With current market conditions geared towards sellers our focus is to get your home sold as quickly as possible, get you the highest price possible and with the most beneficial terms. Our marketing strategies will help you realize the highest dollar value for your property while making the process as smooth as possible. The most important thing you can do in this process it to choose the right company to effectively and profitably represent your interests. And that’s why our motto at North Point is Expect More! because we know you deserve it.
Here are just some of the things we will do to get your home sold:
- Submit your home to our local Multiple Listing Service with photos highlighting your property's best features
- Price your home strategically and competitively
- Develop a list of your property's features for other brokers.
- Email a features sheet to the other top agents in the marketplace.
- Help to stage your property to maximize sale price and minimize time on market.
- Keep you up to date regarding changes in the local market.
- Prospect for potential buyers daily.
- Individually market your property to our buyer leads, sphere of influence, past clients and referrals.
- Add additional exposure through a professional sign and lock-box on your property.
- Market your property using social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and LinkedIn.
So you have decided to sell your property. Let's schedule a time to go over your goals and timeframe. We will work hard to sell your property within the parameters you define, monitor price per square foot in your area, average time on market in your area, what is currently available as competition in your price point.
Why Sell?
Why do you want to sell your property? Do you intend to simply find a larger property, or do you plan on moving to another neighborhood, school district, city or state? You might think your reasons are obvious, but it would do well to consider the implications of each option for your lifestyle, opportunities, and finances. Being clear about your intentions for selling will make it easier for us to determine the most appropriate option for your specified financial, lifestyle, and real estate goals.
When Should I Sell?
You should immediately establish your time frame for selling. If you need to sell quickly, we can speed up the process by giving you a complete market analysis and action plan to obtain all of your goals. If there is no pressing need to sell immediately, we can meet to thoroughly review the current market conditions and find the most favorable time to sell.
Selecting a Broker and Price
Why Should You Choose Us?
You may opt to sell your property independently. There are many excellent reasons, however, for you to choose us to assist you in this important undertaking. We will ensure that you maximize your opportunities in the current real estate market. Our contact networks, including our current and past clients, are valuable resources for employing the most effective marketing and advertising strategies for your property. We will also guide you through the complicated paperwork involved, from the initial agreement to the final documents. Every real estate transaction is unique, working with an experienced real estate professional will help manage the liability of selling your home.
What To Look For In An Agent
The following are a couple of factors to keep in mind when looking for a listing agent:
- Experience and Expertise. You want an agent who is familiar with your area and with the type of property you intend to sell. Does he or she employ a diverse range of marketing and advertising strategies? How tech-savvy is your agent? How many similar properties has he or she been able to sell in the past?
- Availability and Commitment. Your agent should be capable of prompt and decisive action during the course of selling your property. Does your agent make it a point to keep in touch with you constantly? Can your agent easily be contacted in case of emergencies or even for the simplest questions? Is your agent available on the weekends or in the evenings when most buyers are out looking?
- Rapport. Does your agent take the time to listen to your goals and clarify your needs? Can your agent understand your unique situation and be genuinely concerned about the outcome of the process? Your listing agent will be your guide and partner in this crucial decision, so it is important to find one with whom you can get along.
What Is Your Property Worth?
Avoid one of the biggest pitfalls in real estate when you work with us: overpricing. It's our job to pay close attention to market conditions. As part of that role we will work closely with you to determine the right price for your property based on your financial goals and market conditions.
Prepare to Sell
You can do a lot to increase the appeal of your property and to create a lasting impact on potential buyers.
What To Do To Prepare:
The following are a couple of factors to keep in mind when listing your property for sale:
- Curb Appeal. Keeping your landscape pristine, and adding creative touches to your yard, such as colorful annuals, will create an immediate impact on passers-by and potential buyers.
- Property Repairs. Simple upgrades such as window repairs, polishing the doorknobs, and a fresh coat of paint in the most frequently used rooms will instantly brighten up the property.
- Cleanliness and Staging. Keep your property uncluttered, sweet-smelling and well-lit from top-to-bottom. Pay attention to details: put away the kitty litter, place a vase of fresh flowers near the entryway, pop a batch of cinnamon rolls in the oven, have your carpets cleaned. Your agent will scan the property before it is listed for sale to see how you can improve the staging of your property.
- Disclosures and Inspections. We are very familiar with the legal procedures involved in disclosures and are ready to help you develop a thorough disclosure statement beneficial to both you and the buyer, as well as suggest home improvement measures before placing your property on the market (such as radon and pest inspections).
- Showtime. Presenting your property to potential buyers is a job that we will take care of for you. Buyers feel more comfortable discussing the property with the agent, if you are not there. Moreover, we will know what information will be most useful in representing your interests when speaking with prospective buyers.
