Kathleen Martz

For Home Sellers


Selling your home shouldn't be a stressful ordeal. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your investment in your home pays off. My services and experience allow you to focus on your move while I manage your home sale from our initial consultation to the closing deal, and beyond. I pride myself on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.
My Plan of Action
Getting the highest price (Checklist)
Where Buyers Come From
Closing Costs to Expect

My Plan of Action to get your home sold:

  • Submit your home to the Multiple Listing Service 
  • Complete a comparative market analysis that will compare your home's value to that of your neighbors.
  • Compile a comprehensive plan detailing all the efforts I will employ to sell your home, including Internet and local media.
  • Present your home to as many qualified buyers as possible getting your home maximum exposure.
  • Help you stage your home and generate curb appeal to ensure you get the highest price.
  • Add exposure through a professional sign and key box/
  • Suggest and advise you as to any changes you may want to make to your property to make it more marketable.
  • Keep you up to date on the market.
  • Keep you aware of the various methods of financing that buyers might want to use.
  • Assist with obtaining offers and help you in negotiating the best deal as smoothly as possible.
  • Pre-qualify all prospective buyers.
  • When possible, have the cooperating Brokers in the marketplace tour your home.
  • Follow-up on the salespeople who have shown your home and relay any feedback to you.
  • Represent you on all offer presentations, assure you get the top dollar for your home.
  • Handle all follow-ups upon a contract being accepted.
  • Deliver your check at closing.
  • Help you find your next home and answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.

Making a Great First Impression: Your Ultimate Price Checklist

This list is designed to bring you the most money for your property and to give the best impression possible. Please feel free to discuss any of these options with me in detail as I know professionals in all these fields.

  • Literally drive up to your own property and put yourself in the mindset of a potential buyer.
  • Does the yard look well cared for?
  • Are the trees trimmed?
  • Does the front porch welcome you? Are there plants with bright colors? is there a welcome mat that is clean? If not, purchase these items; they will help with "drive bys".
  • Is the frint door painted and in good repair?
  • Upon entry, are the windows clean and the carpets clean?
  • What is the first thing your eyes focus on when you enter; this will be one of their lingering memories.
  • Is the kitchen spotless with no dirty dishes, shiny countertops, appliances and no clutter?
  • Are the floors spotless?
  • Are there any light bulbs burned out anywhere including closets, bathrooms, under counter lights, exterior lights, etc.
  • Are all toilets cleans with lids down, tubs and showers spotless with very little in them?
  • Are kitty litter boxes anbd litter boxes areas clean, free from stray litter and odor free? Are litter boxes discreetly out of sight?
  • If you own a dog, do you keep your lawn and/or dog runs clean and scooped regularly?
  • If there is a lot of "stuff" in the house, buy new shipping boxes, start packing for your move, seal and label. Store against a wall in the garage or family room.
  • Fresh flowers in the kitchen, small potted live plant here and there, lamp lighting instead off overhead lighting  are a few more tips.
  • Is the backyard free of all debris, does it say, "Come out, sit down, relax"?
  • As you leabe, are you saying things like, "This home has been well maintained."

*Remember, you are a selling a "lifestyle" not a house!!!

 

Where Buyers Come From:

 40% Name/Firm Recognition or Salesperson Contact
 20% For Sale Sign
 18% Responded to an ad, but purchased a different home 
 8% Responded to an Open House, but purchased a different home 
 7% Referral by relocation service 
 3% Bought Adverstised Property 
 3% Bought for a combination of resons 
 1% Bought an Open House they saw 

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

 

Closing Costs to Expect:

  • Title insurance fees depend on the sales price of the home.
  • Broker's commission is a full-service fee and will cost anywhere between 5% to 7%.
  • Local property transfer tax, county transfer tax, state transfer tax, and state capital gains tax are the charges that you'll pay for the privilege of selling your home. Credit to the buyer of unpaid real estate taxes for the prior or current year are variable and depend on when you close and when your taxes are due.
  • FHA fees and costs are all fees are now negotiable between an FHA buyer and seller.
  • Home inspections fees are in some circumstances paid for by the seller and include pest, radon and other inspections.
  • Miscellaneous fees can accrue from correcting problems noticed during the home inspection.
Find out how much your closing costs could be.

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Kathleen Martz-Spidell