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Seller Services
Moving from the home in which you and your family have lived, loved and grown can be traumatic. through the years, your home has become an extension of you and your life experiences. Many people find that selling their home is much like giving up a part of themselves, despite the excitement of new challenges, neighborhoods, and friends.
But selling your home does not have to be an emotional nightmare. Once you have made the difficult decision to move, your home becomes a house -- a piece of real estate, which needs to be sold. Removing the emotion from your home should help you concentrate more objectively on the finer points of selling a house outlined in the following paragraphs.
Three major steps in selling a house are addressed: PLANNING THE SALE; PREPARING TO SELL; and SOLD!
As you read, note your questions and concerns to ask your CENTURY 21 Realtor®. With his or her help, and a little work and planning on your part, it shouldn't be long before you can start packing -- for your new home.
PLANNING THE SALE
The Best Way to Sell your House
Once you have made the initial decision to sell, you will immediately be faced with another tough question --is it best to hire a real estate sales associate or try to sell the house yourself?
To sell and market a house requires specialized skills, is time consuming, and costs money. Are you prepared to buy advertising space? Advertising is one way to let the buying public know your house is on the market. If not, can you afford the time it will take to sell your house with only a sign in the yard? Are you willing to stay close to home for days, weeks, maybe months to show your house? Do you possess the necessary legal and financial knowledge to answer buyers' questions, negotiate a contract, or close a sale?
If you answered "No" to any of the above questions, perhaps hiring a real estate firm to help would be the most efficient way to sell your house. They can be indispensable to you in the following ways. A real estate professional will:
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Access the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which exposes your house to all cooperating members brokers
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Assist with pricing the house properly based on Comparative Market Analysis
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Provide a detailed marketing plan
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Screen potential buyers for financial qualifications
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Provide suggestions for making your property more attractive to potential buyers
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Show your home whether or not you are there
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Answer potential buyers' questions
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Present all offers
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Assist with negotiating the sale
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Facilitate the closing process
PREPARING TO SELL
Of course, any major repairs should be completed before showing the house, if a top selling price is expected. Limit your repairs to functional parts of the house, such as the roof, plumbing, and major appliances. Cosmetic changes like new carpeting and draperies may not match your future buyer's tastes and could even discourage the sale.
The key words to remember in preparing your house are neat and clean...sparkling clean...clean enough for royalty to visit. Take a look at crowded closets and untidy flowerbeds, but potential buyers will!
Make a list of jobs and begin the work today.
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Fast, Simple Fix-ups that Will Help You Sell Your Home, for the Highest Possible Price
SOLD!
All offers for your property must be presented. Your sales associate will counsel and advise you, but the final decision will be yours. Review every offer, comparing the financial qualifications and readiness to buy of each buyer.
When you decide what terms are acceptable, let your sales associate negotiate with the buyer. The sales associate will cover all costs you are willing to pay and what you expect of the buyer. A suitable deposit will be collected from the buyer prior to any acceptance of the purchase offer. A written agreement stating all conditions of the sale will be signed by both parties.
Now comes the time to sit back and be patient. The buyer is busy arranging mortgage financing. The real estate company and the title company are beginning to accumulate data and prepare documents. The sales associate is checking on the progress of the sale. You can concentrate on the important matter of packing and moving to your new home.
Final closing day will be scheduled when all the steps are completed. Both parties must sign the final closing documents. Once you present an executed deed to the buyer and receive the check in the amount agreed upon, your house is successfully sold.
Congratulations! Selling a house is one of the largest transactions you may ever undertake. But with some careful planning, and by following the advise of your Realtor®, it can be a very satisfying experience. If you have any questions, please give us a call and one of our agents will be glad to assist you.
2003 Media Schedule
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