When hiring a REALTOR to list your home, you should ensure he will do more than put a sign on the yard and list your house in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This article will address a list of activities a home seller should require his listing agent to perform.

1. Install appropriate signage at the property. This includes the sign in the yard. But in some cases should also include additional signs. For example, if property is located in a remote place, at the end of a dirty road, or in a gated community, the REALTOR should consider installing an additional sign in a major street pointing to the property. Also if property’s backyard faces a street, the REALTOR should consider installing a sign on the back or side wall of the property.
2. Create an attractive property flier with multiple pictures, key features, description of the property, and price. Fliers should be printed in color and made available inside the property and at the post in front of the property.
3. Install an electronic lockbox that will log and track all agents that have visited the property. REALTORS should avoid using mechanical lockboxes because they are not as secure as the electronic ones; and because they don’t track everybody that have been to the property.
4. Market property to people renting homes and/or apartments in the same neighborhood. Local tenants are usually interested in local properties.
5. Market the property to local homeowners. REALTORS should attempt to engage neighbors in the selling process. Local homeowners may have family members, colleagues, or friends that are looking to buy in the same area. They are typically motivated to talk about the properties for sale in their neighborhood.
6. Contact on a daily basis all the REALTORS that have shown the property to check on interest and obtain feedback. This must be done within 24 hours of the showing to ensure the REALTOR have a clear recollection of the property and can provide accurate and specific feedback. Also, sometimes buyers may have an objection to the property that can be easily resolved by the seller. REALTORS should strive to obtain the feedback as soon as possible and address any objections that can be resolved.
7. Perform open houses on a regular basis. The frequency will depend on the type and location of the property. Open houses is a powerful marketing tool to increase property’s exposure. Even if the house does not sell during an open house, chances are that some of the visitors may know someone who is looking for a house in the neighborhood.
8. Follow up with all the open house visitors to check for interest and prompt them to share information about the house with their family, colleagues, and friends. Contact them again every time there is a change in the asking price to check if they would reconsider the property at the new price.
9. Contact all the REALTORS that have shown the property every time there is a change in the asking price or property condition. Check if their clients might be interested in reconsidering the property at the new price/condition.
10. Visit comparable homes in the neighborhood to check the competition. REALTORS should do that on a regular basis to keep abreast of the competition and ensure the house is still priced competitively.
11. Perform a market analysis at least once a week to ensure the property is still priced competitively. REALTORS should check for recent sales, pending transactions, and active listings.
12. Market the property online. Recent research shows that most home buyers start their home search process online. REALTORS should have an active online presence. Property should be included in multiple websites and other online tools. REALTORS need to update property information online several times per week to ensure it will show up when potential home buyers search for properties online.
13. Take multiple photos from all the key features of the property. Those photos should be uploaded to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and all the other websites and marketing material created to promote the property. Research shows that photos are important to generate interest in potential buyers.
14. Create a virtual tour of the property and post it on YouTube, MLS, REALTOR’s website, etc. Potential buyers are more inclined to visit a property after seeing the virtual tour.

This list should be treated as a starting point. As you interview your future listing agent and discuss his specific marketing plan, make sure you address the above items and any others that you deem relevant.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Jose Dias

There’s an adage, in real estate, which states, the agent, who controls the listings, controls the market! In order to obtain these listings, it’s incumbent upon a professional, to use all the necessities of his trade, and to go beyond, merely making appointments, and giving a presentation, but, also, proceeding to, professionally, close the deal, and obtain the listing for the specific, target property. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly examine, review, and discuss, a 5 – step approach, and technique, quality agents use, to obtain as many listings, as possible.

1. Listen/ learn; understand; review; restate concern: Many seem challenged, to avoid the tendency, to begin speaking, and giving their presentation, too soon? One should never proceed, without having a getting – to – know – you, conversation, listening effectively, and learning from this, what a specific homeowner seeks, his priorities, goals, and personal reasons, etc. Listening needs to be followed by learning and understanding, and before, proceeding, an agent should take the time, to review, what the homeowner said, in order to be certain, he’s on the same – page! Proceed to restate what you believe are the concerns, and wait until you receive acknowledgment, before proceeding!

