RESOURCES FOR
SELLERS
BY COURTNEY CHARNEY
RESOURCES FOR
SELLERS
If you are considering selling a home, feel free to utilize the information below to help you get your house in “selling shape.”
PREPARING YOUR HOME
In our present real estate market, once your home is on the market, the first few weeks are critical. This is when most real estate agents will be exposing the property to their clients. Logically, the home should show as well as possible when it goes on the market.
It is also very important that potential buyers are provided as much information as possible to assist them in making an informed decision – one that will not be undermined simply because a relevant inspection report was not available. We don’t want the buyer to get “cold feet” or to seek a renegotiation of price because of new information not contemplated at the time of the offer. Also, we are more likely to get an “as-is” offer if the buyer has a better picture of the condition of the property via inspections.
STAGING
In some cases, complete or partial staging is an important part of preparing your home for sale. I work with some great companies that will completely furnish your vacant home, or bring in accessories to accent your own furniture.
Devise a Marketing Program
Marketing your home is a very important part of the selling process. Throughout the selling process, I will periodically report back to you with recent market activity, current marketing efforts, recommendations for future marketing efforts, and provide you with copies of advertising. I work with a marketing company and design team to create my ads, brochures, and other printed materials. Since each home is unique, the marketing plan varies depending on the needs of the client as well as the particular home. Marketing your home will include advertisements in local papers and online at both www.courtneycharney.com and www.apr.com, which gives potential buyers 24-hour access to information.
Actively Marketing Your Home
- Submit property to the Multiple Listing Service and hold a “Broker Open House” for the Realtor tour
- Hold open houses for potential buyers (Saturdays and/or Sundays)
- Contact agents who show the property
- Ensure that prospective buyers receive reports and disclosures prior to writing offers on your property
- Revise marketing plan and pricing strategy as necessary
- As often as possible, pre-qualify prospective buyers
- Present all offers to you with an overview of price and terms and negotiate on your behalf
- Upon contract acceptance, carefully monitor the interim closing period and keep you informed on all lender, title, and other closing procedures
After-Sale Service
I assist my clients with a variety of post-sale needs such as finding a home (see “The Buying Process” detailing the step-by-step buying process). Whether it’s my amazing mover (he’s really great) or a personal organizer, I have many resources aimed at making the selling and moving process as painless as possible.