Be a Savvy Seller

Here are some Basic Steps for Selling, although each seller's specific situation may require additional activities:

Decide if you want to use Direct Line's FLAT FEE FULL SERVICE MLS package or FLAT FEE PARTIAL SERVICE MLS package. Circumstances such as how quickly you need to sell, how much equity you have in your property, and the level of your commitment to marketing your property should factor into which package you choose. Call or email Direct Line with ANY questions.

The most IMPORTANT thing is PRICING your home REALISTICALLY, especially in the current soft housing market. If you ask too little and you'll always wonder if you lost money on the deal ... ask too much and your property will not sell and “go stale,” making buyers and Realtors suspicious that something is wrong with it or that you are simply an unreasonable person.

The bottom line is that overpricing actually delays the sale of your home and gets you less. Remember, buyers and Realtors are comparing your property to other, similar properties on the market. By overpricing you are just making competing properties look more attractive!

Direct Line can conduct an Comparative Market Analysis. The final report you receive will give you a realistic range of the estimated market value for your particular property. This value will be affected by variables such as: the community and neighborhood location, lot/acreage size, home style, age, finished square footage, extra amenities, etc.

Take the necessary steps to prepare to sell your home. BE UNEMOTIONAL ABOUT THE SALE. Your home has meant a lot to you over the years, but potential buyers are not looking at the house through your eyes. Try to think of your property as a commodity, not as a personal possession.

Do your own walk-through both outside and inside. Take someone along who will give you her/his brutally honest opinions (probably not your mother-in-law). Then REPAIR, CLEAN, MOVE OR REMOVE FURNITURE and DE-CLUTTER. Depending on the condition of your home, plan to spend some money to upgrade key features. Direct Line provides information about the most cost-effective upgrades. Several cans of paint will go a long way toward refreshing your home’s appearance. Also, think about improving your home’s “curb appeal” or outside appearance—buyers and Realtors won’t appreciate the inside improvements you’ve made if you can’t get them to stop as they drive by.

Market the home in a professional manner. Direct Line provides the main tools such as: a professionally-designed yard sign and directional signs, professionally-formatted data flyers, a flyer box, a listing on our website, an MLS and Realtor.com listing if desired, a picture ad in your local realty guide. You should also budget for your own marketing activities such as periodically placing ads in local newspapers, posting flyers at work and around town, holding Open Houses…let your marketing juices flow!

If you choose our Partial Service MLS package, understand that you will spend TIME answering phone calls, setting appointments, and showing the property. Remember that you are assuming some of the responsibilities normally performed by Realtors in return for saving money. Selling your home takes a good plan, commitment to the plan, and the patience to let the plan work. One simple but easy to forget rule: Don't depend exclusively on your answering machine or cell phone voice mailbox to take calls from Realtors and the general public. These callers will move on to the NEXT house they are interested in, and forget about yours. When the phone rings, answer it!

Determine beforehand what you are willing to negotiate. Does your price include appliances or other items? Which ones? CONSIDER ALL OFFERS, EVEN LOW ONES…the buyer may be testing you. You may change that buyer’s mind with a higher counter-offer and the reasons supporting that higher price.

Tell all who plan to make an offer that you will give stronger consideration to offers from buyers who have been PRE-APPROVED for a mortgage. This will save you wasted time and energy dealing with buyers who have the desire, but not the financial resources, to purchase your property.

If you are using our Partial Service MLS package, we strongly advise that you use the services of a real estate attorney to review all paperwork and answer your questions (Direct Line is available for your general transaction-related questions). You can not and should not expect the Realtor who brings you a buyer to assist you, due to a potential conflict of interest for her/him.

After both parties have accepted and signed the sales contract and other forms relevant to the transaction (and all contingencies have been met), begin planning for closing day and moving day. Call a local title company to schedule the title work/closing and check in with them frequently. Your buyer’s mortgage company will do an appraisal of your property. Also, your buyer will usually have a home inspection done. If there are defects uncovered or repairs to be made, you will have to negotiate with the buyer over who will pay for them.

On closing day you will meet with the buyers at the title/closing company, or at a real estate attorney's office, or you can pre-sign all papers beforehand. After you receive an equity check, start the process of moving into your new home and FURNISH IT WITH THE MONEY YOU JUST SAVED!