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 Confused About the Benefits of
Huntsville, Alabama Real Estate Agents?
Looking for Answers to the “How To Sell My Home” Question?
I’ll Take You Step-by-Step Through the Process!
Many home sellers get stuck between the possibility of selling their
homes themselves and hiring someone to sell it for them. If you’ve
been searching for answers to the “How to sell my home” question, and
you’re in the Huntsville, Alabama real estate market, you’ll find them
here.
Whether you’re selling your home in order to move out, up, or on, I
have the information you need to make the more effective decisions. My
goal is to make your move a fun and enjoyable experience. I’ll put my
13 years of experience in the Huntsville, Alabama real estate market
to work for you to ensure your home sells quickly and at the highest
price possible.
If you don’t find the answers to your questions here, I’m just a call
or email away. Feel free to contact me - with no obligation - via
telephone at 256-508-0211 or via email at
Mike@huntsvillehomesonline.com.
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“How To Sell My Home” - The Basics
The Two Most Important Factors of Selling
There are two primary factors that influence the sale of a home in the
Huntsville, Alabama real estate market: price and exposure.
If your home is priced above current market values, you’ll find it
difficult to make the sale. If your home is priced below current
market values, others may question if your home has hidden defects.
Calculating a fair, but profitable, price for your home within the
Huntsville, Alabama real estate market requires special consideration.
Once you or your Realtor has priced your home, you’ll need to consider
marketing strategies. After all, regardless of the asking price, if no
one knows your home is for sale, it will be difficult to achieve your
goals. It is important that you, or your Realtor, market your home to
the largest possible buyers' pool.
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“My home is in Huntsville, Alabama (the Tennessee Valley).
Can I get
it listed in the MLS if it is FSBO?”
MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is the service that lists all pertinent
information about homes for sale. This allows Realtors to find and
show your home quickly. Unfortunately, regardless of whether your home
is specifically in Huntsville, Alabama; the Tennessee Valley; or any
other area, MLS listings are not available for FSBO homes. Local MLS
listings are reserved for use by professional Huntsville, Alabama real
estate agents only.
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“If I’m in Huntsville, Alabama (Tennessee Valley)
or the greater
Huntsville area, what are the advantages of using
a Realtor vs. FSBO?”
Whether your home is in Huntsville, Alabama, the Tennessee Valley, or
the greater Huntsville area matters little. If you list your home FSBO
(For Sale By Owner), you may save the price of a Realtor’s commission,
but you’ll quickly spend more time and energy trying to do it all
yourself.
Contrary to popular belief, there is much more to selling your home
than sticking a sign in the yard and placing an ad in the local
newspaper.
The two most common problems you’ll face include:
1. Limited Exposure to the Huntsville, Alabama Real Estate Market
While you can purchase ads in your local newspapers, homes in
Huntsville, Alabama, the Tennessee Valley, or any other area are not
allowed in the MLS listings if they are FSBO. Local MLS listings are
reserved for use by professional Huntsville, Alabama real estate
agents only.
2. Attracting Serious, Qualified Buyers
Oftentimes, people who visit FSBO properties are not qualified buyers,
are looking for deals, or are just “kicking tires” and aren’t yet
ready to buy.
Additionally, Huntsville, Alabama real estate agents will provide the
services below for you -- allowing you to live your life with minimal
interruptions:
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Analyze property values and market conditions and calculate the best
price for your home.
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Develop an
effective marketing strategy.
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Prepare, schedule, and run ads.
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Produce handouts and flyers.
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List your home in the Huntsville, Alabama MLS (something FSBO’s
can’t do).
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List your home on widely known Web sites for additional exposure.
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Pre-qualify buyers to ensure they aren’t wasting your time.
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Stay home to hold open houses or show your property at the buyer’s
convenience.
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Understand and prepare legal disclosures.
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Follow up with regard to the buyer’s mortgage application and
approval.
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Coordinate inspections and appraisals.
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Collect all buyer and seller legal documents and ensure they are in
proper order.
Further information is available in my
Real Estate Library. Close this window and click on the link in the
main menu for a complete database of articles to assist you.
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“Do all Huntsville,
Alabama real estate agents
have the same sales plan?”
No… they don’t. You’ll find most real
estate agents in the Huntsville, Alabama area have the same goal… to
sell your home. But we don’t all go about it in the same way.
Over the past 13 years, I have developed a strategic plan for selling
homes that has been proven to work time and time again.
1. Set Up an Initial Meeting to Inspect Your Home and Answer Your
Questions
About “How to Sell My Home.”
You can get six excellent tips for
making a faster sale and find out what you should fix (and not fix)
prior to selling by reading the articles in my Real Estate Library.
2. Prepare a Marketing Plan
Specifically To Sell Your Home.
