For Sellers
Be sure to ask about my exclusive Maximum Profit Assurance Plan!
If I don't have a Buyer looking for a home like yours today, I can find one for you. Through my marketing programs, you'll maximize the exposure of your home so it sells for top dollar (and quickly)!
When it comes to hiring someone to market your home, it is important for you to have all the information you need to make the right hiring decision.
As a Broker, it is my goal to ensure that you have all the vital information you need to make the right choice when it comes to building a relationship with a professional. You need to hire a Realtor who shares your goal -- getting your home SOLD as quickly as possible, yet still maximizing your profit. My advertising industry background is especially important to you for this reason. I'll show you how to guarantee maximum dollar on your home no matter what type of market we're experiencing in the DFW area!
Advertising a product for clients such as Poulan-WeedEater, Southwestern Bell, Bryan Foods, or PageNet is very similar to marketing a home. Many aspects must be evaluated in order to reach the right buyer for your home, or the buyer of those products. My experience enables me to do that successfully. I'll explain this in detail when we meet.
For important information you'll need to know before considering who you'll choose as your real estate professional, be sure to check out the links below.
Deadly Mistakes
Remodel or Move?
Marketing Tools
Questions to Ask
Mistake #1. Using a real estate agent instead of a Realtor.
When you're looking for help buying or selling property, it's important to remember that the terms "real estate agent" and "Realtor" are not synonymous. Realtors can provide an extra level of service, and to be a Realtor you must be a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The NAR is a non-profit trade organization that promotes real estate information, education and professional standards. The National Association of Realtors also has earned a strong reputation for actively championing private property rights and working to make home ownership affordable and accessible. The NAR adheres to a strict code of ethics founded on the principle of providing fair and honest service to all consumers. Realtor business practices are monitored at local board levels. Arbitration and disciplinary systems are in place to address complaints from the public or board members. This local oversight keeps Realtors directly accountable to the individual consumers they serve and therefore the consumer is more likely to find better service and accountability by using a Realtor.
Mistake #2. Complacent marketing when selling a home
When selling your home there are no guarantees that the ultimate buyer of your home will have simply walked through the front door. In many cases you may have to bring your home to the buyer and that requires an aggressive marketing plan. Effective marketing will help ensure that your property receives maximum exposure to attract a ready, willing and able buyer in the shortest period of time. Ask your Realtor to list for you all of the ways he/she intends to market your home and on what time-line. Also, be sure to ask about the home being advertised on the Internet.
Mistake #3. Taking for granted the "curb appeal" of your home
When you're preparing your house for sale, remember the importance of first impressions. A buyer's first impression can make or break whether they even want to go inside for a look. It is estimated that more than half of all houses are sold before the buyers even get out of their cars. With that in mind, be sure to stand outside of your home and take a realistic "fresh look" and then ask yourself what can be done to make the "curb appeal" improve. Also ask your Realtor's opinion as to how to improve the curb appeal. It could make a huge difference in your final sales price.
Mistake #4. Forgetting about health and safety issues
Be up front and disclose to your Realtor any problems with the property. The problems are going to be discovered anyway. A decade ago, health and safety issues were rarely a part of the typical real estate transaction. Today, however, it's common for inspections relating to health, safety, and even environmental concerns to be a part of most sales contracts. Moreover, in many states, the seller must disclosure to the buyer any knowledge of existing property problems. In many cases, these issues have been or can be factored into the home's listing price.
Mistake #5. Forgetting what you would want to see if you were the buyer of your home
Remember that although people can be different in personality, they tend to be the same when it comes to expectations at someone else's expense. In other words, a prospective buyer would probably like to see a perfect home from top to bottom, inside and out, when it comes to your home. Try to do as many of the following items as possible to improve the likelihood of your home sale in an expedient way.
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On the outside
- Sweep front walkway.
- Remove newspapers, bikes and toys.
- Park extra cars away from the property.
- Trim back the shrubs.
- Apply fresh, clean paint throughout.
- Clean windows and window coverings throughout.
- Keep plumbing and all appliances in working order.
- Maintain all sealant (window, tub, shower, sink, etc.) in good condition.
- Make sure roof and gutters are clean and in good condition.
- Mow the lawn frequently and plant flowers.
- Keep pet areas clean.
On the inside - The kitchen and bathroom should shine.
- Quick once-over with the vacuum; carpets should be clean.
- Place fresh flowers in the main rooms.
- Put dishes away, unless setting a formal display for decoration.
- Make all beds and put all clothes away.
- Open drapes and turn on lights for a brighter feel.
- Straighten closets.
- Put toys away.
- Turn off television.
- Play soft music on the radio/stereo.
- Keep pets out of the way and pet areas clean and odor-free.
- Secure jewelry, cash, prescription medication and other valuables.
- Enhance the spaciousness of each room.
