Your home may be the cornerstone of your family's assets. Doesn't it make
good sense to explore new possibilities when it comes time to sell?
John will give you the personal help of a broker with 35
years of experience selling Salt Lake real estate. He is offering the
finest state of the art methods of presenting your home to the public.
Feel more confident in negotiations with John working for you, and save thousands of dollars in commission fees. John is, for a limited time, charging a low 1% listing fee, to get your home sold through the MLS System. That could
put thousands of extra dollars in your family's bank account after the sale.
That's why John would like to meet with you. Please take a moment to read about his
sales plan and then contact him.
What makes John a great Real Estate agent for selling your home?
Being around for 35 years gives him a valuable understanding of the
Salt Lake Real Estate market. He has made his mistakes, and learned
from them. Their are numerous actions that John performs when he
is selling your home. We'd like to highlight a few of them.
• John's Talking House Option
• Strong internet presence
• Listings with the Wasatch Front Multiple Listing Service
• Intelligent Pricing Plans
• A top Real Estate company
• John is experienced in marketing your home, both within
your neighborhood and to the top real estate agents
that have been active in your area
How would you like to have the opportunity to get thousands of real
estate commission dollars back for your family, yet have the
professional services of an experienced broker with more than 35
years experience to back you up. And at the same time you can get
the benefit of state-of-the-art exposure for your home, to help maximize
the sales price and speed of sale? It seems reasonable to John that if he is
willing to split fees and take referrals from other real estate companies,
why not offer his clients an opportunity to save those dollars for helping
the property sell?
John is only charging a 1% listing fee. Additionally, when you offer your property through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) you offer the selling broker a 3% selling commission. Thus, your total commission fees would be 4%, which is a savings to you of 2% or 3% on your total commission fees, which would save you thousands of dollars. But John feels that if his clients are willing to participate in the selling process, he has a program which enables them to save additional thousands. If you provide John a Buyer lead, and John sells them your home you save an additional 2% of the commissions. This is an additional opportunity to participate in the selling process which could help you to save the entire real estate commission. This is an opportunity to have an experienced professional representing you. A professional who has consistently been in the top producing 1% of real estate agents nationally.
What does this mean for you? About 93% to 95% of all homes in Salt Lake sell through the Multiple Listing System (MLS) Why? (1) Most Buyers have been socially educated to go to a Realtor to purchase a home and are not comfortable or experienced with negotiating their own home purchase. (2) The inexperience of First Time Buyers often necessitates the assistance of a Realtor. (3) Up to 97% of Move Up Buyers and Move Down Buyers are already listed on the MLS with a Realtor to sell their existing home. After they sell, they often need to buy quickly and generally use the same Realtor to find their new home. (4) Corporate Relocation Buyers are often unfamiliar with the area, have a limited time to buy, and are contracted to use a specific real estate company. Doesn't it make sense for you take advantage of the extensive Broker networks through the Multiple Listing Systems to maximize your chances of selling your home quickly, and guided by an experienced professional to help prevent last minute surprises. And if you can achieve these results with John's low 1% listing fee, how can you afford not to call John today at (801) 558-4998.
You have a real advantage in marketing your home with John Hamilton
as contrasted with going it alone as a For Sale By Owner. With a "For
Sale" sign and a few newspaper ads, and maybe even the help of a lender,
you will probably be attracting only the real estate bargain hunters,
buyers who want to buy below market by dealing directly with an owner.
They usually want to save the real estate commission and an extra ten
thousand or more, for their effort. They may or may not buy, but they
will usually inspect, bargain, and take up lots of your time.
Motivated and serious buyers are most likely going to have a Realtor
help them locate a suitable home. They know that an agent can show them
an extensive variety of homes that are priced fairly. Serious buyers want
a home and they need to buy quickly. Will these buyers be able to find you
and your home if you are going it alone? If your plan is to go it alone,
having someone staying at home should also be included in your plans.
At least you should try to be conscientious in making yourself available.
When you begin running ads and put the "For Sale" sign in your yard, you may
receive many phone calls. And buyers may also come to your front door to ask
questions, unannounced. This puts pressure on you to be available to show the
home at their convenience, and also potentially run a safety risk.
You may be thinking, "I'm usually home, and if I do happen to be gone, they
can always leave a message on my voice mailbox." Well, some will probably leave
a message or call back, the buyers with plenty of time on their hands. They like
to look at homes and they're in no hurry. But the serious buyers who are highly
motivated and want to make a purchase quickly will rarely call a second time, or
return if you are not at home. They will usually go on to other homes.
