Now that you're ready to sell your property, Tailored Realty and Associates are professionally trained to assist you with process of selling your property, from start to close.

Here are some tips to assist you in the home selling process:

• Hire a Licensed Professional
• Name your price
• Prepare your home
• Get the word out
• Receive an offer
• Negotiate to sell
• Prepare to close
• Close the deal

Hire a Licensed Professional

Let the highly trained Professionals at Tailored Realty and Associates create a personal marketing program to meet all of your needs. Some of the details we will take care of for you will include a Comparative Market Analysis. This determines the highest selling price, marketing the property, screening prospective buyers to make sure that only qualified buyers are being shown your property, preparing and negotiating sale contracts and addendums, and arranging closing procedures.

Name your Price

Prepare your Home

Most of us don't keep our homes in "showroom" condition. The condition of your home will affect how quickly it sells and the price the buyer is willing to offer.

First impressions are the most important. Your realtor can help you take a fresh look at your home and suggest ways to stage it and make it more appealing to buyers.

Get the Word out

Now that you're ready to sell, your real estate agent will set up a marketing strategy specifically designed for your home.

There are many ways to get the word out, including:

• The Internet
• Yard signs
• Open houses
• Media advertising
• Agent-to-agent referrals
• Direct mail marketing campaigns

In addition to listing your home on the MLS, your agent will use a combination of these tactics to bring the most qualified buyers to your home. Your agent will structure the marketing plan so that the first three to six weeks are the busiest.

Receive an Offer

When you receive a written offer from a potential buyer, your realtor will first find out whether or not the individual is prequalified or preapproved to buy your home. If so, then you and your agent will review the proposed contract, taking care to understand what is required of both parties to execute the transaction.

The contract, though not limited to this list, should include the following:

• Legal description of the property
• Offer price
• Down payment
• Financing arrangements
• List of fees and who will pay them
• Deposit amount
• Inspection rights and possible repair allowances
• Method of conveying the title and who will handle the closing
• Appliances and furnishings that will stay with the home
• Settlement date
• Contingencies

At this point, you have three options: accept the contract as is, accept it with changes (a counteroffer), or reject it.

Remember: Once both parties have signed a written offer, the document becomes legally binding. If you have any questions or concerns, be certain to address them with your realtor right away prior to singing to contract.

Negotiate to Sell

Most offers to purchase your home will require some negotiating to come to a win-win agreement. Your realtor is well versed on the intricacies of the contracts used in your area and will protect your best interest throughout the bargaining. Your realtor also knows what each contract clause means, what you will net from the sale and what areas are easiest to negotiate.

Some negotiable items:

• Price
• Financing
• Closing costs
• Repairs
• Appliances and fixtures
• Landscaping
• Painting
• Move-in date

Once both parties have agreed on the terms of the sale, your agent will prepare a contract.

Prepare to Close

Once you accept an offer to sell your house, you will need to make a list of all the things you and your buyer must do before closing. The property may need to be formally appraised, surveyed, inspected or repaired. Your real estate agent can spearhead the effort and serve as your advocate when dealing with the buyer's agent and service providers. Depending on the written contract, you may pay for all, some or none of these items. If each procedure returns acceptable results as defined by the contract, then the sale may continue. If there are problems with the home, the terms set forth in the contract will dictate your next step. You or the buyer may decide to walk away, open a new round of negotiations or proceed to closing.

A few days before the closing, your realtor will contact the entity that is closing the transaction and make sure the necessary documents will be ready to sign on the appropriate date.

Close the Deal

"Closing" refers to the meeting where ownership of the property is legally transferred to the buyer. Your realtor will be present during the closing to guide you through the process and make sure everything goes as planned. By being present during the closing, he or she can mediate any last-minute issues that may arise.

After the closing, you should make a "check list" for turning the property over to the new owners. Here are some items they may be on your checklist to get you started.

1. Cancel electricity, gas, lawn care, cable and other routine services.
    
2. If the new owner is retaining any of the services, change the name on the account.
    
3. Gather owner's manuals and warranties for all conveying appliances.