Return to flip book view
DEXTER REALTY SELLER’S GUIDE
1
Congratulations on taking this rst step toward selling your home! Selling a home, whether it’s your rst time or your fth, can be a little overwhelming. While it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement, it’s even more important to keep your eye on the big picture. Your home’s sale might be the single most valuable transaction you’ll ever make—one that can increase your future net worth and open the door to new lifestyle opportunities.That’s why we take pride in providing unparalleled help. Our managing brokers and agents have condensed four decades of in-house expertise into an easy-to-use guide for rst-time home sellers and seasoned investors alike. When it comes to selling a home, we know real estate stakes are high. That’s why we set our standards even higher.
Choosing the right realtorDexter’s PromisePersonalized Marketing Plan5913Contents
Showing your home for successHome showing checklistsNotes172125
5Choosing the right REALTOR®What do we mean when we talk about “the right” REALTOR®?We mean nding the professional real estate agent whose expertise and approach to selling your home will perfectly compliment your particular style. Why work with a REALTOR®?In the sale of a property, you’ll be negotiating with a home buyer who has an experienced REALTOR® working for their best interests—and you deserve the same. But the reasons for working with a professional agent, backed by a reputable brokerage, don’t stop there.First, it’s important to understand whose interests REALTORS® are legally bound to serve in a real estate transaction. The Listing AgentThe Listing Agent is under contract with the home seller to market and sell their property for the best possible price.
7A listing agent will:• Arrange showings & open houses for the property.• Always act in the best interest of the seller.• Provide details about the property to potential buyers & their agents.• Explain all the forms and agreements related to buying the propertyYour Personal REALTOR® As a seller, when you engage the services of your own, personal agent, you get an experienced professional working in your best interests, who provides:• Access to listing your home on the MLS, and expert insight into previous sales, active listings, and even homes that were previously on the market so you can price your home right.• Expert advice on essential clauses such as home inspections and nancing, to ensure you’re fully protected.• Expert negotiation of any offer to purchase, to achieve the best possible price and terms.• Expert advice on market value and inclusions, and insight into when you might want to walk away from an offer.
8• Discovery and disclosure of all information about the property including liens, warranties, disclosures, and market and planning activity in the area. As your Personal REALTOR®, your agent’s job is to ensure you are an educated seller in all aspects of your home selling process. It’s our goal at Dexter Realty that every seller enjoys the highest standards of professional service from their Real Estate Professional.
Dexter’s promiseDexter only accepts the most dedicated, empathetic, and motivated agents. When we use the title of “agent” to describe our 160+ team members, that designation was earned, not given.Our sellers can rest assured that they’re always getting the cream of the crop—we wouldn’t have it any other way.We don’t just follow the standards for quality—we set them. We’re meticulously above-board in every dealing. Our agents and clients alike take condence in the faultless integrity that denes our very DNA.Integrity, we believe, is what ultimately denes the highest level of service. It’s also a fundamental aspect of what denes us as a company.That’s why we’re careful to have honest, thorough discussions with each and every one of the sellers we work with. We don’t inate expectations or badger clients into making a quick sale, because our goal is your best experience, not a fast sale.9
11A Reputation EarnedThrough our unwavering dedication to our clients, we earned our place as the company to use in the Lower Mainland.No one gets lost in the shufe at Dexter. A proud independent brokerage, we’re big enough to be effective, compact enough to offer an unmatched level of personal attention. This care is reected in our approach to every segment of the marketplace, extended customers of every kind and any price range, and seen in every Dexter agent from anywhere in the Lower Mainland. Each sale is of the utmost importance to their lives—and we feel the same way about their success. Enjoy the security and condence that comes from dealing with professionals who care.Well InformedBeing well-versed in rules and regulations requires ongoing commitment, not just a license. We’re typically the rst to hear about any changes to British Columbia’s real estate process. Our agents are so well informed that others often compliment their professional skills, even when representing the other side on a contract.
12Dexter Realty is completely independent and not afliated with any nancial institution, which means that if we are asked to help arrange nancing, we are free to seek the best rates and terms. There is no conict and no bias. Our loyalty is to you alone.That’s the quality of professional you deserve to have on your side, making sure you get the best deal and avoid any unwanted surprises.
13Personalized marketing planIn this highly competitive market, it’s crucial to ensure your home is showcased in all the right places—and all the right ways. As each home is unique, a personalized marketing plan—one tailored to your home’s particular needs—will help secure the highest possible price for your property. Our commitment for marketing your homeYour Dexter REALTOR® will take the time to walk through your home, identify the best angles for photography, and discuss the unique features that make your home special. While preparing to list your home, we will work with you to:• Make the home as easy to show as possible to allow for maximum exposure to the market by means of personalized showings that are always supervised by us. We do not use lockboxes.
14• Develop a list of features and take photographs to create a full colour feature sheet for potential buyers to take during the showing. We will ensure your home is shown to advantage and submitted to the MLS® (Multiple Listing Service) as soon as possible. We will also showcase your home in select, highly effective internet and print advertising locations.Internet advertising• Place your home on realtylink.org and realtor.ca.• Place your home on Paragon—the REALTOR®’s MLS database that reaches over 14,000 Realtors in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.• Place your home on rew.ca—the Real Estate Weekly.• Place your home on dexterrealty.com.• Place your home on leadingre.com which represents over 565 independent companies in 70 countries.Print-form advertising• We advertise weekly in the Vancouver Sun and occasionally in neighbourhood newspapers.