Property in the Huntsville, Alabama real
estate market has specific details that must be addressed. I’ve
encompassed everything we need to sell your home fast in my Aggressive
Marketing Plan. (Please refer to my main menu to read this
information!)
3. Signing of Listing Agreement.
You will sign an agreement listing my team and me as your Huntsville,
Alabama real estate agents. This agreement will outline the selling
period time frame, the listing price, and the agreed upon brokerage
fee.
4. Prepare Your Home to Be Shown.
In the Huntsville, Alabama real estate market, it is important that
your home shows well. Develop a routine that will allow you to pick up
and be prepared to show in a reasonable period of time without undue
stress.
Click here for some “must do’s” before every showing.
Before Each Showing…
1. Straighten Every Room…Check counters, floors, halls, and stairs.
Pick up or remove newspapers, mail, toys, clothing, glasses, and
dishes.
2. Turn On All Lights…This will help your home appear bright, open,
and airy.
3. Open All Drapes & Blinds…The natural light will also help things
look bigger and brighter.
4. Kitchen…Make sure all the countertops are clean and clear. Wipe
down appliances and make sure dishes are put away. The sink should be
clean and clear.
5. Clean Air…Keep air fresheners in living areas. Fresheners with
scented oils work great.
6. Heating/Cooling…Make sure your home is cozy warm in the winter and
cool in the summer. It will make the buyers more comfortable.
7. Bathrooms…Clear counters and put out a fresh set of attractive
towels.
8. Entryway and Front Yard…It’s the first and last impression that the
buyers will have of your home - make it a good one! Check it regularly
for cleanliness and attractiveness.
5. Immediate Implementation of Marketing Plan.
Huntsville, Alabama real estate agents will begin calling to schedule
times to show your home to prospective buyers. I’ll have your home
listed in the MLS and on various Web sites, in numerous newspapers,
and in other real estate marketing publications.
6. The Showing - What Do I Do?
All Huntsville, Alabama real estate agents will give you the same
advice… BE GONE! I agree. Once you have gotten your home ready to show
let the Realtor do his/her job. Each realtor knows his buyers best and
will highlight the strong points that will appeal to these buyers. By
not being at home during the showing, buyers will honestly comment
what they like and dislike about your home. I will collect feedback
from my own showings and those of other Realtors. If common dislikes
are mentioned, we can look at making adjustments to make your home
more appealing.
7. A Buyer Presents Us With a Contract.
At this point in the process we have three options.
A. Accept the offer as written and your home is SOLD.
B. Make a counter offer, negotiating price, closing, possession dates,
etc.
C. Reject the contract altogether.
As your Huntsville, Alabama real estate agents, my team and I will
advise you about each and every offer you receive.
8. Home is Under Contract.
Once your home is under contract, many things begin to take place.
I’ll be there as we go through each step, making sure everything is in
place. I’ll handle all the details to ensure your closing comes off
without a hitch.
For a detailed description of what happens after you accept a
contract, click here.
1. The buyer submits a formal application to the mortgage company. The
mortgage company secures documents from the buyer to make sure they
qualify for funding.
2. The mortgage company orders an appraisal of your home. This is to
ensure the lender that your home value is equal to or better than the
sale price.
3. Contingencies are dealt with. Normally most buyers will put a
contingency in the contract for a professional home inspection. This
inspection is usually performed within two weeks of the sale contract.
The inspection is used to determine if there are any major problems
with your home. If issues or problems are found, the buyer and seller
can agree upon a possible settlement (seller repairs the problem,
seller reduces the house price, or the buyer accepts the house as-is).
4. The buyer’s mortgage loan is approved. After buyer is approved, a
closing attorney will be selected and the closing scheduled. The
closing typically takes place 30-45 days from the contract date. The
closing attorney will perform a title search to make sure there are no
title problems. Normally title insurance is issued to protect buyer
and seller if a problem has been overlooked. The cost for the title
insurance is normally split between the buyer and seller.
5. The seller orders the termite letter. This is a clearance letter
from a licensed pest company showing the home is free and clear of
termites and other infestations per state and local laws.
6. A survey of the property is performed if required by the lender or
the buyer. A survey is a pictorial diagram of the lot and the house;
it shows set back lines, property dimensions, easements, driveways,
pools, etc.
7. Repairs from the home inspection are completed. The buyer has an
opportunity to re-inspect any repairs made prior to closing. This is
called the “final walk through” before closing.
8. The seller normally moves out of the home prior to closing unless
otherwise specified in the sales contract.
9. CLOSING - The happy day! Closing normally takes approximately one
hour. The buyer signs all the documents relating to their mortgage.
The seller signs the deed over to the new buyer. The seller turns over
the keys and garage door openers to the new buyer. The seller gets
paid (less his mortgage payoff and selling expenses). The buyer gets
to take possession of their brand new house.
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