PREPARE TO SELL

Every seller wants their home to sell fast and bring top dollar. The best way to do this is to put in a little elbow grease and make your home shine.

Buyers assign dollar values to repairs that typically exceed the actual cost of remediation. To get the best return on your investments - and avoid turning off potential buyers - you need to ensure your home looks its best when it hits the market. Below are our top suggestions to make your home market-ready.

• Walk through each room and criticize the home from a buyer's perspective.
• Ask a few local real estate professionals for their advice.
• Consider getting a professional home inspection to see if any repairs are needed.
• Hire a contractor to handle any major projects.
• Hold a yard sale. Sell, donate or trash anything you don't need.

The first impression. The condition of your home's exterior is most important when it comes to buyer appeal.

• Paint the home's exterior, including trim, doors and shutters.
• Check front door, doorbell, address number and welcome mat.
• Power wash the siding and windows.
• Inspect the roof and make repairs as needed.
• Repair cracks in the driveway and sidewalks.
• Sweep the entryway and walkways.
• Mow, water and fertilize the lawn.
• Trim shrubs and trees and rake the leaves.
• Plant colorful flowers and shrubs.
• Store any toys or equipment lying on the yard.
• Clean up pet droppings.
• Clean the gutters and downspouts.

LIVING AREA

• Clean your home from top to bottom.
• Put all valuables in a safe place.
• Repair any cracks or holes in walls and touch-up paint.
• Clean, touch-up paint and caulk doors as needed. 
• Repair or replace all torn screens.
• Avoid repainting the entire house unless current colors are very loud or offbeat. White or light pastels are the easiest for new homeowners to work with and they make your rooms look larger.
• Clean carpeting and draperies. 
• Fireplace | rapair broken tiles and screen and clean the hearth.
• Lubricate squeaking doors, windows, and cabinets.
• Store out-of-season clothes.
• Pre-pack items and store them in garage. 
• Add a few colorful plants to help liven the interior.

KITCHEN

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house. An open appearance with sunlight and green plants will make the room a focal point.

• Keep the counters clean and clear of appliances.
• All appliances should be clean and neatly organized. 
• Clean and organize your cabinets, potential buyers will open the doors. 
• Never leave dirty dishes in the sink.
• Clean and wax the kitchen floor. If the floor looks old and dull, consider replacing the flooring.
• Clean fans and vent hoods.

BATHROOM

• All bathroom appliances should be thoroughly cleaned.
• Remove stains from sinks, toilets, and bathtubs.
• Replace old caulking around bathtub and sinks.
• Repair or replace leaky faucets.
• Unclog and sanitize drains to remove odors.
• Clean all mirrors.
• Keep all toilet seat lids closed.
• Fresh towels should be in the bathrooms at all times.

GARAGE

• Have a garage sale to dispose of any unwanted items.
• Family heirlooms, which you will take with you, should be boxed and stored in the garage until you move.
• Degreasers are available at your local home repair store to remove stains from the garage floor.
• Remove any cobwebs.
• If the basement or attic is a functioning part of the house, make sure the area is clean and in good repair.
• Dust and vacuum the whole house thoroughly.
• Lightly clean and straighten up living areas.
• Open all drapes and blinds to let in as much light as possible. Turn on lamps and other lights as necessary to brighten each room.
• If you're planning to move around the same time you're selling your home, try to arrange showings while the furniture is still in the house.
• Any household or children's items should be stored away. This includes toys, bikes, skateboards, etc.
• Turn television sets off. Turn on a radio with soft music at low volume.
• While your home is being held open, arrange to spend the time away from the house, especially if you have small children. If this is not possible, go for a walk, visit a neighbor, or keep children quiet when your home is being shown to prospects.
• Keep pets away from potential buyers and keep pet areas clean.
• Your agent may request to serve refreshments. If not, feel free to suggest this.
• Try baking chocolate chip cookies or brownies just before the open house. A pleasant aroma means home to many people.

HOME MARKETING PLAN

If you're like most people, your home is your largest asset. Selling your home is an opportunity for financial gain or loss. It can also be a big time commitment. We are committed to helping you get the best price for your home and also saving you a lot of time and frustration.

PROPERTY SIGNAGE

We'll admit a yard sign is pretty basic, but studies still show that it is 3rd largest source used by buyers when finding a home (right behind their real estate agent and the internet). Our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties yard sign, sign riders, directional arrows and even in-the-home feature cards will promote your home 24/7, directing buyers to the office or web for more information.

MARKETING TO REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS

Your home needs to capture the interest of selling agents. If the agent is not motivated to show your home, their buyers may never see it! We can reach out nationally to the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network and locally through the multiple listing system and private broker receptions to get your home noticed.

OPEN HOUSES

We have combined the best of old and new media to attract people to your open house. Our methods include on-site visuals such as 'open' signs and balloons to attract drive-bys and online open house search engines including bhhsselectstl.com, STLtoday.com, Zillow, Truila and Realtor.com.

DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS

Full color, glossy postcards will be sent to your neighbors and surrounding neighborhoods announcing that your home has been ‘just listed.’ Quite often purchasers are found in the immediate area because neighbors know the benefits of living nearby and are quick to tell others who they’d like to live closer to them.

PROPERTY BUSINESS CARDS

Ask your agent about our property business cards. These cards feature a photo of your home and property details so you can distribute them to friends and family. They can also be available as a take-away for showings and open houses.

HOME FEATURE FLYERS

Full-color flyers will be available at your home as a take-away piece for showings, drive-bys and open houses.

ONLINE EXPOSURE

More than 3 out of 4 home buyers use the Internet to find their new home according to a study by the National Association of REALTORS®. This data shows a significant shift away from print to online resources. Because of this, we have spent the last several years positioning ourselves as an online leader through our web-based systems, online relationships and dynamic marketing initiatives.

ONLINE SHOWCASE

Your home can be showcased on bhhsselectstl.com with the following features:

• Multiple photos of both interior and exterior
• A banner highlighting property features
• Community information for school and demographics
• Walkability score
• Mortgage estimator
• Mapping powered by Google and featuring satellite and street map views
• Buyer's online shopping features such as saving, emailing, printing, info request, and showing scheduler
• Facebook and Twitter sharing options

IDX FOR ONLINE DISTRIBUTION

Although 'IDX' doesn't sound very exciting, it actually is. Using the power of Internet Data Exchange (IDX) we can make your home not only available to local REALTORS® via the MLS, but we can push it to other websites as well—our website, competitor’s websites, local websites and national websites. Although your home will be available on hundreds of sites, we’d like to highlight a few:

bhhsselectstl.com  |  This is the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties' site where we will feature an online showcase of your home, as mentioned above. Our primary goal is to drive local traffic here and we do this through our digital advertising and by securing placement on major search engines.

berkshirehathawayhs.com  |  Advertised online and on television, our national web site is a significant source of buyer prospects. Your home will be showcased nationally and internationally on this site which uses registration forms to capture prospects.

Zillow | Realtor.com | Trulia  |  These are the Big 3 of real estate websites and we make sure your home is searchable on each.

SELECT RESPONSE SYSTEM

What happens when someone makes an online inquiry on your home? Will the potential buyer get a fast response? Any online interest on your listing from our site instantly generates an email and text message to your agent's cell phone.

MARKETING RESULTS REPORTING

It's not enough just to market your home. We want to provide you with results. With Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties you’ll receive consistent updates about your home’s showings, open houses, online activity and comparable market activity in your area.

Showing Report

Electronic notifications allow you to easily confirm, decline, or re-schedule showings based on the method that mest works for you— text or email. Download the ShowingTime mobile app for complete access to future or past showings, your listing activity report and feedback to give you an up-to-date overview of what buyers and showing agents thing about your home.  

Open House Report

Your agent can provide you with an open house report detailing the number of visitors that attended your event, how they found your home’s open house information, and the number of visitors that expressed interest.

Print Marketing Reports

Your agent can provide you with a monthly report detailing any print marketing done on your home including ads, postcards and brochures.

Seller's Edge Report | Online Activity

Weekly reports of online activity will be emailed to you detailing how many times your property has been listed in search results, how many visitors have looked at your home online and how many visitors have saved. Get detailed information from bhhsselectstl.com, Zillow.com and Yahoo Real Estate.

Market Watch Report | Competition Reports

It’s important to know the activity of comparable properties. That’s why you’ll receive a weekly emailed report that shows properties listed near you and any price or status changes they may have undergone.

THE SELLING PROCESS

If you're in the market to sell, it's probably time to clean house. Selling a home requires preparation, and quite a bit of patience. Here are some pieces to help familiarize yourself with the selling process.

REPRESENTATION

The job of a full-service real estate agent is to represent your best interests through every step of the sales process. Your agent should listen to your needs and understand the market in which you are selling a home. They should be experts in marketing, negotiation, transaction forms, and finance options, as well as have an understanding of technology and how it can enhance the marketing of your home.

PRICE

Determining the right price is hands-down the most important part of achieving the highest return in the least amount of time. There are a lot of factors that go into determining a home's market value, such as the sales price of nearby homes that have recently sold, the listing price of similar homes that are currently on the market, as well as the condition and location of a home. In order to determine pricing, your agent will provide a comparable market analysis which walks you through what your home is worth and why.

PREP WORK

First impressions are key when selling a home, so before the 'for sale' sign goes up, put in the time to make sure it's in ship shape. Fresh paint, clean closets, and cheery flowers- there's a lot you can do to make even the most humble of abodes look like a million bucks.

MARKETING

Creating a plan to market your home will help attract the interest of the right buyer. Today, the vast majority of homebuyers use the internet in their home search, so your marketing plan should include focused online activities, in addition to open houses.

