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INFORMED SELLER S GUIDE The Informed Home Seller s Guide Insert contact information here number address email company

8 Steps to Becoming an Informed Seller Planning to sell If you re like most home owners you re struggling with a few questions After all you are likely about to sell the single biggest asset you ve ever owned You might have questions like What is my home worth Should I use an agent or try and sell my home on my own What can I do to make my home as attractive as possible How long will it take to sell How much will it cost me to move And of course the big one How do I get the most for my home The best way to start answering those questions is to be informed My goal for this guide is to 1 Give you answers to many of those questions and 2 Make you feel a lot more confident about the entire process If you still need more information Just ask My job is to make things easier for you That s what I m here for

8 Steps to Selling Your Home Steps 01 Choosing the Best Agent for the Job 02 Price Right to Profit More 03 Prepare to Amaze 04 Maximize Exposure to Buyers 05 Show it Off 06 Negotiate Like a Master 07 Calculating Your Net Proceeds 08 Book A Meeting

STEP 01 Choosing the Best Agent for the Job Most sellers use a real estate agent You certainly don t have to but there are good reasons why most people still do 1 Pricing is a real art The biggest factor in determining how quickly your home sells is the price and deciding that price is trickier than it seems It takes experience and even 1 more for your home can mean thousands to your bottom line 2 Negotiating is hard Not just hard to do but it can feel uncomfortable If you want someone to negotiate fearlessly on your behalf you need an agent 3 Marketing is more than MLS To get the most for your home you need as many buyers interested as possible According to REALTOR com 82 of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts Marketing is also about HOW you show something and who it is shown to not just what you are showing A good REALTOR will create a complete customized marketing plan for your home to get you the most exposure which in turn will get you the most profit 4 Showings and paperwork are a pain There s more to the legal side of a home sale than you might think and showing your own home is not only awkward it can really complicate your schedule An agent takes away the burden of all these things and works to get your home sold for the best price in the fastest time After all you ve got a life to live

STEP 02 Price Right to Profit More Setting the price for your home is challenging Too low and you leave money on the table Too high and you scare away potential buyers To complicate all this your home is an emotional asset it s hard to see it objectively Pricing is something agents spend their careers refining and mastering They combine intimate local and national market knowledge an exhaustive study of similar homes for sale and an analysis of past comparable sales to determine with the optimal list price They then combine that with your unique needs to find a price that fits YOU It s no easy task but it s a critical one Pricing your home right the first time results in more exposure more showings more offers and ultimately the highest price for your home If you want to get as much for your home as possible within a reasonable time frame you need to get the price right from the start It is also important to understand that only the market can determine the ultimate value of your home That said choosing the optimal list price is essential to maximizing your net return If you price too low you risk not getting as much as you can for your property but price too high and you risk losing potential buyers who may think your property is out of their price range and you help your competition sell faster Pricing your home right the first time results in More exposure More showings More offers BEST price

STEP 03 Prepare to Amaze After price the condition of your home is the single biggest factor determining how fast and for how much your home sells REALTORS repeatedly find that people cannot visualize the potential of a home They have to see it That means that how your home shows now is how people see themselves in it They can t see past the chips leaks clutter and stains in fact they tend to focus even more on those things Luckily you can dramatically improve how your home sells with few quick steps Clean Inside and out It matters A lot De clutter Give it away throw it away or store it away but get it out of your house Make minor repairs Chipped paint cracked tiles squeaky hinges leaky faucets Fix everything you can Consider staging According to the National Association of REALTORS staged homes sell 49 faster and for 7 11 more money Clean again Really It s that important Sound overwhelming You don t need to do it overnight Your agent can point you to someone who can help or you can break it down into just one small task a day Think of it this way everything you remove from the house clean or repair puts money in your pocket You re getting paid to do it

STEP 04 Maximize Exposure to Buyers Once you ve found a price for your home and put it in showroom condition there s one more critical piece of the puzzle before buyers begin flocking in to see your masterpiece their attention Getting the word out about your home matters for two critical reasons First buyers can t be interested if they don t know your home exists But more importantly the more buyers you have interested in your home the higher the potential sale price and the faster the sale Marketing your home to the biggest audience possible takes more than a sign on the front lawn The best and fastest home sales use a combination of many of the following Multiple MLS Listings The metro Atlanta market has more than one MLS It s important that your home is listed in multiple MLS for maximum exposure Digital Media Ads Social Media and Digital retargeting ads to those most likely to purchase a home like yours Print Marketing Print ads just listed cards and more Property Brochures Great photos vibrant descriptions in professional take away form Waze Advertising Your property can be showcased as a location on Waze attracting attention of potential buyers passing by Property Website Your home s very own website with all the information a buyer needs Online Exposure on nationally ranked real estate websites such as REMAX com and enhancements on websites like Zillow com Proactive Prospecting Reaching out directly to people who might be interested

