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GUIDE
TO SELLING YOUR HOME
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Selling
your home is the largest transaction most of us
will ever make. The selling process can be very
complex and time consuming, even just
knowing what price to list it at can seem
overwhelming. Below are some tips to help you
through the process.
PRICING
YOUR HOME
Today's Buyers'
are comparison shoppers. Although eager to achieve
the best possible return on their hard earned
money, they will tend to shy away from properties
that are listed too high or too low.
If you list above market value, you will more than
likely sell your neighbour's house instead of
yours, or at the very least, risk a lack of
potential purchasers visiting your home. By
listing too low, you create the impression that
you are desperate for the sale, or that something
is seriously wrong with the structure.
As your Real Estate Agent, I will provide you with
a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that includes
information on competitor listings, properties
that have recently sold, and those that are
currently pending. In addition, I will:
Evaluate
your property's location and lot size.
Appraise
your home's condition, size and age, and any
improvements you have made.
Review
the assessed value of your home, taxes, and
utility costs.
Help
determine what is the best selling feature
of your home.
Suggest
what overall repairs should be considered.
Selling a
property in today's fluctuating and competitive
marketplace takes industry knowledge, a proven
track record, and expert opinion. It also takes
dedication, commitment and the ability to achieve
the goals set before you. When discussing all the
factors in the sale of any property, my experience
and real estate wisdom will increase the
possibility of selling your home.
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DISCLOSING
THE FACTS
No
home is perfect! In one way or another, they all
have defects to some extent. If you conceal
problem areas, it can result in very costly
lawsuits....at your expense!
Undisclosed
defects can come back to haunt you, destroying
what you originally considered protected....your
pocketbook and peace of mind!
It is in both
your best interest and that of your purchaser to
obtain a structural inspection during contract
negotiation. Settlements and legal fees cost far
more than if you had agreed to a price concession
or repaired it yourself!
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REPAIRS
AND FIXUPS
You
consider your home one of your most prized
possessions. You have decorated your home your own
individual taste, using paint and styles as
expression of your personality.
Your furniture
reflects the colors and textures that have become
important over the years. And don't forget, you
did spend hour after hour bent over that
magnificent garden. However, it will cease to
matter once you sign the "For Sale"
agreement.
The paint, the
blinds and the carpeting mean nothing to those
outside the family. How could they NOT notice that
you spent a great deal of money and time working
to make your house a home.
The answer is
simple... your potential purchasers are not
emotionally involved in your investment.
Unlike you, they
see the flaws you have come to ignore over the
years. They will notice the carpet your cat has
used as a scratching post, the tap that drips
incessantly, and the ugly stain in the kitchen
caused by the leaky roof.
To them, it's
nothing but added expense, and probably not worth
the effort. After all, there are many, many more
properties on the market other than just yours.
However, the
marketability of your home will increase if you
take the time and effort to view it through their
eyes, and take extra care in ensuring that minor
things are taken care of.
One sure way of
guaranteeing that your potential purchasers can
see themselves enjoying life in your home, is to
make it as presentable and uncluttered as
possible. What is known in the industry as
"curb appeal" may become the difference
between "Sold" and "continued
showings".
The tiny
handprint that adorns the front door is cute only
to you. To the other side, it's a combination of
filth and downright laziness. Despite the cost of
a can of paint, your family room should NOT
resemble a mud-room. And remember the sun shining
through the windows? A little bit of elbow grease
goes a long way!
When the time
comes to list your home for sale, take into
account that your potential purchasers are
searching for new roots. They need to be enticed,
enthralled and enchanted at first glance. It needs
to feel like THEIR castle, THEIR history, THEIR
love story the moment your home comes into view.
If expense is a
concern, do it yourself. If there's litter in the
front yard or the grass needs cutting, hire the
teenager next door. Five dollars a time REALLY CAN
make the difference!
If not, there are
numerous contractors, painters, decorators,
cleaning services, and landscaping firms that your
Real Estate Agent can recommend. For the more
major repairs including replacement roof, flooring
or structural defects, etc, you can opt to invest
in the repair, or you can choose to disclose this
information in the Listing Contract.
Also pay
attention to the "finishing touches" -
the background music, the tidy bathroom , the made
beds, and the bouquet of flowers. Open a few
windows, the air will be fresher. A welcome mat at
the front door is inviting, and please, no laundry
running in the machines while you attempt to catch
a few more minutes of lost time!
By being
ruthlessly honest in your evaluation of your home
prior to listing, you will:
Position
your home at the top of the "Too
See" list
Guarantee
that your own roots will be transplanted
sooner rather than later
Protect
your hard earned investment dollars.
And don't forget to
- REMOVE THE EMOTION.
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CONFIG
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
of listing your
property with me...
BROOKE MILLER
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RE/MAX Camosun
4440 Chatterton Way, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8X 5J2