Selling a home is the largest business transaction most of us will ever make. Certainly, there are many questions to ask, and I am here to help you with the answers.

 

Setting the value of your home. Your first question may be:  what is the value for your home? 

Let me make a detailed evaluation and analysis of every part of your home. By knowing the real estate market --- for example, by reviewing current listings and recent sales of properties with features similar to yours  --- I make sure that your property is priced correctly to get you the best possible offer in the quickest possible time period.

Home buying can be an emotional experience. Your home should elicit the most positive impressions among potential buyers.Should you stage your home? Repaint? Remodel? Landscape? I will discuss with you the pros and cons of all possible options, as well as develop a step-by-step marketing plan to show your home in the best light.

All sellers want top dollar for their home. So how do they get it?

A home's desirability is the foremost consideration among buyers. However, knowing that buying a home is many times an emotional decision, it is critically important to elicit the most positive feelings when viewing the home. 

It is not always necessary to make all the improvements in a home because buyers may prefer their own personal touch. Additionally, Sellers may have a limited budget for improvements, remodeling or repair.

Here's check list on what you CAN do:

• Determine your home's value.

Get a Realtor to run comparative market analysis on your home.  Not only will the Realtor take recent sales data and your home's attributes into account, she also will factor your neighborhood into the equation. If you choose to have a Realtor sell your home, select one with a good marketing plan.

• Price your home correctly.

By setting your price 5 percent to 10 percent above market price, you may receive an offer close to your home's true value. Compare your home with similar homes that have sold or are selling in your neighborhood. If your house has more features or other desirable qualities, you may want to set a higher price.

• Don't waste time.

If you're ready to sell, don't wait. Put it on the market. In California, there is a shortage of housing. Qualified Buyers are constantly looking, and they do not wait for a particular time of the year to buy. Be realistic about your pricing. If it sits on the market too long, it loses its appeal to potential Buyers who may think there's something wrong with it.

• Consider getting a home inspection.

A pre-sale evaluation from a qualified home inspector will enable you to decide what repairs you can complete before you sell. The last thing you want is a surprise when a Buyer requests credits or negotiate a lower selling price after their own home inspection identifies several repairs. Worse, if they thought that the repairs are more than they'd like to handle, they may back out of the deal.

• Turn your home into a model home.

After making basic repairs, dress your home to sell --- stage it! Give it a model-home treatment. Thoroughly clean the house, inside out. Give it a fresh coat of paint. Put in new light fixtures if necessary. Take down worn blinds. Plant fresh flowers. These are just some inexpensive ways to make your home shine.

TIP: Are you missing out on a better offer if you accept the first one you receive? If the price is in your range, consider market conditions and how quickly you want or need to sell. In a seller's market with few listings, you may get other offers right away. But in a buyer's market with many listings, you risk offending the buyer who may then withdraw the offer. If local practice and custom is to entertain all offers as they are received, follow convention and counter at a higher price. If custom dictates that no offers will be accepted until after the first open house, you have a reprieve.