Services for Home Sellers

Uniquely beautiful, but lightly populated Bennington County offers unique challenges for home sellers and the real estate agents who represent them. Home sellers frequently have competition in any price range, but in a market where Buyers can see every home in their price range in a day, your home must stand out.

Your goal is to sell your home at the highest possible price with the least amount of stress. Thus, that is my goal also. With my high energy level and enthusiasm for my work I know that we are the real estate agency who can best help you meet your goals.

Pricing is Critical

I will do the necessary research to create a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) which analyzed both the recent sales and currently available properties. From my comprehensive review of the data I will provide a pricing recommendation for your home. However, the final pricing decision is yours. Together, we will review the CMA so that you have all the information you need to make the right decision.

One important factor to consider is how long you are willing to have your home on the market. A home priced at, or slightly below, market value may sell relatively quickly, while a home priced above market value may be ignored and grow stale, the end result being a lower than market price when the home finally sells.

If your home is priced right, your home will sell. The question we must answer together is how long you are able to wait for that sale.

Regardless of current market conditions (which are constantly changing), our strategy includes pricing the property within its price range - although certainly at the top of that range if the property is in good condition. Pricing is critical because today's Buyers are intelligent and informed and they are too busy to seriously consider overpriced listings. Quite simply, if your home is overpriced, the "right" Buyer for your home may never see your home. We want our new listings to generate a powerful surge of interest from qualified Buyers who are waiting for the next new listing in their range to come on the market.

As important as proper pricing is, there are many other factors that will affect the marketing time and final sales price of your home. During our meeting I will share with you my strategy for marketing your home which will include an appropriate, individualized plan tailored for you and your personal situation.

Our Marketing Venues

I want to expose our listings to the greatest number of potential Buyers, both locally, from across the country, even around the world.

Local Advertising: When appropriate, your home may be advertised in local newspapers. Our market research will show you how this is not always the best way to market your home, and why our alternative marketing methods are superior.

Internet: My website allows visitors to see more detailed information on more available homes than most websites. The majority of out-of-town Buyers turn to the Internet when beginning their search for a new home and my site is designed to capitalize on this trend. My website and our company website are constantly updated with the latest information available through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and offer the ability to view detailed information and interior photos. Recent technological advances allow the data and photos entered on the MLS to reach an unprecedented number of Buyers. Additionally, I subscribe to an upgraded service on www.Realtor.com, so Buyers using that popular website will see your listing highlighted.

My Personal Real Estate Website: My personal real estate website (the one you're viewing now) receives on average about 1,400 unique visitors per month. I get web visitors through many advertising sources, one of which is Google AdWords, which displays my advertising on average over 300,000 times per month, and as much as 1,200,000 (yes, a million, two hundred thousand) times in some months.

Availability: My website offers twenty-four hour, seven day a week access to potential Buyers searching for homes in our area. I am committed to being available for you and potential Buyers. Our office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm.

Seller Services Beyond Marketing

Pre-Marketing Improvements: Preparing your property for market is a key factor in creating a sale. My background in "house flipping" and home staging allows me to help my Sellers maximize the appeal and marketability of their homes. I will give you my personal recommendations for your home, and leave you with practical tips and techniques to increase your property's appeal without spending a great deal of money. While it is important that your home show its best, it can also be dangerous to over-improve a property with a feature that won't necessarily please all Buyers.

Communication: I commit to keeping you informed on the activity of your listing, as well as activity in the general real estate market. You will receive frequent updates showing you my advertising that features you home and any feedback I have received from our showings.

Contract Negotiation: Everything discussed so far leads to an offer. I will guide you through the process of negotiating a solid Purchase & Sale Contract. This is sometimes the most critical part of the entire listing process, and where my expertise and skill really shine. An offer on your home is much more than a few pieces of paper. Many factors must be taken into consideration and I will ill review every aspect with you. Various factors other than price make an offer a "good offer" or an "average offer." These other factors include: 1) Whether a potential Buyer is pre-qualified by a mortgage company or bank; 2) The amount of deposit to hold the contract; 3) The proposed mortgage approval and inspection contingency timelines; and 4) Any other contingencies or requirements that the Buyer has added to the contract.

At the point where all contingencies have been satisfied, the appraisal has been done and we're abate a week from closing, I will continue to be in frequent contact with you to make sure that all of the steps necessary for a smooth closing are taken care of. My goal is for your closing to be a happy time for transition for both you and your Buyer.

The Bottom Line

I am committed to helping you every step of the way. No two Sellers are alike, and no two properties are alike. What I have described above is an overview of how I can help you market and sell your home. Together, we'll create an individualized marketing plan that gives your home maximum exposure to the marketplace and gets you to your goal as quickly as possible.

We will truly build a partnership. I look forward to talking with you, so please call me today at (802) 447-3210 so we can start you on the road to a successful sale.