2. Empathize: Homeowners want to be represented by someone, who appears to be empathetic, understands them, and cares deeply about providing the finest service and results. Therefore, stating, something like, I can perfectly understand how you feel, in fact most people I’ve worked with, and me, personally, have felt the same way, makes a world – of – difference!

3. Answer thoroughly, to their satisfaction: Don’t rush, or avoid addressing concerns, and/ or challenges/ obstacles! Rather, it is incumbent upon an agent, to answer and address these, thoroughly, not only factually, and to your satisfaction, but to theirs (and wait until their body language, etc, indicates, so)!

4. Restate/ recreate your case/ reasons, to hire you: Why should the homeowner choose you, to represent them? What will you provide, which is unique, etc, and will be an advantage to them? Very often, a transition phrase, such as, In light of, and then mentioning a few key reasons, helps, a lot.

5. Close the deal: After completing these first 4 steps, make your efforts count, so you maximize your opportunity, to be hired! The reality is, if you’ve performed the previous procedures, properly and effectively, you still need, to close the deal. Sometimes, a simple statement, beginning, with, Doesn’t it make sense, to hire someone, who will put you, and your interests, first, and provide the highest quality service and representation?

While understanding these steps, and using them effectively, will improve your results, you must do so, by making them, part of your persona. Will you commit, to being the best you can be?

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Richard Brody

Many home sellers wonder why their home languishes on the market. They’ve deep cleaned, freshened paint, priced it right, and staged the dining room table with china. Are you begging your listing agent to: „Sell my home“ and thinking about dropping the sales price?

Before you cut your price or pay more seller’s costs, reevaluate your home staging.

The average home buyer only spends four minutes previewing a home. You must get them to invest more time to CONNECT emotionally to your home. The more time a buyer spends in a home, the more they think about where their furniture could go.

That’s you goal when showing your home–to get buyers to imagine living in your home. People will pay more for a home they fall in love with and want to live in.

To get buyers to imagine their grandmother’s clock or cream sofa in your living room, you need to allow plenty of empty space. This is where so many home stagers miss the mark; they think they need to fill a home with furniture.

On the other hand, many real estate investors paint a fixer all white, install boring beige carpeting, and show a stark house with no accessories to spark the imagination.

What you should do is to stage suggestions of happy living in your home.

Home Staging Tips

Of course, you know to deep clean and declutter your home. Beyond these steps, take YOU out of the home. Pack up accessories like family photos and anything that doesn’t speak to a buyer. You want the buyer to imagine their possessions in the space.

Remove extra furniture that makes the space feel crowded. This is especially important in warm weather. Fewer furnishings make your rooms feel cooler.

One you’ve lightened your rooms, take a critical look. You might want a friend to come in and help you evaluate the space. If the home feels sparse instead of „homey,“ add accessories that will make your potential buyer feel at home. For instance, a game table with a chess set for upscale buyers or a family board game for first-time home buyers.

Adding suggested activities to your home gives buyers something to look at and keeps your buyers in your home longer than four minutes. You just might get them imagining their new home!

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Jeanette Joy Fisher

You’ve finally sold your home and the paperwork has been completed. You have received the full purchase price from the buyer. The new owner has asked you when they can move in, and you grudgingly give him a date. He agrees and shakes your hand. You feel a lump on your throat as you close the door and take one last look at your home. You don’t want to leave but in a few weeks, a new family will be living in this property.

What should you do when it’s time to move out of your home? The first thing you should do is to get organized. Go through the entire house and take note of the items which you can bring and which should be left behind (i.e. chattel included in the sale). Next, comes the hard part … packing and sorting. Start with the large and bulky items. If possible cover these with bubble wrap or swags of fabric to protect the surfaces from unnecessary bumps and scratches. Then start focusing on the smaller items: from books to throw pillows, accessories and décor. It would be best if you could crate or box these items according to room. Have a box dedicated primarily for all the china (make sure you wrap each piece in paper, else you might end up with broken dinnerware), another box for all the gardening equipment, another box for your books, and so on and so forth. Make sure that you label each box properly.

