Smart Seller Practices

Attorney

• You can’t close without a New Jersey licensed attorney
• Make sure a large part of his/her practice is residential sales
• Attorney fees are no indication of the service you get –
  • Low cost attorneys often outsource their work overseas or to a title company
• Rapport over the phone is essential
  • Often you don’t meet your attorney face to face until the closing

Listing Agent

• In selecting a listing agent, only consider a full time professional.
• Marketing is crucial – what will your agent do to get you the best value?
• Rapport is essential – the agent must understand your needs; you become a team.
• Reject the highest price and lowest commission
  • That’s not how you market a home successfully. You want an agent with integrity.

Pricing

• Too many sellers make the same mistake – they price their home above market.
• Over priced homes don’t sell. They get reduced, again, and again and again.
• When you finally reach a price that sells, your home sells for less than it should.
• So who wins? Not you. Don’t over price.

Pre-Listing Inspection

• Hire a home inspector to check out your house before it’s listed in the MLS
• Any issues uncovered can be fixed now
  • Home inspectors tend to give buyers more costly and upsetting advice

Preparing the House

1. De-clutter
2. Enhance your curb appeal
3. Stage your home
4. Clean up the yard, exterior

Get professional advice – start with your agent before you hire a stager or embark on costly projects.

Open Permits

• You can’t sell a house with open permits
• Check on this as soon as you list your home
• Call your Building Department on it
• Open permits are a common problem

Home Warranty

• This can add a lot of value and assurance to a buyer
• It can mitigate buyer deductions due to inspection findings on appliances, age of furnace etc.