Page 15 - ABN Seller's Guide

Seller G ide S ep

MISTAKES TO AVOID

P c g Y H e T H gh Ig g he I a ce f F I e
A Real Estate Agent can research comparable sales in your Sales have been blown by unkempt lawns, cluttered
area and advise you for the appropriate price range of your closets, unpainted front doors, hard-to-work locks, blown
property. light bulbs, bad colors, stains, unlit areas and bad smells.
Spend time on the little things. Double up on your
Ta g A I f e b e P F a c g gardening, keep things cleaner than usual. Take serious
Have your Agent explain what financing options are control of your pets during this period.
available. Being flexible on financing terms may secure a
better selling price, with other advantages as well. N Ma g he R gh K d f Re a
Don t be tempted to make improvements prior to listing
E Ma e T g without consulting your Agent. Some upgrades will not yield
Ask your Agent to determine whether the market cycle is any real increase in value, while others may increase
poised to net you the most money. property value substantially.

N P d g Ea Acce f Sh g N G g he Sa e Eff E gh T e
There are many ways to show a home. Appointment Only You should never give too little time to what is inherently a
is the most restrictive. Lock boxes (key safes) are the most long process. Homes may take 3-6 months to sell, in any
accessible. If your home is easy for Agents to show, more market. Estimate how much time you have before you need
prospective Buyers will see it, improving your odds of to sell and then plan ahead to allow extra time. You don t
getting the deal you want. However, your specific lifestyle want to be forced to accept a disappointing offer.
may not be compatible with frequent showings. Your Agent
will help you determine a solution that will best fit your N Sc ee g P ec Ade a e
situation. One of the best reasons for hiring an Agent is their ability to
prequalify a prospect financially before valuable negotiation
N U g C e Ma e Tech g time is lost. More importantly, your Agent may discover
Make sure your Agent is up with the latest technology and when a prospect has an ulterior motive for shopping homes,
resources available, such as internet sites that cater to other than purchasing.
home Buyers and resources available through Chicago
Title. Check around to see what technology is being utili ed Be e g ha Y Ca Ma e a D ffe e ce
in your specific area. A good Agent will know where you The Top Agents in the industry report that Sellers
can get the best exposure. themselves are responsible for at least one out of ten sales!
You can network your business and personal friends, you
N S ag g Y P e C ec can hand out fliers at your place of business and
Reference the sections on Preparing Your Home To Sell elsewhere, and you can keep the house in move-in
and Preparing Your Home To Show for tips on setting the condition. Your Agent should be ready to hand you all sorts
stage for your home showings. of assignments to make the team effort successful.

Be e g Se g P e Sea a Te g he Ma e
Don t base selling decisions on the seasons. Property sells Never put your property on the market unless you really
all year long. want a sale! Get ready for a professional sales push when
you list with a great Agent. If your plan harbors some
P c g Y P e T L indecision, resolve it before you list, because success is
One reason to hire an Agent is to make sure that no money every great Agent s objective.
is left on the table.

Be e g Y Age N D g The J b Whe
The e A e A Offe
If your home shows well, but hasn t generated any
interested Buyers, it may be time to re-evaluate the
price.