Once all of the bulky pieces, the fragile boxes, and your personal packs have been hauled by the movers, you should walk through the entire house one last time. Not to tearfully say goodbye, but to check if you are leaving the property in order. Make sure that all the light bulbs are working, all the toilets are clean (and flushed), the windows are washed, and the floor vacuumed (or at least, free of dirt and debris). When you’re fully satisfied with the condition of the house (it’s no longer your home, remember), you can now hand the keys over to its new owner. If you wish, you can present the new owner with a small token, a housewarming gift – a small gesture to make him feel welcome in his new home.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Gloria Smith

This subject gets pondered a lot, by both buyers and sellers. I want to address it, but I want to disclose upfront that I am a realtor, so my perspective will be somewhat biased.

If you are purchasing a new home, I would always, ALWAYS recommend using the services of a realtor. First of all, and this may be your most important reason, you do not pay for any of the services provided. That’s because the realtors on both sides of the transaction are paid by the seller as part of their Listing Fee.

Beyond any economic reasons, however, a realtor will have access to every property for sale that is listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for your area. Simply by providing a few details about what you are looking for and where, a realtor can literally make hundreds of homes available to you for your review (depending on how specific your parameters are). That gives you the chance to review the list from the comfort of your home and weed out those properties that don’t suit your needs. If any questions are raised during your research, your realtor will be the one to track down the answers for you..

When you have narrowed down your selection and have chosen properties you’d actually like to visit, working with a realtor is key. Most sellers that list their home, do so in order to make sure that their home is being shown to „real“ buyers being accompanied by a licensed real estate professional. For convenience, most listings provide for a lockbox or Sentrilock box for secure access to the home. Obtaining the lockbox code will be impossible unless you are a licensed realtor. Homes that are being sold by the owner (FSBO’s) are a different matter and I will get into that later in this post.

The buying process includes a number of steps that a realtor can not only facilitate, but expedite, as well. Once a buyer has decided on a property, the realtor can prepare your offer documents (contracts, addenda, disclosures, etc.) for your signature and present them to the seller. One your offer is accepted, your realtor can guide you through the process to a successful close of escrow. This will include having the home inspected, the attorney review of the contracts and the processing of your mortgage financing. If a buyer doesn’t have access to an attorney, lender or home inspector, a realtor will be able to provide references for those services.

Your realtor can also provide significant help in the negotiating process. They know the current market and can tell you whether the home is priced accordingly. They will also be able to assess the market value of the home based on its condition or any upgrades the seller has made.

From a buyer’s perspective, it only makes sense to utilize the services of a professional as you search for your dream home. This is especially true when you consider that you pay no fee for those services.

As a seller, the decision becomes a bit more complicated. Many sellers are discovering that the market value of their home is not as much as they had hoped and they have to sharpen their pencils in order to break even. When you consider a realtor may charge a listing fee of anywhere from 4-6%, the list of costs to sell your home, after the payoff of your mortgage, can make that break even point difficult to attain.

The advantages to listing your home with a realtor are myriad. They include, but are not limited to, the accurate analysis of your home’s market value, the Open Houses, staging recommendations, signage, Multiple Listing Service inclusion and, most of all, the extensive marketing of the home (THE most important advantage).

If a homeowner decides to sell their home by themselves (FSBO or For Sale By Owner), all these costs are borne by the seller. Obviously, the marketing becomes the most costly item. Putting a For Sale sign in your yard and paying for a 2″ x 2″ ad in your local newspaper will not reach the amount of prospective buyers needed to sell your home in a reasonable amount of time. The speed at which a home is sold is directly proportionate to the amount of buyers that view the home. A realtor’s marketing campaign, if effective, can produce a consistent stream of showings. Showings produce offers and offers lead to successful closings.

In the final analysis, a seller has to look at their net proceeds to determine the viability of listing with a realtor. Even with all the advantages listed above, if a seller has to bring money to the closing table, that will weigh heavily on their decision. Being a realtor, I would always recommend listing your home with one of my esteemed colleagues. However, I am not oblivious to the economic conditions that many homeowners face and many people have successfully sold their homes as a FSBO.

Whatever your decision and whether you are a buyer or seller, there are always going to be obstacles that you must overcome. If you find you can’t seem to navigate these obstacles alone… call your local realtor.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Dennis Scaman

The first effects your home makes on a prospective buyer will make or mar your chances of a successful real estate sale. If you are a home owner going into the real estate market for the first time, trimming hedges, modifying outdoor fixtures here and there, and putting a new bright paint on the front door is a good real estate sense.

