Sellers Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for 2011

A few days ago I wrote The First-Time Homebuyers Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for 2011 and as promised here are the Sellers Top Ten New Year's Resolution for 2011:

1. I will hire a full-time, LOCAL real estate agent to list my house;
2. I will price my house at market value and I understand that it doesn't matter what I paid for it (unfortunately all that matters is what its worth today and if an agent tells you otherwise they are wasting your time);
3. I will tell my listing agent upfront, even if they don't ask, that I have no equity, its short sale, its in pre-foreclosure, or that a sheriff's sale has been scheduled.  (If your agent doesn't ask you during the listing appointment about your equity, I advise you to not list with them.  There's a series of qualifying questions that every listing agent must ask);
4. If selling in the winter and there's a snowstorm, I will make sure the walkway, stairs, sidewalk and front porch are completely shoveled and salted;
5. I will try my hardest to be out of the house during all showings and open houses;
6. I will supply shoe covers for buyers and their agents because I don't want anyone walking through with their shoes on.  (Nobody wants to walk barefoot in someone else's home, especially if their toes aren't polished...lol);
7. I will make my house easy to show.  My listing agent does NOT need to be present and I do NOT need 24 hours notice for a buyer to view my home.  (Houses that are hard to show, require the listing agent to be present or a 24 hour notice is just too hard for most agents to try to coordinate with the listing agent and most likely they will just omit your home from the list.);
8. Once I have my house listed with my agent, I will NOT log on to Trulia and ask other agents questions about why there are no showings, if I should lower the price, how to negotiate an offer or inspection issues (if your agent is telling you to lower the price and showing you proof of comps that the price must be lowered, do you really need 12 other agents on Trulia, who may not even live in your State or be familiar with your area tell you what to do?  If you don't understand the process or are questioning negotiations, an inspection issue, etc. ask your agent for a full explanation - it's their job and duty to explain it to you fully.  If they can't, call their broker!);
9. I will hire a real estate attorney to represent me; and
10. I will wait until my house is under contract  before making an offer on another home.   (If you are in a position to buy without selling then this doesn't apply to you but if you need to sell, get a contract first and then put in an offer.  Would you really want the sale of your house dependent upon someone else selling their house?)

So there you have it -- The Seller's Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for 2011!  Look out for my final New Year's Resolutions for 2011 post, My Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for 2011!

 As always, Essex County Real Estate at its BEST!

 Fairfield New Jersey Real Estate Agent

Gina Chirico, Sales Associate
Lattimer Realty
397 Route 46 West 
Walgreens Shopping Plaza
Fairfield, NJ 07004 
Cell: 973-715-1158
Office: 973-575-6353 ext 17
Fax: 973-882-8543
http://GinaChiricoRealEstate.com
Gina@GinaChiricoRealEstate.com

****With deep roots in the Essex County, I service buyers and sellers throughout many Essex County communities and neighboring Morris, Passaic and Union Counties, specializing in the entire West Essex Communities (including Fairfield, Caldwell, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Roseland, Essex Fells, Verona and Cedar Grove) and my hometown areas of Belleville, Bloomfield, Nutley and Little Falls.****

 

When Opportunity Knocks...Make Sure Gina Chirico is There to Answer Your Door!