Seller’s Agent
It may sound cliché but truer words have not been spoken, “My job as a Listing Agent is to get the highest and best price for your home”.To accomplish this there are three phases that must be done well - Premarketing, Marketing, and Closing.
The mindset of a listing agent is different than that of a buyer’s agent. A listing agent is the project manager who shoulders the responsibility of getting the home sold from start to finish. The job requires good planning skills, comprehension of disclosure and contract, and grit to see it through. To accomplish this I like to start with a good plan so sellers know the countless tasks and details on the road ahead. To help I offer an online or printed book, titled Seller’s Guidebook to Higher Prices.
Marketing
One word comes to mind – Effective. We will craft your marketing plan to be sure it is complete, matches your expectations, reaches your market, and is on time. We will discuss your target market and how to best reach them through:
- well-known national sites such as realtor.com, or one of the many local upbeat internet sites
- Dedicated property web sites - ‘www.StreetNameAndNumber’? I think they’re great.
- The marketing brochure on the dining room table that represents your homes’ best features Newspaper ads, open houses, good old fashioned door knocking, phone calls, and networking with other agents
Premarketing
- Thorough review of comparable Alameda home sales
- Understanding legal disclosure requirements, city ordinances, and inspection choices
- Legal and tax advise you may need prior to the sale from an attorney or tax advisor
- An understanding of the purchase contract so you know what to expect
- Home preparation and staging options
The question most often asked is ‘what should I do to get my house ready for sale’? Sellers like to know which improvements and repairs will give them the greatest return on the money. I like to give my clients ‘Options’. Clients have the option to do as little or as much as they want but I provide the cost vs. value of each. Some homeowners want help choosing paint colors, others want a few pieces of furniture, some want the main rooms decorated, others need to remove some furniture or rearrange it. The idea is to work with the homeowner’s desire and budget.
I provide references for painters, cleaning services, gardeners, packers, assistants, storage companies, contractors, inspectors, and more. For staging we offer a menu of services from which to choose.
Over the years, I have been involved in hundreds of home refurbishing and remodeling projects. Recently my husband and I received an award from The Alameda Historical Society for our work in remodeling a big old Victorian - by far my largest project. My lifetime hobby of home improvements and decorating is a big part of my real estate business. Many of my clients have come to rely on my suggestions as word spreads of high sales prices.
Closing
In selling hundreds of homes over twenty years, I know that most problems have solutions. With a little creativity and perseverance we can work through just about anything and keep the deal on track. The one thing that no seller wants is a big surprise. By knowing as much as possible about your home, the buyer, and the buyer’s lender we can avoid many problems. All in all, the home selling process is fun and manageable when approached with a bit of know-how, energy and commitment.
I have written a complete online or printed guidebook that takes you from start to finish, one page at a time, on everything you need to know and do from pre-marketing to closing. It’s not only convenient for local homeowners, but for out of area sellers, seniors and grown children, independent administrators of probate sales, and partners or spouses in different locations
Distress Sales
My newest line of service includes discussion on Non-Traditional Options and Sales
- Loan Modifications
- Short Sales
- Foreclosure
- Bankruptcy
Should you be one of many facing the possibility of losing your home, I encourage you to call? I will share what I have learned about loan modifications, short sales, foreclosure and bankruptcy over the past two years. After extensive research, study, and classes on the pros and cons of each, I hope to shed some light on the subject.
I’ll give you a list of questions to help you get good legal and tax advice and can point you to some good resources. The fragile emotional state of a homeowner faced with the possibility of losing their home needs to be supported with good, realistic information. My promise to you is that I will share the resources and information that I have to help you find the best path. My advice is to reach out for help before missed opportunities.