STEP 05 Show it Off As interest in your home increases so will interest in seeing the real thing It s time to show off your masterpiece to prospective buyers A REALTOR will take care of almost all of the details but here are a few tips to maximize the showing experience You should leave Buyers want to be able to look around and discuss your home candidly They won t be comfortable if you re there Is it inviting In addition to the usual tidying make sure your home is inviting Turn up down the temperature Leave the lights on Open the blinds where appropriate Leave inside doors open or slightly ajar Any Information is good information Set additional information that s helpful property brochures floor plans community information etc Flexibility is key Be as flexible as you can try to accommodate the buyer s schedule

STEP 06 Negotiate Like a Master Now this is where things get exciting You ve got an offer or maybe two or three at once In most cases your home s list price won t be the selling price When it comes to settling on that final magic number you re going be negotiating That s something your REALTOR is an expert at but here are some key strategies for owners It s a conversation Don t be offended by low offers and conditions No one is forcing you to accept them Think of it as a starting point to have a conversation Price isn t the only thing You can negotiate on price offer conditions assets in the home Don t get stuck on one thing Remember even 1 more for your home can mean thousands to your bottom line Momentum matters Just the act of moving a deal forward helps make the deal happen Once you agree to terms the buyer provides an earnest money check which will be held in an escrow account until all conditions are met and closing occurs The conditions typically have a set time for removal and include things like an inspection contingency and financing contingency Once the conditions are met and closing day arrives you and the Buyer will sign closing documents at an attorney s office After all documents are signed you will receive your proceeds from the sale and your sale will be complete Congratulations

STEP 07 Calculating Your Net Proceeds The proceeds are in Now how much do you get to keep Let s consider your closing costs Legal Fees While there are legal fees associated with a contract closing the closing attorney technically represents the Lender so the Buyer typically incurs those fees The Seller fees from the attorney include fees such as payoff wire fees document storage and any costs associated with obtaining a closing letter from the Homeowner s Association Mortgage Fees You can typically see your total payoff amount online with your mortgage provider The total payoff amount will include any amounts owed plus any pre payment penalty and or interest expenses through the date of closing Prorations At closing the attorney will estimate the Seller and Buyer s responsibility for taxes and any HOA dues for the year These estimates will be based on the previous years numbers unless new bills are out Depending on the time of the year and if the fees have been paid this could be a credit or an expense on your closing disclosure Concessions During negotiations the Buyer may request items such as Seller paid closing costs a Seller paid Home Warranty Repair costs etc These items will be paid out on the closing disclosure with the exception of repairs you complete and pay for prior to closing and will decrease your Net Proceeds Moving Costs Moving costs vary based on location and the amount of possessions being moved If you re moving yourself you should factor gas rental vehicles and moving supplies To estimate your net proceeds see the worksheet at the end

STEP 08 Schedule a Meeting Feeling more informed I hope so There s a lot to selling a home If after reading this you feel like you want some help I d be happy to speak with you I ll provide you with a complimentary market evaluation of your home and answer any other questions you have I ve added some worksheets and other reference material after this page I think you ll find it helpful for becoming even more informed and getting organized to get the most for your home

Describe 10 things you love most about your home or neighborhood 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Calculating Net Proceeds Estimated Selling Price Less Mortgage Payoff s and Penalties 2nd Mortgage Payoff If Applicable Seller Paid Concessions Home Warranty Buyer closing cost contribution etc Property Tax HOA Adjustments Real Estate Commission Attorneys Fees Repair Expenses Other Estimated Net Proceeds of Sale

Checklist Preparing to List Your Home In preparation for listing your home you will need to gather up a few things A copy of your survey if you have one A copy of your title insurance if you have it The average cost of utilities electricity water gas Estimated Payoff include HELOC or 2nd mortgage if you have one The age of your home Details of recent improvements or renovations A list of items you would like to exclude from the sale Pictures of seasonal features i e gardens in bloom A list of any easements or right of ways Receipts and warranties for recent home improvements 10 Best Features of Your Home Worksheet Other relevant information any upgrades copy of floor plans builder plans and or model name The Sellers Disclosure from when you purchased the home this is helpful but not required Homeowners Association initiation fees and transfer fees Homeowners Association contact information