Preparing to Sell Your Home

1.      Contact your favorite Golden Realty and Management Realtor and let them know you are thinking about selling your home. They can investigate current market conditions and do a free Comparative Market Analysis to determine the highest possible, yet competitive list price for your home. They can also guide you through the process from start to finish!

2.      Clean, Clean, Clean! This is the time when you want your home to look its very best. Pay attention to baseboards, ceiling fans, air filters, windows, blinds, light fixtures, and framed artwork/mirrors.  A carpet cleaning might be a great idea.

3.      De-Clutter! Buyers love to see useful space.  Excess clutter can cloud their view of how spacious your home really is! Now would be a good time to get rid of things you haven’t used in years!  Display no more than 2 appliances on the kitchen counters. Put all toiletries away on the counter in the bathrooms. Organize all your closets and cabinets- buyers look everywhere!

4.      Touch up the paint on the walls and trim if it’s been a while. You may want to try a “Magic Eraser” to remove the scuffs and marks first.

5.      Take down personal photographs.  Buyers want to be able to picture themselves in their new home. Personal photos may make the buyer feel uncomfortable.

6.      Pay attention to the natural odor(s) in your home.  You may need to ask an honest friend to help with this one! Every home has its own odor. A deep cleaning should help with the odor; however, it may be a good idea to “Febreeze” couches and carpets.  A couple neutral air fresheners go a long way (vanilla is always a favorite!) Your goal is for a “light scent of fragrance”. Too much air freshener will be overkill.  If you do have pets, you may want to come up with a plan of action for when you have showings. Dogs are our best friends, but they might be our worse enemy when it comes to selling our home!

7.      Touch up on your landscaping. Curb appeal is what is going to first attract buyers to your home.  Keep grass mowed with clean edges. Remove all dead/dying plants and shrubs. If your yard needs some freshening up, plant some flowering plants or brightly colored green shrubs. Don’t forget to keep up with the weeds!

8.      Gather all the important documents for the sale of your home.  You will need them when the house sells, so you may want to locate them now.  Title Insurance Policy, Restrictive Covenants, Appraisal, Survey, Copy of the Deed and anything else involving the sale of your home.  Try to gather all your receipts for recent repairs ( have you recently painted your home, replaced the water heater or AC?)

9.      Contact your favorite GRM Realtor and tell them you’re ready to sell! They will guide you through all paperwork and other steps needed to list your home for sale!

Frequently Asked Questions for Home Buyer’s

 Real Estate Markets change from city to city and even from neighborhood to neighborhood in some locations! Realtors are experts in their local markets and their expertise can guide you safely through the home-buying process.  Here are some of the most common questions addressed and explains why Buyer’s Agents are so important in your search to purchase a new home!

1. Question: How much will hiring a Buyer’s Agent cost me?

Answer:  Buyer’s Agents commission (pay) is paid by the SELLER at closing. 

Hiring a Buyer’s Agent to help you with your home purchase should cost you NOTHING out of pocket, as the buyer.

2. With all the information available on the internet, why do I even need an agent?

Answer: As stated above, Real Estate markets can change from neighborhood to neighborhood.  Only an experienced Realtor knows what to expect from each market.  Their knowledge will help you get the most “house for your money” and help you make smart decisions.  Buying a home is the most important purchase you are likely to make- you absolutely want an expert on your side to guide you through the process and one who has been down this road many times!

3. Why can’t I just call the agent on the sign in the yard of each home I am interested in?

Answer: Many years ago, there were only one type of Real Estate Agent, and they only worked for the Seller! The only way to see a home on the market was to “call off the sign” in the yard!  Buyer’s had little or no representation in the transaction (no one working on their side!) Now a days, Buyer’s Agents work on the buyer’s side of the transaction, guiding the buyer every step of the way. If you call off the sign in the yard, you are calling the seller’s agent, who only has the seller’s interests in mind!

4. I have several homes in mind, can an agent help me view any homes I find on the internet?

Answer: Yes, a Licensed NC Realtor can help you view and purchase ANY home that is listed on the Triangle Area MLS (any homes that are listed on Realtor.com, etc.)

5. This is my first home, what are the steps I need to take to purchase?

Answer: Your Buyer’s Agent has a lot of experience in working with First Time Homebuyers.

They will put you in contact with all their trusted contacts and will guide you, step by step, through the process, from getting “Pre-Qualified to a lender, to hiring a trusted Attorney for the closing!”  Ask us for our information packet for First Time Homebuyers!

6. How do I “hire” a Buyer’s Agent?

Answer: Prior to submitting an offer on a home you are interested in purchasing, you will need to sign a “Buyer’s Agency Agreement”.  Signing this form will effectively hire the designated Buyer’s Agent to help you in the purchase of your home!  You will also sign a “Working With Real Estate Agents” form.  This form goes into more detail about Real Estate Agents in NC.

*Remember, Buyer’s Agents work with you in your home purchase AT NO COST TO YOU!!

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