When should I sell my home?

This is one of my favorite questions. Of course, you want to get the best results from selling your house. Overall, selling when you are ready is the best time. Springtime is the more popular choice, but many people get great results in the fall and winter months. It’s really up to your needs. Give me a call to discuss the market to be well-informed about what the market is doing. That way, you can work out your timeline to sell in the current market.

How do I get my house ready to sell?

There usually is a lot of work on a house before listing it. But, that’s not true for every house. Focus on the basics. Do a deep cleaning, decluttering, paint bold colors to neutrals, get all the mechanicals checked over and make repairs if needed. Spruce up the landscaping. If it’s winter, make sure the walkways are all shoveled and de-iced at all times. Give me a call, I can help you identify what needs to be done before you sell.

Does assessed value have anything to do with market value?

No, it does not! Assessed value has nothing to do with market value. The assessed value is no more than a figure the local municipality uses to collect the appropriate amount of taxes.

How much is my home worth?

The exact price of your own home will depend on a variety of factors. First, I will conduct a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA). With that, I will run a report of all the homes that have sold in the closest proximity to yours, homes that are currently under contract, and those competing properties currently for sale. Mostly, I will compare your house to those that have sold. I will focus on the age and size of property, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, condition of property, as well as amenities such as central air, central vac, alarm system, and others that can affect the value. The age of the mechanicals (heating & cooling systems), and structural components such as the roof and siding will be of interest, the desirability of the lot, and what school district it is in.

What commission do you charge?

It is an important and necessary step to learn what an agent will charge for commission in order to sell your house. Keep in mind shopping for the agent with the lowest commission can ultimately hurt your net proceeds, and you don’t want that. You want a buyer agent to WANT to sell your home. Commission splits are important. If your home is competing with other higher commission splits, you’ll get fewer showings, and probably net less.

What will you be doing to sell my house?

Every real estate agent has a broad range of services they provide. Some do an exceptional job of advertising your home and providing a thorough marketing strategy, and others only slap it on the MLS and call it good. Check out My Marketing Strategy for a thorough list of the services you’ll receive from me as your agent.

What should I do to prepare for showings?

Think, first impressions. Curb appeal is a great start. Make sure the inside of the house is clean and tidy. Keep the grass mowed and shrubs trimmed neatly. Open the drapes and turn on lights. Have the temperature comfortable, and pay attention to the scents of the house, especially with animals.

How will the showing process work?

Together, we will create a schedule that works best for your household. It’s always best for the owner to not be present during showings as well as any pets. We will request an extra set of keys, and they will be placed in a lockbox on your door for other agents to access the home with clients. The selling agent always has knowledge of when the house has been accessed through the ShowingTime system. When showing requests are made, the electronic notifications allow you to easily confirm, decline, or reschedule showings based on preferences that work best for you. When your agent receives new feedback remarks from a recent showing, that feedback can also be shared with you.

What do I need to disclose?

In general, you have an obligation to disclose potential problems and material defects that could affect the value of the property you want to sell. In addition, it is considered illegal in most states to deliberately conceal major defects on your property. Overall, be upfront about your house. Buyers have the right to inspect the house when an offer is accepted, so make sure you disclose if there are or have been any issues with any mechanicals, appliances, structural, electrical, or plumbing issues. If you can have any repairs completed before listing it, that could benefit you in your net profit.

How do you handle multiple offers?

We will discuss and explore the different strategies and approaches for handling multiple offers. Options can be to request best offers from all potential purchasers,  counter offering one offer and rejecting the others, or accepting the best offer.

Do I have to disclose to buyers if there are multiple offers?

As the seller, it’s your decision if you want all potential buyers to know there are offers on the property. Or, you may also prefer to keep those cards close to your chest. Whatever your preference, it’s important we discuss it upfront. That way, I will have your best interests at heart and only disclose offers if you authorize it.

Should I purchase a home warranty?

A home warranty can be an incentive for some buyers. It might give some peace of mind in some cases. Do your research when purchasing or when receiving one, and have a good understanding of your specific home warranty.