Mistake #6. Thinking you need to be in the home to explain things to a prospective buyer
You will be better served if you allow your Realtor to do their job without you there. Most potential buyers usually feel more comfortable if they can speak freely to the real estate professional without the owners being present. If people unaccompanied by an agent request to see your property, you should refer them to your real estate professional for an appointment.
Mistake #7. Not knowing how to price your home to sell
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of selling a home is listing it at the correct price. It's one of several areas where the assistance of a skilled real estate agent can more than pay for itself. Listing the home too high can be as bad as too low. If the listing price is too high, you'll miss out on a percentage of buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. This is the flaw in thinking that you'll always have the opportunity to accept a lower offer. Chances are the offers won't even come in, because the buyers who would be most interested in your home have been scared off by the price and aren't even taking the time to look. By the time the price is corrected, you've already lost exposure to a large group of potential buyers. The listing price becomes even trickier to set when prices are quickly rising or falling. It's critical to be aware of where and how fast the market is moving - both when setting the price and when negotiating an offer. Again, an experienced, well-trained agent is always in touch with market trends - often even to a greater extent than appraisers, who typically focus on what a property is worth if sold as-is, right now.
Mistake #8. Not planning your move early enough
Many sellers simply don't plan their move early enough and then feel totally overwhelmed at the time of moving out of the house. If you are able to move at any time of the year, don't wait until summer, the peak-moving season. Consider also that the first and last few days of the month are extra busy. If you plan to sell your house, get it on the market as soon as possible. Keep a record of all expenses related to the move, some of which may be tax deductible. Fill out the Personal Household Inventory for each room. This is important for establishing the amount of declared valuation for the shipment and as a permanent inventory for insurance purposes. List, as nearly as possible, the year of purchase and original cost of each item. Attach any invoices or records of purchase to the completed inventory. Prepare a separate high-value inventory if the shipment will contain articles of "extraordinary" value. The following list includes items that might fall into this category:
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Also, unless you have been given a binding moving estimate where a firm cost is established in advance, the exact cost of a move cannot be determined until after the shipment has been loaded on the van and weighed. The weight on which charges are based is calculated by weighing the van before and after loading. The total cost of the move will include transportation charges, any charges for declared valuation, plus charges for any extra services performed at your request. All of these charges are based on tariff rate schedules.
Mistake #9. Using a "convenient" Realtor rather than using an experienced Realtor
When working with a real estate agent, it's critical that you have full confidence in that agent's experience and education. A skilled, knowledgeable agent should be able to explain to you exactly why your home needs to be priced at a certain level - compared to recent listings and sales of homes similar to yours. Experienced agents also know exactly what the current pool of buyers are looking for in relation to particular styles and price ranges of properties. A skilled agent can recommend changes that will enhance the sales appeal of your home, thus increasing the price - and/or decreasing the length of time before a sale.
Tip # 1. Compare the cost of moving to remodeling. Moving is expensive, typically involving a commission on the sale of your current home (frequently ranging from 4.5%-7%), plus another 2-4% for closing, moving, and other costs. If you like the present neighborhood then consider what improvements you could make with 8-10% of your home's current value before you decide to move. Be careful to consider Tip #3.
Tip # 2. Plan ahead. There is nothing worse than thinking of a brilliant idea/addition after the job is done. You can reduce this risk by doing some advance research. Study design trends, talk to friends with knowledge and experience with the type of remodeling you're considering, hire an architect or remodeler (get references first). Start a file for articles and ideas for your project. There are inexpensive software programs available which allow you to play around with your ideas via the computer instead of pen and paper.
Tip #3. Don't over improve! Some remodeling jobs, such as an overhaul of a dated bath or kitchen, or adding an additional bath to a house with only one, can return more than 100% of the cost at the sale of the home. It may also help the home sell faster. However, if you just want a new look you won't recover your investment if you increase the value of the home more than surrounding homes in your area.
Tip #4. Schedule plenty of time for the job. Murphy's law applies to remodeling. If you expect a contractor to compress a six week job into five weeks, you're asking for trouble. Also, you can save money and probably get the job done faster if you have the ability to schedule it in the off season when contractors have fewer jobs to bid on. Another helpful hint is to include in the remodeling contract that the fee decreases $X per day if the job isn't completed on time.
Tip # 6. Request a comprehensive bid. It should detail as many of the specifications as possible. Get bids from more than one company. If one of the bids is unusually low, make sure that they have included everything. If they have, make sure you've thoroughly covered tip #5. Make sure a permit is issued by the city BEFORE work begins.
Tip #7. Consider doing some of the easy work yourself. If the bids are higher than expected and too much for you to afford, you might be surprised how much money you can save. But make sure you're not getting into something you don't have the knowledge or time to do. Things that come up near the end of the job, such as painting, finish carpentry, etc. are good bets since the other parts aren't dependent on their completion. Some can even be done after the issuance of the final occupancy permit.
