Be prepared to complete the required disclosure form about your property. I can guide you through this process.
So you have decided to sell your property. Before anything else, it is a good idea to sit down and clarify your motivations and draw up a basic time frame for the selling process.
Why do you want to sell your property? Do you intend to simply find a larger property, or do you plan on moving to another neighborhood, school district, city or state? Are you relocating? Your basic reason may be obvious but what are your related goals and time frames. Being clear about your intentions for selling will make it easier for me to determine the most appropriate timeframes and course of action for your specified financial, lifestyle, and real estate goals.
We should discuss your desired time frame for selling. Whether you have plenty of time to prepare your home to sell or if you need to sell quickly I can help you. I have a team of resources who can assist with everything from home repairs and painting to staging and organizing. I work with you to make a plan and take as much off your plate as possible so that you can focus on your busy life.
When you work with me you will benefit from my knowledge, expertise and understanding of the market. I will prepare a comprehensive market analysis for you so that we can arrive at the best possible price for your home. If you wish, we can tour competitive and comparable listings so that you feel completely knowledgeable about the market in terms of pricing and timeframes in which properties are selling. I will keep you up-to-date on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and conditions of competing properties both prior to listing and while your home is on the market.
Some sellers believe that they can sell their property independently without the services of a licensed Broker. In reality most sellers who use this strategy leave money on the table and leave themselves open to a variety of issues that can arise when a professional is not assisting them through this process. Listing your property allows for healthy competition amongst buyers when it is exposed to the marketplace at large. When you list with me, I will employ the most effective marketing and advertising strategies for your property. I will also guide you through the complicated paperwork involved as well as the negotiation, inspection and other crucial steps required o close your sale for top dollar.
The following are a couple of factors to keep in mind when looking for a listing broker:
The most important factor in choosing a real estate professional is their education in the real estate industry. I come armed with a business degree from the University of Washington as well as a background as a CPA. In addition, I have significant training and education specific to the real estate industry. In working for one of the world’s leading real estate companies I am kept very up to date on changing regulations and issues in our complex industry through the many educational offerings available to us.
You want a full-time broker who is familiar with your area and with the type of property you intend to sell. Does he or she employ a diverse range of marketing and advertising strategies? How tech-savvy is your broker? How many similar properties has he or she listed and sold in the past?
Your broker should be capable of prompt and decisive action during the course of selling your property. Does your broker make it a point to keep in touch with you constantly? Can your broker easily be contacted in case of emergencies or even for the simplest questions? Your broker should be communicative and open to how you like to best communicate with them.
Does your broker take the time to listen to your goals and clarify your needs? Does your broker understand your unique situation and are they genuinely concerned about the outcome of the process? Your listing broker will be your guide and partner in this crucial decision and put your needs and interest above all else.
Lisa combines seasoned expertise and innovation, with unwavering tenacity, dedication, class, integrity and an enthusiastic, positive personality that makes her a pleasure to work with, resulting in long-standing client relationships built on trust and confidence. Lisa brings a refreshing level of professionalism to real estate. With a background in business including CPA certification and a degree from the University of Washington in Marketing and Finance Lisa’s educational background is ideal for the real estate industry. Formerly CFO of an internationally recognized Strategic Branding and Design firm, Lisa draws on her experience in finance, contracts and marketing in approaching her business.
Most likely your home is beautiful and will show and sell easily However as most of us do not live in our homes the way that we sell them, you can do a lot to increase the appeal of your property and to create a lasting impact on potential buyers.
The following are a couple of factors to keep in mind when listing your property for sale:
First impressions are very important in selling homes. Keep your landscape pristine, and add creative touches to your yard, such as colorful annuals that will create an immediate impact on passers-by and potential buyers.
Simple upgrades and making any needed repairs as well as a fresh coat of paint in the most frequently used rooms as needed will instantly brighten up the property and make it show its best. Keeping any maintenance current will also help in the inspection and negotiation process and in obtaining the best price for your home.
Keep your property uncluttered, sweet smelling and well lit from top-to-bottom. I can help you with resources to ready your home is needed. It is a good idea to pay attention to details such as fresh bed and bath linens, flowers, etc. Even soft background music can set the stage for a great showing.
Be prepared to complete the required disclosure form about your property. I can guide you through this process.
You may even have to deal with multiple offers before ratifying the one you judge to be the most suitable for you – and as your agent I will help you make a thorough and objective assessment of each offer to help you make the right choice.
