| The "Basics" | Penny's Tips | The "Details" |
The "Basics"
| If you have decided it is time to sell your home, then you need the services of an educated, enthusiastic and experienced Realtor |
| Make sure you hire an agent that will give you an honest opinion on the value of your home. An agent that will keep you well informed of all the activity on your home and the market. An agent that will point out important ways to make your home show better. But most importantly, an agent that has strong negotiating skills and a great marketing plan! |
| I have just the person to call! My best friend Penny. Penny has a great marketing plan that will get your home sold in the shortest period of time and at the best possible price. She will share market information with you, so you can see what other homes are selling for in your area. Contact Penny to find out more about her marketing plan and getting your home sold quickly. |
| Take time to get your home in tiptop shape before you put it on the market |
| A home that sparkles inside and out sells faster and should get you top dollar. Sparkles inside and out does not mean you can see the rays of the sun through the large hole in your roof! The first impression is the most important one to a buyer, so make sure your home is in the best condition it can possibly be in before you put it on the market, even if it means waiting a few weeks longer to do so. (Hint: patch the roof!) |
| Make sure your home is priced right |
| Appropriate pricing sells a home faster than any other factor. Currently, most homes in Tallahassee sell at a price within 97% of the realtors suggested listing price. If, however, your home is priced far more than 5% above current market value, buyers will shout, "have they lost their mind!" They may also feel they cannot afford to look at your home, think you're not serious about selling it, or may be discouraged from making an offer for fear of insulting you. |
|
Return To Top |
Penny's Tips
| Think about having a home inspection done before you put your home on the market |
| You may want to go ahead and get a home inspection done before you put your home on the market, especially if your home is older and needs some fixing up. It is much better to find out about potential problems in advance than to lose a contract over problems the buyers find from their inspection. Odds are they will know the difference between a skylight and a hole in the roof! A home inspection will also be useful information in case you need to make substantial repairs and need several estimates. Having the inspection done up front will give you plenty of time to get the work done right. If you chose not to make repairs, you will at least be able to share valuable information with buyers so they know how much money it will take to get the house in shape. If you find your home in need of repairs, regardless of how big or small, contact me and I will be happy to pass along the names of repairmen I have used and highly recommend. |
| A great reason to sell? Taxpayer relief act of 1997! |
| This act allows homeowners, regardless of age, the ability to take up to $250,000 (up to $500,000 if you are married) in capital gains (your profit from the sale of your home) tax-free! That's right-tax free! You're only required to have lived in your home 2 out of the last 5 years. (Ssh!) I don't think the IRS has been informed of this great saving's or they would certainly find a way to get rid of it! |
| You don't always get out what you put in |
| What you have paid for your home and the improvements you have made are not an indication of current market value. Repairs, remodeling and other improvements unfortunately do not translate dollar for dollar into an increased selling price for your home. In other words, the red velvet carpet in the heart shaped addition overlooking the Elvis shaped pool that you spent $50,000 for may not be worth a thing to a potential buyer. I know this is as hard to believe as it is that Elvis is dead, but it's true. It is also true that most expenditures are necessary just to maintain your home in good condition and should help you sell your home faster, but not necessarily for more money. How much money you need out of your home is also not an indication of its value. A buyer is not going to pay you more for your home just because you would like to get enough out of it to take that 3 week trip to Europe you have always dreamed about. Don't we wish! What does indicate its value is: condition, location, time on the market, age, and most importantly how it compares with other homes that have sold in the area of similar size and condition. |
| Get the biggest bang for your buck! |
| In other words, spend your money on improvements that will make the most difference. (Selling your kids is not legal!) A fresh coat of paint is the easiest and least expensive way to perk up your home. If the paint can has the word "neon" on it, even though it's really cheap--trust me and spend a few more bucks on the boring neutral colors! Most buyers have a hard time visualizing so go ahead and replace worn out carpet instead of offering a carpet allowance. Once again, stick with basic beige tones. Other suggestions include: Cleaning from top to bottom including the garage and removing clutter and packing away anything you will not be using. (This is a great opportunity and wonderful excuse to get rid of all the tacky relative gifts you've been given over the years.) If you have a partner in the home, make sure you don't just get rid of their things. Trust me again, this can be problematic! Want more suggestions? Then go to details below. |
|
Return To Top |
The Details
| If you become overwhelmed with the depth of information below, then contact Penny to simplify it all. After that you can take a deep breath, relax and know you are in good hands with the sale of your home. |
| Thinking of selling |
| Set your list price |
| Prepare your home |
| Listing and advertising |
| Make the sale |
| Closing |
| With all your new found knowledge, you should feel confident enough to give Penny a call and put Penny's 20 years of real estate experience to work selling your home. As you can tell from reading the info above, it takes a partnership between you and your realtor to get your home sold quickly and for top dollar. |
| Other helpful links: |
| Change of addresses United States Postal Service |
| Driver license information |
| Internal revenue service |
| MoveSource.com |
| Leon county schools |
| FL Dept. of Education |
| Moving out of town? |
| If you are selling your home and relocating, I can help you find a great realtor in the area you are moving to. Click here to let Penny know if you would like assistance finding a realtor in your new town. |
| Home Improvement: Home Ideas Hometime HGTV Bob Vila's Home Site |
|
Return To Top |
Phone: 850-980-0951
Fax: 850-980-5959
1596 Marion Ave,
Tallahassee, FL 32303