Receiving An Offer

Selling Your House.

Once a buyer decides they would like to buy your house, an offer will be presented. Review the written document taking care to note what needs to be done by both parties to execute the transaction. The contract should protect the best interests of all parties involved and should be comprehensive in nature. Once you accept the contract, it may be too late to make any changes. The contract, though not limited to this list, should include the following.

A legal description of the property
The offering price
The down payment
Financing arrangements
A list of fees and who will pay them
Amount of the deposit
Inspection rights and possible repair allowances
The method of conveying the title and who will handle the closing
A list of appliances and furnishings which will stay with the home
The settlement date
Any relevant contingencies

Remember that the legalities of this phase are very important. If you have any questions or concerns, they need to be addressed right away.

Your agent can save you time and money by making sure that the offer is presented to you by a qualified buyer. There is no reason to review an offer if the person(s) making it will not be able to actually buy your home. Your agent will also be available to review the written offer to make sure that it is written in a proper way and covers the necessary areas.

Your agent can save you time and money by exposing your house to the most potential buyers possible. Your agent will present to you the best marketing plan that will have the highest possibility of bringing not only the most buyers, but the most qualified buyers, to your doorstep.

10 Quick Tips for Home Sellers

With today's changing real estate market, home sellers need to take extra care preparing their home for a top-dollar sale. Home buyers have more houses to choose from and will select the home that stands out from the other houses they preview. These tips will help you attract a buyer:

1. Start at the Street. Pretend you are a prospective buyer seeing your home for the first time. What do you see from your car? Make your home so inviting buyers will get out of their comforting cars and walk to your front door. Place fresh seasonal flowers, in pots or planted, along the front walk or by your front door.

2. Make Repairs. Lubricate squeaky door hinges, fix dripping faucets, and make sure toilets flush properly. You get used to the minor faults in your home, so ask a friend to inspect for minor defects.

3. Exterminate. One bug or spider, dead or alive, can cause some buyers to leave immediately.

4. Remove Clutter. Not only does a neat, organized house feel larger and more inviting, clutter-free homes give prospective buyers a chance to see the home’s features.

5. Deep Clean. Remove dust, spiders, and odors.

6. Depersonalize. Pack your personal mementos and photographs. Give your buyers the opportunity to visualize their personal effects in your home.

7. Lighten Up. During the winter months, use bulbs with the highest wattage recommended in light fixtures. Add small table lamps for extra lighting. If you have room on your kitchen and bathroom countertops, a small decorative lamp adds a warm glow with a designer’s touch.

8. Wash Walls or Repaint. Fresh paint gives you the best return on your money.

9. Clean Carpets or Replace. You may be accustomed to the way your carpet looks, but what do buyers see? If you're selling to first-time home buyers, they most likely won't have the money beyond the down payment to pay for new carpeting. Move-up buyers expect perfection, even if they want to tear it all out.

10. Consider having your pets taken care of by family or friends. Some home buyers are allergic to pets, while others will be turned off by pet odors. You get accustomed to your pets’ odors, but these scents drive buyers away.

With a little thought and effort, you can persuade buyers that your house exceeds their expectations-- and is worth getting out of the car.

Are you painting your home? What to know what colors to use? Jeanette Fisher teaches home sellers five ways to sell homes for top dollar--Fast. For more information about the author of interior design and real estate books, visit http://www.jeanettefisher.com Get a free "Design Psychology for Selling Houses" ebook and more home seller's tips at http://sellfast.info

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Receiving An Offer

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