The state of the American Stock Exchange has been identified to be very crucial to a successful sale of real estate, so do not plan to sale your home without checking out the Curb appeal. Back to your property, the entryway and sitting rooms are the eye catchers for a potential buyer, so have them done up to a welcoming freshness to appeal to your potential home buyer.

Nowadays house buyers are habitual with aesthetics … credit to TV shows and magazines that showcase homes and real estate with designer’s touch of beautifully decorated homes that your potential real estate buyer invariably remembers as he beholds your home. Refurbishing your home to make it ready for the real estate market is very important. Both the exterior and interior of your home should be eye catching to create an enticing mental picture for your potential home buyer.

Paint your house in and out, and for the sitting room it is important to give it a polished look. Eliminate clutter and spruce up all the interior components. It will reduce your chances of both good price and quick sales if the flooring and fixtures are not updated to look fresh, so make them look like you would want them if you were the one looking for a home to buy… If, for instance, the sitting room is being used as a work at home office, you should alter that impression by removing your desk and all office components, your potential home buyer should see a well set out sitting room and nothing more.

A good furniture arrangement highlights the sitting room’s purpose, for instance, a seating area facing a window overlooking a beautiful landscape will surely be an inviting focus to show off your home to the potential buyer.

Following the above advice you can turn a very old real estate into a model home ready for a potential buyer who will be happy with what he or she sees as she takes the tour of your exquisite home. However, do not overdo anything trying to impress. For instance, though home accessories are good, a well positioned few accessories that match the color and texture of your home’s wall and furniture colors will give your home that fresh appeal that new home owners anticipate.

Finally, remember that your potential buyer may have his own political and religious leaning, so to be on the save side, remove all political and religious items you may have in your home while putting it up for sale. You do not want your potential buyer’s sensibility aggravated while he is considering buying your home. The bottom line is that you get good dollar for your home, so make your home look to a potential home buyer as that house he has been looking for.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Ndokwu Enesha

In a difficult real estate market, those attempting to sell their homes need to use every advantage they can to help it move faster. One question many hot tub or spa owners have is whether they should let the hot tub convey with the property. After weighing the options, many home sellers come to the conclusion that it is easier to leave their spa behind. There are several reasons why. These are just a few.

A hot tub raises the property value. When it is properly installed and ready to go, it is considered a luxurious and sophisticated addition to a home. It is a positive selling point, and can be the boost a home seller needs to make the property more appealing than the competition’s home. Most people think it is harder to purchase and install a spa than it really is, so having it ready to go is an advantage for a potential sale over buying a home with a concrete spa pad or empty area to fill. In today’s real estate market, homes that sell faster are those in move-in condition. A spa that is already assembled, installed and in working order fits the bill.

It could be time for an upgrade. Selling the old spa with the property means a new spa is in order with the new home. This gives the owner a chance to buy a newer, nicer model that may have some extra bells and whistles included that were not available when the existing model was manufactured. Many modern hot tubs use more sophisticated hot tub filters, which means they do not need to be changed as often and the water is even cleaner than before. Newer hot tub equipment makes maintenance easier than it used to be, leaving the new spa owner more time for relaxing in it.

Another reason a home seller might wish to convey the appliance with the home is because it is easier to leave it than to take it along. For example, the destination house for the seller may be far away. Rather than attempting to safely transport it or paying extra costs for shipping, it may simply be easier to buy a new one upon arrival in the new location. Another issue may be whether there is enough room in the new home for a hot tub, or whether it already has one.

On the other hand, the seller may not wish to part with the hot tub. People do grow attached to things that are familiar and easy to use. It could be the ideal model, and might be difficult for the homeowner to part with along with everything else.

One downside to letting the spa convey with the rest of the property may lie with the potential homebuyers. They may be unable to afford the added value to the property for sale or may want to haggle over the price. One way to remedy this issue is to simply increase the property value before listing the home, making the spa part of the property before it ever comes into question.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Jeremy P Stanfords

Let’s get right down to it, shall we:

Best REALTOR Slogans

#5. „My job is your future“– Good. So you understand how big of a deal a home purchase is for me.

#4. „Purveyor of fine homes to fine people“ – Not bad; a little boring, but you have a good command of the language and demonstrate strong commitment to a targeted market.

