Part Time or Full Time

Picking the right Realtor can be a “make it” or “break it” deal when it comes to getting you home sold.  Choosing a Realtor that only works part-time could be missing opportunities that might result in getting your home sold.  A full time REALTOR will be readily available to answer any questions that you or a potential buyer may have, or to schedule a showing.  When picking a Realtor, it’s a good idea to interview a couple of Realtors before deciding on one.

Questions to ask a REALTOR

Make sure you choose a REALTOR® who will provide top-notch service and meet your unique needs.

· How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many other professions — is mostly learned on the job.

· What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS®, which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training, are held only by about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.

· How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year? By asking this question, you’ll get a good idea of how much experience the practitioner has.

· How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market? The REALTOR® you interview should have these facts on hand, and be able to present market statistics from the local MLS to provide a comparison.

· How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? This is one indication of how skilled the REALTOR® is at pricing homes and marketing to suitable buyers. Of course, other factors also may be at play, including an exceptionally hot or cool real estate market.

· What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? You don’t want someone who’s going to put a For Sale sign in the yard and hope for the best. Look for someone who has aggressive and innovative approaches, and knows how to market your property competitively on the Internet. Buyers today want information fast, so it’s important that your REALTOR® is responsive.

· Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s obligations lie. Your REALTOR® should explain his or her agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.

· Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done? Because REALTORS® are immersed in the industry, they’re wonderful resources as you seek lenders, home improvement companies, and other home service providers. Practitioners should generally recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with or receive compensation from any of the providers.

· What’s your business philosophy? While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the agent and determine how closely the agent’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.

· How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but how you judge the response will reflect your own desires. Do you want updates twice a week or do you prefer not to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?

· Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients? Ask recent clients if they would work with this REALTOR® again. Find out whether they were pleased with the communication style, follow-up, and work ethic of the REALTOR®.

Should you stay or go?

Sellers often ask if they should be present when the home is being shown.  Homebuyers will feel like intruders if you are home when they visit and they might not be as receptive toward viewing your home and will not spend as much time looking. If you absolutely cannot leave, try to remain out of their way and do not move from room to room following them or attempt to show the house yourself. Do not volunteer any information, but answer any questions the agent may ask.

What Stays vs. What Goes?

When selling your home there always seems to be some confusion about what stays and what goes in regards to fixtures and items in the house.  Does the refrigerator & washer/dryer stay, what about the fancy chandelier and the new curtains & blinds we bought?  As a general rule, if it requires a screwdriver, hammer or shovel to remove it, it’s usually considered real property and should stay with the home.  To avoid any possible complications & misunderstandings, talk to your Realtor® and get them to compile a list of the items that will or will not be staying with the house. 

Daylight Savings ends.

It’s time to fall backwards again.  At least time it’s to set our clocks back for daylight saving which ends on November 2^nd this year.  While you are setting your clocks back, it’s also a good time to catch up on other maintenance items that are often overlooked.  Changing the batteries in your smoke & carbon monoxide detectors when you change your clocks is a good way to make sure the batteries get replaced twice each year.  It’s also a good idea to change your passwords on your computer and online accounts.  Experts recommend that you have different passwords for different accounts and to use letters & numbers in your password.

Selling During the Winter

It appears that winter is finally here to stay as the white stuff keeps falling.  Selling your home during the winter takes a little more preparation than during the summer months.  It’s very important to keep your walkway  clear of snow and ice both, for appearances and safety.  Sprinkle sand or salt on your walkway to provide stable footing.  Since our Alaskan days are getting shorter, make sure your entry and walkways are sufficiently lit.  Also make sure to turn on all the interior lights and increase your inside thermostat a degree or two to give it a warm cozy feeling.

Let the light in!

Open up your curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible when having a showing.  Also replace any broken or burnt out light bulbs you have been neglecting.  Consider upgrading to newer energy efficient compact florescent bulbs and replace with the highest wattage bulb that is safe and suitable for the application.  The brighter a room is lit, the larger it appears. Consider adding lamps or lighting to rooms that are poorly lit. A small investment in lighting can have large returns from buyers.

Is your Kitchen Ready?

When buyers are looking at your home your kitchen will be under strict scrutiny.  In today’s homes the kitchen has become a focal point for gatherings and entertaining.  Is your kitchen up for the challenge?  Starting with your counter tops, anything that you haven’t used it in the past few weeks, box it up and place it in storage.  Remove all of the clutter that typically accumulates on the counters.  Have a junk drawer?  Remove the junk and do the same with your cabinets to show off the amount of space your kitchen has.  Don’t forget to clean out under your sink, and while you are there check for any leaks.

Fall Maintenance Tips

A key to protecting the investment you’ve made in your home is by following a regular maintenance schedule. By performing preventative maintenance on an on-going basis, you’ll avoid many of the big ticket repair items that can lower the value of your home.   With winter fast approaching, now is the time to check your heating system for drafts & leaks.  It’s much easier to make a repair to your heating system now than 3 months from now when its -30 degrees outside. 

Addition items to inspect this Fall before winter hits

• Check all window and door locks for proper operation seal

Sellers Net

When people are getting ready to sell a home, I am often asked, ” how much money will we make when we sell our home”? A seller’s net sheet is a list of the expenses that they will likely incur when selling their home. Make sure to provide your licensee with an accurate loan balance to provide a clear picture of what your net proceeds will be. Don’t forget to mention if you have a 2nd mortgage or a line of credit on your home as well. If you don’t receive a net sheet when you are signing your listing contract, be sure to ask for one, so nobody is surprised when it comes to sign the final paperwork.

Selling before your home is ready.

Often times sellers will make the mistake of putting their home on the market before it’s really ready to be shown. They will have 90% of the projects done, but are still lacking on a few details. Those few details are what will set your home apart from all the others on the market. Buyers will remember the negative details about your home, such as the house needing new trim paint or the almost finished flooring, instead of the house with the spectacular new flooring or the home with the sparkling new paint.