In this new age of virtual home tours on the Internet, buyers still want to see,
smell, feel, hear, and touch. It just makes sense to market your home with the help
of a Realtor, to get the widest possible exposure to the widest variety of potential
buyers. You will appreciate the convenience and your best interests are protected.
A sale at a fair price is more likely, you'll probably have less legal exposure,
and you'll more than likely get more after sale dollars for your family.
With John's commission sharing plan, you could possibly
save the entire real estate commission, plus you get all the benefits of
having a broker to market and show your home. It just makes sense,
contact John today.
• Outside
Trim all shrubs. Pull all weeds. Flowers planted. Leaves raked.
Water lawn to keep green. Pick up and discard or store all
implements, materials and debris that are not part of the lawn
decor. All windows washed. Garage should be swept, neat and tidy.
During the winter, all walks and drives should be shoveled and salted.
• Lighting
Open all shades and draperies during the daylight hours. Replace
all burned out light bulbs with the maximum wattage light bulbs.
Turn on all lights throughout the house and basement prior to
showing the house.
• Storage
All clothing, shoes, hats, accessories, tools, papers, magazines,
books and personal items not contributing to the decor of the room
should be stored in closets or drawers. All closets should be tidy,
neat and clean. Basement storage areas should be neatly arranged.
Kitchen counters should be clean and free of any articles not
contributing to the decor of the room. All magazines, books, ashtrays,
food, bottles, boxes, containers, cans, toys, hobby accessories, tools,
dishes, cookware, etc., should be stored in the proper cupboards or
closet storage areas.
• Closets
The interiors of all closets should present an organized, tidy and
uncluttered appearance. All unneeded or unused items should be packed
away or discarded. Display your storage and utility space by removing
all unnecessary accumulations in attic, stairways, basement, closets
and garage.
• Basement
Should be neat, clean, dry and tidy. All materials and tools should
be stored on shelves or in cabinets. Discard as much unneeded material
as possible prior to showing the house to prospective purchasers.
• Windows
All windows should be spotlessly clean, inside and out. All window sills,
as well as any space between the window and storm window should be
spotlessly clean and free of any flaking or loose paint. All windows
should be in good repair with no cracks. Screens should be clean and
in good condition, free of rust and holes. Any paint on glass should
be removed with a razor blade prior to cleaning.
• Fixtures
All bathroom and kitchen fixtures and counters should be sparkling clean.
Polish chrome faucets and handles in the tub and sinks. All sinks, tubs,
toilets and counters should be clean.
• Floors
All flooring should be clean and waxed, if necessary. All carpeting should
be very clean regardless of its age. If the carpet has not been steam
cleaned for more than two years, now is the time to do it. Basement floors
should be swept and mopped.
• Doors
All doors should be free of scotch tape, posters, decals or stickers. All
door handles should be clean and in good repair.
• Ceramic Tile
All joints between tiles should be clean and white. Use DAP bathroom tile
sealer to reseal the joint between the bathtub and wall and floor.
• Walls
All walls should be clean and free of gouges, scratches, smudges, scotch
tape, thumbtacks, posters etc. Walls should only have decorative items.
Posters and paper pictures taped to walls should be removed and all evidence
of the tape marking removed.
• Odor
Nothing smells better than fresh air. On warm days, have your windows open
and shades up. Make your home feel and smell bright, fresh and clean and
you will have a faster sale.
• Key Point
Make sure that there are absolutely no pet odors.
1. Make the Most of that First Impression. A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted - or at least freshly scrubbed - front door. If it's autumn, rake the leaves. If it's winter, shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles between propspects and the true appeal of your home, the better.
2. Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends. Here's your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. Prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it COULD look, "with a little work."
3. Check Faucets and Bulbs. Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs leave prospects in the dark. Don't let little problems detract from what's right with your home.
4. Don't Shut Out a Sale. If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect's mind. Don't try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing.
5. Think Safety. Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: rollerskates on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.
6. Make Room for Space. Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They're looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
7. Consider Your Closets. The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now's the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
8. Make Your Bathrooms Sparkle. Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats and shower curtains.
9. Create Dream Bedrooms. Wake-up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must.
10. Open up in the Daytime. Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is.
11. Lighten up at Night. Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
12. Avoid Crowd Scenes. Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company present to a minimum.
13. Watch Your Pets. Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
14. Think Volume. Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction. When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.
15. Relax. If you must be present at the time of your showing, be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to view your home with a minimum of distraction.
16. Don't Apologize. No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let your REALTOR handle the situation.
17. Keep a Low Profile. Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But your REALTOR knows buyers - what they need and what they want. Your REALTOR will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the background.
