Selling your home shouldn’t be a stressful ordeal. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your investment in your home pays off. Our services and experience allow you to focus on your move while we manage your home sale from our initial consultation to the closing deal, and beyond. We pride ourselves on repeat business and hope you’ll come to understand why. 


WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU? 


We know that presentation of the home is extremely important. To help, we’ll put you in contact with stagers to generate curb appeal and ensure a higher selling price. We provide HD quality professional photos/videos to ensure the home sells quickly. By executing a strategic marketing plan, we aim to maximize exposure of the listing. Not only do we use the Internet and social media tactics, but often reach out to past clients and advocates to assist with obtaining offers. When one (or multiple) is presented, 30-years of negotiation skills are put into play to be sure you get the best price for your home.


We take pride in helping clients find their next home and are always available to answer any questions about the local market area. As your agent, we will complete a CMA that will compare your home’s value to that of your neighbor’s. To get a general idea of what homes are listed and sold for in your area, you can access our home search tool, here. To get a more detailed analysis, (square footage, beds/baths, days on market, etc.), and suggestions on how to sell you home quicker, ask us about a free CMA! 


WHAT IS A CMA AND WHEN SHOULD I ASK FOR ONE?


The value of you home is more difficult to predict than you think. There are several home valuation sites available, but most of the time, their information is based on past sales and doesn’t factor in the current market. The best method in finding the value of your home is a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), and you should ask for one right away.


In doing a CMA, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is used to conduct research on comparable properties in the area. This includes properties listed and sold in the last 12 months, active listings, pending sales and unsold properties. Having that knowledge up front makes giving the home a value easier once a walk-through takes place. Keep in mind your home does not have to be in perfect condition for the walk-through, however, property condition does play a huge factor in determining the sale price. Updates may be suggested, but if already planned, let the agent know up front. Keep in mind that a CMA is NOT an appraisal and is based on the knowledge and experience of the real estate professional. Contact us for a free CMA today! 


MY HOME DIDN’T SELL… WHAT’S NEXT?

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Every day homes expire and new ones are listed for sale. Just because your home didn’t sell right away, doesn’t mean it won’t EVER sell. It’s important to analyze the “why?”. There are a number of reasons a home expires but the most common is because the home was overpriced. It is crucial your real estate agent is knowledgeable of the market and is able to price homes appropriately. If there is no interest in the home or hardly any showings within the first couple of weeks, it is important to do a price reduction. 

Another huge reason is that the real estate agent selling the home was not the correct agent for the job. It is extremely important to research and interview several agents when going through the hiring process. Asking the right questions will point you to the right agent for the job. Below are just a few: 


How long have you been in real estate?
How many homes have you sold in the last year? In your career?
Of these sales, what is the average days on market?
What was the average difference from the list price to the final sale price?
What is your marketing plan?


Lack of a strategic marketing plan can make a home extremely difficult to sell, especially in today’s market. Over 90% of buyers begin their home search online. If your agent’s online presence is non-existent, how can they expect to sell your home? Now, social media and the Internet are a HUGE way to increase exposure on listings, but that’s not the only way to market. Reaching out to past clients, center of influence, investors and networking with other agents and advocates are a huge part in getting a home sold. If your agent did none of these things, chances are that’s why your home didn’t sell. Speak with your agent on how they can be more aggressive when marketing your property OR simply hire a new agent! 


WHAT TO EXPECT AT CLOSING…


Closing costs can be such a Debbie downer. We want you to be prepared with what you may be responsible for at closing. In doing so, we prepare a settlement net sheet UP FRONT which includes commission, title insurance fees, home inspection fees, taxes and any other miscellaneous fees.


To break it down, title insurance fees depend on the sales price of the home. Commission is a full-service fee and can range anywhere between 5 and 7%. Keep in mind, commission is typically split 50/50 with the buyer’s agent. Local property transfer tax, county transfer tax, state transfer tax, and state capital gains tax are the charges that you’ll pay for the privilege of selling your home. Credit to the buyer of unpaid real estate taxes for the prior or current year are variable and depend on when you close and when your taxes are due. Home inspections fees are in some circumstances paid for by the seller and include pest, radon and other inspections. Lastly, miscellaneous fees can accrue from correcting problems noticed during the home inspection or from any credits given to the buyer.