Recipe for a Good Sale - Get a Good Agent!

Once you get a good agent, there are
4 main ingredients that make up the sale of your home.

1. LOCATION
   We usually cannot move a home! To coin the favorite phrase of appraisers "Location, Location, Location".
   
   
2. CONDITION
   The upkeep and presentation of your property are crucial to obtain the highest value for your home in any given market at any given time. The pricing of your property must reflect its condition. I will be more than happy to walk through your house and make suggestions that will make your house show at it's best.
   
   
3. PRICE
   Price is the #1 factor in the sale of your home. A property is really only worth what one person is willing to pay another to gain ownership of it. Price must be in direct relationship to the other 3 ingredients and it is the most important of all.
   
   
4. THE MARKET. i.e. Interest rates, Competition, and the Economy all make up and influence the state of the market when you sell your home. The pricing of your property must reflect the current status of the market.

Marketing Plan - First 30 Days

A Strong Marketing Plan executed with Massive Action
is what it takes to Maximize Your Sale!

Maximum Exposure = Maximum Price

• Tour your home and determine what needs to be addressed to make your house sell for top dollar.
• Research the market extensively to determine the highest value of your home.
• Enter listing in Multiple Listing Service where 1000 agents will check to see if they have a customer for your house.
• Place lock box on property.
• Broker/Agents get daily notifications of Hot New Listings.
• Place For Sale sign in front of Home.
• Full color eye-catching property flyers for sign outside to generate interest and brochures for inside as great memory joggers and promote features not readily observable.
• Extensive Internet advertising including Zillow, Realtor.com, GACAR.com, Homes.com, and SusanBaird.com.
• Just listed cards to surrounding area.
• Hold Open House with Internet advertising.
• Announce and promote new listing at weekly sales meeting.
• Follow-up with Realtors that show the house for feedback and clarification of information.
• Constant communication with you.

SOLD!

Showing Your Home To Sell

1. FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE THE MOST LASTING. Remember that when a prospect comes to look at your home - the first impression (curb appeal) is vital. Your front lawn and other landscaping should be neatly trimmed and mowed. Make certain that your yard is clean of refuse and leaves. The walk should be swept. The front door must be clean and fresh looking, the doorbell in working order.
   
   
2. DECORATING FOR QUICKER SALE. Faded walls and worn woodwork will reduce the appeal of your house. Why describe how your house could look...when you can show how it looks with just a reasonable amount of redecoration. A minor investment in paint and wallpaper will pay bigger dividends to you in the form of a better price and quicker sale. Go to www.stagedhomes.com for more great ideas.
   
   
3. LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT. Loose door knobs or cabinet pulls, sticking doors and drawers, wobbly hinges, stuck windows — all are negative factors. Fix leaky faucets; dripping water suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing (major repair bills); discolored, rust-stained sinks are also warning signs, so should be properly cleaned or replaced.
   
   
4. DE-CLUTTER. Every room will look bigger and better with less in it. You are going to move soon, so you might as well start packing.
   
   
5. BATHROOMS SELL HOMES. Make bathrooms sparkle. Clean stained sinks and bowls, repair any damaged or discolored caulking around bathtubs and showers, be sure towels and area rugs are bright and sparkly, make certain all light fixtures and bulbs work.
   
   
6. TURN UP THE SHELTER. If it's hot, cool it; if it's cold, light a crackling fire.
   
   
7. BRIGHTEN UP THE HOUSE. Illumination in your home can be the "welcome sign" for every prospect. Turn on all of the exterior and interior lights — including the accent and picture lights - when showing your home at night. Open the drapes and curtains. Clean the windows so that a prospect can see how bright and cheerful your house is. Dark and dreary rooms do not appeal to most home-buying prospects.
   
   
8. LET THE FRESH AIR IN. Get rid of odors that may unfamiliar or unpleasant. People are most often offended by odors from tobacco, pets, cooking and musty or sour laundry. Fresh flowers and potpourri can be used to your advantage. Other smells that attract positive attention include fresh baked bread and cinnamon.
   
