TIPS FOR YOUR MOVE. 

What we have learned in our 30 years of real estate sales experience. 

Preparing & Presenting Your Home. 

If your home is going to get a second look, it's got to make a good first impression. 

The Outside is Magic:
1. PAINT: This is one of the best things you can do to accelerate the sale of your home. Wood, trim, gutters and wrought iron should receive primary attention. 

2. FRONT ENTRY: Give special attention to this area. All woodwork needs to look freshly painted, including the front door if necessary. Replace a worn or broken doorbell button. Polish any brass and paint or replace an unsightly mail box. Clean or buy a new doormat. 

3. YARDS: Mow and trim in the summer, weed beds, remove or replace dead plants or trees. It needs to be well manicured. 

4. FENCE: Repair, paint or stain as necessary. 

5. ROOFS: Check ridges and replace any missing or loose shingles. Clean gutters. 

6. AIR CONDITIONERS: Paint or replace any rusted exposed metal. 

7. PATIO & SCREENED PORCHES: Set the stage with furniture and plants to create an inviting atmosphere. 

Back to Basics:
8. WINDOWS: Professionally clean all the windows. A NECESSITY. 

9. DOORS: Check to see that all doors open and close freely, including closet doors and sliding glass doors. Oil any squeaky ones. Clean and polish the hardware. Also, check hardware on kitchen and bathroom cabinets. 

10. WALLS: Repaint if needed and patch any holes. Check for loose handrails on stairways. 

11. CARPET: Have steam cleaned for a fresh look. 

Out of Order is Out of Order:
12. MECHANICAL: Appliances and systems such as HVAC, attic fan and humidifier need to be in working condition and clean the vents. 

13. LIGHTS: Every light socket should have a bulb of adequate wattage. Don't overlook those outside and in the garage. Also, check the utility room, halls, closets, over the kitchen sink, in the oven and exhaust hood. 

14. SWITCHES & FIXTURES: Repair or replace wall switches, outlets and light fixtures that don't work. 

Less is More:
15. CLOSETS AND STORAGE AREAS: Visually expand these areas by discarding items that you are not using. 

16. COUNTER TOPS AND CABINETS: Overcrowding gives the impression of deficiency. This applies especially to kitchens and bathrooms. Store infrequently used COUNTER TOP appliances and do some prudent discarding in cabinets. 

Show Home Housekeeping:
17. BATHROOMS: Few places in the home can get so dirty so fast, and yet few things will unsell a house as fast as dirty baths, vanity, sink, faucet and mirror. Don't forget: Soap residue in a shower, a moldy shower curtain, accumulated dirt in the track of a sliding shower door, soiled or missing grout, stained toilet bowls and dirty bathmats. 

18. KITCHENS: Like bathrooms, kitchens get dirty all by themselves. Most buyers will inspect this area carefully, so extra time is wisely invested here. Clean the stove inside and out. Replace badly stained drip pans in the cooktop or use the clean solution supplied by the manufacturer. Check the exhaust hood; buyers look at this area as a clue to general housekeeping. 

19. WATER HEATER AND PIPES: Perhaps because it is so unusual, a clean water heater and plumbing really impresses buyers.  

The Nose Knows:
20. WET TOWELS AND WASHCLOTHS: Residents of a home frequently aren't aware of what a potential source of bad odors these are. Replace all used towels each day with fresh ones before a showing. 

21. SOILED CLOTHES: If at all possible, keep dirty clothes in the utility room and out of the bedrooms. 

22. GARBAGE: Take all food-related trash out of the house and frequently check potatoes and onions in your cabinets.  

23. SMOKING: Today this is a major issue for buyers and sellers. Those who do not smoke usually consider a home saturated with smoke odors to be objectionable. So, if you smoke, you need to cleanse your home of smoke as thoroughly as possible.  

Reminders:
24. VALUABLES AND GUNS: Since the home is being shown to strangers, don't have these items visible. Keep prescription drugs out of sight. We want to avoid a problem. 

25. KEYS AND INSTRUCTION MANUALS: Gather all the keys for the house, including dead bolts, garage doors, and any padlocks around the property for the new owner. 

Show Time:
26. LIGHTS: They need to be on and the draperies open when Realtors preview or show. 

27. LIGHT SWITCHES: If some wall switches operate wall outlets, plug in a lamp or radio to demonstrate that the switch works. When a buyer flips a switch and nothing happens, he instinctively suspects a problem. 

28. AROMAS: Set out some fresh flowers, both for the appearance and fragrance. Bake cookies/bread, heat vanilla or cook a roast; avoid cooking seafood or strong smelling vegetables like cabbage or cauliflower. Dirty ashtrays are both unsightly and objectionable to nonsmokers. Add a potpourri in bathrooms. There are excellent scented candles available in glass jars - safe and the scents are high quality. 

29. PETS: They distract, people either love or dislike them. It's in your best interest (a faster sale) to keep dogs and cats away from potential buyers. The kitty boxes should be out of sight. 

30. MUSIC: Very, very soft background music creates a relaxed mood that prompts buyers to linger and enjoy your home. The TV should never be on, it distracts. 

31. YOUR PRESENCE: It is essential for your family to leave, this gives buyers a private showing to discuss objections with the Realtor. The purpose is to make them feel at home. Otherwise, they feel like intruders. 