Accepting an Offer
The Price Is Not Always Right
"The higher the price, the better the offer." Do not let yourself be fooled by this popular misconception. Price is not always the determining factor when accepting an offer for several important reasons: the initial offer is usually not final, and there are a number of terms and conditions that may influence the final outcome of a price. We will help you thoroughly evaluate every proposal without compromising your marketing position.
Negotiating The Right Way
We take the ethical responsibility of fairly negotiating contractual terms very seriously. It is our job to find a win-win agreement that is beneficial to all parties involved. You may even have to deal with multiple offers before ratifying the one you judge to be the most suitable for you – and as your agent, We will guarantee a thorough and objective assessment of each offer to help you make the right choice.
The Initial Agreement and Deposit
An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between a potential purchaser and the property’s seller. Laws vary from state to state, but in order to be a legally, binding agreement, the agreement may require consideration. This consideration (initial and additional deposit) is to be held in an escrow account pending the fulfillment of conditions or contingencies in the effective agreement.
Some important tips to keep in mind to streamline the process even further:
- Keep written records of everything. For the sake of clarity, it will be extremely useful to transcribe all verbal agreements including counter-offers and addendums, and convert them to written agreements to be signed by both parties. We will assist you in drafting all the paperwork for your sale and make sure that you have copies of everything.
- Stick to the schedule.
Now that you have chosen your offer, you and the buyer will be given a timeline to mark every stage in the process of closing the real estate contract. Meeting the requirements on time ensures a smoother flow of negotiations and also ensures that each party involved is not in breach of their agreements. During the process We will keep you constantly updated so you will always be prepared for the next step.
Escrow and Inspection
Inspection and Appraisals
Most buyers will have the property inspected by a licensed property inspector within the timeframe that was agreed upon in the effective contract to purchase. Some buyers will have several different inspectors inspect the property, if they wish to obtain professional opinions from inspectors who specialize in a specific area (eg. roof, HVAC, structure). If the agreement is conditional upon financing, then the property will be appraised by a licensed appraiser to determine the value for the lending institution via third party. This is done so that the lending institution can confirm their investment in your property is accurate. A buyer of a commercial property may also have a complete environmental audit performed and/or soil test, if required by the lending institution.
The Closing Agent
A title company will be selected as the closing agent, whose job is to examine and insure clear title to real estate. After researching the complete recorded history of your property, they will certify that 1) your title is free and clear of encumbrances (eg. mortgages, leases, or restrictions, liens) by the date of closing; and 2) all new encumbrances are duly included in the title.
Contingencies
A contingency is a condition that must be met before a contract becomes legally binding. For instance, a buyer will usually include a contingency stating that their contract is binding only when there is a satisfactory home inspection report from a qualified inspector.
Before completing his or her purchase of your property, the buyer goes over every aspect of the property, as provided for by purchase agreements and any applicable addenda. These can include:
- Obtaining financing
- Reviewing all pertinent documents, such as condo documents, disclosures and deeds; and
- Inspecting the property. The buyer has the right to determine the condition of your property by subjecting it to a wide range of inspections, such as roof, pest, chimney/fireplace, property boundary survey, well, septic, pool/spa, arborist, mold, lead based paint, HVAC, etc.
Depending on the outcome of these inspections, one of two things may happen:
- Either each milestone is successfully closed and the contingencies will be removed, bringing you one step closer to the closing; or
- The buyer, after reviewing the property and the papers, requests a renegotiation of the terms of contract (usually the price).
How do you respond objectively and fairly to the buyer when a renegotiation is demanded, while acting in your best interests? This is when a professional listing agent can make a real difference in the outcome of the transaction. Having dealt with various property sales in the past, We guarantee our expertise and total commitment to every customer, no matter what the situation is.
Close of Escrow
Closing Day
If you have come this far, this means that it is almost time for a congratulations, but not yet. Do not forget to tie up these loose ends:
Final Walk-Through Inspection
More of a formality than anything else, the final inspection takes place the day before, or the day of the closing. The buyer visits the property to verify that all is in working order, everything is the same as when the buyer last viewed the property, and that there are no extra items left behind.
Cancel Home Services and Utilities
We will provide a list of useful numbers for the termination of home services and utilities after the closing occurs. Be Prepared.
We are ready to assist you should an unforeseen glitch pop up, even at this last stage. If something at the property breaks down or the buyers’ loan does not pull through on time, there is no need to worry. We have encountered these problems before and know how to handle them efficiently and in a stress-free manner (easy for us to say).
Closing
The closing agent will furnish all parties involved with a settlement statement, which summarizes and details the financial transactions enacted in the process. The buyer(s) will sign this statement and then you will sign as well as the closing agent, certifying its accuracy. If you are unable to attend the scheduled closing, arrangements can be made depending on the circumstances and the notice that is received. If you are receiving funds from the transaction, you can elect to either have the funds wired electronically to an account at your financial institution, or have a check issued to you at the closing. The seller should arrange to have all property keys and any other important information for the new purchaser at the closing, so that the purchaser may receive these items at this time.