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(678)-820-7335
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Know Why You are Selling
If you know exactly why you are selling then it is easier for you to follow the right plan of action for getting what you want.
If you are a seller who needs to close a sale as quickly as possible, then you should know that getting the highest price possible is not one of your priorities. It does not mean that you won’t or cannot get the highest price, but it means that the price is not the deciding factor.
A buyer who can give you a quick closing time will appeal much more to you than a buyer who can offer you more money but the negotiation and closing time drag on.
It’s always good to know how low you will go, in terms of the selling price. This will help to eliminate some of the offers that you find simply offensive or ridiculous. Even though you should consider all offers seriously and take into consideration the terms of each offer, sometimes, if you know the bottom line and are strict about it, you can save yourself time.
Once you know what your limits and reasons are, discuss them with your agent so that they can help you set your goals realistically. If you decide to list your home on your own, make sure you do research on the current market, and you get the proper advice you need in terms of legal issues, etc. The key is to be realistic and to know what your goals are so they can be met.
Plan of Action
Analyze why you are selling – If you understand your motives, you will be able to better negotiate and to get what it is that you want, whether it be a quick sale, high price, or somewhere in the middle.
Prepare your home for the buyer – Maximize the strengths of your property and fix up its weaknesses. You want the buyer to walk away from your home with a lasting good impression.
Find a good real estate agent that understands your needs – Make sure that your agent is loyal to you, and can negotiate to help you achieve your goals. In addition, they should be assertive and honest with both you and the buyer.
Be prepared for negotiation – Learn and understand your buyer’s situation; what are their motives? Can you demand a big deposit from them? Try to lock in the buyer so that the deal goes through.
Negotiate for the best price and the best terms – Learn how to counter an offer to get maximum value from every offer.
Make sure the contract is accurate and complete – Be honest with your disclosures; you do not want to lose the deal because you were lying or diminishing your home’s defects. Insist the buyers get a professional inspection. This will protect both you and the buyer.
Finding the Right Agent
Not all agents work the same way. The most important attribute of an agent is that he/she is well-connected to the real estate industry. He/she should know the market and provide information on his or her marketing plan. In addition, you also want to look for an agent that is honest, assertive, and one that best understands your needs.
Try to go with a local agent. They can better serve your needs because they should be more familiar with the local market conditions, local prices, and what’s hot or not in your community.
Considering Offers
When reading an offer, keep in mind that you are out to get the best price AND the best terms for you. If you focus solely on the price, you may overlook terms that could be favorable to you as a buyer.
Some terms that may work in your favor:
higher-than-market-interest in a second mortgage for your home
the buyer will pay for most or all of the closing costs
the buyer will take care of any repairs
quick close – the buyer is pre-approved, ready to close in a timeframe that best suits you
all-cash deal
When reading through offers, remember to look at the whole package. Take the time that you need to assess what is being offered and if it meets your needs.
For Sale By Owner – A Good Idea?
FSBO (pronounced fizz-bo), or For Sale By Owner, is a way of selling your home without the use of a professional real estate agent or broker. The idea behind FSBO is that by selling your home yourself, you save the approximate 6% that would be the agents’ commission.
6% may not sound like a lot, but it can add up, especially on more expensive homes. But before you run off and decide to sell your home FSBO, you must remember that to get savings like that, there must be a cost. So what’s the catch? Selling FSBO is hard. A lot harder.
Only about 10% of sellers that decide to do FSBO are successful at it. And not all of them end up saving themselves money. FSBO sellers often end up accepting a lower price for their home than they would with an agent.
There are of course other issues as well. Can you afford to make selling your home your full time job? Because for a lot of FSBO sellers, that’s exactly what it is. Do you have the time and capital to spend on marketing, advertising, inspections, paperwork, phone calls, showings, and problems that come up when any home is sold?
Selling with a professional agent also has other advantages. An agent can get your home listed on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and other popular websites where not only homebuyers but also other agents can easily find it. Professional real estate agents also have an extensive network
that allows them to more easily find a buyer.
So before you decide to sell your home yourself, thoughtfully consider just how much time and effort you can spare for selling your home, as well as how important it is that your home sell sooner rather than later.
Setting the Price
The price is the first thing buyers notice about your property. If you set your price too high, then the chance of alienating buyers is higher. You want your house to be taken seriously, and the asking price reflects how serious you are about selling your home.
Several factors will contribute to your final decision. First, you should compare your house to others that are on the market. If you use an agent, he/she will provide you with a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis). The CMA will reflect the following:
houses in your price range and area that were sold within the last half-year
asking and selling prices of houses
current inventory of houses on the market
features of each house on the market
From the CMA, you will learn the difference between the asking price and selling price for all homes sold, the condition of the market, and other houses comparable to yours.
Also, try to find out what types of houses are selling and see if it applies to your area. Buyers follow trends, and these trends can help you set your price.
Always be realistic. Understand and set your price to reflect the current market situation.
Getting the highest value in the shortest time
In order to get the highest price in the shortest time, you need to know how to market your home. The better you market your home, the more offers you will get. And the more offers you get, the more choices you have to get the price and terms you want.
The most important factor in marketing your home is pricing it right. Your price should be adjusted to reflect the market and your property’s worth. The key is to get as many people as possible to check out your fairly priced property. If your property is not priced fairly, there will be no buyers because your price is set too high.
