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 Most people who decide to sell their home want top dollar for their
property, as little hassle in the process as possible, and a clean deal
with closing of escrow in their time frame.
To
minimize the worries in selling Lydia provides complete and open
communication all along the way. You are always informed about
the progress of the sale and Lydia is readily available to answer your
questions. A conscientious professional Marin County Realtor will make sure that stress
is minimized and that your chances of success in selling for top dollar
are maximized.
To accomplish your sale... LYDIA
WILL:
- Explain the entire selling process and how your home will be
carefully marketed
- Use multiple listing and other sources to show how much Buyers
are paying for property with features similar to yours and help you
set an accurate price
- Share proven tips and techniques that will help attract qualified
buyers so your home will sell quickly
- Explain how my marketing plan is designed to keep you informed of
all activities to sell your house
- Place information about your home through our multiple listing
service, on my Web Site on the Internet, and advertise Open House
dates
- Arrange for a tour of your home by Marin County Realtors in the area so they
can see its benefits and special features and then hold Open House
dates for buyers
- Notify you immediately when offers are made
- Arrange a favorable contract which will protect you legally
- Keep you informed from contract ratification through the closing
of escrow
- Help you find a new home with our relocation services
- Keep you informed throughout the entire selling process and after
the sale of your home
- Exclusively represent you as the sole client to protect you in
obtaining favorable terms, solid value for your property, and success
in closing!
SELLING: Frequently Asked
Questions
Please Click on the following questions you want answered.
How do you determine the price on your home?
There are several ways of finding out what your home is worth. The
first method, Comparative Market Analysis, is done by Realtors
going to the public records and finding comparable homes that have sold in
the neighborhood and estimating value by size, number of rooms,
construction and location as well as special features the home has. This
basic information is available in the County Assessor's or Recorder's
Office. A good Real Estate Professional will be able to do this research
for you so be sure to ask for "Comps" when you are serious about
selling your home.
A step beyond this approach is the "CAMO" method(Caravan Marketing
Opinion) in which your Realtor invites the opinions of other knowledgeable
Marin County Realtors to visit the house and provide an estimate of
the price it will sell for in the current market. This is useful in
that market conditions change rapidly in Marin and a comparable home
in the neighborhood sold six months previously may be worth considerably
more in today's market.
The Appraisal method of home valuation is a standard one
required by mortgage lenders. A Certified Real Estate Appraiser must do
this estimate. Again this is an estimate of the quality and value of the
home at the time of appraisal and takes into account the construction cost
per square foot, design features, floor plan, neighborhood location, size
of lot and terrain, view, landscaping and the availability of
transportation, schools, and shopping areas. Appraisers tend to be
conservative in that they act for the Lender who is seeking to protect
their loan. Two appraisers studying the same property may come up with
different amounts for value because they are providing estimates based on
their conclusions from the facts they detail in the report. Appraisers
also will list similar properties in the area as "Comps" in
their report but these properties may differ significantly form the one
you wish to sell.
The use of all methods will give a good idea of the range of price you
should be considering. It is a common mistake to determine a price on an
emotional basis, sentimental value, or ballpark figure. A home will sell
for what someone will decide to pay. Buyers are not going to be interested
in a property that is over-priced because they do see other homes and can
compare what is available quite easily. Their Realtor is also watchful in
providing advice about homes with too high a price compared to the overall
market conditions. Therefore, it is essential to set a price that reflects
the best determination of the true market value at the time of listing.
Too low or too high both may have negative results for your sale. You want
to maximize your gain on your property. You also want to have your home
sell as soon as possible. A home that sits on the market for months can
get stale and obtain a reputation of having something wrong with it. An
accurate price can bring qualified buyers and a sale will take place in a
timely manner so you can move ahead with you plans.
The object is to set an accurate price relative to the location and
current market trends; sell the home as quickly as possible; and close
escrow in a convenient time frame with minimal hassle. Lydia uses internet
valuation technology as well as her good sense and knowledge of the
micro-market to arrive at a price for you. Ask Lydia to check what your
home is worth and select her as your Marin County Realtor.
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What should I look for in a Realtor?
The first thing is your comfort in dealing with the person who will
represent you in a large financial transaction. Does the Realtor
communicate with you freely and make good sense in answering your
questions? You should have a strong sense that this is a person you can
relate to easily.
Is your Marin County Realtor a full-time professional? You want someone who is on
top of the market and fully present on the microclimate of the Marin
real estate market. Lydia qualifies. She has raised a family, worked, and owned
property in Marin for 25 years. In addition to this she has served on
community Boards and Commissions and still provides volunteer services.
You want a Marin County Realtor who is actively involved in the life of Marin.
You want someone who will be there to fully communicate with you about
all aspects of the process. Are they knowledgeable and able to explain
things clearly? Does this person answer their phone calls and email very
promptly? They should. Lydia does!
Does your Marin County Realtor have a personal assistant to give quick back up and
response to details? Lydia has a personal assistant, secretary, escrow
coordinator, and associates in the office to make sure your transaction is
given thorough consideration.