18. Don't Turn Your Home Into a Second-Hand Store. When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.
19. Defer to Experience. When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let them speak to an expert.
20. Help Your Agent. Your REALTOR will have an easier time selling your home if showings are scheduled through our office. You'll appreciate the results!
1. Overpricing could cost you your best prospects. When your home
first hits the MLS, before a buyer goes on a house-hunting expedition,
their agent pulls listings of properties in the buyer's price range. Now,
suppose your overpriced house -- which lacks a garage -- falls into a batch
with five other well-priced houses that all have garages. Upon seeing your
place, it will take only a matter of minutes for the prospect to reject your
property on the basis that they can get more home for the same money.
2. Overpricing hurts you most during the prime time of your listing. The most
excitement your home will ever generate will be during the first few weeks of
your listing -- when it's fresh to the market. Qualified buyers who have been
bird-dogging your neighborhood will want to see it right away. But since
they've been watching your neighborhood, they'll also know immediately that
it's overpriced and will spurn it.
3. Overpricing can screen out prospects from your target market. Overpricing
can screen out prospects from your target market. Good agents take pride in
prescreening properties for their home-buying clients. In recognizing that your
home is overpriced, the buyer's agent may well omit it from the homes their client
might see.
4. Overpricing doesn't always correct itself through bargaining. Many buyers don't
have the nerve or inclination to bargain with a seller who demands way too much.
5. Overpricing often leads to stale listings. Realtors know from experience that
houses that linger on the market for a long time are generally either in poor
condition or, more often, overpriced. Houses that languish on the market not
only inflict carrying costs on their owners, but also breed suspicion among buyers
that "something must be seriously wrong with this house or it would have sold
sooner." Ultimately, the penalty paid by the owner is that they collect a
below-market price.
6. Overpricing can lead to failed sales. In rare cases, you may be able to find
that one naive buyer foolish enough to fall for your over-market price. But more than
90 percent of the homes are financed, and mortgage lenders require a certified appraisal
that backs up the selling price. If the appraisal comes in low, your sale could fall
through.
So you've decided to make a move. Are you ready to box up everything you own - all the possessions that mean "home" to you and your family - and ship them to another part of the country? It's no wonder that moving is ranked among life's most stressful events.
With the proper planning and preparation, you can make your next move a smooth one.
Moving doesn't have to be such a hectic event. Doing things in an orderly manner will save time, money and lots of stress.
A good way to reduce stress is to develop a calendar that starts six weeks before your move. This calendar will serve as your "countdown" to moving day.
Six Weeks Before You Move
Take an objective look at what you own, and decide what must go and what can be left behind. Books you've read and will never read again? Records you haven't listened to since college? The pan with a broken handle or the children's long-neglected games? Extra weight costs more money.
Contact moving companies to get estimates. Pay attention to cost, but also ask them what they'll do to make your move as smooth as possible.
If you have a lot of things worth selling, you may want to organize a garage sale.
Get an estimate from your mover on the cost of letting the company professionally pack all or some of your belongings. The time and effort you save may be worth the cost. While the mover is liable for breakage to any items it packs, you're responsible for damage to improperly packed items that you have boxed yourself.
If you've decided to let your mover pack for you, begin separating what you plan to sell, give away, throw away and keep.
Start a central file for all of the details on your move. It's a good idea to buy a brightly colored organizer folder with pockets - you'll be less likely to misplace it. Make sure to collect receipts for moving-related expenses. Depending on your reason for moving, you may be entitled to a tax deduction.
Create a floor plan of your new home (you can request this from your Realtor) and begin thinking about where you'll want to place furniture. Advance planning eases the stress of making major decisions when your furniture arrives at your new home. Mark and label specific pieces of furniture on your diagram, and put it in your moving folder.
Five Weeks Before You Move
Select your mover, and meet to discuss dates and costs.
Decide now whether you want to pack yourself or hire your mover to do this task. Self-packing can save money.
If you've decided to pack yourself, you'll need to begin gathering boxes. Your mover can provide boxes most suited for moving, including special-purpose containers for items like clothing on hangers and lamp shades.
Four Weeks Before You Move
Notify the post office, magazines, credit card companies and friends and family of your change of address. The U.S. Postal Service offers a kit to make this process easier. On-Line at http://usps.com
Contact utilities (gas, water, electricity, telephone, cable TV) to schedule disconnection of services on the day following your move. You'll want to have utilities on while you're still in the house.
Call the utilities in your new town to arrange for service to start the day before your move so that you have service when you arrive at your new home.
