The Selling Process

Your decision to sell your home may be the result of a long anticipated event or due to a sudden change of circumstances. In either case, there are steps you can take to enhance the appeal and marketability of your home.

Consider these factors before setting your price:

Choose a real estate agent - Does the agent offer a marketing plan? - Is the agent familiar with your neighborhood? - Will the agent make suggestions to improve your home's appeal?

Select a destination - Are there homes available where you want to go? - Will you consider temporary housing to bridge moving date gaps?

Address the financial issues - Will a sale have tax implications? - What is your buying power for a replacement home? - Diligently record your repairs and improvements

Look at your home through a buyer's eyes - Is it clean and uncluttered? - Do systems operate properly? - Has maintenance been deferred?

Understand the competition - Your agent will gladly provide comparative data for your area - Consider touring the competition with your agent - Price your home realistically

Set the stage for buyers - Enhance curb appeal - Make your home inviting - Don't set unnecessary showing restrictions

Give peace of mind to buyers - Consider the Home Protection Plan - Provide any warranties, records, manuals, pertaining to your home

Get peace of mind for yourself - Consider optional ERA Seller's Security Plan, a guaranteed sale, a guaranteed price for qualified homes - We will sell your house or ERA will buy it.

Preparing your Home for Sale

To obtain the best price for your home, make sure it looks attractive both inside and out. First impressions really do matter and buyers will respond first to your "curb appeal". Curb appeal is the single most critical element for generating traffic.

Spruce up the landscaping - For relatively few dollars, landscaping can yield a big return on investment. Make sure there are lots of seasonal flowers, no weeds, and plenty of dark mulch. Well-trimmed hedges and lawns look crips and clean to buyers.

Make the approach attractive - Buyers are particularly impressed to see a newly sealed driveway, freshly painted trim, squeaky-clean windows and cleared gutters. Power wash the home's exterior and walkways if needed. Polish brass door handles and lampposts. By paying attention to those details you send the message to buyers that your home deserves love and you are proud of it.

Cleanliness counts! - Scrub bathrooms, kitchens and all woodwork and trim. Touch up paint where necessary. Clean the carpeting and tile. Tidy the pantry. Scrub and polish the floors.

Remove clutter - Clutter looks messy and always distracts buyers from imagining their own furniture in the rooms. Kitchen countertops should be cleared of small appliances, spice bottles and prescriptions. Make closets appear larger by storing off-season clothing elsewhere.

Emphasize your storage space - Hang tools on garage walls, store cleaners on shelves. Organize the attic for easy access. If there's just too much stuff, get rid of it or send it all to temporary storage!

Replace rotted wood; inspect the roof for missing shingles or failed flashing. Check the water heater for corrosion. Replace dingy tub and tile caulking, fix leaky faucets and pipes. Make sure doors open and close smoothly. Replace old toilet sets and corroded stovetop burner pans.

It is not usually recommended to add major home improvements just to improve market value. However, if your home is lacking improvements that are typical for your area (such as central air conditioning or a patio deck), consider adding these while you have control of the cost involved. If you don't add the improvements at least obtain several cost estimates and adjust your asking price accordingly.

Your ERA Lambrecht agent will know what the competition looks like. Invite your agent to suggest the most appropriate improvements.

How to select an Agent

When you are ready to buy or sell real estate, the first question should be: Who is qualified to represent my best interests? Before you can answer that question, it is important to understand what services a REALTOR can offer and what the term REALTOR means. REALTORS are members of the National Association of REALTORS and are pledged to abide by the 17 Articles of the REALTOR Code of Ethics. Not all licensees are REALTORS, so be sure the ask the agent is he or she is a member of the National Association of REALTORS.

Equally important, REALTORS in any given real estate transaction may be "buyer's agents", who represent the best interests of the buyer, or "sellers agents", also called "listing agents", who represent the seller's best interests, or "transaction agent" that represents neither buyer nor seller. Understanding the differents between these agency types can play a vital role in your choice of a REALTOR as well as the specific services, skills and capabilities offered by that individual.

The following information can help you understand how to evaluate and select an agent to assist you in meeting your goals, and help you decide whether a "buyer's agent", "sellers agent", or "transaction agent" has a role in your real estate transaction. Select your agent carefully and then work with only one agent. Working with more than one agent results in wasted time and energy and will only complicate your real estate transaction - neither agents will provide exceptional service because of split loyalties, transaction commissions and procuring cause conflicts. However, agents will be committed to you if you are committed to them. If you select wisely, your agent will provide detailed housing market information, be able to optimally access and utilize the various available technologies, and will devote the time necessary to find you the best home at the best price or find the buyer for your home at the best price and terms for you.

What a buyer's agent can do for you:

The first thing a buyer's agent can do is to help you determine your buying power - your financial reserve plus your capacity to borrow, or how much can you reasonably afford to spend on a house. An ERA Lambrecht agent can help you obtain a loan commitment from a mortgage lender the very day you make application - and you can accomplish that in person, online or by phone.

Once you know your buying power, your next step is to find the home that fits your needs and desires. An agent can help you establish priorities such as location, personal tastes, availability and budget. Your agent will be informed about the neighborhoods, schools, parks, playgrounds, golf courses, shopping areas - things you need to know about the community where you want to live.

