simplySELLINGHOME SELLER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
simplySELLINGHOME SELLER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSJoe & Laura Millslagle Broker Associate | Realtor®941.815.3461JoeAndLaura@TheMillslagleGroup.comTheMillslagleGroup.comlet's get social@the.millslagle.group The Millslagle Group
PREPARE ITADVERTISE ITSHOW IT SELL ITMeet with meClean, declutter, paintNegotiate offersGet under contractDetermine priceStrategic marketingInspections + appraisalsClosing day!01030204Whether you are not sure if you're ready to say goodbye to your home, or you're ready to pass offthose keys to someone else ASAP – this guide is for you! I've compiled all of the answers to my mostfrequently asked questions about selling a home into this guide. Use this to refer back to throughoutthe process, or whenever you decide it's time to list.This is my most frequently asked question, so it's the perfect one to kick this off with. Here is a thehome selling process in a simple 4 step process:let's get social@the.millslagle.group The Millslagle GroupWhat does the home selling process look like?simplyTHE SELLING PROCESS
PROS AND CONS OF PRICING IT...Determining your home’s market value is one very important reason to use a real estate agent. I willdo a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you set the correct listing price. I look at recentsales of comparable homes, similar homes that are under contract, and homes that are listed in thesame price range of your home. Then I compare features of the homes including the size, style,number of rooms, age of the home, amenities, condition, lot size and placement, and the location orneighborhood. (Note: the tax appraiser’s assessed value of your home has nothing to do with themarket price.)Setting a very high price just to “see what we get” is never a good idea. Setting an unreasonablyhigh price usually results in longer time on the market, which does not look good to buyers and willfrustrate you. Many sellers ask about the price that Zillow or other real estate websites give for theirhome. These are not reliable because these sites are only taking into consideration very generaldemographics. My job is to determine the perfect listing price to get your home sold for the mostamount of money, in the shortest amount of time.let's get social@the.millslagle.group The Millslagle GroupWhat is my home worth?Should we price it higher just to see what happens?HOME SELLER FAQbelow market value+ The home will receive high interest and a quick sale+You may get a multiple offer scenario, which may include offers higher than asking price- Risk of having to seller at a lower priceat market value+ No appraisal issues+ Buyers and agents will recognize a fair price+ Will appear on more relevant buyer searchesover market value+ If you have to receive a certain amount for the home- It will take much longer to sell- The more days it's on the market, the worse it looks to prospects- The home may not appraise by the buyer's lender, back to negotiations=An easy answer is when it’s best for you! Obviously, if you are closing on a home purchase, movingfor work, or want to get settled before the new school year, you have a timeline you need to workwith. But, if you have the luxury of choosing when to sell, there are a few considerations. Spring istraditionally a time when there are more buyers looking, but you may also have more competition.Fall, and closer to the holidays, is a good time to get a higher price from buyers that need to movebefore the new year. Watching the market is always smart. A seller’s market, meaning there aremore buyers than sellers, is always a good time to list.When should I sell my home?
