2) the longer
your home stays on the market the more likely potential
buyers stigmatize your property resulting in less buyers
interested in your home.
3) Buyers and
their agents will perceive you as being “unreasonable” and
will shy away from your property.
Step 3 -
Proper home disclosures.
Selling your
home has many legal ramifications. Documenting the existing
condition of your property through a properly and fully
filled out seller's disclosure statement will protect you
throughout the entire process, especially after the sale has
been completed.
Step 4 -
Proper home staging.
After properly
pricing your home, this step is the most critical. First
impressions last. Your home will shine at its best to
potential buyers. We will work closely with you to make
recommendations on how to "depersonalize" and "declutter"
your home while projecting a charm and warmth new buyers are
seeking.
Step 5 -
Marketing your home.
Once your home
has been properly priced and presented, the next step is to
expose your home to as many qualified buyers in the shortest
amount of time. Our Marketing Plan is designed to market
your home not only locally, but regionally, nationally and
internationally as well. Since Sarasota is a highly popular
vacation and retirement destination, your new buyer may be
sitting in another country or up north in a cold weather
state. Our Marketing Plan will engage
thousands of real estate agents around the world to assist
us in finding the right buyer for your home.
Step 6 -
Receiving an offer on your home.
Once someone
decides to buy your home, they will prepare an offer to
purchase which will outline not only the price they are
willing to pay you but specific terms and conditions they
are making as contingencies to the purchase.
We will review with you if we feel the buyer is qualified to
buy because taking your home off the market for weeks or
months and then having the deal fall through can be costly
and nerve-racking.
As
professional Realtors, we can advise you on the various
terms and conditions of a purchase and sale contract.
Remember that once you have signed a purchase and sale
contract you have a legally binding contract. Better to be
safe than sorry by having a professional guide you through
this critical step.
Step 7 -
Negotiating before executing the purchase and sale
contract.
In most cases,
there are usually last minute negotiations that occur before
a final agreement can be reached between buyer and seller.
Typically, items that are negotiated are price, deposits,
property repairs, closing date, financing terms and
contingencies, closing costs and items sold with the home.
As your representative, we will work to protect your
interests before you commit yourself to the final
terms of a formal purchase and sale contract.
Step 8 -
Requested and required home inspections.
Most home
buyers will request a professional home inspector to review
the condition of your home and make recommendations as to
repairs and replacements needed. If the new buyer needs
financing from a lending institution, a formal appraisal
will be required for the loan to be approved based upon
current market conditions. Also, a final walkthrough
inspection is usually done the day before the closing date
to ensure the buyer that your home is vacant and all
negotiated items have been removed and / or left for their
occupancy to begin.
Again, as your
real estate representative, we will properly document and
negotiate all required inspections and terms before the
formal purchase and sale contract is finalized. We will
attend all inspections to make sure your interests are being
met.
Step 9 -
Moving your possessions before closing.
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Psychologists tell us that after death and losing your job,
moving is the third most stressful event we go |
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through. We
can help. |
Step 10 -
Closing on your home.
The big day
has arrived but many pitfalls may occur. Closing is the
meeting between buyer and seller where legal transfer of the
property occurs and net proceeds of the sale are tendered to
the seller. We attend all closings to make sure all
documentation and conditions have been met.
We will review
with you days before the closing the final "Closing
Statement" which will list all expenses and disbursements to
be made. Our goal as your representative is to make sure no
last minute event delays your closing or, in a worst case
scenario, causes the sale to be terminated.
Once you
select us to represent you in the sale of your home, we will
provide you with detailed checklists to help guide you
through each step.
Our goal is to
establish a long term relationship with you.
How We Will
Sell Your Home
Our Marketing
Plan is designed to get you the most money for your home in
the least amount of time by marketing your property to the
widest range of potential qualified buyers as possible.
To procure the
best price for your home, we will:
* Prepare a
Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
This is the
most important part of selling your home. By properly
pricing your home based upon present market conditions,
location and property condition, we will attract as many
interested buyers in the shortest amount of time.
Remember that
serious buyers are out constantly looking at homes like
yours and have a good feel to what is available to them at
every price range. The CMA process effectively allows you to
do the same by comparing your home to those similar
neighborhood properties that have recently sold.
* Prepare a listing agreement that
outlines our responsibilities.
When you list
your home with an agent, you are actually hiring a
professional salesperson to represent you and your interests
and market your home to the widest number of qualified
buyers. Our listing agreement will detail our
responsibilities and your expectations of our performance as
well as all terms and conditions we have agreed upon.
* Work with
you to properly stage your home.
We will do a
through walkthrough of your home and help your properly
stage each area. The buyers' first impressions are extremely
important. We pay attention to the details allowing your
home to shine in the best possible light.
*
Photograph and document your home.
We will take a
variety of photographs that tell the story of your home and
show it in the best light. With the advent of the Internet,
buyers demand instant access to prospective properties and
our Marketing Plan is designed to give them the most
information as possible. We will do this through our online
virtual tour of your individual property.
* Create a Property Brochure that
highlights the best features of your home.
Whether a
potential buyer views your property over the Internet or
take a brochure from a showing home to share with their
family and friends, the way your home is presented goes a
long way in making a favorable impression.
These brochures will be placed in your home for any
interested buyer during a showing.
