Berks County Real Estate » Sellers Articles

Creating a Successful Open House For Your Berks County Home

Bill McCue — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:24:22 +0000

Open houses are a good way to get some people in your home, create a buzz for your new listing, and hopefully get a quick sale. Creating a successful open house requires a little preparation.

Put fresh or silk flowers in principal rooms for a touch of color.
Add a new shower curtain, fresh towels, and new guest soaps to every bath.
Set out potpourri or fresh baked goods for a homey smell.
Set the table with pretty dishes and candles.
Buy a fresh doormat with a clever saying.
Take one or two major pieces of furniture out of every room to create a sense of spaciousness.
Put away kitchen appliances and personal bathroom items to give the illusion of more counter space.
Lay a fire in the fireplace. Or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.
Depersonalize the rooms by putting away family photos, mementos, and distinctive artwork.

The little things that you do can make all the difference in the world. For more suggestions, contact me and we can discuss our entire marketing plan to get your home solf for the best possible price!

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Forms Sellers Will Need To Sell Their Home

Bill McCue — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:42:03 +0000

Back many many years ago, it was common place to sell a home with a single piece of paper, or it could even be done on the back of a napkin! I guess in theory, it still could, but if someone were to do that, they will be open to lawsuits galore. Selling a home is not that simple any more. There are many forms and contract addendums that are needed to fully protect a buyer or seller, and it is our job as agents to fully protect our client as best as we can. There are many forms I use to do this, and I can not possible list them all here, but I can provide a summary of a few common forms.

Property Disclosure Form: This form requires you to reveal all known defects to your property. Check with your state government to see if there is a special form required in your state.
Purchasers Access to Premises Agreement: This agreement sets conditions for permitting the buyer to enter your home for activities such as measuring for draperies before you move.
Sales Contract: The agreement between you and the seller on terms and conditions of sale. Again, check with your state real estate department to see if there is a required form.
Sales Contract Contingency Clauses: In addition to the contract, you may need to add one or more attachments to the contract to address special contingencies—such as the buyer’s need to sell a home before purchasing yours.
Pre- and Post-Occupancy Agreements: Unless you’re planning on moving out and the buyer moving in on the day of closing, you’ll need an agreement on the terms and costs of occupancy once the sale closes.
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Pamphlet: If your home was built before 1978, you must provide the pamphlet to all sellers. You must also have buyers sign a statement indicating they received the pamphlet.

If you are getting ready to sell your home, please contact me. I am happy to put my experise to work for you!

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Why List With Bill McCue?

Bill McCue — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:53:04 +0000

Buying or selling a home is an enormous financial endeavor. A home is most people’s largest investment, and it is so important to pick a top performing, experienced agent that will work with you to maximize your financial position, and eliminate the headaches that can associate with a house sale. Are all agents the same? …certainly not! Some agents are not full time professional agents, and that effects YOU! Is that who you want to handle this transaction, one of the most important sales you will ever experience?

95% of buyers are searching online for their home. Ask to see any agent’s personal Internet web site? Not the company website, THIS AGENT’s website! (this gives you an idea of how tech-savvy your agent will be…and that is important to capture today’s savvy buyer leads).
I am the owner of BerksRealEstate.com, the areas best resource for home shopping in Berks County! If you want internet exposure (where 95 of the buyers are looking), I have it! I have the ability to feature your home on the homepage front and center! Just run a few google searches for berks county real estate, it won’t take long to find this website, which means it won’t take long for buyers to see your home for sale!

Let’s meet when you are ready to sell. I can tell you all about my marketing plan and experience. I really hope you give ME the opportunity to see your home, provide you an opinion of value, and help you sell your property for the highest possible price with the best terms possible.

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9 Seller Mistakes To Avoid

Bill McCue — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:34:52 +0000

MISTAKE #1. Using A Real Estate Agent Instead of A Realtor!
When you’re looking for help buying or selling property, it’s important to remember that the terms “real estate agent” and “Realtor” are not synonymous. Realtors can provide an extra level of service and to be a Realtor you must be a member of the National ssociation of Realtors (NAR). The equivalent organization in Canada is the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Both are on-profit trade organizations that promote real estate information, education and professional standards. The National Association of Realtors also has earned a strong reputation for actively championing private property rights and working to make home ownership affordable and accessible. The NAR and CREA members adhere to a strict code of ethics founded on the principle of providing fair and honest service to all consumers. Realtor business practices are monitored at local board levels. Arbitration and disciplinary systems are in place to address complaints from the public or board members. This local oversight keeps Realtors directly ccountable to the individual consumers they serve and therefore the consumer is more likely to find better service and
accountability by using a Realtor.

MISTAKE #2. COMPLACENT MARKETING WHEN SELLING A HOME
When selling your home there are no guarantees that the ultimate buyer of your home will have simply walked through the front door. In many cases you may have to bring your home to the buyer. Effective marketing will help ensure that your property receives maximum exposure to attract a ready, willing and able buyer in the shortest period of time. Ask your Realtor to list for you all of the ways he/she intends to market your home and on what time-line. Also, be sure to ask about the home being advertised on the Internet.

