Information for Sellers

The one thing that almost everyone does at some point in their life is to sell their home. This can be a very confusing time, filled with many questions and few answers. It is hard to understand all of the questions you may have about selling your home. Fortunately, First Choice Realtors can help.

First Choice Realtors is a local, independent real estate agency that can help you with all of the questions you have about selling your home. We have many years of experience in the real estate industry. We pride ourselves on quality customer service. Our customers come first and we make selling your home, the same way. We will make you our first priority..

Let's begin the home selling process so that you can understand how easy and hassle-free our agents make it for our valued clients.

Choose a link from the list below, or follow them step-by-step to learn more:

Preparing to Sell your Home
So You're Ready to Sell your Home
You're Ready to List
Determining Property Value
Preparing for First Impressions
Getting Your Home Out There
Selling Your Home
Saying Goodbye to Your Home
Surviving the Move
Hiring a Moving Company

1. Preparing to Sell your Home

The first question you might want to ask yourself is, "Why do I want to sell my home?" Do you need more space? Are you an empty nester looking for a smaller space? Have you accepted a job in a different part of the country? All of these questions affect the potential sale of your home and the negotiating process of that sale.

You may also want to begin making a list of all of the interior and exterior projects that you want to complete before placing your home on the market.

Contacting a Real Estate Agent will point you in the right direction, too. Our agents have the knowledge and understanding of the industry. They can provide reliable information and get you moving in the right direction towards the sale of your home.

2. So You're Ready to Sell your Home

Assessing your home is key in beginning the home selling process. You may want to ask yourself, "What would I like to see or not see if I were touring this home as a potential home buyer?"

Problems like chipped paint, dirty walls, windows and doors, unfinished remodeling projects and cluttered garages are all areas for home selling improvement. Treat the sale of your home as you would with anyday living in your residence. Neat, tidy, and organized works!

3. You're Ready to List

Before you list your home, it is important to do your homework on the real estate companies in your area.

Why Choose Us?

As soon as you’ve listed with First Choice Realtors, we will tour your property and offer advice on the best presentation for a quick sale. We will counsel, prequalify, and prescreen prospective buyers. And, because we know what a stressful time closing can be, we will remain in close ontact with you before, during, and after the earnest money is written. Our ongoing communication includes:

Feedback, activity updates, reports about potential buyers who have toured your property, and copies of all advertising on your listing
Information about changes in the real estate market that might affect the sale of your property
Up-to-date progress reports when your transaction is in escrow, including details on the mortgage, preliminary title reports, and other procedures related to closing

For more information or to begin working with us click here

4. Determining Property Value

There are a number of factors that go into determining the value of a home.

It is realistic to compare the homes in your area and the asking prices of those homes.
The law of supply and demand always comes into play.
Do you live in an area with increasing job opportunities or an increasing supply of homes?
Owners needs greatly impact the selling price of a home.
The selling price is not cut and dry. On many occasions, the seller will negotiate the price, split closing costs or offer different allowances to the buyer, to make the sale of the home complete.
Most activity on a property takes place within the first few weeks it’s on the market. Overpricing make risk losing prospects for your property. Remember, perfectly priced is practically sold!

Only a qualified agent can provide a fair market analysis of the homes for sale in your area. A Market Analysis is free and without obligation. For more information on how to receive a FREE Market Analysis that will help you properly determine the value of your home, Contact Us.

5. Preparing for First Impressions

Let your home welcome potential buyers...

With a little effort on your part, you home can be sold more quickly and at a better price. The following tips have proved invaluable to owners and are worth your special attention. Read the tips below and then click here for a Seller’s Checklist.

Preparation for Showing

First impressions are lasting. The front door greets the prospect. Make sure it is fresh and clean. Consider purchasing a fresh welcome mat. Keep the lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse. In winter, be sure snow and ice are removed from walkways and steps.
Decorate for a quick sale. Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce appeal. Why try to tell a prospect how your home COULD look, when you can show by redecorating? Neutral colors fit with any buyer's color scheme, and a new touch of paint will often result in a quick, profitable sale.
Let the daylight shine in! Clean the windows, open draperies and curtains and let the prospect see how cheerful your home can be (dark rooms do not appeal).
Fix that faucet! Dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty plumbing.
Repairs can make a big difference. Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers and other minor flaws detract from home value. Have them fixed. (When prospects see things that need attention, they begin to worry about things they can't see.)
From top to bottom. Display the full value of your attic, basement and other utility space by removing all unnecessary articles.
Safety first. Keep stairways clear. Avoid a cluttered appearance and possible injuries.
Make closets look bigger. Neat, well-ordered closets show that the space is ample.
Bathrooms help sell homes. Check and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers. Make this room sparkle.
Arrange bedrooms neatly. Remove excess furniture. Use attractive bedspreads and freshly laundered curtains.
Can you see the light? Illumination is like a welcome sign. The potential buyer will feel a flowing warmth when you turn on lights for an evening presentation.
Clean, Fresh Floor Coverings. It isn't uncommon to either clean or replace all carpeting and other floor covering to maximize interior appeal.

