THE SELLER’S GUIDE
YOUR TRUSTED ADVISOR
I very much appreciate your time and the opportunity to share with you the proposal I have for listing your home. The following pages outline the home selling process and the process I will follow should we partner together.
As we look to determine market value, I will prepare a detailed marketing plan and timeline as well as a comprehensive market analysis of your home. Along with this, your timing, financial goals, and the details of your home will help us determine market value and pricing. Once we have discussed your goals, we will come up with a customized and individualized approach tailored to you and your home.
Enclosed you will also find my service guarantee to you. As your REALTOR®, promoting your best interests will always be my highest priority, ensuring that you realize maximum value in the shortest time possible. I will be with you every step of the way!
Sincerely,
NC & SC REALTOR® Helen Adams Realty 415. 225. 7284 tami@helenadamsrealty.com tamivonisakovics.com
Woman Founded. Family Owned. Locally Operated. Since 1975.
Helen Adams, a sixth generation Charlottean, founded her residential real estate company in Charlotte in 1975. Her achievements as an entrepreneur and community leader laid the foundation for a thriving, multi-office real estate business, and today she has become a role model for women throughout the region.
Her legacy to the company was her commitment to the highest level of personal service, unmatched area knowledge, exceptional real estate expertise, and unwavering ethical standards.
A traditional, relationship-based experience with a cutting-edge approach sets Helen Adams’ sales agents apart. Helen Adams Realty agents see themselves as trusted real estate advisors and are dedicated to putting the client’s interests first and foremost.
Today, Helen’s standards of excellence are the guiding principles that help her son and grandchildren lead the firm. Their vision of a successful future is deeply rooted in the legacy that Helen left for them.
Support System & Team
• Brokers-In-Charge
• Office Administrators
• Office Coordinators
• Marketing & IT Team
• Relocation Team
• Accounting Team
• Listing & Closing Coordination
• In-House Mortgage Lending
• In-House Property & Casualty Insurance
Office Locations
• In-House Title Insurance
• Robust Technology Platform
• Ninja Training Program
• Dotloop E-Filing Platform
• State-of-the Art Website
• Print & Digital Marketing Platform
• Corporate Partnerships
• New Construction Services
• Multiple Office Locations
RANDOLPH ROAD
BALLANTYNE
FORT MILL LAKE NORMAN
TAMI VON ISAKOVICS
About Me
Originally from Northern Virginia, I’ve lived on both coasts and am wellversed in cross-country moves and embarking on new adventures. Prior to relocating to Charlotte in 2019 to be closer to my family, I spent many years living in Washington, DC, San Francisco and New York City.
A natural entrepreneur with hustle, most recently I ran a boutique PR and marketing agency primarily serving clients in the hospitality industry and environmental causes. I’ve worked with a wide variety of clients over the years from celebrity chefs to international conservation organizations to start-up companies and pride myself on customer service.
I lived Uptown and in Madison Park before I bought my first home in Plaza Midwood, and after 20+ years working in PR and marketing, I transitioned my skills to real estate. Since my first job in high school as a receptionist at our local hair salon to today, I’ve been working in client service my whole career, and now I help people find and sell their homes. Connecting the dots and the thrill of the hunt in finding just the right home for my clients is what drives me. I care about the details and about listening to what my clients need. I’m licensed in both North and South Carolina, and love helping people navigate the real estate process.
Charlotte is experiencing a huge growth surge that shows no signs of stopping, and I’m excited to see all the new development for places to live, work and play around town. It is a great city to lay down roots, enjoy a vibrant social life and create real estate investment opportunities.
In my spare time you can find me checking out a new restaurant, running or biking the Greenway, at the Mint Museum, kickboxing, planning my next trip, painting, taking an urban hike or volunteering.
Designations, Affiliations, Awards
• NC/SC REALTOR®
• 96% Customer Satisfaction Rating
• Commendable Customer Service Award Winner - 2024
What My Clients Say
“Attention to detail and my needs as the seller were both superior. Tami kept me informed, justified with documentation the reasons for different aspects of the sale of the house, held several open houses, and was always very professional, skillful, personable, and creative in producing attractive marketing materials and establishing a good rapport within the neighborhood. The final closing was stress-free and very smooth because of her careful planning and negotiation advice. She was always on top of the situation and kept in constant touch with me. I recommend Tami von Isakovics extremely highly as both a selling and a buying agent. She wants to do things right!”
“Tami von Isakovics did a wonderful job of guiding us through the purchasing process, and we will certainly refer her to friends and family. Tami is particularly good at communicating throughout the process, being available and eager to help, and explaining options and considerations in clear terms. Simply put, Tami listened to our needs, helped us to identify a property, and delivered on the promise to work hard and deliver for us.”
