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SERVICES  – BEHIND THE SCENES

SELLERS  - WORKING TOGETHER TO SELL YOUR HOME

Many folks ask what do realtors do to earn their fees? To start we find clients that will be a good fit for each other since we’ll be spending a lot of time together during the sale of your home. Once we have a shared vision of the process & the listing agreement is signed, I then create a timeline, strategize with you, and inform my team.

  • RESEARCH starting with a comparative analysis and studying data to learn what homes have sold for in your neighborhood & at what price. Discuss the good and bad elements of the neighborhood, its walkability, parking, yard space, parks & schools.

  • PRESENTATION of report and discussing a price for your property

  • SELLING OFF-MARKET / IS IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

  • DISCUSS  YOUR BUDGET TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SALE

    - Getting the most bang for your buck, to remodel or not
    - Informing you of the point of sale items for your city, taxes, sewer lateral compliance, BESO for Berkeley, etc
    - Helping you understand the buyers point of view

  • MARKETING STRATEGY with over 90% of your purchasers starting their search online, your home must be camera-ready and have online presence. Staging, landscaping, photography and video will make the difference. If you want the best offer then it needs to be ready to show when it hits the market.  
    Once you have painted, repaired items, cleaned, washed windows, removed unwanted items, updated hardware & lighting, ordered reports, etc. it will be ready to stage and photograph. Your home will be on many websites for viewers to see. My team will be producing brochures, flyers &  it’s own website for open houses, and sending out the info to other realtors through online services. The first two weeks open is when the most viewers will see your home and the most critical time to procure an offer.

  • REPEAT COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS to confirm or change the listing price.

  • LISTING IS ON THE MARKET followed by open houses to the public and other realtors. A lockbox is on your property with keys so that realtors may show their clients your home at their convenience. I strongly suggest that owners provide both a list of improvements that were done during their ownership and some copy about why they loved living in their home. It shows the buyer that you cared for your property and that is comforting to them. When the pre-sale work is done, thousands will see your home online through Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, facebook, Instagram and the MLS.  The offer date is usually posted for 2 weeks after it hits the market.

  • WHAT TO DO IF YOU RECEIVE A PRE-EMPTIVE OFFER you do have options.

  • REVIEW OFFERS the highest is not always the best and learn why.

  • NEGOTIATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER then waiting through the escrow period, and smooth any hiccups that may possibly arise until your property closes.  

  • KEYS DELIVERED TO BUYER’S AGENT     Sellers pay for the negotiated realtor’s fees.

BUYERS  - GUIDING YOU THROUGH THE TRANSACTION

I  meet potential buyers through open houses, through family & friends, past co-workers, networking & referrals. If you are fresh out of the gate and never met a potential realtor to use, then I urge you to read client reviews, and meet with a few to see if you will communicate clearly with each other and are both on the same track when finding your next home. It’s a highly personal process that could take months to come to the finish line.

  • LISTENING because no 2 clients are the same. Write a list of your “must haves”. Does the home have to be completely remodeled or are you willing to do some work yourself? If you have a spouse or partner are you both in agreement on what you want, the size or location. Do you need a garage, or yard, or work space? Have those discussions.

  • FIND A LOCAL LENDER FIRST It matters who will be funding your loan. Listing agents will take notice if they know & trust the lender versus an unknown. We may need to call them on a Saturday night at 10pm. Are they available or will they only pick up Monday through Friday from 8-5pm? Lenders will run your credit report so do not buy any big ticket items while in the process.

  • KNOW YOUR FINANCIAL LIMITS  while it is fun to start looking you will be greatly disappointed if you are viewing $1.4M properties when you should be looking at $700K properties. Don’t waste your time until you know where your financial comfort zone is.

  • CURRENT MARKET Now in the 1st quarter of 2024 we are still low on inventory, but slowly gaining. Interest rates were at their highest in October of 2023 hitting a peak of 8.45%, but are now wavering near 6%. This is a positive trend for both sides. However if rates drop rapidly we may see a return to increased home prices with multiple offers being the norm. As the year continues professional predictors are seeing a gradual drop in rates, but not as low as what we saw during the pandemic. It also seems if a property is up to date, has a great layout, and in a desirable location there can still be multiple offers. In some areas the sold price has come down 5-10%, but understand that home values went up 25-45% during the pandemic. It’s still a win win. In this 2024 Q1 market sellers are finding it helps to offer incentives in some cases and can be a helpful strategy if your property has been sitting on the market. In many places pricing has come down and you may never have this opportunity to purchase a home at these lower prices. It’s always a great way to build equity. Selling or purchasing is a personal choice, so do it when it’s right for you.

  • HOUSE HUNTING learn the terms. “DOM” days on market, has it been on for 5 days or 50 days? It matters when it’s time to submit an offer. If you really like it come back at different times of the day and week to scope out the neighborhood. Does it have the vibe you were hoping for or close enough to schools and parks and transportation? Will you need a separate space or room to work from home? Don’t forget to read the inspection reports!

  • OPEN HOUSE PROTOCOL  Did you know that some homes may have cameras and can hear & see your visit. I advise not to say comments that are bad or good, but to stay neutral. Introduce yourself to the hosting agent and let them know you are working with an agent & give their name. They then know you are serious buyers and may offer more information.

  • MAKING AN OFFER I advise that your pre-approval letters are individual for each property that you make an offer on. We will go over a current Comparative Analysis and review if the area demands going above asking price and by how much. In our area homes generally sell for 20%, 30%, and 40% over the asking price. Absolutely read the reports of the inspectors. This is where you find what other hidden costs will arise after you take ownership. Many homes for sale require the buyer to take care of the sewer lateral compliancy. Look to see if it needs a new roof, or HVAC system, water heater, or possibly a new deck. Is it in a flood zone or a fire zone? Once you know the facts, is this the house for you? The reason we have the reports is to disclose to the buyer what may be in store, though sometimes issues may arise that are unforeseen. It still may take going above and beyond what you thought. Feel good about your offer and know what you can and cannot handle.

  • COUNTEROFFERS  sometimes this will happen. Did you leave enough in the bank to come up in price if this is the house of your dreams…or will you pass?

  • ACCEPTANCE OF YOUR OFFER Congrats you are in escrow and now wait with the Sellers until the property is appraised, the loan approved, it records with the title company and escrow has closed. Many documents will need to be signed so make the time in your day because the contract has a time limit on it for every step. Always ask questions.

  • YOU TAKE OWNERSHIP AND KEYS ARE DELIVERED   Once the loan has funded & balances are deposited, docs are signed and the property records with the county then pop open the Champagne. Congrats you did it!