Services for Sellers

DO YOU HAVE A HOME TO SELL?

I can guide you   through the selling process.

I Will ...

• Design a marketing plan created to sell your home in the least amount of time.
• Maximize exposure through advertising, MLS and the internet.
• Qualify potential buyers interested in buying your home.
• Negotiate on your behalf to help you obtain the best possible price.
• Handle the follow-up procedures for a smooth closing.
• Help you find a new home anywhere that you may be moving.
• Refer you to a top real estate professional to provide you with the above if your property is out of my service area.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES that I provide.

• MARKETING PROPOSAL
  A written proposal which is usually left with the Vendor after my initial property inspection.
• COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS
  A written report of the transactions in the neighbourhood to identify similar properties that have sold recently and are currently on the market in an effort to determine a realistic price for the subject property.
• MARKET PREPARATION GUIDE
  A report designed to help the homeowner maximize the marketing efforts by improving the condition of the home, "setting the stage" before showings, and knowing what to do when the property is being shown. This report is provided at the time of listing.
• INQUIRY RESPONSE TOLL FREE
  The weekly photo Ad will include my 1-800 number to allow all other area inquiries North America wide. My 800 number is identical to the Belleville RE/MAX office number.

Request  a FREE, NO OBLIGATION MARKETING PROPOSAL FOR YOUR PROPERTY AND TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A PERSONALIZED EVALUATION OF YOUR PROPERTY.

Selling Quinte area Real Estate since 1986 !

Questions You Should Ask
About Selling Property

1. What should I look for in a realtor to market my property?
2. What should I know about a real estate agent before I sign a listing contract to sell my home?
   - Questions to ask a real estate agent before you sign a listing contract to sell your home.
3. What should I watch out for when selling my home?
   -Common Mistakes You Can Make When Selling Your Home

A Realtor is a licensed professional affiliated with the Canadian Real Estate Association.   You must trust and feel comfortable with your choice.

Don't be afraid to ask questions.  You should be made fully aware of the selling process.  Ask about marketing strategies.  Inquire about lawn signs and lock boxes.  Make sure they will use the Multiple Listing Service which guarantees exposure to ALL member Realtors in your area.  What follow-up is planned on ad calls, sign calls and showings for your property?  How does the Realtor plan to communicate any comments or concerns from other Realtors or potential purchasers?  Does the Realtor develop presentable Feature sheets to highlight those assets which cannot be discerned by merely looking at a listing and how do they circulate this information?

Real Estate Professionals inspect as many properties as possible.  They should be aware of the history of your area.  As a result, they should be able to to demonstrate, to your satisfaction, what people are willing to pay and they should also show you what your present competition is.  They should be able to give you, the Vendor, a complete, up-to-date picture of your marketplace.

NEVER choose a Realtor strictly on "PRICE"!  The fact is that NO ONE can get a higher price than the purchaser will pay for any property. Put yourself in the Buyer's shoes.  The Purchaser WON'T knowingly pay too much.  He or she WILL check the market and compare values and WON'T pay for over improvements and DOESN'T care how much you, the Vendor, need.  Choose your Realtor by his or her Reputation, Track Record, Sincerity, Ethics, Willingness to Work, any or all of these qualities.  DON'T pick because of a claim to be able to get you lots of money.  Look at the FACTS presented to you and remember, the FACTS won't change, no matter which Realtor you hire.  In order to do a complete job, a Realtor must be full-time, hard-working and well-informed.  He or she should also be able to keep you aware of anything that might be affecting the sale of the property.

Finally, remember that if your property doesn't get buyer attention within a few weeks, there are three major reasons: Location Condition and Price.  You cannot change the Location.  You must examine the Condition and listen to your Realtor for suggestions for marketability.  Your Realtor should guide you through the recent history and current competition to establish the best Price and Pricing Strategy.

It is also important to understand that the sales commission paid to the Realtor is usually split four ways: Listing and Selling Sales Representatives plus the Listing and Selling Brokers.   There is a significant cost for Full Service.  If you want the best possible marketing exposure and you want your property sold in the least time with the fewest problems for the most money, make sure you choose a Full-Time, Full Service Realtor.

Top of page

---

2. What should I know about a real estate agent before I sign a listing contract to sell my home?
Questions to ask a real estate agent before you sign a listing contract to sell your home

1. How long have you been selling real estate?
2. What is the percent of Sellers compared to Buyers that you serve?
3. Can we cancel the listing if we're not happy?
4. Do you recommend that I hire an attorney?
5. May I see your resume or personal brochure?
6. What systems do you have in place that will keep you in constant contact with me during the listing and the transaction?
7. Are you fully automated with your own personal computer, FAX machine, copier, voice mail, etc.?
8. May I see all the paperwork that you are going to ask me to sign?
9. What additional training do you have?
10. Why should I list with you rather than any other agent who is calling on me?

Top of page

 

---

Mistake #1 - Pricing Incorrectly

Every seller wants to realize as much money as possible when he sells his home. But a listing price that is too high often gets the seller less than a price that is at market value. If your house is not priced competitively, people looking in your price range will reject your house in favor of other, larger homes for the same price. At the same time, the people who should be looking at your house will not see it because it is priced over their heads! Overpricing usually increases time on the market, and that adds to the carrying costs. Ultimately, many overpriced properties sell below market value.

