SELLING A HOME

What's Important to you?

Whether you are just starting...

To entertain thoughts of selling your home or are ready to begin the process, I can help.

Prepping your home
Marketing
Pricing
Choosing a qualified buyer
Advocating for you during the transaction

These are a few of the important ways I will assist you as your listing broker. I will answer your questions and we'll talk about how to ensure the successful sale of your home.

PREPARING YOUR HOME TO SELL

The saying is true – first impressions count.

Putting some time and effort into getting your home ready for showing can go a long way and give you an undeniable edge with prospective buyers. A few tips to start: stay away from doing anything expensive, like a full remodel; instead keep in mind that selling your home is also oftentimes preparation to buy your next home.

Here are some common steps to prepare your home to sell:

General Maintenance

Make sure things work—doorbell, doorknobs, light switches, faucets
Repair leaking taps and toilets
Re-caulk tubs and sinks
Repair cracked plaster
Check for ceiling stains (sometimes old leaks leave stains, even after you've repaired them)
If there is a leak, repair it
Repair broken windows
Painting is always a good way to spend your dollar, choose a color that will appeal to the widest group of people. Lighter colors make rooms look more spacious

Curb Appeal

Professionally clean windows
Take good seasonal care of your lawn and garden (mow, rake, water, etc)
Touch up exterior paint, and if needed, re-paint
Make sure pathways are clear
Add color with flowers
Buy a new doormat
Be sure that your landscaping looks at least equal to the neighborhood yards

Indoor Tips

De-clutter rooms and store excess furniture to make rooms appear larger. (If needed, consider getting a storage unit)
Clear counter tops and tables
Clean out cabinets—this allows buyers to see ample storage
Use up extra food, especially canned goods
Clean carpets and hard wood floors
Replace worn rugs
Put new towels in the bathrooms
Turn on the lights and open drapes or blinds prior to showing
Odor control: for those who smoke, try to minimize smoking indoors while selling your home, and purchase an ozone spray to help remove odors without creating a masking odor; for those with cats, clean the cat box daily; for those with dogs, leave them outside as much as possible while selling your home, wash that cute dog and clean your carpets
Add plants and fresh flowers
Remove or confine pets during open houses
Be absent during showings, buyers will really look then, instead of just running through
Put away or store knick-knacks, souvenirs, sport trophies and "de-personalize" the space to help buyers view it as their future home
Professionally clean your home

Pricing Your Home to Sell

Pricing a home is an art and a science.

Statistics routinely show that a home sparks the most interest from other real estate agents and prospective buyers during the first two weeks (or less) that it's on the market. This level of excitement reduces dramatically over time, affecting the final selling price.

Ultimately, you are the person who will determine the listing price of your home. An important part in doing this is to have your listing broker do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for your home. As your listing broker, I will take into account the neighborhood, the current real estate market, the condition of the house, and the most recent comparable listings and sales in your neighborhood.

One reason I love my job is because it allows me to work with people on such a personal project. Pricing it is one aspect that requires some personal detachment, and a fresh, educated and intuitive eye, along with nuanced responsiveness to the market.

As I research your property and the market,

I will take into account the other important factors specific to your situation, and suggest a price range that is neither too high nor too low, but ideally where you will get the most activity and ultimately the highest price and best terms.

How much is my home worth?

There are a couple of different ways to price your home and several variables to consider. One way is to get a professional appraisal of your property. Another way is to have your Realtor do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for you. Both methods take into account the neighborhood, the current real estate market, the condition of the house, and the most recent comparable listings and sales in your neighborhood.

Why is an appraisal price sometimes different that a market analysis price?

The appraised value of a house is a certified appraiser's opinion of what it's worth, while the market price is also defined as the price at which the home may sell within a reasonable amount of time. That might actually be higher or lower, depending on current market conditions. Appraisals are performed for lenders. The purpose is to justify the sales price so that the lender feels they are making a solid investment since the property is collateral for the loan. On appraisals, most weight is given to historical data—sales that have closed in the last three or four months. They also consider if the local market and neighborhood are appreciating or in a decline. Appraisers try to make allowances, but because they have rules and guidelines to follow, there are times when they cannot—especially in dealing with multiple bidding situations and in areas where there are fewer recent sales—both of these situations could potentially be different from what the past data indicates. However, the appraisal will be based on known data.

When is the best time to sell my home?

It's smart to be strategic about when you put your home on the market. The time of year can make a difference in speed of sale and price. In general, mid-January to mid- June is the best time to sell your home because that's when the real estate market is the most active. August is typically a slower month, with fall showing a resurgence of interest (September through early-November). The Holidays are usually a slow time of year, although the buyers who are looking then are likely to move quickly. Ultimately, the best time to sell is when your home is prepped and prepared for market.

What are some of the costs of selling my home

The general rule of thumb is that selling your house will cost approximately 8.5 to 9% of the sales price. These costs include:

Escrow fees. These fees are based on the price of the home and are generally divided between the buyer and seller.
Title fee. As a seller, you are required to purchase title insurance to ensure that the title of your property is transferable. It is also based on the sales price.
State excise tax. Currently 1.78% of the sale price of your home.
Real estate fees. These fees vary, and refer to the cost of hiring a Real Estate Broker to advertise, market, and negotiate the sale of your home, and a full-service brokerage or one of the varying limited service brokerages. Customer service, market knowledge, advocacy and marketing can vary greatly with all brokerages and brokers. Statistics show that full-service Real Estate Brokers traditionally get you a higher sales price than you would on your own.
Pro-rated property taxes. At closing, the buyer and the seller are responsible for taxes during the time of their ownership. The buyer assumes responsibility for taxes after closing.
Wire transfer and courier fees.
County recording fee.
Oil tank decommissioning fees (if applicable, and only if it hasn't been done in the last twelve months).
Septic tank pump and service fees. (Only if it hasn't been done in the last six months).

What information am I obligated to disclose about my property?

As the seller, you are obligated to disclose any information about your property that you know. You must provide the buyer with a Seller Disclosure Statement (Form 17), which outlines the existence and condition of all known physical attributes of the property.

What are some of the common contingencies in an offer?

A financing contingency makes the purchase contingent on the buyer's ability to get a loan and the banks appraisal of the home.

An inspection contingency means that the purchase is contingent upon the findings of a professional inspection. The buyers have the right to back out of a contract if they're not satisfied with the condition of the home, or the seller is not willing to make actual or financial modification.

What's Important to you?

Contact me today!

For 1/21/2025

30 Year Fixed	6.875%
15 Year Fixed	6.375%
7/6 ARM	7.375%

For general informational purposes only. Actual rates available to you will depend on many factors including lender, income, credit, location, and property value. Contact a mortgage broker to find out what programs are available to you.

Mortgage calculator estimates are provided by Windermere Real Estate and are intended for information use only. Your payments may be higher or lower and all loans are subject to credit approval.

CONTACT ME

Karen Freeman

Realtor^®

Seattle - Mount Baker

206-852-9055

karenfreeman@windermere.com

WINDERMERE REAL ESTATE MOUNT BAKER

206-725-7255

4919 South Genesee Street | Seattle, WA 98118