Tips For Sellers

Selecting a Realtor®

Your most important decision when selling your home is the selection of the person you choose to represent you. Click here to read what Laura's clients have to say about her.

The job of your Real Estate Agent is to support you in selling your home with the best possible terms, and to aid you through the entire process. Your Real Estate Agent will explain the process of selling a home, and familiarize you with the various activities, documents and procedures that you will experience throughout the transaction.

Laura will help to to get top dollar for your property, with the highest net proceeds, within your time frame and always protecting your interests.

Tips For Selecting A Realtor

Your Real Estate Professional should be:

• Aware of the complicated local and state requirements affecting your transaction.
• Effective in multi-party, face-to-face negotiations.
• Highly-trained, with access to programs for continued learning and additional certifications.
• Resourceful in attracting the largest possible pool of potential buyers.
• Knowledgeable in the technology resources that facilitate the transaction.
• Assisted by a fully-staffed marketing department.
• Supported by professional legal counsel.
• Committed to the highest ethical standards.

Click here to read about Laura's education, experience and designations.

Developing a Marketing Strategy

In order to sell your home quickly and with the best possible terms, it's necessary to prepare your home for the market. This process includes:

• Deciding when to put your home on the market.
• Establishing a strategic price based on recent comparable sales, local market conditions and your motivation to sell.
• Estimating probable net proceeds.
• Advising you on how to make your home more appealing to potential buyers, including staging your home.

Marketing Your Property

• Ordering a "FOR SALE" sign to be placed prominently on your property with a sign rider.
• Ordering a virtual tour and professional photos.
• Installing a lock box to make it easy for agents to show your home.
• Submitting your home to the regional Multiple Listing Service for immediate exposure to the real estate community.
• Arranging Real Estate Agents in the area and at my office to tour the home.
• Developing a flyer/brochure highlighting the features and benefits of your home.
• Promoting your home at the appropriate Association(s) of Realtors' for maximum exposure to other cooperating agents.
• Holding open houses when appropriate.
• Contacting your neighbors to promote the property.
• Advertising your property on our regular office schedule meetings.
• Featuring your property with unprecedented exposure via Willis Allen's website, REALTOR.com, and dozens of others websites; as well as choice print advertising and "Just Listed" mail campaigns.  
• Asking clients and colleagues if they know of possible buyers.

Managing the Transaction

You'll appreciate having a strong advocate on your side during the transaction!


Negotiating the Offer

Your Real Estate Agent will immediately present and explain all offers to you. You will be able to accept, reject, or counter any offer presented. During the negotiation process, your Agent will leverage their experience and skills to advocate your interests:

• Reviewing the contract and obligations before you sign.
• Explaining how contingencies and release clauses work.
• Protecting you from signing a "blank check" for unknown problems or repairs.
• Defining legal disclosure requirements.
• Orchestrate the offer process for "back-up" offers, if necessary.

Throughout the negotiation, your Real Estate Agent will provide you with a professional, objective point of view; but the final decision of accepting an offer is yours.

After the Offer is Accepted

Once an offer is accepted, your Real Estate Agent will manage all the details to make the process as stress-free and efficient as possible:

• Staying in contact with the buyer's agent to ensure a smooth escrow.
• Following up on the progress of the buyer's loan.
• Monitoring all contingency removal deadlines.
• Assisting you if a conflict with the buyer arises.

Finalizing and Closing the Transaction

Finalizing the process includes reviewing all closing documents and ensuring both parties have copies. When the transaction has closed, your Real Estate Agent will deliver the closing check to you and the keys to the new owner!

Did you know that Section 1031 allows you to exchange your investment property for a new property without incurring income tax on the gain?  If the property you are selling isn't an investment property, but your principal residence, did you know that you are eligible to claim $500,000 for a married couple and $250,000 for an individual in capital gain tax-free?  Additionally, if you or your spouse is 55 years of age or older and your property is your principal residence, Proposition 60/90 allows for the taxable base on your current home to be transferred to your replacement home, if that new home is of equal or lesser value, and thus preventing an increase in property taxes.

Don't wait, contact Laura today and let her start working for you to list your home!