#3. „Sold in 100 days, or I’ll buy it“– Does this belong in the top 5? Yes – because you stand out, commit, and I know I’ll have a guaranteed sale within 4 months.

#2. „I Never Forget You Have a Choice“– That’s what I like to hear – you’ll always have the right motivations while we’re working together.

#1. „Anyone can sell your home. I can sell it for more.“ – Strong, assertive and straight to the point. Let me put you to the test.

Worst REALTOR Slogans

#5. „A Realtor You Can Trust“– Sounds like something your parole officer told you to say.

#4. „No Fancy Punchlines – Just Great Service“– Does this constitute an oxymoron? (Definitely a moron)

#3. „It’s the Energy!“– What does that even mean? I think your doctor over-prescribes stimulants… Out of curiosity, what’s his name (my friend wants to know…)?

#2. „Everything I Touch Turns to Sold!“ – Ha ha! It’s funny, I’ll give you that. But now that the joke’s over can you introduce me to a real REALTOR?

#1. „Spouses Selling Houses“ – Do you include domestic disputes with showings?

Conclusion

This was a tough article to write because there are at least 20 terrible catch phrases for every good one. Some rules of thumb:

• Use common sense – No one wants to hear you state the obvious – and no one is interested in self-indulgence. There’s also not much room for humor (there are exceptions of course), so keep it professional.
• If you say something bold in your slogan, make sure you’re willing to eat, sleep, and breathe by it.
• If you can’t come up with anything good, don’t worry: Clients won’t notice that you don’t have a catch phrase, but you might lose clients if you have a bad one.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Samuel Prochazka

If you are considering selling your home, you are likely thinking about what improvements will increase the home’s value. Upgrading your kitchen to granite countertops and matching stainless appliances are both good investments. Bringing your bathrooms up to date can also increase the house’s selling price. These projects offer a large return on investment but can be expensive up front. If you are on a limited budget for improvements, consider investing in your carport. Garages are a major selling point for buyers and even modest improvements can boost your property’s value.

Garages increase your home’s appraisal by virtue of their existence. These structures count towards your house’s overall square footage. Any square footage translates into added value for your appraisal. Additionally, your property’s appraisal will take into account the other houses in your neighborhood. If a carport is the norm in your neighborhood, you should have one, too. To a professional appraiser, lacking a feature the other homes have means your house has less to offer. This can result in a reduction of value. In this situation, keeping up with the Joneses can actually pay off.

Fortunately, repairs and renovations to garages are relatively inexpensive and offer a large return on investment. In fact, real estate professionals suggest even small changes can make a difference in your home’s value. For example, you can recoup nearly 75 percent of the cost of new doors. Putting up shelving on the walls for more storage will also make the space more attractive. Realtors advise against putting up drywall or cabinets, as these improvements do not offer a return on investment.

Garages can also be a turnoff to a potential buyer. Organization experts say that homeowners parking their cars on the driveway or on the street rather than inside the carport are signaling to prospective buyers that the garage is being used to store things. This suggests that the home is short on storage. Rent a storage facility off-site if you need a place to keep things during your move. Some realtors even suggest parking your cars elsewhere while showing the house so that the carport looks bigger. In this case, you should clean any spills or stains off of the floor.

Additionally, the condition of the carport matters to buyers. If you have a freestanding structure that has fallen into disrepair, realtors advise that you put some money into fixing it. Tearing down the structure means that you have no garage to advertise. Alternatively, you could leave the structure standing so that the new owners can possibly avoid obtaining permits to build a replacement. However, this option will reduce the selling price of your home. If you put a little money into bringing the structure up to par, you can list the property as having a carport and will likely recoup your costs.

Deciding which improvement projects to undertake to prepare your home for sale is an important consideration. Garages have become even more of a selling point, so it is important to make yours useful and practical. If you are on a tight budget, updating your garage is a great way to get a return on your investment.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Andrew Stratton

So, you have decided to sell your home by yourself! You can save many thousands of dollars if you are successful. I have written this guide to assist you. I have seen many FSBOs have unrealistic expectations, and make mistakes along the way that ultimately prevent them from being successful. Did you know that 80% of FSBOs ultimately list their home with a Realtor? I hope these ideas will help put you in the other 20%.

