Seller's Guide
Denny?s strategy for getting your home sold at the best terms possible for you is based on a best practices guide encompassing three main focal points:
Denny?s seller strategy is a simple approach to home sales. The methodology emphasizes maximum preparation and exposure for your home by accounting for and adapting to current market conditions.
Using Denny?s strategy, you not only have a great plan, you have an experienced Realtor® implementing it with you. A well-developed and well-implemented strategy ensures a successful home sale.
PREPARE
During the preparation phase, Denny will guide you through each step of the home selling process and what you and he will need to accomplish to prepare your home for introduction to the market. Preparing your home for sale includes:
- A thorough walk-through of your home, providing constructive feedback for what will and will not work in presenting your home for sale
- Suggestions for staging your home properly to allow optimal flow and functionality
- Discussion on how to keep the property in tip-top shape at all times
- Identifying any buyer ?red flags? such as leaks, squeaky doors, and dirty vents and providing the resources to remedy those items
- Discussion on the overall process and procedures involved in selling your home (communications, home access, showings, etc.)
PRICE
Smart pricing can mean the difference between "for sale" and "sold."
It can be challenging for you as a seller to evaluate your home with an objective point of view. Because of the fluidity of the real estate market, especially in Metro DC, it is important to price your property based on current market conditions in lieu of what properties may have historically sold for in your neighborhood, for better or worse.
The best strategy to pricing involves reviewing recently sold, and to some degree, currently listed properties and how your home compares to them in terms of amenities, finishes, etc.. Denny brings that data to you and will evaluate the ins and outs of the data for your full understanding. He then presents a recommended price range for you, but the ultimate decision is yours. In many cases, Denny will also arrange an agent/office tour of the property to collect feedback from other agents in his office, not only on pricing suggestions, but to collect opinions on staging and preparation as well.
PROMOTE
Through Denny?s own experience and that of other top producing agents, he has compiled the best practices in home sales marketing and will put them to work for you. Exposure is key to marketing success and Denny focuses his marketing energies on the two most vital target audiences: Realtors® and potential buyers.
Denny has a prominent network of the most successful buyer agents in each of the jurisdictions he serves to best promote his listings through email campaigns, networking opportunities and personal connections. He also works with you to provide agents the most accessibility to your property as possible to show their buyer clients. Beyond exposure to properties, Denny is attentive to requests for information and personally selling his listings.
Promoting to prospective buyers is the most important aspect of exposing your property for sale. Since the vast majority of buyers being their searches on the internet, Denny focuses much of his marketing efforts getting the most exposure across cyber space. Beyond the basics of the Multiple Listing Services, Denny maintains enhanced listings on Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com and many others, in addition a personalized website for your home and featured listings on various websites. Denny also provides high-quality, professionally designed brochures (with professional photography), direct mail campaigns, email campaigns, and open houses. Denny is also known to host unique events, such as art shows, when the property is available and accommodating to such special opportunities.
OFFER & CONTRACT
Once you receive an acceptable offer, the real fun begins. Denny will walk you through the contract details, provide you with the best strategy to move forward, explain what to expect with the removal of contingencies, and all the while continuing to negotiate in your best interest. Denny will continually communicate with the buyer?s agent to ensure they are meeting deadlines and will keep you abreast of the details from contract signing to closing.
SELLING COSTS
Selling costs vary by jurisdiction. You?ll want an agent who not only gives you the details of the costs involved, but also one who keeps those costs as low as possible without sacrificing quality service. Below is a typical breakdown of the seller costs associated with a real estate transaction.
Broker Fees
In the real estate transaction, the sellers pay the brokerage fees, which are usually split 50/50 between the listing and buying agents. You can expect to pay 6 percent of the final sales price towards your total brokerage fees. Denny doesn?t charge additional administrative fees as many brokerages do, again, saving you money from the get-go.
Settlement Fees
Settlement fees are paid for at the settlement and deducted from your sale proceeds. Fees are typically the same among transactions, but there may be some variations. Types of settlement fees include:
- Settlement Transaction Fee
- Deed Preparation Fee
- Survey/Title Fee
- Recording Fees
- Courier & Delivery Fees
- Escrow (varies by jurisdiction)
Taxes & Other Fees
Taxes and other transaction costs are also paid at settlement from the proceeds of your sale. Below is a sample of some of the fees incurred:
- Jurisdiction-Specific Transfer/Recordation/Grantors Tax
- Unpaid Assessments (HOA/Condo Dues, Taxes, etc.)
- Release Fees (mortgage pay-offs, etc.)
- Termite Inspection Fee (if required by contract)
- Home Warranty (optional)
