HOME SELLING GUIDE
How to Get Top Dollar for Your Home
Considering selling your home?
Should I replace the tile counters in the bathroom with granite?
Does the wallpaper make the house look dated?
Is the cost of installing new kitchen cabinets worth the expense?
Do I need to put on a new roof or just replace the deteriorated areas?
Is it necessary to paint all the interior walls or would touch-ups suffice?
Should I install new carpets and/or refinish the wood floors?
What about exterior paint? Should I paint before putting it on the market?
Part of our expertise is helping sellers prepare their homes with the right improvements that bring in top dollar. We would be happy to stop by and do a complimentary walk-through to point out areas to improve your house’s market value — as well as what projects will not likely give you a good return on your money or time.
Plan of Action for Selling Your Home
what to expect with Brandt Real Estate
In-depth Market Analysis: The Brandt Benefit
National Relocation
Multiple Listing Service
Notify Purchasers
Guaranteed Advertising & Exposure
- Realcomp’s Multiple Listing Service – The most powerful MLS
- Personalized website for your address, example: www.4000Commerce.com
- Premium placement using ListHub, the nation’s #1 network for listing distribution. Your property will have excellent exposure across the web and be easily found on Realtor.com, zillow.com, trulia.com, homefinder.com, hotpads.com, homes.com, realestate.com, eLookyLoo.com, and 40 other top consumer sites
- Virtual Tour web enhancement and multiple digital photos
- Brandt Real Estate sign in the front yard 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Email marketing
- Social media marketing
Customized Feature Sheets
- Highlighting your home’s unique features and benefits
- Filled with photographs to showcase your home’s best features
- Distributed to people who see your home, open houses & other agents
- Direct mail and postings at area venues
Consistent Communication
- Regular updates on showings, feedback, advertising and marketing efforts
- Direct communication with Brandt Real Estate via phone, email and text
Pre-approved Mortgages & Financing Guidance
Negotiation
Closing
- Coordination of the closing
- Preparing closing documents for your review prior to closing
- Assistance with services and planning to make your move smoother
Factors to Consider When Determining Price
Buyers determine value
Location
Condition
Market
Terms
Why is Proper Pricing So Important?
Dangers of Over Pricing
Less Response to Advertising
Helps the Competition
Causes Appraisal Problems
Reduced Activity
Lower Net Proceeds
BENEFITS OF PROPERLY PRICING
Faster Sale
Less Inconvenience
Increased Salesperson Response
Higher Offers
More Money to Seller
Setting the Correct Market Value
The Brandt Benefit
Setting the proper asking price for your home is the single biggest factor that will determine the success or failure of your home sale.
Utilizing the latest computer technology and our in-depth knowledge of the market, we will analyze current market conditions in combination with your personal time requirements to identify the correct price range of your home.
Comparative Market Value of homes in area based on price per square foot is: $168 – $181 / sqft – Requires Review
Your house is approximately: 3,550 sqft – Requires Review
Based on our market knowledge, our estimate of your home’s market value is: $596,400 – $642,550 – Requires Review
Additional factors to consider, which can justify a higher price:
- Lot size, Landscaping, View, etc
- Interior Features and Condition (Bathroom, Kitchen, Updates)
- Exterior Features and Condition (Sunroom, Deck, Patio, etc.)
- Basement / Lower Level Features
The Brandt Benefit: Strategic Plan to Get the BEST Selling Price
Choosing a Real Estate Agent
- Reputation of agent (38%)
- Agent is honest and trustworthy (20%)
- Agent is a friend or family member (18%)
- Agent’s knowledge of the neighborhood (11%)
- Help the seller market the home to potential clients (24%)
- Help price the home competitively (20%)
- Help sell the home within a specific time frame (19%)
- Help find a buyer for the home (19%)
Checklist: Get Your Home Ready for Sale
DRESS THE HOME UP
Your home’s curb appeal will create an instant and irreversible first impression with every buyer. Use this checklist to make sure your listing is dressed
for success.
- Paint the trim and front door
- Plant flowers and pull weeds
- Clean the downspouts and gutters
- Clean the screens and windows
- Power-wash the sidewalk and driveway
- Mow the grass and apply new mulch
- Replace outside light bulbs
- Wash the house exterior or paint, if needed
- Clean or replace house number
- Remove all cobwebs and spray for pests
CREATE A WARM ENVIRONMENT
Every home should offer the potential buyer a warm, friendly experience especially during the first showing. What greets the buyer on the other side of the seller’s front door? Consider these helpful hints:
- Consider the smell of the home
- Candles and vanilla can help
- Replace light bulbs and clean drapes, blinds, and windows
- Have the carpets professionally cleaned or replaced if needed
- Paint or wash the walls
- Clean the doors, cabinets and closets
- Dust the home and remove cobwebs
- Clean the appliances
- Paint or clean the baseboards
- Re-caulk the bathtubs and showers
- Replace cracked or damaged outlet covers
REMOVE BARRIERS FROM THE RELATIONSHIP
Buyers need to build an emotional bond with a home before they can make a decision to purchase it. Help them by removing potential barriers.