MISTAKE #3. TAKING FOR GRANTED THE “CURB APPEAL” OF YOUR HOME When you’re preparing your house for sale, remember the importance of first impressions. A buyer’s first impression can make or break whether they even want to go inside for a look. It
is estimated that more than half of all houses are sold before the buyers even get out of their cars. With that in mind, be sure to stand outside of your home and take a realistic “fresh look” and then ask yourself what can be done to make the “curb appeal” improve. Also ask your Realtor’s opinion as to how to improve the curb appeal. It could make a huge difference in your final sales price.

MISTAKE #4. FORGETTING ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES
Be upfront and disclose to your Realtor any problems with the property. The problems are going to be discovered anyway. A decade ago, health and safety issues were rarely a part of the typical real estate transaction. Today, however, it’s common for inspections relating to health, safety, and even environmental concerns to be a part of most sales contracts.
Moreover, in many states, the seller must disclosure to the buyer any knowledge of existing property problems. In many cases, hese issues have been or can be factored into the home’s listing price.

MISTAKE #5. FORGETTING WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE IF YOU WERE THE BUYER OF YOUR HOME
Remember that although people can be different in personality, they tend to be the same when it comes to expectations at someone else’s expense. In other words, a prospective buyer would probably like to see a perfect home from top to bottom, inside and out, when it comes to your home.

MISTAKE #6. THINKING YOU NEED TO BE IN THE HOME TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO A PROSPECTIVE BUYER
You will be better served if you allow your Realtor to do their job without you there. Most potential buyers usually feel more comfortable if they can speak freely to the real estate professional without the owners being present. If people unaccompanied by an agent request to see your property, you should refer them to your real estate professional for an appointment.

MISTAKE #7. NOT KNOWING HOW TO PRICE YOUR HOME TO SELL
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of selling a home is listing it at the correct price. It’s one of several areas where the assistance of a skilled real estate agent can more than pay for itself. Listing the home too high can be as bad as too low. If the listing price is too high, you’ll miss out on a percentage of buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. This is the flaw in thinking that you’ll always have the opportunity to accept a lower offer. Chances are the offers won’t even come in, because the buyers who would be most interested in your home have been scared off by the price and aren’t even taking the time to look.
By the time the price is corrected, you’ve already lost exposure to a large group of potential buyers. The listing price becomes even trickier to set when prices are quickly rising or falling. It’s critical to be aware of where and how fast the market is moving – both when setting the price and when negotiating an offer. Again, an experienced, well-trained agent is always in touch with market trends – often even to a greater extent than appraisers, who typically focus on what a property is worth if sold as-is, right now.

MISTAKE #8. NOT PLANNING YOUR MOVE EARLIER ENOUGH
Many sellers simply don’t plan their move early enough and then feel totally overwhelmed at the time of moving out of the house. If you are able to move at any time of the year, don’t wait until summer, the peak-moving season. Consider also that the first and last few days of the month are extra busy. If you plan to sell your house, get it on the market as soon as possible. Keep a record of all expenses related to the move, some of which may be tax deductible.

MISTAKE #9. USING A “CONVENIENT” REALTOR RATHER THAN USING AN EXPERIENCED REALTOR
When working with a real estate agent, it’s critical that you have full confidence in that agent’s experience and education. A skilled, knowledgeable agent should be able to explain to you exactly why your home needs to be priced at a certain level – compared to recent listings and sales of homes similar to yours. Experienced agents also know exactly what the current pool of buyers are looking for in relation to particular styles and price ranges of properties. A skilled agent can recommend changes that will enhance the alability of your home, thus increasing the price – and/or decreasing the length of time before a sale.

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20 Low Cost Ways To Spruce Up Your Berks County Home

Bill McCue — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:28:08 +0000

Have you ever heard the saying “It’s all in the details”? Living in your home, and selling your home are two different things. Over time of living in our own house, we often miss little things that need attention that may really stand out to a buyer who is scrutinizing the house. Here are a list of several tips we advise our sellers to do prior to listing a home 1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows and cut down on light. 2. Buy a new doormat. 3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch. 4. Put new doorknobs on your doors. 5. Put a fresh coating on your driveway. 6. Edge the grass around walks and trees. 7. Keep your garden tools out of site. 8. Be sure kids put away their toys. 9. Buy a new mailbox. 10. Upgrade the outside lighting. 11. Use warm, incandescent light bulbs for a homey feel. 12. Polish or replace your house numbers. 13. Clean your gutters. 14. Put out potpourri or burn scented candles. 15. Buy new pillows for the sofa. 16. Buy a flowering plant and put it in a window you pass by frequently. 17. Make a centerpiece for your table with fruit or artificial flowers. 18. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. 19. Buy new towels. 20. Put a seasonal wreath on your door.

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