Also Lydia has long-standing working relationships with mortgage
professionals, bankers, architects, engineers, contractors, craftsmen, and
interior designers. This amplifies service for you and provides access to
those who can offer help when you need it.
Your Marin County Realtor should be a person who is highly ethical, open with you
and will deal with all parties on an honest footing. Legal and ethical
standards for practice are codified and must be followed scrupulously. You
wouldn't want less than this!
What about the tense times when you are uncertain and have doubts about
your deal? Can you share these with your Realtor and count on a stable
response? You want someone in your corner who will listen to you and who
will also give you good advice and guidance.
The decisions are those that ultimately must be made by you. Do not let
any Realtor push you into a contract with no way out! Do not have a Realtor
who does not take you seriously and listen to your concerns attentively.
You are the client and should be the one who is exclusively represented by
your Realtor. Insist on this and make sure you are not being drawn into an
agreement that is not in your best interest. Do not accept sales pressure
from an aggressive Realtor to hurry you in a decision. Take your time and
seek advice from someone you can trust. Lydia is a Marin County Realtor you can trust!
LYDIA'S WORKING PHILOSOPHY
- Commitment to excellent service to my clients, the best real
estate services you can get
- Communicate effectively with my clients by listening to their
plans, and helping them realize their goals
- Solve problems, find strategies, and seek out creative ways
to reach my clients' property goals
- Provide information about the real estate process so my clients
are fully educated about their deal and have the facts to make sound
decisions to benefit them
- Attempt to protect my clients from "bad" deals,
unfavorable to their goals, and risky situations
- Act as my clients' consultant and guide through the real estate
process to its conclusion and after the close of escrow
I promise to provide you with outstanding services that you will
want to recommend to your friends. This is a professional relationship
that will be based on mutual trust and continue for a long time. I am here
to help you with real estate projects and I do hope you will call on me
for years to come when you have interests in property. When I match a
buyer and seller with a home they desire, this is a very satisfying and
happy time for all. The goal is to get you your dream home, a secure base
you can build upon and enjoy life in Marin, or to sell your home, realize
maximum gain, and move ahead. Your success is our achievement. Let Lydia
be your Marin County Realtor.
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Can I leave a listing contract at any time?
The answer is YES! Never let a Realtor put you in a situation in which
you are "locked in" a deal and have no way out. This is the
traditional method Realtors use in setting up a listing contract. You
should insist on being able to cancel you listing at any time and without
pressure to change your mind. Lydia makes sure that you have a free choice
to leave a listing contract at any time and with no questions asked. This
gives you protection. You must be satisfied with your deal. Lydia
represents you exclusively and your satisfaction is paramount.
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How can I get top dollar for my home?
You want to set an accurate price for your home to attract
qualified buyers. Sometimes a price that is on the low side will actually
attract more buyers and you will find competition in bids that will at
times drive the price higher than you might have expected. A home is only
going to sell for the price a buyer is willing to pay. Lydia is very
skillful in setting up a marketing plan, helping you determine the
price of your home and she knows the process to obtain the highest bid
offer.
To make sure your home attains this high value you will need to showcase
your home. This means that you should consider repairs, painting, cleaning
rugs, making space in your home so that it is at its best presentation for
Realtors and their buyers. A bright, clean, and well presented home will
bring a higher bid offer. First impressions are very important. It
is common to see homes with poor paint and in obvious need of repairs
bring down a price on a ratio of 4 to 1. Thus every $100 dollars of effort
in preparation for sale may hold up $400 or more in value. It's good
business to make a strong effort to present your home at its best!
It is important to attract buyers immediately to your home. The
freshness of a home when it is just placed on the market is a key to
obtaining top dollar. Realtors and Brokers will preview the property at
its open house and then in the first few weeks there will be maximum
interest in showing it to clients. A home that is properly showcased and
priced will draw offers very quickly in the current Marin market. After
the newness of the listing draws on and lingers, fewer prospective buyers
are shown this home by Realtors. They may harbor ideas that something is
wrong with the property if it does not sell promptly. Overpricing a home
or by not showcasing will tend to limit opportunities to have good offers
made on your home. This is why you need a savvy Realtor who knows the
micro-market and can guide you in this effort to market your home
successfully. Lydia is the Marin County Realtor you can trust!
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What does the seller pay for?
In most transactions it is standard in Marin County for the Seller to
pay for the following items:
- Real Estate Commission
- Deed document preparation fee
- Documentary transfer tax
- Payoff all loans in the Seller's name
- Interest accrued to the lender being paid off, Prepayment fees,
Statement fees
- Termite repairs (according to contract)
- Home Warranty (according to contract)
- Any tax liens, judgments, etc. against the Seller
- Recording charges to clear all documents of record against the
Seller
- Any unpaid Homeowner Association dues
- Any bonds or assessments (according to contract)
- Delinquent or back taxes due
- Notary fees
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