Bellingham Home Seller's Guide

PRICE

• Provide Market Overview
• Produce Comparative Market Analysis
• Design Price Strategy
• Help Determine Inclusions & Exclusions

REPAIR AND UPGRADES

• Recommend Home Improvements and/or Staging to Increase Value Recommend Repairs to Home
• Recommend Repairs to Home

SAFETY

• Install Lockbox for Controlled Access
• Document All Showing Activity
• Make Safety & Anti-Theft Recommendations

CONTRACTS

• Explain Contract to Buy & Sell
• Explain Listing Agreement
• Explain Required Disclosure Documents
• Explain Deeds
• Explain Title Work
• Assemble H.O.A Documents
• Obtain Owners & Encumbrance Report
• Obtain & Review Buyer's
• Qualification Letter

MARKETING

• Design & Implement Marketing Plan
• Hire & Schedule:
  • Professional Cleaner
  • Professional Photographer
• Provide & Schedule:
  • Sign Installation
  • Pre-Inspection
  • Home Measurements
• Host Broker Open Houses
• Host Public Open Houses
• Host Neighbor Open Houses
• Input Home into MLS System
• Produce Property Brochure
• Send Home Information to Syndicate Websites
• Send "Just Listed" Postcards
• Post on Social Media
• Send Email Blast to Realtors & Industry Professionals
• Run Print Advertising
• Promote Within Office
• Promote to Sphere of Influence

COMMUNICATION

• Pre-Listing Interview To Determine Needs
• Guide Through Inspection Process
• Guide Through Appraisal Process
• Explain Closing Procedure
• Schedule & Manage Vendors
• Guide Through TRID Requirements
• Track Due Diligence Deadlines
• Provide a Weekly Showing Report
• Coordinate With Lenders, Appraisers,
• Inspectors, Title Company

NEGOTIATIONS

I negotiate the following:

• Price
• Inspection Resolution
• Appraisal Resolution
• Title Resolution
• Multiple Offers
• Seller Concessions
• Earnest Money
• Inclusions & Exclusions
• Conditional Sale Contingency
• Survey Resolution
• Due Diligence Resolution
• Closing Possession

Helping to find a buyer for your home is only one facet of my job.
In addition, I will:

• Explain basic real estate principles and paperwork
• Do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help determine your home's value
• Help determine the right selling price
• Assist you in preparing your home for sale
• Market your home to buyers and other agents
• List your home on Realtor.com, Windermere.com and other real estate websites
• Keep you up-to-date on current market activity, as well as comments from potential buyers and agents about your home
• Assist you with the purchase and sale agreement
• Negotiate with buyers and their agents on your behalf your behalf
• Track contingencies and ensure contract deadlines are met
• Work with the escrow company to ensure all documents are in order and on time

So by working with me, you will:

• Be more likely to get the highest return on your investment your investment
• Decrease your days on market
• Understand all the terms, processes and paperwork involved
• Have exposure to more buyers and agents with qualified buyers
• Have current market information to make informed decisions
• Have a skilled negotiator on your side
• Have peace of mind that the details are being handled

Determining the right price for your property is the most critical step in ensuring you get the highest return on your investment in the least amount of time. MLS statistics show that the longer a home is on the market, the lower the sales price. So my job is to help you set the right price from the start, and to position your property so it stands out in the market.

The market value of your home is what buyers are willing to pay in today's market conditions.  Our goal is to determine its market value and set the price accordingly.

DANGERS OF PRICING ABOVE MARKET VALUE:

• Your true target buyers may not see your property because its listed out of their price range.
• The buyers in the higher price point may compare your home to other homes at that price and consider it a bad value.
• It may sit on the market longer and sell for less than asking price, while you continue to pay ownership costs and can't move on with your life.

Here's how I'll help you successfully price and position your property for the highest return:

• Analyze current market conditions and sales prices of comparable properties
• Discuss your goals and needs
• Advise you about ways to make your property more attractive to buyers
• Create a comprehensive marketing plan targeting the most likely buyers
• Market your property to other agents, and get their feedback on its price and presentation
• Keep you up-to-date on sales activity and market conditions

You can be assured that my experience and understanding of the marketplace will help you get the best price possible in the shortest time.

A commonly asked question is, "Is there a best time to put your home on the market?" The answer is "Yes."

The best time to market your home is exactly when you are ready.

What is important is to have a good game plan and time for preparation. When you are ready, I will be there to assist you with information that will help you get the greatest return on your investment.

I CAN HELP:

• Assess how much your home is worth.
• Provide information on how long homes in your price range have been on the market.
• Prepare your home for showings ... and for selling.

Let's talk about your personal goals and current market conditions to determine when the time is right for you.