Tip #8. Get a comprehensive written contract. It will greatly reduce the likelihood of disputes with your remodeler. Make sure it covers the description of the project, timetable, payment schedule, etc., with general provisions defining the responsibility of the contractor and the subcontractors, defects and correction, change order procedures, warranties, right to termination, and alternative dispute settlement mechanisms (because more than half of the costs of lawsuits represent legal fees, you and your contractors will be better off with mediation, conciliation, and/or binding arbitration clauses should a disagreement arise). Include in the remodeling contract that the fee decreases $X per day if the job isn't completed on time.
Tip #9. Consider buying certain building materials in advance. Styles for appliances and other building materials and suppliers are subject to change and are often heavily discounted when they go out of production. If you've chosen a style, it may not be available next year, so consider buying and storing the product if you can buy them at a good price. With the advent of the larger super discount home improvement stores, remodelers and contractors can't always find a better rate than what you can find.
Tip #10. Be careful about financing. If you're financing the project, you want the lowest rate possible and you want the interest to be tax deductible. Only certain types of loans will give you an interest deduction so check with an expert. In some cases, refinancing your mortgage can be the best bet.
Technology is changing the face of real estate and here at The Real Estate Connection we strive to change with it! Therefore, we offer the most advanced real estate marketing tools available today. It is our goal to get your home sold for the highest possible price in the quickest amount of time! With this in mind, we offer the best marketing tools available to help us market the homes we list.
Thousands of buyers will be able to see inside your home without ever leaving theirs!
We'll post a virtual tour on our virtual tour site and have links from all of sites (18 total) to the virtual tour page. We'll advertise the virtual tour on all print materials, email all potential buyer leads with a link to see inside your home, and even have a sign rider on your sign to advertise the virtual tour!
Wouldn't it be great to have a Realtor standing outside your home 24/7 continuously marketing your home to potential buyers over the radio until it's sold?
Well, with the help of Talking House, I will be! Put your home on the radio with Talking House! This radio transmitter works inside your home without interfering with your radio or TV. Potential buyers driving the neighborhood can tune their radio to the radio station (specified on the yard sign) and get detailed information without ever making a phone call. This eliminates "looky-lous" from wasting your time with showings while encouraging qualified buyers to call and make an appointment to see your home. The system works 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
With the help of this service, buyers will be able to listen to an audio tour of your home 24/7 by calling my 800# and listening to my customized audio tour of your home.They can do this from the comfort of their home, car, or wherever, and without the pressure of talking to a Realtor.
Through my 800 Real Estate Hotline, an audio tour is available to potential buyers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This 800# phone system is user-friendly and enables potential customers to get detailed information about your home at their convenience. When a potential buyer calls the 800# for information about your home, the system then pages us with the buyers phone number so we can call them back and answer any additional questions or schedule a time to meet with them to show your home. This 800# is published in all of our print advertising, as well as seen on our yard signs.
Extensive Internet Exposure is part of every marketing plan we offer. Today's buyers search for homes and often start the loan process prior to contacting a Realtor initially.
The Real Estate Connection is associated with over 10 well-known websites: realtor.com, homes.com, iprocenter.com, sharoncarman.com, about.com, homeseeker.com, homesandland.com, homehunter.com, texasrealtor.com, repagesonline.com, buyersusa.com, startelegram.com and, of course, this site. Search the MLS via our homesavailablenow.com website by clicking on the computer graphic above. In addition this site is in the Top 10 of the 18 major search engines!
A residential service contract is an additional marketing tool we encourage all of our sellers to offer. Seller coverage is available as well.
This acts as an "insurance policy" for the buyer in case large ticket items fail during the first year after the purchase. The policy covers items such as heating and air-conditioning, major appliances, plumbing, termite damage, and more. If something breaks, you simply call the 800# provided and AHS will send a qualified repairman out to fix it. The service call is $45. If it can't be fixed, AHS will replace it at no additional charge! Seller's coverage is also available during the listing period for a nominal charge. For details on the policy and this company, click on the AHS graphic.
- Do you have a guarantee and what is it?
- Do you personally answer all phone calls on the property?
- Can we cancel the listing if we're not happy?
- Do you have a personal assistant?
- If you don't call me back within 24 hours will you take $100 off the escrow?
- May I see your personal Internet web site?
- Does your company have a website and, if so, would our home be included?
- What systems do you have in place that will keep you in constant contact with me during the listing and the transaction?
- Are you fully automated with your own personal computer, FAX machine, copier, pager, voice mail, etc.?
- What is your average market time vs. other agents' average market time?
- What professional designations do you have?
- I want to give my home the advantage of the latest marketing strategies. How much time & money do you invest in professional training & marketing techniques?
- Can you give me a list of your clients who have closed escrow and can I call them?
- Why are you personally motivated to sell my house?
- Why should I list with you rather than any other agent who is calling?
- What type of marketing plan will you implement if we choose you as our Realtor?
- How many websites are you personally affiliated with?
