SELLER TOOLS - Ernie Martinez

selling

Sell your house faster with these tools

PLAN OF ACTION

1. Analyze why you are selling - If you understand your motives, you will be able to better negotiate and to get what it is that you want, whether it be a quick sale, high price, or somewhere in the middle. 2. Prepare your home for the buyer - Maximize the strengths of your property and fix up it's weaknesses. You want the buyer to walk away from your home with a lasting good impression. 3. Find a good real estate agent that understands your needs - Make sure that your agent is loyal to you, and can negotiate to help you achieve your goals. In addition, they should be assertive and honest with both you and the buyer. 4. Be prepared for negotiation - Learn and understand your buyer's situation; what are their motives? Can you demand a big deposit from them? Try to lock in the buyer so that the deal goes through. 5. Negotiate for the best price and the best terms - Learn how to counter offer to get more from every offer. 6. Make sure the contract is complete - Be honest with your disclosures; you do not want to lose the deal because you were lying or diminishing your home's defects. Insist the buyers get a professional inspection. This will protect both you and the buyer.

SELLER TIPS FOR MARKETING YOUR HOME EFFECTIVELY

PRICING YOUR HOME COMPETITIVELY: The single most important factor in getting the best price and selling your home quickly is pricing it competitively. If you price it too high, it will sit on the market for so long that when a buyer does make an offer, it will likely be far below the asking price. If you price it too low, you may sell it for less than what it is worth potentially costing you thousands of dollars. In order to price your property competitively, you need to look at competing homes (active listings) homes that have sold (comparable sales) and homes that didn't sell because they were over-priced (expired listings). The best way to evaluate the market is with a CMA "Comparative Market Analysis" prepared by a real estate professional. This report will help you evaluate the market conditions and determine the price range that your home is most likely to sell. MARKETING YOUR HOME EFFECTIVELY: There are a limited number of people looking for homes like yours in your area at any given point in time. The best way to ensure that you sell your home quickly and get the best price is to make sure the maximum number of interested buyers have available information on your home. While putting up a For Sale sign and creating a good flyer/brochure are a must, the majority of buyers will find out about your property either from a full time Realtor, through the MLS, or from a real estate Internet web-site. While running classified ads and/or print ads are still effective, they are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Over 70% of all home buyers start their search for homes on the Internet, so it is important that your home is listed on all of the major Internet sites. In order to maximize your exposure and reach as many ready, willing, and able buyers you must list your home on the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service). By doing this, you not only expose your property to the potential buyers of every real estate agent that participates in the MLS, but you get important "Listing Syndication" to Internet sites such as: Realtor.com, Homes.com, HomeSeekers.com, MLSHomes.com, Trulia, Zillow, etc. By listing your home on the MLS, your home will also be searchable on MLS participants MLS "IDX websites" (like this one) to thousands of potential buyers world wide. Never underestimate the power of a good "sales person". In today's market, you need a real estate agent that knows your home and can help potential buyers see how it fits their price range and needs. Most out of town buyers will work with a Realtor, and when your home is promoted to the other Realtors in the MLS, it is much more likely to sell than if you try it alone.

MAKING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

If you want buyers to be interested in your home, you need to show it in its best light. A good first impression can influence a buyer into making an offer; it influences a buyer emotionally and visually. In addition, what the buyer first sees is what they think of when they consider the asking price. A bad first impression can dissuade a potential buyer. Don't show your property until it's all fixed up. You do not want to give buyers the chance to use the negative first impression they have as means of negotiation. Ask around for the opinions others have of your home. Real estate agents who see houses everyday can give solid advice on what needs to be done. Consider what architects or landscape designers have to say. What you need are objective opinions, and it's sometimes hard to separate the personal and emotional ties you have for the home from the property itself. Typically, there are some general fix ups that need to be done both outside and on the inside. As a seller, you should consider the following: *Landscaping - Has the front yard been maintained? Are areas of the house visible to the street in good condition? *Cleaning or Redoing the driveway - Is your driveway cluttered with toys, tools, trash etc.? *Painting - Does both the exterior and the interior look like they have been well taken care of? *Carpeting - Does the carpet have stains? Or does the carpet look old and dirty?

INSISTING ON A HOME INSPECTION

A professional home inspection protects both you and the buyer. It allows both you and the buyer the opportunity to learn about the property's defects. A home inspection usually covers the following: *Plumbing conditions - if there is leakage or clogging *Roofing conditions - the extent of deterioration, if there is leakage *Electrical conditions - if there are inadequate circuits or potential fire hazards *Structural problems - if there are problems with the underlying foundation of your home As a seller, the home inspection reports protect you because it establishes the actual condition of the property at the time of sale.

My plan to sell your home with my exclusive service.

This section is designed to assist home sellers in Silicon Valley and surrounding areas Selling your home can be a complex process. As a seasoned listing agent, I will help you with the entire home-selling process. As your listing agent, I will help you get the best price for your home and help sell it in the fastest possible timeframe. Selling a home means a comprehensive plan must be in place. If you select me as your listing agent, I will: • Provide you with a free home valuation to help determine your home's worth. • Review comps in the area to show you what is happening in your immediate neighborhood. • Negotiate on your behalf to receive the most money for your property and home. • Network with other real estate professionals to find the perfect buyer for your home. • Arrange showings of your home that work in conjunction with your schedule. • Advise you on how to best prepare your property for potential buyers to view. • Engage in a comprehensive advertising campaign to give your home the ideal amount of exposure.

LET'S TALK

We offer the highest level of expertise, service, and integrity.

Ernie Martinez is one of the leading real estate agent in the Bay Area and has helped numerous buyers find their dream home, resulting in dozens of satisfied clients over the last 8 years.

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