SHOWINGS

Showings are an inconvenience, yet necessary part of the home selling process. When your home is on the market it has the potential to be shown at any time, so it's important to maintain a certain level of cleanliness. See our Home Staging Tips to help you prepare for showings. It's also a good idea to clear out; it makes buyers uncomfortable to tour a home when the owners are in the next room, so for the sake of your sale, vacate your home for showings.

NEGOTIATIONS

Whether you're a buyer or a seller, negotiation is the key to getting the best deal. Negotiations can involve everything from settling on a sales price to concessions and financing. Agents are expert negotiators whose job it is to represent your interests during the give and take of a real estate transaction.

PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

Once an offer on a property has been made by a buyer and accepted by the seller, they enter into a legal contract known as a Purchase and Sale Agreement. This document outlines the specific terms and conditions of the transaction and is acknowledged by both parties by the signing of the document.

INSPECTION

Once a buyer and seller reach mutual acceptance on a property, a home inspector is hired to investigate every nook and cranny to determine if the home is in need of any repairs. An inspector will check items, such as the roof, basement, heating system, water heater, air-conditioning system, structure, plumbing, and electrical. Afterwards, buyers will have a chance to negotiate with the sellers to cover the costs of certain repairs or to ask for concessions.

ESCROW

Once the offer is accepted and a closing date agreed upon, escrow allows the buyer and the seller to have an outside party ensure all parts of the contact are complete. Your agent can help coordinate the completion of all forms to the escrow company and monitor the escrow process until the completion of the transaction.

CLOSING

At closing, all the paperwork is signed by the buyer and seller, both parties pay any settlement fees and the documents are officially recorded. Prior to closing, you'll receive a settlement statement outlining any fees which may apply to you.

CONTACT

Ready to list your home? Let's get started today!

HOME STAGING TIPS

You dress up your Facebook page, so why not your house? Beyond making sure that your home is clean, staging can be the difference between boring and stunning. Staging is a way to highlight your home's features and minimize drawbacks— allowing buyers to visualize themselves in your home.

When preparing your home for sale, think about why you fell in love with your home in the first place. Did the entryway feel particularly welcoming? Do you love the sunlight that filters through the first floor in the morning? Enhancing and highlighting these details can help evoke the same feeling for prospective buyers.

You may love your bright yellow wall or horse art collection, but not everyone will. Before showing your home, you want to make an effort to tone down your personalization and create something of a blank canvas so buyers can envision themselves in the home.

Time to finally clear the clutter. You may not think of personal items as clutter, but to the prospective buyer, they're just more to take in. All personal items should be stored. Excess furniture can make a room feel cluttered as well, so it's a good idea to store, sell, or give away surplus or bulky furniture. Bookcases should be thinned out and closets cleared to appear empty. Any religious memorabilia or political ideologies should also be absent from your home as to not offend a prospective buyer who may not share your same beliefs. Once your home is staged, it may not feel personal, but it will do a greater job of showing off the space to buyers.

Another important element is the lighting. Bright, well-lit homes seem more spacious and upbeat. During the day, all the curtains and drapes should be open. If the view is unappealing, you can simply purchase sheer window coverings that let light through, but mask the view. Another way to brighten up your home is to turn on all the lamps, even during the day. And don't forget the hallways!

You don't want to remove all of the personality from your home, but you do want to showcase the space. You may want to rearrange furniture to fit the flow of the rooms, pull furniture away from the walls, or create cozy nooks to invoke a certain feeling. Staging is especially important if the home is not occupied because an empty home has a difficult time communicating its potential to prospective buyers. In fact, studies show staged homes sell faster (and for a higher price tag) than empty homes.

HELPFUL TIPS

• Go through your home room-by-room and make changes.
• Store any unnecessary objects and personal items (off-site if possible).
• Group furniture together to make rooms feel more spacious.
• Clean up closets, cabinets, and other built-ins to make spaces look larger and more organized.
• Paint bold walls with more neutral colors to appeal to a larger audience.
• Good lighting makes rooms appear larger.
• Enhance your home's assets and minimize drawbacks.
• Look for opportunities to reorganize spaces into usable rooms (i.e., convert storage space into an exercise studio).
• Make a special effort in bedrooms and bathrooms with nice linens; this makes rooms feel more intimate, polished, and appealing to potential buyers.
• Stage your dining room for a dinner party with table linens, dishes, silverware, and other table décor (i.e., candle sticks, flowers, etc.).
• Replace old curtains, cushions, and area rugs (you can find inexpensive replacements at discount stores and thrift shops).
• Clear counters of clutter; fridge magnets, drinking glasses, toothbrush holders, and anything else that can be distracting.
• Remember, when staging a home, less is more!

THIS IS JUST THE START!

Contact our real estate professional for more information on how to make your home market-ready.