- Pack and store seasonal clothing
- Remove unused furniture
- Remove personal photo clutter
- Secure pets before each showing
- Remove and replace fixtures not included with the sale
TELL A STORY AND BE INTERESTING
Buyers want a home that stands out from the competition. Does each room in your home tell a story? What can you visualize happening in each room as you walk through the home? This is often referred to as staging the home. We suggest:
- Setting the kitchen table
- Turning down the master bed and place a book on the nightstand
- Displaying an open game in the kid’s room
- Starting a fire in the fireplace, if applicable
- Turning on soft music
- Displaying a family DVD near the entertainment center
OPEN UP THE DARK AREAS
Buyers want to know everything about a home before they decide to move forward. In most cases, this means they want to view every area of the home. Making this easier allows the buyers to make a fully informed decision.
- Unlock and open all areas of the home
- Clean the garage, sweep and pressure wash, if needed
- Unlock outside buildings including shops
- Clean out closets and pantries
- Provide access to the crawl space or cellar
- Provide access to the attic
OFFER PROTECTION
Buyers want to feel secure in the purchase of their new home. One way to help them feel more secure is by removing the fear of added repair costs after closing. You can accomplish this by simply offering the buyer a home warranty. A home warranty will protect the buyer from any mechanical system failures in the home up to certain limits, in most cases for up to a year after closing. The cost of the warranty can be generally paid at closing.
OFFER INCENTIVES
According to a recent report, the average buyer will look at 17 homes before making a purchase. How can your listing stand out from the crowd? Offer the buyer an incentive. For example:
- Buy down the interest rate or pay their points
- Pay for limited closing costs
- Pay for inspections or compliance work
- Provide an allowance for upgrades
- Provide a home warranty
- Provide a selling agent bonus
PREPARE FOR THE SALE
What would happen if a buyer decided that he wanted to purchase your home and close within a short period of time? Prepare for success by taking care of the sale details in advance. We suggest the following:
- Pre-sale inspections – pest and dry rot for the entire house (we may be able to have the costs deferred until close)
- Moving and storage companies researched
- Utility company list for switch over
- Packing boxes ordered
- All keys and garage door openers located
- Loan numbers and estimated balances obtained
- Relocation research started
- Alternative short-term housing researched
What to Expect When Your Home is Shown
BE READY TO SHOW!
- Someone from Brandt Real Estate will call to confirm an appointment with you.
- Short notice is possible, so having your home show-ready can be helpful.
- If someone knocks at the door and does not have an appointment, ask them to call the office to setup an appointment. This is for your safety and protection.
- Don’t be at home during a showing. Your absence will put the buyers at ease so they will feel free to linger and ask questions.
- If you do stay, be polite, but let the salesperson do the talking. You may want to wait outside or take a short walk.
- Make sure kids and pets are out of the house during a showing. Keep pets out of the way during showings – many people are allergic.
Checklist: Preparing for a Showing
MAKE YOUR HOME SHINE!
- Pick up every room. Straighten up, make beds, wash dishes, and put away clothes. Check counters, floors, halls, and stairs. Remove newspapers, magazines, mail, toys, clothing, recreation gear, snacks, glasses and dishes.
- Bathrooms need to be neat and clean. It is advisable to keep a set of clean towels available that you can easily put in place.
- Turn on various lights highlighting features and areas of the house. Natural light is a plus, so wherever possible, have blinds open or raised.
- Keep air fresheners in closets, bathrooms and kitchen. Be especially careful to keep kitchen odors fresh. Burn mildly scented candles.
- Turn on soft music.
- Keep home cool in summer and warm in winter.
- The entryway is the first and last impression a prospective buyer will be left with – make it a good one!
- Leave home flyer, Brandt Real Estate business cards, and Property Profile in a well-displayed area for the prospective purchaser to review.
Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent
Ask the right questions!
There are thousands of agents in your area, and choosing the right agent when selling your home can be difficult. Asking the right questions will help you determine who is most likely to succeed in getting your price and terms. Below are some key questions to ask and tips to help you find the right answers.
Do you have a team of real estate professionals to help manage the marketing of my home?
Do you have an aggressive, customized marketing plan? What will you do to sell my home?
Do you know the difference between passive selling and aggressive marketing?
Do you have a written guarantee allowing me to unconditionally terminate my listing at any time, for any reason, with no advance notice, no explanation, and with no strings attached, except a refundable $500 cancellation fee?
How does your marketing benefit a seller directly?
What happens to the marketing of my home on weekends or when you are on vacation?
How will I know what is being done to market my home? How often will I hear from you if I list my home with you?
How do you provide security for my home?
How do you keep track of all of the details during closing?
What is your return-call policy?
How will you respond to simple math questions from potential buyers?
What is the payment on a loan of $31,000 at 7% fully amortized over 15 years? What would the balance be if I wanted to pay it off in 10 years? Ask them how they would respond and how would they expect a buyer to react if they answer these questions.