How Do We Sell It?

Marketing the Home

You probably realize it's unlikely that the right buyer will walk through your door on his own. The home must be marketed to the buyer, and that's where choosing a professional Realtor® comes into play. You'll want an agent who makes good use of advertising, reach, the MLS system and the Internet. As your agent, I'll design a marketing program to bring you a ready, willing and able buyer in the shortest possible time. Your home has just one chance to make
a great "first impression" with each potential buyer, so you'll want to show it at it's very best. Homebuyers aren't coming over just for a quick look ... they're going to make a very careful inspection. The whole idea is to present a clean, spacious, clutter-free home -- the kind of place you'd like to buy. Do something toward that goal every day and soon your home will be ready to make that winning impression that finally leads to its sale.

Making it Look Its Best

Your house is going to be judged heavily by its "curb appeal". Let me stress this point. The exterior MUST look great!  If it doesn't, you have to make it look great!  Be sure the paint and visible caulking are in good condition. The yard has to be detailed... green grass (in season) neatly mowed and edged... shrubs trimmed... you may even want to plant a few flowers. Inside, you'll want to brighten-up any dark areas and maybe add some fresh paint. Clear out all unattractive "stuff" and put the clutter away to give the rooms an open and airy feeling. Either clean or replace the carpeting and make sure there are no "stale" odors in the house. This is especially important in closets and bathrooms. Consider adding some houseplants or some fresh flowers. These things will help to sell your home more quickly.

Showing the Home

Your house should always be available for showings, even though it may occasionally be inconvenient for you. Usually agents working with buyers will give at least a couple of hours notice before showing your property. If you refuse to allow a showing at that time, they will take their buyers elsewhere. Let your listing broker put a lock box in a convenient place to make it easy for other agents to show the home to their buyers. Since almost every other house does have a lockbox, if yours doesn't, most agents will simply not show your property. You'll miss out on a lot of potential buyers. Without a lockbox, agents will have to tightly schedule their appointments and most of them will just skip your home and show another one with easy access. Even if they come back at another time, it will probably be with different buyers... you may have lost an important chance to sell your home!

When it's Time to Show