Is it right time to sell? How do I do it? What happens during the sale process? All of these questions and more were answered at the Home Seller Seminar held on September 17th at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Port Washington. Five local experts spoke about their respective specialties and one lucky participant won a free home design consulation (a $100 value).
Five Local Experts Share Their Experience
First, Jason Marcus of Continental Home Loans discussed the age-old question - "Is it the right time to sell?" Whether you are downsizing, making a lateral move, or trading up, Jason discussed the pros and cons, the importance of being motivated, and the importance of pricing correctly and keeping up with the market.
Katherine Crean of Apple Home Inspections made the case for doing a pre-listing home inspection before putting your house on the market. Especially if you've owned your home for a long time, you may not be aware of problems that could delay or even kill your deal. Get the information about any problems before you list the house so there are no surprises, and so that any needed repairs can be done on your timetable and on your terms.
As the Realtor on the panel, I discussed the importance of pricing aggresively, offering a competitive commission, and thinking about offering a home warranty to the buyer. Price is the most important factor. Your agent will look at your competition, and recommend a range of pricing options. How you decide will depend on how in front of the market you want to be. When discussing commission, remember that your listing agent will probably end up selling your house with a cooperating agent (who brings the buyer). Give the cooperating agents an incentive to show your home to their buyers. Finally, a home warranty is an inexpensive way to stand out from the crowd.
Another way to stand out from your competition is to "stage" the home. Brenda Bailey of imotivesdesign explained how creating a welcoming and pleasing atmosphere can help buyers imagine themselves in the home. She starts by de-cluttering the home so that it looks more spacious, and de-personalizing (removing family photos, drawings, refrigerator magnets, etc.) so that the buyer does not feel like an intruder. A clean and modern look rather than a worn and dated one will give buyers a good feeling and immediately make them feel at home.
Finally, Steve Glassberg, real estate attorney, explained the ins and outs of ensuring a smooth transaction after your house is in contract. Knowing what to expect is important, for example, speak to your attorney as soon as possible about any closing costs, taxes, fees, etc. so that there are no surprises. He also recommends patience, because there are periods during the time between contract and closing where nothing appears to be happening. Your agent should be staying in touch during this time so that you are kept in the loop.
Contact Information
Selling your home is a stressful and emotional time, so having experts working for you, to advise and consult with you, can help make the process as easy as possible. Here is the contact information for the seminar participants; they are available and willing to answer any questions or concerns that you may have.
Apple Home Inspections - Katherine D. Crean, kdcrean@verizon.net; 516-359-7788
Continental Home Loans - Jason Marcus, jmarcus@cccmtg.com; 631-455-0473
imotivesdesign - Brenda Bailey + Margie Brown, imotivesdesign@aol.com; 516-365-6619
Keller Williams of Greater Nassau - Diane Schubach, dshcubac@optonline.net; 917-579-8356
Steven Glassberg - Real Estate Attorney, steveglassberg@yahoo.com; 212-608-6726
If you would like a .pdf version of the seminar presentation, please send me an e-mail at dschubac@optonline.net
Comments(3)