Overview
Sell Yourself?
Don't sell yourself short. Let us assist you with the legal complications. The money you think you may be saving in brokerage fees may not be a saving at all. You don't want to lose a deal or end up in legal entanglements that would cost you in the long run.
The Seasons
Planting a for sale sign among the spring flowers makes for attractive advertising, but knowing the market in every season makes a real difference in the timely sale of your home. CENTURY 21 AA Realty agents sell houses year-round and can help you identify all the factors affecting property sales in your area. Your house may sell just as well on a chilly November day when interest rates are low and the scent of freshly baked cookies is wafting through your home.
Market Analysis
When you are trying to determine a fair price for your home you have the choice of doing your own estimation, hiring a professional appraiser or consulting a real estate agent at CENTURY 21 AA Realty.
If want to hire an appraiser, we can help you find one who has worked with lenders. An appraiser’s estimation of property cash value is based on sales of similar homes in the current market, and there is no guarantee that you will sell your home for its appraised value.
Setting a Selling Price
If you find yourself in a buyers’ market, there are more sellers wanting to sell in your area than there are prospective purchasers, and property values move downward. At other times you’re in a sellers’ market in which property value will go up.
In order to determine what you can expect your property to sell for in today's market, we will help you look at the recent selling prices of similar homes in your area. The selling price is indicative of the price you can expect to get, not the listing price, as one might think. The type and condition of the buildings on your property, the size of the lot, zoning, topography and location all help to determine the listing price that your agent will recommend.
Intelligent Pricing
The lower the asking price of a property, the higher the motivation to sell, and vice versa. Some sellers simply want a return on their initial investment, while others are factoring in what they need to buy a new property.
Comparing Property Values
You can judge a particular property as an investment by knowing sales figures for other similar local properties. This information is available to anyone. CENTURY 21 AA Realty keeps track of selling prices, dates of sale and details of financing on sales. We have been involved in the actual sales and can supply additional information about properties of interest.
Disclose Everything
Before you sell your home, you can either make necessary repairs or let potential buyers know of all the problems. If a buyer foregoes structural inspection, it is still the seller’s responsibility to let them know of all the detriments. Failure to do so leads to lawsuits over false information.
Marketing Your Home
CENTURY 21 AA Realty will work with you to develop a detailed marketing plan addressing what to expect while your property is on the market. It will tell you what we are doing to sell your home, and suggest ways in which you can help your property sell. From the day you sign a listing agreement, you and your agent will be in regular communication.
At CENTURY 21 AA Realty, you'll find agents who make the best use of television and newspaper advertising, and use state-of-the-art technology. Open houses also help expose your property to a wide variety of house-hunters.
Showing the House
Your house should always be available for show, even though it may occasionally be inconvenient for you. Let your listing agent put a lock box in a convenient place to make it easy for other agents to show your home to homebuyers. Otherwise, agents will have to schedule appointments, which is far less convenient.
Open House
Once your home is on the market you need to show prospective buyers what a great place it is. Have an open house. Your CENTURY 21 AA Realty agent can handle this for you. They will do all the footwork and share what you can do to prepare for a showing. You don’t have to be around for the showing, and in fact, we suggest you leave the house.
Prepare Your Home for Kids
Use your common sense when preparing your home for viewing. Place electrical cords and breakable or sharp objects out of reach of small hands. Place a clearly visible note advising parents to supervise young children near stairs, decks and other areas of concern.
If your marketing plan has identified young families as potential buyers, you may want to put a few toys out to keep kids entertained, and to help parents see your home as a place where their family would be safe and happy.
Finding a Buyer
Your CENTURY 21 AA Realty agent will take care of advertising your home using specialized media and direct mail techniques, adding it to the Multiple Listing Service and putting signs out to catch the attention of people driving by. But at the same time, your assistance is needed to find that buyer.
The First Offer
When a property is fresh on the market, there usually is a rush of prospective buyers ready to make a purchase. If they like what they see and the price fits, they are likely anxious to make a deal. The offer may not be exactly what you hoped for, but consider negotiating, as this may very well be the highest offer you receive.
Preparing to Sell
Prospective buyers will want to know that the structure is in good shape, and that the plumbing and wiring are functioning properly. A pre-purchase inspection will be commissioned to assure that this is so.
Fix everything before you list the property. A lengthy list of items brought to light by the inspection may deter interested buyers from proceeding with the purchase. This is especially true if your listing is competing against new construction in the area.
