|
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
Home 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.
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.
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 CENTURY 21® 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.
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. |
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.
Information courtesy of Century 21 Real Estate LLC. |
