Seller’s Frequently Asked Questions

Is now the right time to put my home on the market?	1.	If you’re moving up, or downsizing, the answer is yes. Market conditions will place you in an advantageous purchasing position on your next home, that might even offset any compromise on the sale of your current home. If you’re transferring or relocating you often don’t have the leeway of deciding “when” so the trick here is precise pricing so you’re not wasting too much time. Interest rates are also worth considering. Attractive rates will yield a larger field of buyers for your home.
Why is my choice of real estate company important?	2.	Coming from a corporate background, my point of view has always been that “Numbers speak for themselves”. I believe in aligning myself with a strong, reputable, productive firm. I value being able to prove command of the market with solid production figures. Your motivation to choose the right company is perhaps even more compelling than mine.
How do I know that I’m pricing my home right?	3.	That seems to be the question of the day. Fortunately the answer is fairly straight forward. I use the comparisons an appraiser is going to use, the only ones that matter. Your neighbor’s opinion or that of a friend or relative are meaningless. Gone are the days when a seller could name their price and the appraiser would try to accommodate. There are now much more exacting federal guidelines.
What repairs should I do?	4.	You need to look at your home with the critical eye of a buyer. Start where they will park their your car and do a complete walk-through with notebook in hand. Notice EVERYTHING; landscaping, scuffed walls, dripping faucets, soiled carpeting. If you see it, they’ll see it. You want potential buyers making only positive notes.
How long will it take for my home to sell?	5.	Believe it or not, that’s entirely up to you! There is no typical “time on market”. The timing in each individual case will rely on condition, location, ease of showing, and most importantly, price.
Should I stay home during a showing to help out?	6.	A definitive NO. Both you and the buyer would be uncomfortable. If a buyer is uneasy looking around or commenting on your home, they will quickly leave before they’ve seen everything, and what they’ll remember is not the features of your home, but their own discomfort there. In addition, you should never be available to spontaneously answer questions. That’s what you’ve hired me for.
Is it possible to schedule showings only when we’re at work so our evenings and weekends are undisturbed?	7.	Possible, maybe. Advisable, no. Ease of showing is one of a listing’s most critical selling points. The harder you make it, the longer it takes. Buyers will just move on to the next property if it’s difficult to schedule a viewing of yours. There are too many competing listings to choose from for them to put up with any inconvenience.
Everyone knows that someone is living here, why pack anything away ahead of time?	8.	Here again, it’s a matter of what you want the buyer to remember. Will your house be “the one with that amazing kitchen” or will it be the“oh gee, was that the house with all the wedding pictures on the wall and the cats in the kitchen”? If you have a lot of “stuff” it may appear to a buyer, as though there is not enough space for their own furniture.
What happens if the appraisal does not match the contracted purchase price?	9.	This is not necessarily a deal-breaker. In my experience all parties generally want to see the transaction close. I’ll be right by your side with facts and figures, to evaluate your options.

More resources for Home Sellers

• Not Your Daddy’s Home Selling Tips
• Order a Market Analysis Online
• What Can I Do for You?
• Where to Start?
• Seller Disclosure 101
  
• Showing Checklist
• The Sale Process
• Who Pays for What?
• My Guarantee as Your Agent

Bill Salvatore
REALTOR
Arizona Elite Properties
602-999-0952
eMail: golfarizona@cox.net