let's get social@the.millslagle.group The Millslagle GroupHow long will it take to sell my home?The length of time on market will depend upon the market in your area at the time of listing andwhether the home is priced realistically. I am always working to get you the highest price in theshortest time possible. On average, a home that is priced right goes under contract in two to threemonths. If you need to sell fast, that should be reflected in the list price.How much will I pay in commissions?Real estate commission is typically 6%-7% of the sales price, (although it varies) split between thelisting and selling sides. Commissions are not paid directly to the agents, but to our brokers. Theycollect fees for marketing your home on MLS and other websites, administrative costs, insurancefees, and required fees for storing your transaction records as required by law. My broker then paysme for representing you in the transaction. As your agent, I will work very hard to represent youethically and with your best interest always the priority. If you have any questions about thecommissions, I’d be happy to talk with you further.What do I need to do to get my home ready to sell?We will decide together on how to handle showings. We can set parameters as to the hours anddays that showings are allowed, and how to notify you in advance. Homes show best when thehomeowner is not present, but if this is not possible, we will work together to create the bestexperience for the buyer that also fits your lifestyle. Usually we use an electronic lockbox that allowsbuyers’ agents to access your house key. These boxes also notify me any time they are opened, sono one is accessing your home without my knowledge. If you have pets in the home that need to betended to during showings, we will work out the best way to handle them. Furthermore, I will try toget feedback from each showing and pass that information back to you.How will the showing process work?I recommend that you give the home a thorough cleaning– get rid of anything you aren’t taking withyou, declutter surfaces, take care of repairs, make sure the major mechanical systems are in goodoperation, have the exterior pressure cleaned and the landscaping spruced up. You may alsoconsider repainting if it is overdue or if the home is painted in dark or bold colors. I strongly discourage those routes, not only because I want to help you sell your home, but alsobecause they can be a huge burden and don’t get you the best price. Buyers know that when ahome is sold FSBO or on a flat fee service, that the seller is paying little or no commissions, so theywill offer less. Consider that when you sell your home by yourself, you will have to be present for allshowings, and you won’t have someone to advocate for you through all the steps of the contractand closing process. If something goes wrong, you’ll want me in your corner to prevent problems orsave the deal, so you don’t have to start over.Should I consider FSBO or a flat fee listing service?What marketing will you do to help sell my home?Hands down, our best marketing tool is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS.) This is the database allreal estate agents use when searching for properties for buyers. And buyers are using websites likeRealtor.com, which is why all my listings automatically show up on these websites. My broker will listyour home on our company website, and I may also use additional avenues such as open houses,socail media ads, and direct mailing, depending on your home and market.HOME SELLER FAQ
It sometimes happens that a home does not appraise at or above the contract price. When thishappens, we go back to negotiations to determine if we can save the deal by adjusting both thesales price and the terms of the contract to the satisfaction of both buyer and seller. Usually we areable to work it out and save the deal. You always have the right to refuse to lower the price to meetthe appraisal, but it’s usually in your best interest to try to work with the buyer to resolve the issue asthe next appraisal could result in the same valuation. If you are concerned about the appraisalvalue, go ahead and have your home appraised before setting the listing price.Incentives are something I like to consider on a case-by-case basis. There are certain circumstanceswhere it may be smart to offer an incentive. Some incentives can be offered from the start. Forexample, if your home is in an area that doesn’t get a lot of traffic, we may offer an incentive toagents to bring us a buyer. Or if you know the appliances are at the end of their lifetime, you mayoffer a home warranty to help the buyers replace them. Other incentives, like helping with closingcosts, are better used during the negotiation process.It’s smart to disclose any issues right up front. Your buyers will have the right to inspect the home, soit’s best they not be hit with bad news after going under contract. If you know of problems with theappliances, plumbing, electric, HVAC, roof, foundation, property lines, or deed, these need to belisted on the Seller’s Disclosure. If there are repairs that you can have done before listing, go aheadand take care of those. Anything that cannot be remedied before listing should be considered whensetting your list price.A multiple-offer scenario is a fun position to be in as a seller. I will help you through the negotiationprocess to select the right buyer– and that is not always the one with the highest offer. We need toconsider how strong the offer is, whether they are offering cash or financing, how much they arefinancing and what type of loan they are using. How much they are offering to put in escrow andthe terms of the inspection process are indications of their commitment to the deal. You may alsodraw on sentiment: are they buying your home as an investment or a place to raise their family?Should I offer incentives like a home warranty, closing costs, or selling agent bonus?What do I need to disclose?What happens if my home doesn’t appraise above the contract price?How do you negotiate multiple offers?HOME SELLER FAQlet's get social@the.millslagle.group The Millslagle Groupmore questions?We are always available to help! Shoot us a text or give us a call for the quickest response. Helping ourclients sell their home for top dollar and with the most ease is what we are passionate about – We’realways here to answer your questions.Joe & Laura Millslagle Broker Associate | Realtor®941.815.3461JoeAndLaura@theMillslagleGroup.comTheMillslagleGroup.com