Information for Home Sellers

Why does one home in a neighborhood sell faster than another that is similar in price and size? Marketing!

An effective marketing plan goes a long way in making your home seem a better buy than the next, therefore attracting more potential buyers. Bill and Julie Shelton can help you with advertising, such as flyers, newspaper ads, yard signs, Internet listings, but as the seller, there are things you can do too.


Pricing
Price your home to sell. Homes that are priced within market value sell much faster than those overpriced. Overpricing your home can cause you to miss out potential purchase offers, because buyers may think that you aren't a serious seller. You should work with your real estate professional to come up with a competitive asking price.

Appearance
 

• Make a good first impression. The appearance-inside and out-is important to selling your home quickly. The outside of the home is the first thing the buyer sees. Make sure that the yard is well-manicured, bushes and trees are groomed, and the yard is free of debris.

• On the inside, neutral colors and traditional layouts are thought of as "safe options" that appeal to most buyers. Homes with strong colors or busy wallpaper might make the home more difficult to sell.

• Clear those counters and tables. If there is too much clutter around the home, chances are the potential buyer won't see the home for what it's really worth. Clutter will also make the home look smaller than it actually is.

• Your real estate professional can help suggest ways to "set the stage" and make the property ready for showing

Leave the house
Give the buyer space. Most real estate professionals agree that a home sells faster when the seller is not present when prospective buyers are viewing the home. Oftentimes, buyers feel uncomfortable around the seller and might not inspect everything they would want to. They might not want to offend the buyer or seem impolite. As a result, potential buyers may rush through the showing and simply move on to the next home on their list.

 

Availability
Make your home easily available for showing. If you have a complicated showing procedure-such as needing 24-hour notice for previews, you may cut off a good portion of the buying market. Many requests from real estate professionals are for same-day, even last minute, showings.

If you are considering selling your home, enlist the help of Bill and Julie Shelton who can assist you in creating an efficient marketing plan-a marketing plan that not only gives you the price you deserve, but also ensures that the property sells in a timely manner. A good agent should be able to give you valuable advice on how to best meet both these goals.

For more information on selling your home as quickly and effectively as possible, contact Bill and Julie Shelton.

Back to Top

Back to Top

Even if you've bought or sold a home before, this process can still be daunting. Let's look at the many steps involved in selling a home and see how a real estate professional works to tie them all together.

Step 1
List your property with Bill and Julie Shelton. Select someone who's knowledgeable, listens carefully to identify your needs, and with whom you feel comfortable.

Step 2
Discuss how the real estate professional can assist you in finding your new home. If you have not identified a property to purchase, you'll want to work with someone with an in-depth knowledge of the area to guide you.

Step 3
Establish price and time frame. Your listing agent will prepare a comparable market analysis (CMA), which compares your home with similar homes in the area that are currently listed, in contract or have sold within the last six months. Supply and demand, craftsmanship, amenities, condition and any special circumstances can also impact price. For instance, a relocation might necessitate a quick sale.


Step 4
Develop and implement a marketing strategy. It's important to develop a plan that will expose your home to as many buyers as possible. This usually includes scheduling open houses, advertising in local newspapers and magazines and on the Internet, preparing property brochures, registering with a multiple listing service, exposing the listing to brokers' and referral networks and installing a lawn sign.


Step 5
An offer is submitted. A buyer will make an offer through his agent. The buyer's agent will present the offer to your representative, who will promptly relay it to you and help you evaluate it.


Step 6
The negotiation process begins and eventually an offer is accepted. The process of offer and counter-offer may go on until parties arrive at an acceptable contract. This step can go very quickly or take days, even weeks.


Step 7
Buyers submit a loan application and home inspections are scheduled. Most often, the loan approval is contingent upon a satisfactory appraisal and various inspections.


Step 8
The loan is approved. All parties breathe a sigh of relief and begin preparations for moving.


Step 9
The listing agent coordinates all activities required for closing. Your agent will funnel all the closing documents to the escrow agent. Papers include the deed, mortgage, numerous tax receipts, a Certificate of Occupancy and other documents. A final walk-through will also be scheduled.


Step 10
Finalize and close transaction. What you call this final real estate transaction depends on where you live and if the parties gather for the proceedings. The term settlement applies when a meeting takes place. In colloquial terms, many people refer to this as the closing. On the other hand, closing of escrow occurs without a meeting. When the escrow agent receives the paperwork and the funds pertaining to the sale of the property, the escrow is closed.


Step 11
Time to move!

Back to Top