SELLERS TIPS
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Choosing
your REALTOR®
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Make a Good First Impression
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Benefits of Proper Pricing
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Moving Checklist
Choosing your REALTOR®
The most important decision you will make in the sale of your home
is the REALTOR® you choose. Be sure to find someone you feel
comfortable with. If you don't feel you can ask questions or go to
your REALTOR®, you have the wrong person. Your REALTOR® should show
you research to back up any recommendations. This includes
information about recent sales, current listings, and recently
expired listings in your neighborhood.
Choose a local REALTOR®. He or she will know your area better than
an outsider, will be seen as a source for people looking to relocate
in your neighborhood, and will get better co-operation from other
agents. It is likely that any amount you might save by having a
friend or relative from outside the area serve as your REALTOR® will
be lost in their lack of knowledge about your specific local market.
Don’t forget to ask for references from the REALTOR®. He or she
should be willing to give you names of previous clients. Ask your
friends and acquaintances for recommendations, but make your final
choice based on your needs. Ask the REALTOR® to show you what will
be done to market your home. Consider the office and company support
available to him or her as well as the initiative and
professionalism shown by the individual.
Look for a REALTOR® who tells you what he or she knows from
experience in the market, and not what they think you want to hear.
Flattery may sometimes get the listing, but it doesn't sell the
home!
Make a Good First Impression
In today's age of consumerism, every buyer is comparative shopping.
Make a small investment in time, money and effort to give your home
a solid advantage over competing properties.
Pay attention to detail now because first impressions count with
buyers. You only have one chance and it starts with what often
referred to as "curb appeal". Some tips to create a better curb
appeal are:
Create A Buying Mood.
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Turn on lights.
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Turn on air conditioner/heater.
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Open the drapes.
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Light the fireplace.
Exterior Appearance
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Keep lawns cut.
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Trim hedges and shrubs.
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Weed and edge gardens.
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Clear driveway and clean up oil spills.
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Clean out garage.
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Touch up paint.
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Make repairs where needed Create Space.
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Clear halls and stairs of clutter.
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Store surplus furniture.
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Clear kitchen counter and stovetop.
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Clear closets of unnecessary clothing.
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Remove empty boxes and containers.
Maintenance
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Repair leaking taps and toilets.
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Clean furnace and filters.
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Tighten doorknobs and latches.
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Repair cracked plaster.
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Touch up paint.
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Clean and repair windows.
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Repair seals around tubs and basins.
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Replace defective light bulbs.
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Oil squeaking doors.
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Repair squeaking floorboards.
Squeaky Clean
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Clean and freshen bathrooms.
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Clean fridge and stove (in and out).
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Clean around heating vents.
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Clean washer and dryer.
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Clean carpets, drapes and window blinds.
At The Front Door
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Clean porch and foyer.
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Ensure doorbell works.
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Repair screen on door.
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Fresh paint or varnish front door.
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Repair door locks and key access
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WHAT'S
MY HOME WORTH
Are you thinking
about selling your property? Are you unsure about the correct market
price? Are you aware the first 30 days your home is on the market is
the key time to sell and pricing your home correctly is the most
important step in putting your home on the market for sale.
Visit What's My Home Worth and
learn the market value of your home by filling out the
short questionnaire below. An estimate of your home's value will be sent to you by email.
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Benefits of Proper Pricing
When your home sells faster, you save carrying costs, mortgage
payments and other ownership costs. A quicker sale creates less
inconvenience for you. If you've moved before, you know the energy
it takes to prepare for showings: keeping the home clean, making
childcare arrangements, and altering your lifestyle. Proper pricing
reduces these demands on you, by helping your home sell faster. At
market value your home will gain exposure to more prospects that can
afford the price.
Sellers who list at a high price are looking for that one buyer who
will pay it, often not realizing that they have discouraged many
potential buyers who could have afforded the home. The final sales
price is probably one that will be affordable by more purchasers.
This is because sellers many times accept a much lower price at a
much later date since that one buyer willing to pay the higher price
never comes.
When salespeople are excited about a home and its price, they make
special efforts to contact all of their potential buyers. Knowing
that it is priced properly for its market, they expect it to sell
soon and encourage their prospects to act quickly. Their excitement
is contagious!
Ad calls and sign calls to REALTORS® turn into showings when price
is not a deterrent. Most serious prospects are well educated about
asking prices in the areas they are seeking. They will not waste
their time on a home they consider overpriced.
Buyers fear they might lose out on a good home when it is priced
right. They are less likely to make "low ball offers." Better
pricing attracts multiple offers!
Bottom line, if a home is priced right, the excitement of the market
produces higher sale prices. You net more both in terms of actual
sale price and in less carrying costs.
Moving Checklist
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Send change of address to: Post Office, Charge Accounts, and
Credit Card Accounts, Friends & Relatives, and Subscriptions.
Remember that your notice requires several weeks for magazines.
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Notify your bank. Transfer funds, arrange check cashing in new
city.
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Insurance: Notify new location for insurance coverage (life,
health, fire, auto, homeowner's.)
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Automobile: Transfer car title, car registration, car tags,
driver's license, state windshield sticker, and motor club
membership.
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Utilities: Gas, light, cable TV, water, telephone get refund of
any deposits made. Arrange for immediate service in new town.
Arrange final reading and change of name for billing.
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Delivery People: Cancel laundry, newspaper and milk.
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School: Ask for copies or transfer of children's records.
Ask For:Medical records of family and pets.
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Drug and Eye Contact or Glasses Prescriptions to be transferred.
Doctor and Pharmacist recommendations.
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Letters of Introduction to transfer memberships.
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Pet requirements in new city.
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Empty freezer; plan use of foods. Defrost freezer-refrigerator.
(Place charcoal to dispel odors.)
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Have appliances serviced for moving.
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Clean rugs or clothing, before moving; have them "moving-wrapped."
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Check with your moving counselor: insurance coverage, packing and
unpacking labor, arrival day, various shipping papers, method and
time of expected payment.
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Plan for special care needs of infants.
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Plan garage sale.
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On your moving day: Carry currency, jewelry, documents yourself;
or use registered mail.
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Plan for transporting pets. (They are poor traveling companions if
unhappy.) Make sure you can be found if they become lost.
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Carry traveler's checks for quick available funds. Tell close
friends or relatives your route and schedule (including overnight
stops). Use them as "message headquarters."
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Double check closets, drawers, and shelves (to be sure they are
empty).
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Arrange to leave keys with new tenant, owner or agent.
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