Am I trying to put myself out of business? No. Do I think everyone has the right to sell their home however they see fit? Yes. If your circumstances change, and you decide you want a professional to sell your home for you, please call Gold Valley Realty. We are a full service brokerage firm with a flexible commission structure that is hard to beat.

Tip 1 * Plan Your Strategy

First of all, by when must your home be sold? Is nine months from now OK? Or will you not be able to close on your new home if your current home isn’t sold in nine weeks? What are the consequences and financial impacts if your deadline is not met? Time is a FSBO’s friend.

As of October 2008, the average marketing time for an average priced home listed by a Realtor in the Tucson MLS (Multiple Listing Service) was 78 days. This time varies considerably by location and price range. Ask Gold Valley Realty what the average is for your neighborhood. As a general rule, it normally takes a FSBO about twice as long to sell their home as it does a Realtor with MLS access. In either case, add to that the normal 30 day period from contract negotiation and acceptance until the final closing of the deal.

The name of the game in selling a home is getting as many qualified buyers through the door as possible. Who is a qualified buyer? One who can afford your home! One who verifiably has either the cash or financing available to buy your home. Realtors quickly learn to qualify their buyers before spending a lot of time working for them. You should too.

Speaking of Realtors, are you going to „cooperate“ with them? That is, if they bring the buyer that ultimately buys your home, are you willing to pay them? If so, how much? The vast majority of homes listed in the MLS offer compensation of three percent of the sales price to the buyer’s agent. In my experience, around 90% of FSBOs offer compensation to buyer’s agents.

How do you plan on getting qualified buyers through YOUR front door? Various methods are discussed in detail below.

What is your marketing budget? When and on what are you going to spend it?

Who is going to negotiate and prepare the contract for the sale of your home? Who is going to monitor escrow to quickly identify and resolve any potential deal breakers?

Tip 2 * Price your home correctly.

This obvious step will have the single biggest impact on the success or failure of your temporary career as a FSBO (For Sale By Owner). Yet for most FSBOs this can also be one of the most challenging actions.

The market value of your home is what a ready, willing, and able buyer is willing to pay you for it.

How much a buyer is willing to pay for your home is dependent upon his personal circumstances and motivation; available competing properties in your area; and the prices of recently sold comparable homes in your neighborhood. Information on competing properties and recently sold „comps“ is available through several sources. We highly recommend getting a professional appraisal of your home. That will cost you around $300. Having an objective appraisal in hand has several advantages, not the least of which is being able to provide your buyer with a solidly defensible price established by an independent expert.

There are situations in which it may be more important for you to sell your home quickly rather than getting every last dollar out of your home. In this case, you may wish to price your home a few percent below the appraised value. However, your best bet if time is a serious consideration for you is to list your home with a Realtor. One of the extra benefits of listing with Gold Valley Realty is that we reimburse you for the appraisal at closing! Even if you had the appraisal done while FSBO.

Tip 3 * Marketing Materials

The single most effective marketing tool, by far, is the yard sign! Make yours professional looking. Look for a sign company in your city. Buy one of the information tubes that hang below your yard sign, and stuff it with flyers.

Your flyer should include at least one color photograph, and highlight the facts about your home, especially the asking price, number of bedrooms, square footage, special features, and schools.

Ask if you can post your flyers at nearby grocery stores, churches, schools, apartments, health clubs, country clubs, golf courses, travel agencies, insurance agencies, beauty salons, title companies, mortgage companies! Give some to your friends and neighbors too.

Publish your home information on the world wide web. An increasing number of homebuyers use the internet as a valuable information source.

Newspaper ads can be somewhat useful, more so if used in conjunction with open houses.

Tip 4 * Staging Your Home for Showing

As the old saying goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression! Make sure it is a good one. Make sure your front yard is looking good. Is the handle on your front door showing its age? Replace it. Make sure your home is clean and tidy. Open all drapes, blinds, and shutters. Turn on every light in the house, day or night. A sparsely furnished room shows better than a cluttered room. If you have accumulated a lot of extra stuff over the years, put it in storage! You are moving soon anyway. Does your home pass the sniff test? If you have pets, or are a smoker, it might not. In that case, either replace or professionally deodorize your carpets. If you are having an open house, bake some bread or cookies to make your home smell great.