32. EXCLUSIONS FROM THE SALE: If you are excluding an attached item, i.e., chandeliers, MIRRORS IN THE BATHROOM, replace it before you put your home on the market. It is hard to turn down a contract because the buyers want your excluded item. 

33. ESSENTIAL: The front door and lock MUST work smoothly. This is the buyer’s (and the agent’s) first impression of your home. They expect a door to open and close easily. 

34. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is amazing. Great for painted walls, trim and everything that has smudges on it. Purchase at grocery stores. 

35. REALITY: Your home needs to be ready to be seen at a moment’s notice. Children’s toys always should be confined to an easy area to clean instantly. Live as if someone is coming in the next five minutes. Live like it is a HOUSE not a HOME. 

Packing & Moving 

1. Identify each room with a colored labels available in 4" labels at Office Max.  

2. Label ALL contents in each box with the room it was originally located in. Label top and on sides. 

3. Designate a box to hold all essential bolts/screws in labeled zip lock bags. 

4. Prepare a box with coffee, coffee pot, Styrofoam cups, plastic utensils, prescriptions, extra eye glasses, alarm clock; toilet paper, paper towels, spray cleaner, knife, scissors, tape, bath soap, bath towel and a telephone. 

5. Number each box. Write the contents of each packed box and number in a notebook. This written record is the best time saver when you need a specific item after moving into your new home. It is also very good if the mover loses a box. 

What Happens When You List Your Home 

The Three Phases of the Sales Process
I. Marketing
II. Contract Negotiation
III. Close 

I. Marketing:
1. It is important to think of this home as a house. The mental shift enables you to adapt to the sales process.
2. All information for the Home Book is requested as soon as possible. We want to have it in your home in time for the first showing.
3. We take digital pictures for the internet and Multi Listing System (MLS). Also, the photographs for your tour ads and the customer brochures are taken at the same time.
4. We place the for sale sign in your yard.
5. We enter the listing information for the Multi Listing System into the computer for other agents.
6. We schedule the agent’s Multi Listing System tour.
7. We produce four color information sheets for buyers. We need your approval on the content.
8. We use the 10 Reasons sheet to target and highlight features that will appeal to buyers.
9. Please leave when Realtors schedule appointments. Please park your car on the street to eliminate asking the agent to move their car and abandon the buyer in your home or on the front porch. Please don’t park in front of your home because we want the buyer to have the full impact of your exterior when they drive up.
10. Lights must be on and window coverings open for a light and welcoming atmosphere.
11. Good aromas enhance the showing. Refrain from cooking cabbage and strong smelling foods while your house is for sale.
12. Be aware that agents may inadvertently leave lights on and forget to leave a business card when they are discussing your home with the buyer. Their focus is on the buyer’s reaction to your house.
13. If possible, please accept last minute showings.
14. When you have the opportunity, please read the blank contract. It’s important to understand the forms before you receive an offer.
15. You can have an inspection to determine possible repairs and give it to the buyer. The cost is around $295.00 to $350.00. These items can be fixed or excluded. When you hire an inspection company you eliminate surprises after the contract amount is agreed upon. You can negotiate from a knowledgeable position. Typically, this eliminates the frustration involved in the second negotiation when the buyer’s inspector produces a list of unexpected repairs. The contract requires warranted item to be in good working order.
16. Please call when there are only a couple of full color brochures left so we can produce more.
17. If the pointers disappear, please call us.
18. Please call if you have any questions about information in the reports. We want to deliver what you want - Email, hard copies or faxes. 

II. Contract Negotiation:
19. We will need to know your telephone numbers when you travel to respond rapidly to an offer.
20. The initial offer is critical for determining your proceeds. Repairs required by the buyer reduce your bottom line. Be aware that If you do not consummate the transaction with this buyer, you will have to disclose their inspection reports to the next buyer.
21. We will need signatures from all sellers listed on the title, it’s required by law. Faxed signatures will be valid.
22. We meet the appraiser since most contracts require that your home appraise for contract price. We bring a copy of the contract with the price on top, a color brochure, your improvement sheet, MLS printout and copies of other comparable sales in the neighborhood. We make it as easy as possible for the appraiser to hit your agreed upon price.
23. You will need to maintain the home in good working condition. If the garage door opener breaks after the inspection, you will need to fix it. 

III. Close:
24. We watch every deadline. One important one is the commitment for the loan. We always require a written copy which outlines all of the loan conditions. We want to know exactly what a lender requires in order to close the loan.
25. We always suggest a walk through for your protection. The buyers see the home prior to closing.
26. Please place all manuals, garage door openers and keys in the large envelope we gave you before moving out.
27. Please leave the house in the condition that you would want to get it.
28. Utilities are read the day of possession. We have included the numbers.
29. We suggest that your proceeds are wired so that the money is immediately available. The closing agent at the title company needs your account number and the routing number of the financial institution. You can discuss this when your appointment is made for your closing. The buyer’s closing is on the date specified in the contract. Your money is distributed at that time.
30. If you pay your insurance company direct instead of escrowing with the lender, call your insurance agent for any overages you have prepaid. Some lenders do not include your escrow for taxes and insurance with your payoff. Confirm if you are owed any money with the insurance company.