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Choosing
your REALTORŪ
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The most important decision you will make in the
sale of your home is the Realtor you choose. Some
points to consider:
Find someone you feel comfortable with. If you don 抰
feel you can ask questions or go to
your Realtor, you have the wrong Realtor.
Your Realtor should show you research to back up
any recommendations. This includes information about
recent sales, current listings and recent expired
listings in your neighbourhood.
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 neighbourhood,
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
the very specific local market.
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 抰 sell
the home!
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Benefits
of Proper Pricing
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Faster sale
When your home sells faster, you save carrying costs,
mortgage payments and other ownership costs.
Less inconvenience
If you've moved before, you know the energy it takes
to prepare for showings: keeping the home clean,
making child care arrangements and altering your
lifestyle. Proper pricing reduces these demands on
you, by helping your home sell faster.
Exposure to more prospects
At market value, you open your home up to more people
who can afford the price. Sellers who list at a high
price in the hope that they 抣l
find the one purchaser who will pay it, often do not
realize that they have discouraged many potential
purchasers who could have afforded the price they end
up accepting at a later date.
Increased salesperson response
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!
Better response from advertising and sign calls
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, and will not waste time on a home
they consider overpriced.
Attracts higher offers
When a home is priced right, buyers fear they might
lose out on a good home , so they are less likely to
make "low ball offers."
Means more money to sellers
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.
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Make
a good first impression
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First impressions count with buyers. In today's age
of consumerism, every buyer is comparative shopping. A
small investment in time and money can give your home
a solid advantage over competing properties. So by
paying attention to detail now, you can enhance the
perceived value later. The following are some
suggestions for preparing your home to show to its
best advantage.
Create A Buying Mood
- Turn on lights
- Turn on air conditioner/heater
- Open the drapes
- Light the fireplace
Exterior Appearance
- Keep lawns cut
- Trim hedges and shrubs
- Weed and edge gardens
- Clear driveway and clean up oil spills
- Clean out garage
- Touch up paint
- Make repairs where needed
Create Space
- Clear halls and stairs of clutter
- Store surplus furniture
- Clear kitchen counter and stove top
- Clear closets of unnecessary clothing
- Remove empty boxes and containers
Maintainence
- Repair leaking taps and toilets
- Clean furnace and filters
- Tighten door knobs and latches
- Repair cracked plaster
- Touch up paint
- Clean and repair windows
- Repair seals around tubs and basins
- Replace defective light bulbs
- Oil squeaking doors
- Repair squeaking floor boards
Squeaky Clean
- Clean and freshen bathrooms
- Clean fridge and stove (in and out)
- Clean around heating vents
- Clean washer and dryer
- Clean carpets, drapes and window blinds
At The Front Door
- Clean porch and foyer
- Ensure door bell works
- Repair screen on door
- Fresh paint or varnish front door
- Repair door locks and key access
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Moving
Checklist
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Send change of address to:
- Post Office: Give forwarding address
- Subscriptions: Notice requires several weeks
- Friends & Relatives
Be sure to contact:
- Bank: Transfer funds, arrange check-cashing in
new city.
- Insurance: Notify new location for coverage
(Life, health, fire, auto, homeowners).
- Automobile: Transfer car title registration;
also driver's license; state windshield sticker;
motor club membership.
- Utilities: Gas, light, water, telephone, fuel,
get refund of any deposit made; arrange for
immediate service in new town; arrange final
reading and change of name for billing.
- Route Men: Laundry, paper boy, milk man:change
over services.
- School: Ask for copies or transfer of children's
records.
- Medical: Ask Doctor, Dentist, Pharmacist for
referrals; transfer needed prescriptions, eye
glasses, X-rays and records.
- Organizations: Transfer memberships (Houses of
worship, clubs, civic organizations); get letter
of introduction.
- Pets: Ask about regulations for licenses,
vaccinations, tags.
And, don't forget to:
- Empty freezer; plan use of foods.
- Defrost freezer-refrigerator. (Place charcoal to
dispel odors.)
- Have appliances serviced for moving.
- Clean rugs or clothing, before moving; have them
"moving-wrapped."
- Check with your moving counselor: insurance
coverage, packing and unpacking labor, arrival
day, various shipping papers, method and time of
expected payment.
- Plan for special care needs of infants.
- Plan garage sale.
And on moving day:
- Carry currency, jewelry, documents yourself; or
use registered mail.
- Plan for transporting pets. (They are poor
traveling companions if unhappy.) Make sure you
can be found if they become lost.
- 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."
- Double check closets, drawers, shelves (to be
sure they are empty).
- Leave all old keys. needed by new tenant or
owners, with agent or Realtor.
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