Tip 5 * Security & Showing Your Home

You can show your home either by appointment or by holding an open house. Setting appointments can be difficult if you are not usually available to answer the phone number on your ads and flyers. You might consider using a voice mail or a live answering service (starting at about $35 per month) to field your ad calls rather than using your home telephone. This offers some security benefits as well.

It is unlikely, though unfortunately not impossible, that criminals will use this opportunity to steal your possessions or hurt your family. A little preparation can go a long way to minimize that possibility.

Consider renting a safety deposit box to store your valuable jewelry, coins, guns, stamps, and memorabilia. Make a list and videotape the contents of your home, and store them in your safe deposit box, or at work. You should also hide cash and prescription drugs in a non-obvious place prior to showing your home.

Have your spouse, friend, or neighbor with you when you show your home. If the „buyer“ is making you nervous or acting suspiciously, ask them to leave.

Tip 6 * Cooperating with Buyer’s Agents

Virtually all homes offered for sale in the Tucson Multiple Listing Service (MLS) have a standing offer of cooperation for a three percent (3.0%) or more commission for the agent that ultimately procures the buyer. You might want to make the same offer to any Realtors that contact you. Why?

Most homebuyers are either already working with a real estate agent, or will be soon after their home search starts. Why? They can get professional representation at NO COST, as the buyer’s agents commission is paid for by the home seller. This means that a buyer can have an agent screen homes for him, set up appointments, accompany him on appointments, advise him as to a home’s market value, write up the offer, negotiate with the seller (or the seller’s agent), set up escrow, be there for inspections, handle any problems that arise, coordinate with the other businesses involved (mortgage company, home inspectors, escrow, title insurance), review final documents for contract compliance, and be there at the closing, all for FREE. Why then would a buyer buy a home without a Realtor working for him?

Tip 7 * Pre-qualify Potential Buyers

Failure of the buyer to qualify for a loan is the single most common cause of a FSBO’s deal falling apart.

Realtors get their buyers pre-qualified with a lender before spending much time and effort on their behalf. I personally will meet with a buyer for an initial consultation whether or not they are pre-qualified, but won’t go beyond that until I know they can either obtain financing or pay cash. I certainly recommend that you don’t enter into a contract with a buyer until you have independent confirmation of their ability to get financing or pay cash. Ask for the name and phone number of their loan officer. Call the loan officer and explain the situation; ask him or her if the buyers can qualify for a mortgage sufficient to buy your home.

Tip 8 * Use Professional Contracts

The contract in use by Realtors nationwide have evolved over time to cover almost all contingencies and disputes that have arisen in the past. I highly recommend that you use this contract, rather than a generic, do-it-yourself real estate contract. Arizona has unique laws and customs about selling real estate. A contract that is useful in another state will not be optimized for use in Arizona. If you have found a buyer, and want to write up a contract, contact a local real estate brokerage and see if you can get a copy of a blank contract.

Tip 9 * Monitor Escrow Closely

You are almost there! You found a buyer, negotiated and signed a contract, and opened escrow with a reputable title company. Actually, there is still much to be done before you sign over the deed at the title company and collect your money.

The buyer will normally have the right to perform whatever inspections he desires in the first 10 days or so after contract acceptance. If he finds problems with the house, roof, appliances, heating, cooling, plumbing, etc., he can either cancel the contract, or ask you to repair or replace the deficiencies. This can be a vexing situation. You as the seller may feel that the buyer is asking for too much. This is something that can be negotiated, but needs to be done diplomatically. Try to keep your pride and emotions from interfering with you ultimate objective of getting the house sold.

Get a written Conditional Loan Approval (CLA) from the mortgage company within the first 10 days after contract acceptance. This is much stronger than a verbal „pre-qualification“, and means your deal has a high probability of closing. Contact the mortgage company about 5 business days before you are scheduled to close; make sure that their documents will be available to the escrow company at least one day before you are due to sign the closing papers.

Tip 10 * Closing Escrow

One last note about closing. Closing on a home sale in Arizona is defined as the documents being recorded at the County Recorder’s Office. After the buyer and seller have signed, the loan package must go back to the mortgage company for final inspection. The mortgage company will then actually transfer funds to the escrow company. Only then can the escrow company send a runner down to the County Recorder’s Office and record the sale. The bottom line is, sign the paperwork the day before the actual closing.

Congratulations!

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Mark Snyder