If you are planning to move major appliances, talk with your mover to schedule disconnection and servicing a few days before you move. And don't forget to arrange for an expert, if necessary, to install fixtures upon their arrival at your new home. Complete any repair work on your old home, and arrange for any critical services needed at your new home.
If packing yourself, start packing seldom-used articles like fancy dishes and glasses, specialty cookware, non-essential clothing, curios, art, photos, and decorative items.
As you pack, remember to keep each box light enough to be handled by any of the members of your family - not just the strongest person. Heavier items go in smaller boxes, lighter items in larger boxes.
If you are planning a garage sale, pick a date at least a week before the move, and advertise it locally. Think about teaming up with neighbors who want to sell some of their old belongings, and plan a neighborhood "super sale."
Three Weeks Before You Move
Take inventory of your everyday household goods, such as radios, pots and pans and small appliances. Decide which items you will discard or put in storage.
Self-packers: start your serious packing. Label the contents of all boxes, and pack carefully.
As best you can, box essential items together, and write "open first/load last" on these boxes. When you move into your new home, you'll be able to easily identify these boxes and get to important items like pots, dishes, silverware, alarm clocks, bedding, pillows, towels, cherished toys and essential items for babies or children.
Make sure you have your driver's license, auto registration and insurance records.
Contact your doctors, dentist and veterinarian to receive copies of medical records.
Pack phone books from your old town to make staying in touch with old friends easier.
Make personal travel arrangements (flights, hotel, rental cars) for your trip.
Plan your food purchases to have as little as possible in the freezer or refrigerator by the time you move. Use up all frozen items, and buy only what you'll eat in the next three weeks, because you can't ship them.
Arrange to clean your new home, or plan to clean it yourself, as close to move-in as possible. Since the home will probably be unoccupied by this time, make sure the cleaning is thorough and covers all those nooks and crannies usually blocked by furniture or appliances.
Contact your children's schools, and arrange for records to be forwarded to your new school district. For New School Addresses go to: http://www.schoolmatch.com
Make new bank safety deposit box arrangements in your new hometown. Make arrangements to safely transfer items from your old safe deposit box to your new one.
Hold a garage sale now.
Two Weeks Before You Move
Check with your insurance company to transfer coverage to your new home.
Make arrangements for transporting your pets and any house plants, because movers can't take them in the van.
Meet with your bank to change account status or Switch to on-line Banking!!
Transfer all current prescriptions to a drug store in your new town.
Cancel any delivery services such as newspapers. Consider starting a subscription to the newspaper in your new town to introduce you to local news happenings.
Have your automobile serviced if you're traveling by car.
Be sure to empty secret hiding places to remove valuables and spare house keys.
One Week Before You Move
Mow your lawn for the last time.
Dispose of toxic or flammable items that can't be moved. Drain the gas and oil from gas-powered tools such as lawn mowers and snowblowers; movers will not take them if full.
Double-check to make sure arrangements have been made to disconnect and service your major appliances being moved.
Pack your "trip kit" of necessary items that should go in your car and not the moving van: your checkbook, cash or travelers checks, medications, essential toiletries, light bulbs, flashlight, toilet paper, pet food, spare glasses or contact lenses, baby or child care items, toys and car games for children and your notebook with moving information.
If you have young children, arrange for a baby-sitter to watch them on moving day. Since you'll have your hands full, the extra attention from a sitter will distract the child's attention from the turmoil of a move.
Also arrange for a baby-sitter to be available when you arrive at your new home with young children.
Pack your own suitcase of clothes for the move.
Put your "open first/load last" boxes in a separate place so the mover can identify them.
Pay all outstanding bills. Be sure to indicate your new address on payment receipts.
Remove any fixtures you are taking with you and replace (if specified in your home-selling contract).
One To Two Days Before You Move
The movers will arrive to start the packing process.
Empty and defrost your refrigerator and freezer; clean both with a disinfectant and let them air out. Put baking soda or charcoal inside to keep them fresh.
Arrange for payment to the moving company. This payment must be made when your belongings arrive at your new home before your belongings are unloaded. Find out your moving company's accepted methods of payment, terms, and its policy for inspecting your belongings when they arrive to determine if any breakage has occurred.
Empty your safety deposit box. Plan to take important papers, jewelry, cherished family photos, irreplaceable mementos and vital computer files with you.
Write directions to your new home for the van operator, provide the new phone number and include phone numbers where you can be reached in transit - either a car phone or friends, old neighbors, a place of business or relatives with whom you'll be in contact. You'll never be out of touch for long, should an emergency arise.