Renovating
Renovations can be quite costly and may not be the selling point of the property. Everyone has different tastes and it would be wise to trust CENTURY 21 AA
Realty professionals in knowing how to present your property in the best possible light. A prospective buyer will be looking at your home and imagining how they might make changes to suit their tastes.
Back to Top
INTERIOR
Atmosphere
Place yourself in the buyer’s shoes and consider the overall atmosphere of your home. In walking through your home, be especially aware of color, lighting and odors.
Smell
A clean-smelling house creates a positive image in a potential buyers mind. Be aware of odors from cooking, cigarettes and pets, which may put off potential buyers.
Color
When painting or replacing carpet, be mindful of your color selection. You want to appeal to as broad a segment of the buying market as possible. Stay with neutral colors - letting the new owner select their own color schemes.
Lighting
Try taking advantage of as much of the natural light as possible by cleaning windows and opening drapes and shades. Add lamps where necessary. Check that all the fixtures are clean and the bulbs are working. Consider increasing the bulb wattage in basement areas.
Walls
Check for peeling paint and loose wall paper. Once again, think of repainting with neutral colors if the existing walls are bold or unusual.
Floors
Clean all wall-to-wall carpeting and area rugs. Clean and polish linoleum, tile and wooden floors. Consider refinishing hardwood floors if necessary.
Closets
Rid closets of off-season clothing and begin packing for the move. Organize closets to emphasize the most efficient use of the space. Leave as few items on the floor and shelves as possible.
The Importance of Storage Space
Buyers looking for their first home come from apartments or small rental homes where storage space is severely limited. Those looking to trade up often do so because of an increase in family size: they too are space conscious.
Whatever the situation, the closets and storage areas of your home are sure to receive close scrutiny during a showing. Accordingly, you should do your best to see that they are kept uncluttered and uncrowded.
Furniture
Arrange furniture to give rooms as spacious a feeling as possible. Consider removing furniture from rooms that are too crowded. Avoid the cluttered look. Pack up or store knickknacks both to protect them and to give the room a more spacious feel while leaving enough items for a personal touch. Store large furniture if necessary.
Plumbing
Even if plumbing inadequacies don’t leap out at the buyer on first glance, anyone making a serious offer will probably ask for a structural contingency. This allows the buyer to have an expert check systems and appliances carefully.
Woodwork
Clean and wash all woodwork if necessary. Pay particular attention to kitchens and bathrooms.
Kitchen
The hub of most family life is the kitchen and, as such, is extremely important to most buyers. The kitchen is one area of your home in which a small investment may very well bring you a higher selling price. Your kitchen must be clean and free of clutter when buyers are viewing your property. There should be no dishes in the sink and your appliances and floor should shine.
CENTURY 21 AA Realty can help you take a critical look at your kitchen and advise if a minimal investment in paint, new flooring, countertop or new cabinet fronts would be in your best interest.
Basement and Attic
The basement and attic should be clean and organized. Check to see that the stairs are clear and handrails are secure. Remove, give away, or store any items that will not be moved with you. Pack any other items neatly in boxes.
Garage
Sweep and wash the floor to remove any dirt and stains. Organize all the tools, garden equipment and sporting gear.
Pets
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. Do everybody a favor and keep pets outside, or at least out of the way.
Back to Top
EXTERIOR
Landscaping
The investment you make in time, effort and money on the landscaping of the grounds and surroundings of your home not only enhances its value when you decide to sell, but contributes much to your enjoyment of the property during your own residence there.
The Lawn
The yard should be neatly mowed, raked and edged.
Trees and Shrubs
Plants should be pruned and shaped to compliment the property.
Flowers
Consider planting seasonal flowers for color.
Sidewalks and Driveways
Paths, walkways and the driveway should be swept and washed to remove debris, dirt and stains. Cracks should be repaired or patched.
Painting
Look over your home for any needed maintenance as a buyer would. Repaint or touch-up as necessary. Consider both the exterior and interior. You don’t want potential buyers turned off by the exterior before they even see the inside of your home.
Doors and Windows
All doors and windows should be in good working order. Clean and paint doors if it is necessary, wash all windows, and replace any cracked or broken windows panes. Window screens should be replaced if they are torn or missing. Check locks to ensure they are working properly.
Roof, Gutters and Down Spouts
Consider a roof inspection prior to selling. Clean out gutters and down spouts, and replace if they are worn out or missing.
Back to Top |
