Ready to Sell?

Take a look through our seller resources and connect with an agent who will develop a custom plan to sell your home.

 

 

 

WHAT TO KNOW

7 Reasons to Work With a REALTOR^®

 

 

REALTORS® aren’t just agents. They’re professional members of the National Association of REALTORS®and subscribe to its strict code of ethics. This is the REALTOR® difference for home sellers:

1.    An expert guide.
Selling a home usually requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures, and other technical documents. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes. Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved, so you want to work with a professional who can speak the language. 

2.    Objective information and opinions.
REALTORS®can research the local housing market to see what similar homes in the area are selling for, to help you determine the right price to sell your home, and to give you insight into the market. They also have objective information about each property and can give you tips for getting your home market ready.

3.    Property marketing power.
Property doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. A large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts with previous clients, friends, and family. When a property is marketed by a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

4.    Negotiation knowledge.
There are many factors up for discussion in a deal. A REALTOR® will look at every angle from your perspective, including crafting an agreement that allows you the flexibility you need to take that next step. REALTORS® can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of a transaction, unlike most buyers and sellers.

5.    Up-to-date experience.
Most people sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each sale. Even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS® handle hundreds of transactions over the course of their career and stay up to date on ongoing changes throughout the industry.

6.    Your rock during emotional moments.
A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And for most people, property represents the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you.

7.    Ethical treatment.
Every REALTOR® must adhere to a strict code of ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a REALTOR®’s client, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters.  

 

 

HOW TO

Prepare to Sell Your Home

Here are a few items to take care of before listing your home. This can make the sale process quicker and easier in the long run.

 

1. Consider a pre-sale home inspection.
An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.

2. Organize, declutter, and clean.
Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and seasonal items. Reduce clutter and knick-knacks, in order to let the potential buyers imagine their own possessions inside the home. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine. 

3. Get replacement estimates.
Do you have big-ticket items that will need to be replaced soon? Find out how much it will cost to repair an older roof or replace worn carpeting, even if you don’t plan to do so. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and they’ll be handy when negotiations begin.

4. Locate warranties.
Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer/dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house. It may seem like this task can be left until closing, but you don’t want lost paperwork or last-minute scrambling to cause the deal to fall through.

5. Spruce up the curb appeal.
Walk out to the front of your home, close your eyes, and pretend you’re a prospective buyer seeing the property for the first time. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? What do you see framing the entrance, if anything? Is the walkway free of cracks and impediments? If the outside looks good, people will more than likely want to see what's on the inside. Keep the lawn and landscape nicely manicured and be sure your front door area has a "Welcome" feeling. A fresh coat of paint on the front door looks great and is a simple fast solution to brighten up your curb appeal.

Connect with one of our experienced local agents for advice to get the most impact for the least amount of time and money.

 

*COVID-19 Safety Precautions: How to Buy and Sell Real Estate Safely During the Pandemic*

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

A list of frequently asked questions from sellers.

 

 

Q: I am thinking about selling my home, what should I do first?

 

A: The most important aspect of selling your home is determining the true value in today's real estate market. As real estate professionals, it is our job to provide you with a detailed comparative market analysis (CMA) to determine your home's value. There are other variables including market conditions, interest rates, and competition that will also play a role in determining its pricing. Here at Town and Mountain Realty, we like to work together with our clients to determine how to address their exact needs after providing them with a custom CMA.

 

Q: What's my home worth?

 

A: Determining your home's worth can be overwhelming to someone who is not familiar with the details involved in making sure the property is not overpriced or underpriced. Our agents are trained to look at many factors and also to create a custom CMA for your property.

 

Q: What is a CMA?

 

A: A Comparative Market Analysis shows what homes similar to your own have sold for, and what homes currently on the market are listed for. It is an important procedure in determining the pricing for your home.

 

Q: I have seen For Sale By Owner signs in my neighborhood, can I sell it myself?

 

A: Only about 3% of all For Sale By Owner properties make it to the closing table as For Sale By Owner properties. With the absence of a Licensed and trained REALTOR providing forms for you, you risk putting yourself in a liability position for failure to obey disclosure laws. There are more information and statistics available on the National Association of Realtor's website. There are many laws and procedures important to understand if you want your real estate transaction to go as smoothly as possible. Here are a few of the details a real estate professional will be sure to address for you:

• State of North Carolina Residential Property Disclosure

• Civil Rights Act of 1866

• Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968

• The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazards Reduction Act of 1982

• Asbestos and Radon Disclosures

• Necessary Legal Documents

• Accurate Square Footage Measurements

• Advertising your home

• Pre-qualifying the buyers

• Handling offers and counter-offers

• Home inspections

• Termite inspections

• Preparing for closing

Most For Sale by Owner properties get sold by real estate agents. You can see by all the details that a successful sale usually involves a well-trained and experienced professional.

We would love to help you get started, contact us today!