SELLING
As a seller, expect to be top-priority from start to finish in the selling process, and for your home to be marketed with a high degree of professionalism. Every home is different, and as such we tailor our plan for preparing and marketing to each client and property.
Preparing the property for sale
It’s never too soon to call! I’m always happy to help at any point in the process of preparing your home. I can advise on items that may be worth fixing or updating prior to listing the home, and often have recommendations for tradespeople.
I can also advise on arranging furniture, art, etc to present the home in the best light, and in some cases arrange staging for the property.
Depending on the circumstances, we are able to arrange items such as cleaning, junk removal, and painting and minor touch-ups to assist with the process of preparing a home for sale.
Pricing your property
Once I’ve seen your home I will use information from past sales and current market conditions to determine the right asking price and marketing strategy for your home. It is important to go to the market with the right price, which will lead to the most interest from serious buyers, and ultimately the best sale price.
The market moves fast in Winnipeg! If a property is overpriced at the offset, serious buyers will move on, and often a property will end up sitting on the market.
Underpricing your home with the hopes of creating a ‘bidding war’ may also leave money on the table, and is not advisable. Buyers may assume that there is something wrong with the home, or be hesitant to write offers that are significantly higher than the list price.
Creating a Marketing Plan
I will tailor a marketing plan to suit the specifics of your property, circumstances, and current market conditions. Generally this will include listing the property on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) as well as online and in print advertising.
We will also discuss the pros and cons of other options for marketing including offer dates, open houses, home staging, and more.
Showing the property
Most showings will involve buyers coming to view your property with their own Real Estate Agents, who will access the home using a secure lockbox. I am always available to show any interested buyers who don’t have their own Real Estate Agent.
The Major Elements of an Offer
Price
In many cases the price offered may differ from the list price. If a home has been on the market for a long period of time, offers often come in below list price. Alternately, in cases where there are multiple offers to purchase the price is often above list.
Deposit
The buyers will provide a deposit either with the offer or, more commonly, with a day or two of its acceptance. This shows their good faith and is applied against the purchase price of the home when the sale closes. Depending on the price range of the house, we typically expect to see deposits in the range of $5000 - $20,000.
Inclusions
It is common for major appliances to be included with the sale of a house. Oftentimes other items such as window coverings, wall-mount TVs, and even furniture or barbecues are included. Anything that is affixed to the property that the seller wants to take with them must be listed as an “exclusion,” such as light fixtures.
Conditions
A condition must be completed by the buyer during a set period of time before the offer is finalized. The most common conditions for buyers to include in an offer are:
Financing - The buyers must obtain final approval for their mortgage for the purchase
Home Inspection - The buyers will hire a home inspector of their choosing and base their final decision on the inspector’s report
If a condition is not satisfied by the buyer before the deadline, the sale is cancelled. The buyer’s deposit is protected by their conditions and is refunded to them when a sale falls apart while it is conditional.
Hire a legal professional
Once you have accepted an unconditional offer on your home you will need to hire a lawyer to guide you though the last steps of the sale, including paying off any mortgage on the property and signing the final sale documents.
Possession day
You will need to take final meter readings for you hydro, gas, and water and keep a record of the final readings in case of a dispute. Anything that is not included with the sale should be removed, and the property should be in “broom clean” condition for the new owners.