Sellers

Selling your home is a complex transaction that takes time, effort and expertise. It takes a real estate professional – ME!  As your agent, I will work for you and with you throughout the home selling process. It is my job to help you sell your home with minimum delay, and to help you realize every dollar its worth.

To get an idea of how much homes are selling for in your neighborhood, please enter your address in the form below. If you would like a detailed analysis of the current market conditions and the value of your home, please click on Request a Comparative Market Analysis below.

Step 1: Creating a Marketing Plan
Create a marketing plan for your home that will help distinguish it in your local marketplace and attract buyers to your property. This may include advertising in the newspaper, posting your listing on the Internet, holding an open house and more. A CENTURY 21 Pride Realty Sales Professionals will create a personalized selling program for you. Our goal is to sell your home at the best price possible in the shortest amount of time.

Step 2: Setting the Price
A key part of the marketing plan is setting the list price. If a home is priced too low, it may cost you money. If a home is priced too high, potential buyers may be scared away. To determine the best asking price review the cost of recently sold homes, evaluate the competition and study marketplace trends. CENTURY 21 Pride Realty Sales Associates are trained to use this information to help you reach the right asking price. It is also helpful to discuss other terms and conditions, such as timing and items that can be included with the sale of the home. Both of these can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Step 3: ShowTime
Now it's time to get your home ready for the spotlight. Well-maintained properties sell faster at a higher price. Think in terms of a home that is sparkling clean, uncluttered and spacious. Here are some ideas for getting the outside and inside of your home ready for sale.

Outside

First Impressions. Buyers will form an impression of your home before they enter it. Curb appeal will attract an otherwise uninterested potential buyer.

The house. Clean anything that looks unkempt or dirty. Repair or replace anything that looks loose, dingy, rusty, or broken. Clean exterior light fixtures and wash the windows. Repair hanging or rusty gutters. Paint needed trim and shutters.

Garage. The time has come. Dispose of unnecessary items and wash it down. You can do it now and benefit with a more attractive home on the market; or you can do it several months from now, in the process of moving when there is no advantage. Do it now!

The yard. In the winter keep sidewalks shoveled and free of ice. In the summer, weed flower beds, trim trees and shrubs. Pick up litter and remove unnecessary clutter. Keep grass cut and well maintained.

Outdoor furniture. Examine and spot paint your outdoor furniture. If it is rusty or not repairable, consider disposing of the pieces.

Front Entry. The entry is the first thing buyers see as they stand and wait for the door to open. If needed, give the door a fresh coat of paint. Shine door hardware and make sure the doorbell is working.

Inside

Clean! Clean! Have the carpet shampooed, wash walls, windows, blinds, drapes and lighting fixtures. Consider engaging a cleaning service, recognizing that it is a justified moving expense.

Kitchen and bathrooms. Clear off counter tops. Leave canisters and little else. These rooms should be gleaming. If unsightly, have the tub re-caulked. Remove mineral deposits and grime from shower walls. Clean the stove, microwave and refrigerator.

Repairs. Identify and repair dripping faucets, sticking or creaking doors, etc. When people see areas of disrepair they begin to wonder whether there may be other unseen problems.

Closets. Remove out of season clothing. Organize your clothing and shoes. Remove all clutter from cabinets and closets.

Furniture. The less furniture, the larger a room appears to be.

A light appearance. As a rule, do everything to lighten the appearance of the home. Raise blinds, open drapes and use light colors. Repaint any room beginning to look shabby.

Step 4: Safety
Take necessary steps to keep your home safe for your family and your belongings. Never allow anyone to see your home unless they are with an agent who has made an appointment through the listing company's office. All agents have business cards. Lock up, remove or hide collectibles and valuables that can be easily taken during an open house or showing. If you have pets, make sure they are controlled during showings. Talk to your CENTURY 21 Pride Realty Sales Professional about additional tips that may help with safety.

Step 5: Making the Deal
A buyer has made an offer - now it is time to negotiate. Rely on your real estate professional to guide you through this process. He or she will help you arrive at an acceptable price, terms and conditions. Once you have accepted an offer, help keep the deal together by meeting deadlines and criteria, including home inspections, appropriate buyer visits, scheduled deposits and other steps. In fact, during this period there may be a renegotiation of the accepted offer price depending on the outcomes of these visits. As the closing nears, you may also need to perform repairs or do additional work to the house as agreed upon in your contract. In addition, you will need to have the house "broom clean" prior to the closing so that the buyer can complete a final walk through. When you finally arrive at the closing table, come prepared with the appropriate documents. Your CENTURY 21 Pride Realty Sales Professional can assist you in determining what is needed. Once the money has exchanged hands and all the papers are signed it's time to hand over the keys and concentrate on your next big project - getting YOUR new home in order.

Selling questions? Call our Customer Service at 815-485-4421. We are here to help you.

One of the most critical pieces of the home sale puzzle is setting the right price for your property. Your agent will conduct a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) using the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to determine the best price you can expect to receive for the least amount of time on the market, setting the right price for your house at market value.

Beware of agents who price your home higher than its comps. Houses priced too high do not sell quickly, and the longer a home is on the market, the more perceived value it loses.

Your real estate professional will also make suggestions on how to get your property sale-ready and open home ready. From there, your agent will:

• Feature your home on its own single property listing website, one of the most effective ways to provide detailed information about your home – including photos and video – to the 90% of home buyers who conduct their searches online.
• Market your home through multiple listing and advertising channels – online and via traditional means.
• Host open homes and actively seek feedback from any prospective buyers.
• Field all offers and queries about your property, and communicate these to you promptly.
• Make offers and counter-offers on your behalf.
• Negotiate with the seller’s agent or seller on your behalf.
• Review and explain real estate contracts.