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The Tampa Bay Areas' Favorite Source for Real Estate |
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Sellers Selling a home is a complex endeavor but can be made much easier if you understand the process and the order of the transaction. Take a moment to review our buying process made easy links, then contact us anytime with questions Selling Agents There are two sides to a Real Estate Transaction. The listing agent is the generally the agent for the seller and the buyer agent is usually the agent for the buyer. However, the agent may be a transaction broker which helps facilitate the transaction while being fair and impartial to both parties. Pricing and Timing Pricing your property accurately is one of the most critical decisions you will make. A well priced listing is the most important factor in marketing the property for top price. Naturally, listing a property too low will preclude the opportunity for getting top dollar. On the other hand, setting the price too high discourages showings and tends to eliminate the most likely buyers from viewing the property. The six major factors affecting value are:
Obviously, everyone would like to sell in a "seller's market" where there are few properties available for the amount of buyers. This is not the real world most of the time. Whatever the market is at the time you sell, the primary determining factor of how quickly your property sells is the price. Properly priced property sells faster and for more money during the first weeks of the listing. Pricing a property higher than justified can cause you to miss the prime marketing period. Preparing to Sell HOMES TEND TO SELL MORE QUICKLY AND FOR HIGHER PRICES WHEN THEY LOOK THEIR BEST. CREATE CURB APPEAL: The value of curb appeal is in enticing drive-by buyers to want to come inside the home. The yard should, at least, be comparable to the neighborhood. Adding a splash of color by planting annuals along the entryway helps. CLEAN! CLEAN! Have the carpet shampooed; wash and clean the windows, blinds, drapes and lighting fixtures. KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS: Clear off counter tops. Maximize the available counter space. These rooms should be gleaming. If unsightly, have the tub re-caulked and remove mineral deposits and grime from the shower walls. Clean the stove, microwave and refrigerator. REPAIRS: Identify and repair dripping faucets, sticking or creaking doors, etc. FURNITURE: The less furniture, the larger a room appears to be. A LIGHT APPEARANCE: As a rule, do everything to lighten the appearance of the home. Raise the blinds, open the drapes and use light colors. THE HOUSE: Take a close, careful look as you walk through the house. Pick up clutter and anything that looks out of order or dirty. Repair or replace anything that looks loose, dingy, rusted or broken. Make sure the doorbell works. Replace the tired looking mail box. THE GARAGE: The time has come! Discard virtually everything in the garage that hasn't been used for a year. Stack everything else neatly as possible. THE YARD: Trim the trees and shrubs. Lay down some ground cover. Mend the fence, and fix the gate latch. Consider some new plants. The Offer The offer should be carefully reviewed and considered. A letter of pre-approval from a lending source should accompany an offer. Don't be offended is the offer seems extremely low. Simply Appraisal and Inspections Appraisals: Your buyer's lender will most likely want the property appraised. It is in your best interest to allow the appraiser into your house as soon as possible. The faster the appraiser sends the completed appraisal to the lender the sooner the lender will make their final decision on the buyer's loan. This is for your benefit as well as the buyer. Inspections: The buyer has the right to have a wide variety of property inspections to determine the property's condition. These inspections can include, but are not limited to: roof, termite/pest, chimney/fireplace, property boundary survey, well, septic, pool and spa. The costs of the inspections are usually paid for by the buyer, and the seller may be responsible for any repairs. The responsibility as to who pays for repairs of any problem that may be found should be clearly defined in the purchase contract. Home Buyer Protection Warranties : There are a number of companies that offer home warranties to home owners. These warranties can cover almost every mechanical device in a home up to and including a garage door opener. As a seller you may want to offer this warranty at the time you list your property for sale. It's a great selling tool, and it will give potential buyers peace of mind. Prior to Closing Final Walk through Inspection: Quite a few buyers like to do a "walk-through" prior to signing the final loan and purchase documents. Be sure that the property is in a similar condition to when the buyers first looked at the house. Home Services and Utilities: A few days prior to the close of escrow call all your utility companies and tell them you're moving. It's polite to notify them that new buyers are moving in and will be calling to establish service. This will keep the utility companies from turning service off completely. Close of Escrow: This is the last step in the selling process. The title company will prepare a closing statement showing what loan(s) you are paying off on the property, pro-rated property taxes, fees for escrow and title and a deed for you to grant title to the buyer. IMPORTANT: Prior to the close of escrow make arrangements with the escrow officer as to how to disperse funds to you. If you aren't going to be in town to pick up a check have the title company "wire transfer" the funds directly to your bank account. There is a minor fee for this; however it's better than waiting on the check to arrive in the mail! To begin, simply call us or visit our Contact Us Link and let us know your specific housing needs. One of our experienced Licensed Realtors will begin helping you promptly. From the first contact, you will see that our service and professionalism are second to none. Contact us today! Superior Service to one Satisfied Customer at a Time!
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