How Do I Sell My Home?
There are several basic steps you
can take when selling your home. Let's take a look
at them.
Step 1: Create a Marketing Plan
Create a marketing plan for your home that will help
distinguish it in your local marketplace and attract
buyers to your property. This may include advertising
in the newspaper, posting your listing on the Internet,
holding an open house and more. CENTURY 21 Sales Professionals
often use the CENTURY 21 Customized Marketing System
to create a personalized selling program for clients.
Its purpose is to sell a home at the best price possible
in the shortest amount of time.
Step 2: Setting the Price
A key part of the marketing plan is setting the list
price. If a home is priced too low, it may cost you
money. If a home is priced too high, potential buyers
may be scared away. To determine the best asking price
review the cost of recently sold homes, evaluate the
competition and study marketplace trends. CENTURY
21 Sales Associates are trained to use this information
to help you reach the right asking price. It is also
helpful to discuss other terms and conditions, such
as timing and items that can be included with the
sale of the home. Both of these can make your home
more attractive to potential buyers. Don't
hesitate to request a free Comparative Market Analysis
of your home!
Step 3: Showtime
Now it's time to get your home ready for the spotlight.
Start with a good cleaning, then eliminate any clutter,
add a fresh coat of paint and tidy up the yard. Talk
to your real estate professional about other tips
that can help boost a home's curb appeal and impress
potential buyers once they're in the door. One way
to make a home more attractive is to purchase a Home
Protection Plan. This insurance protects you, the
seller, from paying repair or replacement costs of
major items during the listing period. It also protects
the buyer during their first year of homeownership.
In addition, make sure you are aware of all the federal,
state, and local disclosure laws. This information
can be obtained by the specific local and federal
government agencies or from your local CENTURY 21
Office
Step 4: Protecting Yourself
In some cases, a home sale can also be an invitation
for danger. Here are some things you can do to make
the process safer.
• Ask for identification
• Ask for pre-approval letters
• Lock up and hide collectibles and valuables
• Remember "For Sale" signs bring in buyers.
Do not allow your children to open doors to strangers.
• If you have pets, make sure they are controlled
• Remove any dangerous items
• Talk to your CENTURY 21 Sales Professional about
additional safety tips to help protect you and your
family.
Step 5: Making the Deal
A buyer has made an offer - now it is time to negotiate.
Rely on your real estate professional to guide you
through this process. He or she will help you arrive
at an acceptable price, terms and conditions. Once
you have accepted an offer, help keep the deal together
by meeting deadlines and criteria, including home
inspections, appropriate buyer visits, scheduled deposits
and other steps. In fact, during this period there
may be a renegotiation of the accepted offer price
depending on the outcomes of these visits. As the
closing nears, you may also need to perform repairs
or do additional work to the house as agreed upon
in your contract. In addition, you will need to have
the house "broom clean" prior to the closing
so that the buyer can complete a final walk through.
When you finally arrive at the closing table, come
prepared with the appropriate certificates and approvals
as required by your town, county and state. Ask the
appropriate agency or get a list of what you need
from your local CENTURY 21 Office. Once the money
has exchanged hands and all the papers signed it's
time to hand over the keys and concentrate on your
next big project - getting YOUR new home in order.
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