   
9. LET THE BUYERS ENJOY YOUR HOME. Go for a walk or do your errands, and take the dog and kids. Turn on soft music to create a warmer feeling.

Is it Time to Put My Home on the Market?

Moving is never easy, but sometimes it is necessary. If you think you may be on the cusp of a move, take a look at these telltale signs it's time to put your home on the market and move to a new home!

1. LACK OF SPACE
   Have you outgrown your home? Are you tired of constantly bumping into family members trying to make it to the bathroom or sharing an office with a newborn? One of the top reasons people sell their homes is because of lack of space to accommodate a growing family. As your children grow up, they will want more space of their own and sometimes this requires making a move into a larger and more spacious home. If your mother-in-law is moving in, you may want to start searching for a home with a guest house or mother-in-law suite!
   
   
2. TOO MUCH SPACE
   Do you have rooms that are empty in your home? If your children have left you an empty nest, then it may be time to downsize and move into a home that is more appropriate for your smaller family.
   
   
3. LOCATION
   Last summer you may have taken a vow to never endure the hot Texas heat again. You may have even been searching online for homes in a cooler location. After weathering the dry heat for years, you may decide to sell your home and move to a colder climate. Moving to a better location is another top reason why many people sell their homes.
   
   
4. FINANCIAL REASONS
   Do you have high utility bills or a hefty mortgage? It may be time to move from that expensive area to a more affordable community to bring you peace of mind and less financial stress.
   
   
5. RELATIONSHIP STATUS CHANGE
   If you have gotten married, it may be time to find your first house together to begin your marriage. That small apartment or bungalow may have worked for just you, but when your significant other moves in, having only one sink or bathroom may not be ideal to start your marriage.
   
   
6. RETIREMENT
   If you have retired, you now have time to golf, play tennis, go on vacations and hang out with grandchildren. If your current home is too much maintenance for you to handle after retirement, it may be time to move on to a home that better suits your needs.
   
   
7. WANTING A SHORTER COMMUTE
   Driving to and from work in traffic isn't anyone's idea of a good time. Moving closer to your office is a big factor when it comes to selling a home. If the longevity of your career looks promising, living closer to work is a great reason to put your home on the market.

Thinking about making a change? I'd love to help. Contact me today to learn more about your options.

Resources

Title Insurance Ray Ivey: 352-376-5242 John Roscow/Lisa: 352-373-7788 Handyman / Repair Service / Painting David Nelson: 352-215-6559 A & M Construction Works (Alex): 352-339-3644 Jacques Guitton: 352-494-5529 RD Painting & Maintenance: 352-575-7455 Movers Sunbelt: 352-375-6683. Ask for 'Marty'...real nice guy. Air Conditioning & Heating Bounds: 352-472-2761 Newmans: 352-375-8555 Painters JC Painters: 352-682-5672 See 'Handyman' list too above Plumbing Quality Plumbing: 352-377-1009 Kempton & Self: 352-378-1812 Scott Dykehouse: 352-215-5225 Roofers Crosier & Sons: 352-372-0200 Perry Roofing: 352-373-2724 Screen Repair Service Screen Doctor (Kevin Layne): 352-339-3789 Window Repair The Window Man: 352-375-6575 Temporary Living The Links at Haile Plantation: 352-335-8011 Extended Stay America: 352-375-0073 Landscaping Gator Country Lawns: 352-339-1321 The Green House Nursery: 352-472-3699 Paradise Landscaping: 352-376-5256 A-1 Tree Service: 352-335-7535 Skyfrog Tree Service (Tree Removal): 352-727-4330 Hardscape The Green House Nursery: 352-472-3699 Tile Work / Flooring Wood Floors & Carpeting - Planned Furnishings (Evan): 352-372-1280 Wood Floors: Butch 352-538-3265 (installer/repairs) Carpet & Tile Cleaners Plantation Cleaners (Mark): 352-262-8498 Stanley Steemer: 386-462-0980 Electrician Ethan Swindell: 352-317-0335

Don't wear yourself out by doing it alone
Call me, and together we can brainstorm to maximize your sale