15Beyond media-based advertising, we will ensure the greatest number of potential buyers are reached by using every other effective means of showcasing your listing. While not everything is right for every home, these additional efforts can include:• On-site exposure with the placement of a professional sign.• Arranging a mail-walk with Canada Post to deliver a feature yer card to all of the residents in your neighbourhood, if you wish.• Promote your property at our weekly sales meeting.• “Agents Open” will be arranged for all area REALTORS®, where applicable.• Public open houses will be arranged upon request.• We will contact you on a regular basis to give you feedback from showings and any other relevant information that may be useful to you, such as keeping you informed of current market conditions and trends.• We will represent you upon the presentation of all offers from co-operating REALTORS® and negotiate the best possible price, dates, and terms for you.• We will keep you informed after the offer has been accepted and outline the next steps.
16• We will communicate with you the progress of things such as inspections, mortgagor requests for appraisals, title specics, and other closing procedures as they proceed. Most of all, we will follow up with every agent and potential buyer who inquires after your home. With Dexter, you have a REALTOR® who will work with you to make this process as easy and worry free as possible, and will be available 7 days a week to answer any question you may have.
17Showing your home for successYou’ve found the right REALTOR® and your home has been listed in all the right places. Now it’s time to prepare for one of the most important aspects of home selling: showing your home effectively to prospective buyers. A home showing, whether it’s a showing appointment or an open house, is your best opportunity to capture the interest—and hopefully, the emotions—of a prospective buyer. It’s your chance to distinguish your home from all the others in your area and price range, and make a connection with your viewers. This process can sometimes feel overwhelming, but with the help and guidance of your Dexter REALTOR®, you’ll nd yourself sailing through the showings with ease.Building an emotional connection One of the best ways to make this emotional connection is to help potential buyers visualize this property as their home, not yours. In addition to cleaning the home from top to bottom, you should also start the process of decluttering and depersonalizing.
19By removing the majority of your personal mementos and decorative items from the landscape, you are creating a blank canvas upon which buyers can imagine their own belongings. Remember, buyers are looking for a home that most meets their needs, one that will show their prized possessions to best effect. It’s to your advantage to help them do this.Showing your home to prospective buyers is denitely a case where less is more, so why not start the packing process early?Giving prospective buyers space Alongside cleaning and depersonalizing your home, one of the most important aspects of a successful showing may surprise you: The best way you can help your REALTOR® conduct a successful showing is to leave before the potential buyers arrive and not return until after they’re gone.Prospective buyers rarely speak their minds when they’re worried the homeowner is in earshot. If your viewers don’t voice any objections or concerns, that doesn’t leave much opportunity for your REALTOR® to counter those concerns, offer solutions, and point out
20other compensating factors. Rest assured your Dexter agent will be there to answer any questions during the showing. Having the homeowner present during the showing tends to make viewers feel less comfortable. They feel as if they are intruding and tend to skip through rooms quickly, afraid of lingering. Your presence could inhibit the viewer’s ability to imagine living there, as the property still seems like someone else’s home. This is particularly true if other family members, children and pets are present. Even the best-behaved children can be a distraction and, in the case of pets, they can be a deterrent for any buyers with allergies.Let your REALTOR® do the heavy liftingYou’ve chosen a real estate professional for their ability to showcase the bestselling points of our home and to counter objections as they arise. Why not give your representative the freedom to do their job to the best of their ability? Whether it’s an open house or a showing appointment, bundle up the kids and pets in the car, go out for a walk in the park and an ice cream, and leave the showing to the professional. It will make all the difference in selling your home.
21Home-showing checklistFirst Impressions: General • House exterior in good repair; pressure wash sidewalks and patios• House number easy to read• Eaves troughs, downspouts, and softs painted and in good repair• Garage/carport clean and tidy• Litter picked up• Cracked or broken window panes replaced and basins in good repair• Floors cleaned and garbage containers emptyFirst Impressions: Summer• Lawns cut and raked • Hedges and shrubs trimmed• Garden weeded and edged
22First Impressions: Winter• Snow and ice cleared from the walk• Sidewalks salted and/or sanded• Boot tray inside front doorFront Door• Doorbell works• Door hardware in good repair• Porch and foyer clean and tidy• Fresh air in houseBathroom• Mirrors, taps, and xtures cleaned • Leaky taps and toilets repaired• Seals & caulking around tubs and basins in good repair• Floors cleaned and trash bins emptied• Inside of cupboards and cabinets clean and neat• Towels clean and matching • Countertops free of personal care items
23Interior Maintenance• Chipped plaster & paint touched up• Doors and cupboards latch properly• Leaky taps and faucets repaired • Furnace wiped down and cleaned • Burned out light bulbs replaced• Squeaky doors oiled Kitchen• Sinks and taps cleaned• Appliances cleaned• Countertops neat and cleaned
24• Inside of cupboards clean and neat• Small appliances put awayCreate a buying atmosphere• All lights turned on• Fireplace lit in cooler weather• Closets neat and tidy• Halls and stairs cleared • Drapes and blinds open during daylight• Carpets freshly vacuumedPets• Pets contained or absent during the showing • Pet odors removed from carpets, drapes and furnitureValuables• Jewelry and valuables, such as art and ornaments locked safely away, kept out of sight or out of reach, or taken with you
Would you like a printed copy of this document?
It would be my pleasure to provide you with one if you'd like.
* By providing your information you give Dexter Realty permission to contact about their services.
SubmitSouth Granville 560 – 2608 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6H 3V3 604.263.1144Yaletown 1399 Homer Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5M9 604.689.8226