Showing the House

Three's a crowd. Avoid having too many people present during showing and inspections. The potential buyer will feel like an intruder and will hurry through the house.
Music is mellow. But not when showing a house. Turn off the blaring radio or television. Let the salesperson and buyer talk, free of disturbances.
Pets underfoot? Keep them out of the way... preferably out of the house in consideration of those afraid of or allergic to cats and dogs.
Silence is golden. Be courteous but don't force conversation with the potential buyer. He wants to inspect your house, not pay a social call.
Be it ever so humble. Never apologize for the appearance of your home. After all, it has been lived in. Let the trained salesperson answer any objections.
Stay in the background. The salesperson who knows the buyer's requirements can better emphasize the features of your home when you don't tag along. You will be called if needed.
Why put the cart before the horse? Trying to dispose of furniture and furnishing to the potential buyer before he has purchased the house often loses a sale.
A word to the wise. Let your agent discuss price, terms, possession and other factors with the buyer. Our trained agents are best qualified to bring negotiations to a favorable conclusion.
Our Realtors sell better. Show your home to prospective buyers only by appointment (or scheduled Open House event) through your First Choice Realtors office. Your cooperation will be appreciated and will help close the sale more quickly.

6. Getting Your Home Out There

There are a number of different ways that First Choice Realtors can drive traffic to view your home:

Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
Open Houses
Websites/Internet
Print Advertising
Marketing Strategies

7. Selling Your Home

The Offer

An acceptable offer depends on many different things:

Is the proposed offer near the asking price?
The timeframe of the seller &150; Does the seller have another house payment? Insurance?
Does the owner have enough time to wait for the agent to bring them more potential buyers?
What if the home is listed and never receives a single offer?
What if several offers are received at the same time?

The Counter-Offer

When potential buyers are searching for a home, they can respond in three different ways to the seller(s):

This home is not what we were looking for. We are not interested in the property.
We are interested in the home and we will purchase the property on the buyer's terms per the real estate agreement.
We are interested in the home, but here is our counter-offer for the property.

Negotiating

This negotiating process can at times seem very complicated. However, with a First Choice Realtor, all of this can be made hassle-free.

During the negotiating process of the sale of a home, the seller can react in one of three different ways:

Accept the buyer's proposed offer
Decline the buyer's offer
Make a new counter-offer

8. Saying Goodbye To Your Home

The closing process is always changing and usually take about 30 days to complete. This mainly depends on the buyer's financing availability, successful home inspection completion, and various lender conditions (ex. title search, title insurance, termite inspections, surveys, and appraisals).

The closing process is the transfer of the title of the property from the buyer to the seller. The buyer will receive the keys to the home or the deed to the land, while the seller receives payment for the property. The amount the seller receives is based upon the amount that is still owed on the mortgage, any outstanding fees or taxes and any additional closing costs. All legal papers are filed with the local record office.

It is this step where the buyers and sellers do very little. It is important as the seller to take a final walk through the property to make sure the property's condition has not changed. It is equally important for both the buyer and seller to make sure the paperwork they are signing reflects the agreement of the original sale.

9. Surviving the Move

Moving can be one of the most emotional times in your life. The thrill of something new, a new career, a new neighborhood, a new home. While this may sound great to some people, for others, these changes can be an emotional rollercoaster.

The key to surviving your move is to first analyze the situation. You may want to ask yourself this question, "What does my move entail?” "Will I be moving across the country or just down the block?” "Could I handle the move myself, provided I have the right packing materials and friends to help?” Or, “Do I need to explore the option of hiring a professional moving company?"

There are many resources out there. You may want to consult your First Choice Realtors agent for guidance or refer to our Moving Checklist and Moving with Children for more information.

10. Hiring A Moving Company

If you plan on hiring a moving company, you might want to do some research first. Our Moving Guide offers great information for those researching the possibility of hiring a mover.