Price is not always the only determining factor when accepting an offer. Of course the best price is extremely important but so are the terms of the offer and the qualifications of the buyer to close the transaction. An offer is only good if the buyer can close. If they are obtaining financing it is very important that we obtain a copy of their pre-approval letter from their lender. It is also important that as your broker I stay in touch with the buyer’s lender throughout the transaction.
I take the ethical responsibility of fairly negotiating contractual terms very seriously. It is my job to find an offer with the best terms for you and that best addresses your situation. I listen to your needs and help you negotiate what suits you best. You may even have to deal with multiple offers before ratifying the one you judge to be the most suitable for you – and as your agent I will help you make a thorough and objective assessment of each offer to help you make the right choice.
Depending on the outcome of these inspections, there are a few different possible outcomes. The buyer may be satisfied with the outcome of the inspection(s) and remove their inspection contingency. The buyer may instead find deficiencies significant enough to request a renegotiation of the terms of contract by either requesting the seller to make repairs or a renegotiation of the purchase price.
How do you respond objectively and fairly to the buyer when a renegotiation is demanded, while acting in your best interests? This is when a professional listing agent can make a real difference in the outcome of the transaction. I have an excellent track record of negotiating on my seller’s behalf in these situations.
Most buyers will have your property inspected by a licensed property inspector within the time frame that was agreed upon in your purchase and sale agreement. Some buyers will have several different inspectors inspect the property, if they wish to obtain professional opinions from inspectors who specialize in a specific area (eg. roof, HVAC, structure).
If the agreement is conditional upon financing, then the property will be appraised by a licensed appraiser to determine the value for the lending institution via third party. This is done so that the lending institution can confirm their investment in your property is accurate. When the appraisal occurs the home should be ready as if it were being shown to a buyer. I will meet the appraiser to answer questions and bring comparable sales to share to support the purchase price.
Either a title company or an attorney will be selected as the closing agent, whose job is to examine and insure clear title to real estate and “close” the transcation. After researching the complete recorded history of your property, they will certify that 1) your title is free and clear of encumbrances (eg. mortgages, leases, or restrictions, liens) by the date of closing; and 2) all new encumbrances are duly included in the title.
A contingency is a condition that must be met before a contract becomes legally binding. For instance, a buyer will usually include a contingency stating that their contract is binding only when there is a satisfactory home inspection report from a qualified inspector. Before completing his or her purchase of your property, the buyer goes over every aspect of the property, as provided for by purchase agreements and any applicable contingency addendums.
Contingencies may include:
Most buyers will have the property inspected by a licensed property inspector within the time frame that was agreed upon in the effective contract to purchase. Some buyers will have several different inspectors inspect the property, if they wish to obtain professional opinions from inspectors who specialize in a specific area (eg. roof, HVAC, structure). If the agreement is conditional upon financing, then the property will be appraised by a licensed appraiser to determine the value for the lending institution via third party. This is done so that the lending institution can confirm their investment in your property is accurate. A buyer of a commercial property may also have a complete environmental audit performed and/or soil test, if required by the lending institution.
Either a title company or an attorney will be selected as the closing agent, whose job is to examine and insure clear title to real estate. After researching the complete recorded history of your property, they will certify that 1) your title is free and clear of encumbrances (eg. mortgages, leases, or restrictions, liens) by the date of closing; and 2) all new encumbrances are duly included in the title.
A contingency is a condition that must be met before a contract becomes legally binding. For instance, a buyer will usually include a contingency stating that their contract is binding only when there is a satisfactory home inspection report from a qualified inspector.
Before completing his or her purchase of your property, the buyer goes over every aspect of the property, as provided for by purchase agreements and any applicable addendums. These include:
Depending on the outcome of these inspections, one of two things may happen:
1. Either each milestone is successfully closed and the contingencies will be removed, bringing you one step closer to the closing; or
2. The buyer, after reviewing the property and the papers, requests a renegotiation of the terms of contract (usually the price).
How do you respond objectively and fairly to the buyer when a renegotiation is demanded, while acting in your best interests? This is when a professional listing agent can make a real difference in the outcome of the transaction. Having dealt with various property sales in the past, we guarantee our expertise and total commitment to every customer, no matter what their situation is.
We suggest that you accept buyers who have a lender’s pre-approval, approval letter, or written loan commitment, which is a better guarantee of loan approval than a pre-qualification or no documentation from a lending institute. Expect an appraiser from the lender’s company to review your property and verify that the sales price is appropriate.
With unwavering tenacity, dedication, class, integrity and an enthusiastic, positive personality that makes her a pleasure to work with, resulting in long-standing client relationships built on trust and confidence. Lisa brings a refreshing level of professionalism to real estate.