Competition, Showings, Feedback, Advice and Questions

 

Competition 

Now that you have decided to sell your home, it is now in competition with every other home for sale in the market place. By giving your home an advantage in appearance, atmosphere, price, and terms, your home will sell more quickly.  

Showings 

Our office will call you for the appointment to show your home. If a broker or buyer appears without an appointment, we recommend you contact our office for validation of that appointment. Have the Realtor wait outside until validation confirmation is established. If you are not home, the lock box combination will be called to the Broker's office after establishing validation for that Realtor. Electronic records are kept for every appointment and showing that is requested in our office. If they our office calls you and the Realtor is parked and waiting outside, please keep in mind the following quick drill:

  • Clean kitchen counters and put away dirty dishes
  • Remove clutter, toys, newspapers from family room and living room areas
  • Make the beds
  • Turn on every light in the home!
  • Turn music at low volume

Let the Realtor show and sell your home. I recommend leaving during showings to allow purchasers to express their opinion to the Realtor. Do not volunteer information unless you specifically know of a problem you should point out. If there is a problem with your home then write that information on the "Seller’s Property Disclosure" form for the purchasers review. 

Feedback on your Home

After each showing by a Realtor, we call and automatically e-mail for feedback to ascertain the purchaser’s opinion of your home. It may take numerous calls and three automated e-mails to reach the Realtor that showed your home for feedback. Some will never respond while over half will respond. You will receive the feedback automatically through our e-mail feedback system and we will call you if we know of a contract is imminent. Feedback helps us address any concerns the purchasers may have about your home, and what can be done to improve the chances of a sale.

Advice

Once your home goes on the market, you may be deluged with advice from well meaning friends and relatives. They may have good intentions and have nothing to lose by being overgenerous with their opinion and advice.

Rarely are friends qualified to interpret market value. This is the reason why you asked me to assist you in the sale of your home. As an expert, I will convey my opinion of value and marketing plans for your home. Your friends may be well meaning, but they will not be purchasing your home, nor do they have your need or motivation to sell.

 

Questions most asked

 

1. Can choosing the right Realtor make any difference on the sale of my home?

Truth: It makes all the difference. Not all Realtors are created equally. The best advice is to find a Realtor the either has been referred to you or knows the area well and you see their sold signs. Check out their referrals and find out if they have a personal web page detailing the process of selling and a marketing plan for selling homes. Review the Realtor’s professional designations, experience, how many years assisting families, reputations, reliability, have them provide written testimonials and client feedback, and whether or not they will work in your best interest.

Some people select an agent that is a family member or friend. What is important is to choose an agent that is successful, experienced and with a strong customer service track record. Successful agents have more buyer contacts that may help sell your home. 

2. Open houses are an effective marketing tool.

Truth: Serious purchasers usually use a Realtor to help them find and purchase a home...in part because Realtor services are "free" to the home purchaser. Surveys consistently show that most buyers who make it to the closing successfully, worked with a Realtor to buy their home and were not introduced to their home through an open house. Depending on the market conditions, and the supply and demand of homes in your area, an open house may create more traffic if the property is posed for easy access, but the quality of interested purchasers going through your home may not be as productive. Granted, I have sold homes during Open Houses, it is not a common occurrence. Since open houses appeal to the curious poublic, they may be a terrific way for your Realtor to pick up new prospects or buyers for other sellers homes, not yours. 

3. Empty homes do not show as well as furnished homes.

Truth: The important consideration is whether a home is properly presented. It should be clean, in good condition, and available to show. If you must move to your new home prior to your current home being sold, simply take measures to insure it shows well empty: repair worn carpeting, oil all woodwork, wash windows, paint walls, etc.. In fact, the home may appear larger without your furnishings and the buyers may be able to envision their belongings fitting more easily. Perhaps the buyer must move immediately, therefore increase your odds of an offer on your home.  

4. It takes longer to sell a home in the winter time.

Truth: It is true that buyer activity is heavier in the summer than in winter, but listing activity is also much higher in the summer and lower in the winter. As a result, when you list your home in the summer, you have more competition. In winter, you have less competition and you may be dealing with proportionately more serious buyers. The point is that anytime is a good time to sell. 

5. Property condition is not important to purchasers.

Truth: Not true...A property in superior condition will sell faster and at a higher value than a home in average condition. Most competing sellers realize that condition is important and that re-carpeting, painting, and maintaining the yard will help sell a home. Get an objective opinion from your agent that can provide you with suggestions on what you will need to do to improve the chances of selling your home to a buyer. 

6. How is the commission split with another agent when selling my home?

Truth: In 9 out of 10 transactions, the listing agent divides nearly half of the total commission with the "cooperating" broker who brings the purchaser for your home. Further, promotional cost such as photos, web site promotions, brochures, ads, MLS insertion fees, and printing are borne by your listing agent. You only pay a commission when your property sells successfully - you owe nothing if Roy does not get results.

 

Check out what clients have said about Roy's service and performance under the "Testimonials" Tab!