Easy access for buyers to see the interior of your home increases marketability and shortens market time. For added security, we use mobile-activated key boxes to provide access to your home. This allows:

• The ability to control times that people are allowed in.
• Only real estate agents in good standing to have access.
• The tracking of agents as they show the home.
• For me to obtain immediate feedback from agents who have shown the home.
• Security, safety and traceability offer real peace of mind.

Selling your property means the careful orchestration of advertising, marketing and public relations. My goal is to reach precisely the right target audience through key local and national contacts.

One way to achieve this goal is to pique interest with the full-color marketing materials I use to showcase your home. Whether I am presenting your information in a postcard mailing to the neighborhood or in an informative flyer, each piece will exude quality and professionalism.

Another way is to display a Windermere yard sign, which for over four decades has become synonymous with quality listings.

What better way to tell the story of your home?

Home inspections are a critical part of the home buying and selling process.

Inspections take the mystery out of selling your home and may make it easier for prospective buyers to imagine themselves living there. By making repairs and disclosing the home's condition to a prospective buyer before negotiations begin, you can create an atmosphere of good faith and instill confidence about your home's condition. This, in turn, may help sell your home faster and closer to your listing price. I can help you:

• Find a reputable inspector and home repair contractors.
• Prepare for when unknown problems are discovered.
• Review inspection options.
• Negotiate fair and appropriate solutions, if necessary.

A home inspection benefits all parties involved by providing insight into the condition of the home, thereby helping to reduce the overall listing time of your property.

Because well and septic systems can be expensive to replace, every knowledgeable buyer will want to know the condition of the well and septic systems of a home they are considering buying. A septic and well inspection can yield useful information on the condition of these systems.

A well inspection will focus on three key items:

• Well system
• Water quantity
• Water quality

A septic inspection will focus on:

• Tanks and pipes
• Drain fields
• Systems conditions

I can help you determine if a pre-inspection is warranted prior to putting your home on the market.

Good communication is key to a successful working relationship.
I am committed to keeping you up-to-date on the events surrounding the sale of your home. You can expect:

• Updates to keep you informed of all market activity.
• Comments and suggestions from real estate agents that tour your property.
• Information from agents working with qualified buyers.
• Feedback from potential buyers during open houses.
• Current market trends.

This will enable you to make informed, timely decisions based on the continuing flow of information.

The old adage says, "A picture is worth a thousand words.'

There is a reason that some adages become old ... because they are so true.

Statistically we know that 89 percent* of the people searching online for homes want to see photos, photos and more photos. In order to make the best first impression, we display only professional photography that will appeal to as many buyers as possible.

The premise is simple. Give buyers the information they want and it will prompt action.

*National Association of REALTORS' 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

One powerful way to create traffic and exposure for your home is by holding open houses.

• 50 percent of buyers report using open houses as an important information source when looking for a home.*
• Open Houses also create "buzz" in the neighborhood.
• 33 percent of buyers found yard signs to be a very useful source when searching for homes to purchase.*

This really is a case where seeing is believing.

*National Association of REALTORS' 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

According to a national survey*, 95 percent of home buyers use the Internet to search for homes. When you're ready to sell your home, you should expect your agent to have a plan for marketing your home online.

I will post your home on Windermere.com, and because I am a member of the Multiple Listing Service, your listing will also appear on all other major participating brokerage sites in the area. Windermere's listings also appear on real estate search sites like Realtor.com, Trulia and Zillow, with a combined reach of nearly 200 million viewers.

Your home is your most treasured asset. Don't miss out on this crucial opportunity to reach buyers in your community, and beyond.

*National Association of REALTORS' 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Another way to get your home sold quickly is through detailed information and pictures on our office website.

Our office website has:

• Online collaboration with your Windermere agent
• On average 500,000 property listings
• Information about every MLS listing available in your area
• Enhanced search capabilities and image viewer
• A "save your favorite" feature
• RSS feeds of new listings that match your search criteria
• Open House search
• Our office's featured "Showcase" homes on the home page
• Share tools for email and social media

In addition to searching for homes, buyers and sellers use our office website to:

• Better understand the buying or selling process
• Read the Windermere blog
• Use the mortgage calculator
• Brush up on real estate terms
• Find a list of the agents in our office

Let the power of technology and our office website work for you.

Another way to get your home sold quickly is through detailed information and pictures on Windermere.com.

Windermere.com has:

• Online collaboration with your Windermere agent
• On average one million monthly visits
• On average 500,000 property listings
• Information about every MLS listing available in your area
• Enhanced search capabilities and image viewer
• A "save your favorite" feature
• RSS feeds of new listings that match your search criteria
• Open House search
• Featured "Showcase" and "Premier" homes on the home page
• Share tools for email and social media

In addition to searching for homes, buyers and sellers use Windermere.com to:

• Better understand the buying or selling process
• Read the Windermere blog
• Use the mortgage calculator
• Brush up on real estate terms
• Find a Windermere office or agent to work with

Let the power of technology and Windermere.com work for you.