Another important factor is the condition of your home. Make sure that your home looks ready to be sold. Fix any defects (peeling or faded paint, cracks, stains, etc.) Condition alone can sometimes prompt fast buying decisions. Not only should you fix any defects, but consider upgrading your home by making major repairs and cosmetic improvements before selling. A nice-looking home triggers an emotional response that can lead to a financial response.
Learn how to negotiate the best terms for all parties involved. Terms are another factor that may be adjusted to attract buyers. If you insist on getting your asking price, think of what you can offer to the buyers. For example, improvements you’ve made or even offering seller financing at a lower than the market interest rate on a portion of the sale price. Convince them why they should be paying the price you have set.
Lastly, get the buzz out about your home. List your house with a hot agent that ensures your house is listed on the MLS and on the Internet. On your own, get the word out. The contact information for the yard sign should also be visible to passersby that your house is for sale, whether it is through signs, local advertisements or you telling friends, family, and acquaintances.
Learn About Real Estate
Has Your Home Been Tested for Radon?
Have you ever heard of radon? Well, it’s a big deal.
It’s an odorless, colorless gas and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
It can get trapped in our homes and be at such high levels that it can affect your health. And, you wouldn’t ever know it unless you tested for it!
Read below to learn more about radon and your home, how to test for radon in your home and how to remediate it if you have high levels.
What Is Radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium soil, rock and water. It moves up through the ground and into the air above. It can get into your home through any foundation cracks or holes. It can also enter your home through well water.
According to the EPA, nearly one in 15 homes in the U.S. has an elevated radon level of 4 pCi/L. Any type of home can have a radon problem, even those without basements.
You can contact your state radon office to find out more about radon levels in your area or check out this website at county-radon.info. Even if your home is in a low level zone, you should still get your home tested. For example, homes that are next door to each other can have different indoor radon levels.
Testing for Radon
Testing for radon is actually easy and not complicated. It’s important to test the lower levels of your home, i.e. those below the third floor.
You can purchase or order online devices to test for radon, or you can hire a qualified radon tester to come to your home. Some devices may be more appropriate for your needs and testing conditions. Make sure you are getting a reliable testing device.
Types of testing devices:
Passive devices – Don’t require power and are exposed to the air in your home for a specified period of time and then sent to a lab for analysis. Some devices are better at resisting test interference or disturbances. Includes charcoal canisters, alpha-track detectors, charcoal liquid scintillation devices, electret ion chamber devices.
Active devices – Require power and measure and record the amount of radon or its decay products in the air. Many can provide a report and also indicate if there are any swings in radon levels during the test period. Some also have anti-interference features. These active devices cost more than the passive ones. Includes continuous radon monitors and continuous working level monitors.
Short-term testing is typically from a minimum of 48 hours to 90 days. This type of testing may be something that a home buyer may request before purchasing a home, or if there are other time restraints rather than a real estate transaction.
Long-term testing typically lasts more than 90 days, and will usually provide a year-round average radon level.
No matter what type of testing you conduct, it’s important for family members to follow directions carefully and to keep any interference to a minimum so you can get reliable results.
Fixing High Radon Levels
The EPA recommends fixing your home if levels are between 2 and 4 pCi/L or more. The average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L. Remember that high levels of radon in your home is a health risk and a leading cause of lung cancer.
Don’t think that it’s complicated or expensive to fix any radon problems. It can be done without making major changes to your home, and the cost can be comparable to other home repairs.
High levels can be reduced several ways, including sealing cracks or installing venting pipes and fans or sub slab suction. Get estimates from radon mitigation contractors. They can determine the most appropriate system for your home.
Radon and Home Renovation
Before you embark on any major home renovation, get your indoor radon levels checked. This is especially true if you are renovating a basement or lower level room in your home. And test your radon levels after you have completed any work since levels can change.
Also, it is better and less expensive to install a radon-reduction system during your renovations than afterward.
Let us know if you have any questions about radon testing, especially if you are thinking of selling in the near future. For more information on radon:
https://www.epa.gov/radon/find-information-about-local-radon-zones-and-state-contact-information
https://www.epa.gov/radon/publications-about-radon
Get In Touch
Email: info@veesellsgeorgia.com
Address
200 Glenridge Point Pkwy, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA. 30342
Assistance Hours
Mon – Sat 9:00am – 7:00pm EST
Sunday – By Appointment Only
Phone Number:
678-820-7335
VICTORIA VALENTINE
POWER AGENT® REALTOR®
(678)-820-7335
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TODD - PINEGROVE PROPERT
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Homes By Krista is a licensed Broker in the state of California and is a leading authority on East County, California area real estate. Our love for the communities we live and work in are why we do what we do. Stop by the office and experience the Homes By Krista way of East County area real estate.
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Bay East (c)2021. CCAR (c)2021. bridgeMLS (c)2021. Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed. This information is
being provided by the Bay East MLS, or CCAR MLS, or bridgeMLS. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from
various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information. Data last updated at (2021).
Bay East (c)2021. CCAR (c)2021. bridgeMLS (c)2021. Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed. This information is
being provided by the Bay East MLS, or CCAR MLS, or bridgeMLS. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information. Data last updated at (2021).
Bridge-CCAR-Bay East data last updated at May 7, 2021 6:59 PM
Bridge-CCAR-Bay East data last updated at May 7, 2021 6:59 PM PT
VICTORIA VALENTINE
POWER AGENT® REALTOR®
(678)-820-7335