ERA Lambrecht agents have the latest technology to give you access to sales statistics, property taxes, zoning, utility and school information as well as access to the Multiple Listing Service which provides information for the majority of all home sales in the community. Possessing solid information about a homes value, the sales trends for the neighborhood, planned road projects, utility easements and more, you will be able to make a well informed decision about your next home purchase.

One of the most important and valuable agent skills is the ability to negotiate for a favorable price on the your selected real estate. The price you pay will be influenced by market conditions, interest rates and market subtleties that your agent will know and understand. When you have agreed on price and terms with the sellers, you will receive assistance in locating qualified professionals to guide you through the inspection process, help you finalize your loan and select an attorney or title company to close your purchase. There are many choices you will need to make during the course of events that lead to the closing table. Your ERA Lambrecht agent is a skilled real estate professional who will work diligently to make sure your home buying process is a successful and enjoyable experience.

Once you have located the home of your choice, your ERA Lambrecht agent can provide you with a menu of services and products that will help you save time and money. You will have the opportunity to select a home protection plan to guard against surprise bills, title insurance to protect your investment, mortgage loans, homeowners insurance, and much more. Through our Preferred Alliances, the consumer can receive discounts on such purchases as home security systems, car rental, hotels and resorts, household moving, and much more.

Here is a list of other factors to consider when evaluating a buyer's agent and the real estate company:

An agent who is with a well-established, successful company that has a high community profile and commitment

A company that provides continuous education programs for its agents insuring they are up to date on the latest laws, regulations and technology - knowing these changes may very well affect the price, terms and conditions you are able to negotiate

A company with a serious Internet presence for convenient previewing of homes, evaluating agents, and reviewing neighborhoods

A company that offers a comprehensive home protection plan designed to protect you from surprise repairs

An agent who can provide you with a loan commitment on the same day you apply, whether you apply in person, online or by telephone

An agent with a track record of success in good or tough markets

An agent who can guide you through the property inspections process, preparing well-crafted repair requests if needed

An agent who has good relationships with other agent can lead to pre-market notice of new housing inventory

An agent who has enthusiasn and a willingness to devote time and attention to your needs

An agent who is familiar with neighborhoods, schools, parks, playgrounds, golf courses, medical facilities, shopping and other necessary services

An agent who is familiar with the entire metropolitan area versus one who specializes in just a small area

An agent who is an effective communicator and who has the necessary tools to enable good communications - voice mail, pager, cell phone, PC, Internet, website, etc.

An agent who has the technology to supply you with up to date information about new listings, latest on mortgage rates and terns, neighborhood and school profiles, tax information, etc.

Staging Your Home

You have chosen the best real estate agent, diligently prepared your home for sale and established a competitive asking price. Now it's time to invite the showings! Buyers respond to homes that appeal to their senses. To make your home "feel" good, it should be warm and inviting, a comfortable and cheerful home that buyers can imagine as their own.

We have prepared this simple checklist to help you "set the stage" for successful showings:

Light makes rooms cheerful. Keep shades, blinds and draperies open to admit limit, but screen out unattractive views. Turn on lamps and overhead lighting...even during the day. At dark, turn on exterior lighting.

Consider the sounds of your home. Play soft background music and turn off the TV. Don't leave your dog barking in a pen or garage.

Scent is important. Make sure to remove pet, smoke and strong smelling cooking odors. Air out your closet and remove smelly shoes and laundry. A home should not be heavily perfumed with potpourri; fresh, clean scents are best. Gently simmer a mixture of apple juice, orange or lemon wedges and cinnamon sticks during fall and winter. For spring and summer, a light mixture of water simmering with citrus sections or lemony fresh herbs or berries will be most inviting. When possible, baking bread or cookies before showings yield an irresistible aroma! Add to the hospitality by leaving a few cookies and lemonade offered for your potential buyers.

Maintain a comfortable temperature. Keep the temperature cool in the summer and warm in the winter with an inviting fire in the freplace or wood stove in the Fall and Winter.

Cleanliness is paramount. The bathrooms and kitchen should be squeaky clean, including closets, pantry and inside of cabinetry. Set out clean, neatly folded towels. In bathrooms, place scented soaps in a dish.

Protect your valuables. Remove jewelry and money from sight. Don't place small collectibles where they could be accidentally knocked off shelving or tabletops.

Make your home safe for visitors. In garages and tool sheds, secure poisons and sharp tools. Remove or lock away weapons' collections. Make sure area rugs won't cause visitors to trip or fall.

Consider a buyer's prespective. Remove questionable or offensive posters, signs or art. Arrange furniture so that rooms appear larger and are easy to walk through. Keep doors open from room to room.

Demonstrate good record keeping. Buyers appreciate information about he cost of utilities and home maintenance records. Consider preparing the average monthly cost for heating, cooling, water and trash removal. Keep appliance manuals and warranties readily available for a buyer's review.

Leave your home for showings. Most buyers are hesitate to open closets and explore a home if the owner is present. They also may not talk openly with their agent about questions or objections. Worse, they might directly ask questions of you that you are not prepared to answer effectively. For these reasons, it is always best to leave your home when buyers are viewing it. By doing so, you will allow the buyer to imagine it as their own home. Prospects who cannot imagine the home as their own are unlikely to buy it.