MY SERVICES
Communication & Coordination
Aligning on your goals is of the utmost importance to selling your house on your timeline and for the highest value. To stay in touch, we’ll use:
• Email, phone, and text: Everyday communication - please let me know your preference
• Dotloop: Digital files, paperwork, and e-signatures
• Website, CRM, and MLS: Property syndication, website traffic, and market updates
• ShowingTime: Home showing appointments and feedback
• RealSatisfied: Post-closing survey
Why List with Me?
Under any circumstance, selling your home can seem daunting. The right agent and an equipped firm will eliminate much of your stress, ensuring a seamless transaction. If you are buying a new home, we’ll also talk through if you should buy or sell first.
PRICING STRATEGIES
As a local expert, I’m on top of the latest market data and trends. I understand how to adapt and price strategically, whether it’s a balanced, seller’s, or buyer’s market.
MARKET PREPARATION
We will look through “buyer’s eyes” to effectively position your home. A pre-appraisal, preinspections, and simple strategies like painting and staging can make a big difference.
MARKETING
I’ll deliver a comprehensive marketing plan with a mix of print, digital, and social media. Your home’s online and print presence will be well taken care of and high end.
COMMUNICATION & SERVICE
I won’t disappear once the home hits the market and, when offers come in, I’ll help you analyze and identify which best suits your needs. We survey every client after closing, holding me accountable to providing the highest level of service to you.
SUPPORT & RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
Hiring me includes the support of my entire firm, from marketing and technology to relocation and administration. If you are moving to another city, my Relocation Department can place you with a knowledgeable agent who can support you with your search and be your local ambassador.
SERVICE GUARANTEE
Our locally owned firm has more than four decades of experience selling real estate throughout the greater Charlotte area. I will provide you with the market data, analysis, and pricing strategies you need to list your home competitively. Our marketing strategies are designed to maximize exposure for your listing. From beginning to end, my services are guaranteed.
As your agent I guarantee to provide the following services:
1. Deliver a detailed Market Analysis to you to understand how the greater market, local market, and hyper local market (down to your street) are performing so that we can develop a pricing strategy unique to your home.
2. Create and present a detailed, written marketing plan including any specific strategies, programs, and buyer targets.
3. Identify and recommend any property enhancements or inspections to maximize marketability.
4. Provide you with an estimate of seller expenses and proceeds.
5. Review your property history and disclosure statement and include it in communications with buyer agents and buyers.
6. Promote your property through direct marketing, advertising, networking, and online.
7. Communicate with you regularly to inform you of prospect and market feedback, property statistics, market updates, and more.
8. Provide negotiating assistance and counsel on all offers to purchase to help you make the best decision.
9. Help make every effort to have each buyer pre-qualified or pre-approved with a lender.
10. Monitor and communicate the status and satisfaction of contract contingencies.
11. Offer home purchase assistance, referral services, and access to community and property information.
12. Attend the closing with you.
13. Contact you and follow-up after closing to assure the satisfactory completion of all service details.
14. Provide you with the opportunity to evaluate the service provided through a survey.
15. Become your go-to source for all things related to your home - service contractors, advice for home trends, market trends and information, and more.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
We see our clients as customers for life, not as a one-time transaction. Our goal is to provide the highest level of personal service from the beginning to the end of your home selling process - and beyond! We believe every closing presents the opportunity to evaluate our services and ultimately your satisfaction, which is why we’ve surveyed every client post-transaction since 2006.
We are honored that 75% of our firm’s business is made up of repeat and referral clients: a true testament to our agents’ service and care.
HOME SELLING TIMELINE
CHOOSE AN AGENT
GET YOUR HOME READY TO LIST
LIST AND START SHOWINGS
OFFER IS MADE
DAYS 1-3
OFFER IS ACCEPTED & DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD BEGINS
BUYER CONTACTS LENDER START
DAYS 1-3
DAYS 1-14
HOME INSPECTIONS, SURVEY, & APPRAISAL POSTINSPECTIONS
BUYER SUBMITS REPAIR REQUEST
DAYS 15-25 DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD ENDS
DAYS 30-60 MORTGAGE COMMITMENT
PREPARE TO MOVE & SCHEDULE UTILITY TRANSFER DAY BEFORE CLOSING FINAL WALK-THROUGH
30-60 DAYS AFTER ACCEPTED OFFER CLOSING!
CLOSE + MOVE
WHAT TO EXPECT
Buy or Sell First?
It’s an age-old dilemma, applied to one of the largest financial transactions you may ever make: which comes first? To decide, we’ll assess your options in relation to your needs, your timeline, and the local real estate market.
Listing & Pricing Strategies
• The psychological power of exclusivity begins with the scarcity principle. Like supply and demand, this principle says the more rare something is, the more valuable it is. The unique qualities of every home go hand-in-hand with the notion of exclusivity and scarcity. We’ll discuss various listing strategies like coming soon, firm exclusive, active, and creating a pre-listing “buzz.”