Mistake #2 - Believing that a Re-finance Appraisal is the Market Value of Your Home

An appraisal is an opinion of value for a certain purpose. If the lender wants to lend you the money, they are motivated to have the appraisal come in high. The appraiser may ignore foreclosure or distress sales in order to justify the high value. But a real buyer in the real world will not ignore these properties. They are your competitors when you try to sell.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that the value you were told 6 months ago when you refinanced is what a real buyer would pay. Ask your realtor for a comparative market analysis showing ALL the solds in your area, then decide based on up to the minute information.

Mistake #3 - Failing to "Showcase" the Home

Buyers look for homes, not houses, and they buy the home in which they would like to live. Owners who fail to make necessary repairs, who don't spruce up the house inside and out, touch up the paint and landscaping, and keep it clean and neat chase buyers away as rapidly as Realtors^® can bring them.

If you were selling a car, you would wash it, or maybe even detail it to get the highest price. Houses are no different.

Mistake #4 - Using the "Hard Sell" During Showings

Buying a house is an emotional decision. People like to "try on" a house and see if it is comfortable for them. It's difficult for them to do that if you follow them around pointing out every improvement that you made. It may even have the opposite effect you want, by making them feel they are intruding on your private space.

If your home is being shown by a realtor, vendors should be away from the house to provide the buyer with a comfort level that will give them an opportunity to appreciate your home.

Mistake #5 - Mistaking Lookers for Buyers

For Sale By Owners always get more activity than houses listed with an agent. No question about it, realtors will only bring qualified buyers, and these will be fewer than if you open your front door to everyone who walks down the street.

A qualified buyer is one who is ready, willing, and able to buy your house. We find that most people who go looking at For Sale By Owners are just starting to think about moving. They may be good buyers, but they're just 6-9 months away from being ready. They don't want to bother an agent yet, so they call the "By Owner" ads to get a feel for what's available. They may have a house to sell first, or may need to save some more, or may have credit that needs fixing. When everything is in place, that's when they go out looking with a Realtor^®.

A realtor will ask a buyer how much he can really spend for a house, how much he has to put down, how good his credit is, how much he can pay each month, how much he will realize (realistically!) when he sells his present home and about a dozen other questions like that. But unless your realtor finds all the facts first, you must ask all these questions before the buyer crosses your threshold. Otherwise, you may have a parade of Sunday afternoon shoppers with a dream of owning a home some day.

Mistake #6 - Not Knowing Your Rights & Obligations

Real estate law is extensive and complex; the contract for sale and purchase is a legally binding document. An improperly written contract can cause the sale to fall through, or cost you thousands for repairs, inspections, and remedies for title defects. You must be certain which repairs and closing costs you are responsible for. You must know whether the property can legally be sold "as is," and how deed restrictions and local zoning will affect the transaction. If there are defects in your title, or if your property is in conflict with local restrictions, you  must remedy them, or you might have to pay a great deal.

Mistake #7 - Signing a Listing Contract with No Way Out

Many times a realtor will have good intentions about marketing your house, but circumstances can change. There might be a death in the realtor's family, or the realtor may decide to quit the business. In these cases where the realtor couldn't or wouldn't perform, you should have the right to fire your agent. In some companies the broker will assign your listing to someone else in the office, someone new in the business that you didn't personally select. Always protect yourself by getting a guarantee of performance with the right to cancel.

Mistake #8 - Limiting the Marketing and Exposure of the Property

The two most obvious marketing tools (open houses and classified ads) are only moderately effective. Surprisingly, less than 1% of homes are sold at an open house. Some realtors use them to attract future prospects, not to sell the house!

Advertising studies show that less than 3% of people purchased their home because they called on an ad. And if a machine answers, most callers just hang up without leaving a message.

The right realtor will employ a broad spectrum of marketing activities, emphasizing the ones he believes will work best for you. There are dozens of more effective ways to find buyers than just open houses and advertising. By the way, he or a trained member of his staff will be there every time the phone rings. Did you know that most calls come in during business hours when sellers are away at work, and most home showings are between 9:00 and 5:00 Monday through Friday?

Mistake #9 - Choosing the Wrong Realtor^®, or Choosing Him for the Wrong Reasons

It's likely that you don't interview people very often. And yet in order to find the realtor who is right for you, you may interview several. The quality of your home selling experience is dependent upon your skill at selecting the person best qualified.

It's interesting that in the real estate business, someone with many successfully closed transactions usually costs the same as someone who is inexperienced. Bringing that experience to bear on your transaction could mean a higher price at the negotiating table, selling in less time, and with the minimum amount of hassles.

The world is populated with realtors who are wrong for you. For example, the housewife who sells an occasional house because she needs a little pocket change, or the insurance salesman who believes he can handle two careers. Or perhaps your cousin George, who really needs your business.

The sale of your home could well be the most important financial transaction you have ever been involved with. The person you select can make it a satisfying and profitable activity, or a terrible experience. It's your home, and your money. The choice of your realtor is up to you. Make that selection carefully.

Top of page

Request  a FREE, NO OBLIGATION MARKETING PROPOSAL FOR YOUR PROPERTY AND TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A PERSONALIZED EVALUATION OF YOUR PROPERTY.

Thanks for your interest....  For more information please contact :
	Doug Row, Broker  Bus: (613) 969-9907 24 HOUR PAGER Home Office: (613) 962-4137 Toll Free Direct: 1-800-969-9907 Fax Direct: (613) 969-9929 info@quinterealestate.com	REMAX Quinte Ltd. Brokerage

WE RESPECT YOUR PRIVACY

DISCLAIMER

This web site was designed for Doug Row by InfoLink Web Site Development. All rights reserved.