* Create
an individual website for your home.
With each
passing day, the world is becoming more technology savvy. We
will create an individual website for your home which will
tell the story of your home in greater detail for potential
buyers and help differentiate your homes from all other
competing properties.
* Place
your home in Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
The MLS is a
wonderful tool to gain exposure to your home. Presently,
there are over 5000 agents within Sarasota County who will
view your home and help us identify qualified buyers for
your home. In addition, the general public has access to MLS
listings which further expand the buyer field.
* Broad
based Internet Marketing
Our goal is to
use the Internet to our greatest advantage. Since 8 out
of 10 potential buyers begin their search through the
Internet, we need to meet the challenge of exposing your
home using every available technology. We will use a variety
of web sites and search engines to gain maximum exposure.
* Targeted
Internet and Interpersonal Marketing
As your
designated sales & marketing representative, we will use
targeted Internet and interpersonal contacts to make your
listing stand out and gain attention from all other listings
within traditional MLS services. Most sellers do not
understand that the potential buyer for your home will most
likely be identified through an agent or brokerage other
than the listing agent. This is a fact of life within real
estate sales.
Because of
this fact, we maintain positive, professional relationships
with all agents of other brokerages regardless of
affiliation to help us identify qualified buyers for your
home as soon as possible. Our sales compensation is
structured in a way to share commissions with cooperating
agents and brokerages to expand the base of potential
buyers for you home.
We will send
specific targeted emails with colored attachments to all
the top selling agents within the designated MLS areas
to gain as much exposure for your listing. We will also
highlight your listing at real estate board meetings and
caravans. In addition, our targeted email program will
expose your property to selected Independent Brokerage
Offices and Exit Realty offices both nationally and
internationally. Many times the potential buyer for your
home is living in another part of the country and is working
with a local agent to sell their home. We need to reach them
as well as local Sarasota buyers and agents.
As your
Listing Agent, we are in effect the Sales Manager of an
enormous sales force consisting of thousands of motivated
real estate agents charged with the responsibility of
selling your home as quickly as possible for the greatest
amount of money. The Internet allows us to reach as many
people as possible, as soon as possible.
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Used properly,
the Internet is a wonderful tool to assist us in
marketing your home as efficiently as |
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possible.
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Potential Buyer Database
We are
constantly working with hundreds of potential buyers who may
be interested in your property. We will contact them through
our Targeted Internet Marketing Program and highlight your
home.
* Place a
highly visible Yard Sign
Our yard sign
will contain contact information and a recorded telephone
description of your property along with contact information
so we can follow-up with the interested potential buyer as
soon as possible. Also, we will place a rider on the sign
with your home's individual website.
* Install
a LockBox
LockBoxes are
highly secure enclosure that contains the key for your home
that may only be opened with a special electronic key so
other real estate agents may help us show your home to an
interested buyer. All LockBox openings are recorded so we
can determine who has entered your home.
* Mail
Just Listed Cards to your neighbors
Cards will be
mailed notifying neighbors that your home just went on the
market in case they may know of someone who wishes to buy a
new home in your area.
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Coordinated Open House Showings
We will
advertise and coordinate open house showings at convenient
times to maximize exposure to specific buyers who are
seeking properties in your neighborhood.
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Coordinated individual showings by other real estate
agents.
When an agent
for another brokerage identifies a potential buyer for your
home, we will contact you directly to coordinate the details
of the showing. Along with maintaining strong, professional
relationships with all agents within our market, we make it
as easy as possible for other agents to show our listings.
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Constantly update you with status reports.
The number one
complaint sellers have regarding their listing agents is
that they never hear back from them once the listing is
placed. We are different. As our employer, you are entitled
to receive updates and feedback from our showings as soon as
possible. We will communicate by phone and email every time
we have an update. You will be informed every step of the
way.
One of our
strongest advantages we have is the fact that you are buying
a Team of professionals to market and sell your home.
Virtually all real estate agents nationwide work as single
individuals with no assistants or associates. Should you
decide to list your home with an individual agent, you are
at the mercy of their schedule and individual capacity to
get things done. Team Smart believes in Teamwork,
Communication and Systems.
* Qualify
the potential buyer once an offer has been made.
As exciting as
receiving an offer for your home can be, if the potential
buyer is not financially qualified to get financing, your
home may be taken off the market for weeks or months,
putting you behind the timeline you wished to sell your
home. More importantly, if your property is tied up by an
unqualified buyer and the deal falls apart, you may miss a
large portion of the best selling season of the year. We
will advise you before you accept an offer if we have
confirmation that the prospective buyer has been
pre=qualified for the necessary financing for your home.
* Negotiate
the terms of the offer before the Purchase and Sale has been
executed.
We will negotiate the best possible terms at the highest
price.
* Monitor
all aspects of the closing.
As the saying
goes, the deal is not done until the ink is dry. We will
monitor every aspect of the closing and identify any and all
problems that need to be corrected before the actual closing
date.
Your
Home's Value
If you are
thinking of selling your home, you probably have a general
idea of what similar properties in your neighborhood have
sold for.
However, as
professional realtors, we have access to highly specialized
databases which allow us to specifically compare properties
and project targeted prices based upon past sales and market
trends.
Please contact
us today to schedule a free market analysis of your home
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