• Pricing is determined by looking through “buyer’s eyes” and taking 5 factors into consideration: condition, features & amenities, style, size, and location. We’ll talk about the Flow of Sales, bridge pricing, the current market, and more to determine the best price for your home.
Pre-Appraisal, Pre-Inspection, and Home Warranty
• Pre-appraisal establishes objective value and a basis for comparison, validates list price, creates awareness of home condition, anticipates potential problems and repairs needed, and saves time. The hope is to eliminate renegotiation of the contract or worse, having the buyer back out after the inspection.
• Pre-inspection of your home before it’s on the market means fewer surprises for both sides. Once a house goes under contract, the power shifts from seller to buyer. Our best strategy is to have all of the facts up front and negotiate away as many contingencies as possible ahead of time.
• A home warranty placed during the listing period can eliminate out-of-pocket expenses from the unexpected breakdown and/or repair or mechanical systems and appliances. We recommend Old Republic Home Protection or 2-10 Home Warranty.
Showings
I’ll install a lockbox outside your door so that agents from other firms can show your home. It’s important that you accept as many showings as possible in order to increase your odds of selling. Showings will be managed through an online platform and I will collect and review feedback from every visit with you.
Helen Adams Realty’s HOMEsolutions platform allows our clients to sell their homes on their terms. With HOMEsolutions, you’re in the driver’s seat. We provide the options and you choose the best path for your needs.
Open Market
Let the market work for you. Use a Helen Adams Realty agent’s proven listing process to maximize your offers and receive the highest market value.
Market Ready
Take advantage of hassle-free home upgrades prior to listing. Borrow money, at no cost to you, to get your home ready for the market so you can receive top dollar.
Modern Bridge
Don’t move twice. Buy now and sell later with our Modern Bridge solution. Modern Bridge allows you to submit a powerful and competitive all-cash offer on your next home.
Instant Offers
Sell in a snap with Instant Offers. Skip the home prep, compare cash offers, and close in as little as seven days. Together we’ll collect offers, compare them, and choose the option that is best for you.
CONTRACT TO CLOSING
Offer
• By the time we receive an offer, I have put you in the strongest possible negotiation position and we now understand where we are in the market.
• We’ll review each offer together, finding the one that best suits your needs. I’ll help you identify whether or not we are dealing with genuine buyers.
Mutual Acceptance
• Upon coming to mutually agreed terms, I will make sure all necessary forms are included with the contract and properly executed.
• I will make contact with the buyer’s lender and follow the loan approval process until they have been fully approved. I will meet with the appraiser to answer any questions they may have.
Inspections & Repair Request
• The buyers will hire their own inspectors to find any defects with the property. They may come up with a list of items that they would like addressed and submit a repair request.
• We can choose to address the repairs partially or in full, deny repairs, and/or provide a credit at closing in lieu of repairs. I will help with this negotiation.
• The buyers will confirm any repairs made during a pre-closing walk-through.
Appraisal
• An appraisal is ordered by the buyer’s lender to ensure the home’s value for the loan. Two things can happen: the home appraises at or above the mutually agreed upon price or it appraises lower.
• If it appraises at or above offer, we will move forward.
• If it appraises lower, we can either lower the price of the home, the buyer can come up with the difference, or the contract can be terminated.
Coordinating the Closing
• Once inspections are complete and the appraisal is satisfactory, I will begin to coordinate the closing process. I will work with the closing attorney on a timely closing that suits everyone’s needs.
• There will be a walk-through before closing during which the buyer can inspect the property one last time before it is theirs.
PREPARATION & MARKETING TIMELINE
You never get a second chance to make a first impression and your buyer could see your house on day one. By agreeing to a timeline together, we can make sure we have your home ready to hit the market in the best possible condition. The sample timeline below will vary based on your price point, neighborhood, and other factors.
Week One
• Agree upon price and condition and sign the Listing Agreement
• Have the home measured, pre-appraised, and pre-inspected
• Contact vendors to complete repairs, if necessary
• Complete “Items to Gather Before You List” checklist
Week Two
• Stage, declutter, and have the home photographed
• Install yard sign and lockbox, create marketing materials
• Input listing into the Multiple Listing Service, syndicate to all the other websites
• Begin broker opens, individual showings, and open houses
• Review feedback received from showings and inquiries
• Weekly market update reports
Week Three & Four
• Make any necessary changes based upon feedback to date
• Continue individual showings and open houses
• Review feedback received from showings and inquiries
• Weekly market update reports
30-Day Review
• Formal review to include marketing, feedback and condition, and pricing strategy
Items to Gather Before You List:
☐ Two keys to the front door
☐ Average utility bills
☐ List of anything bolted or mounted to the walls, ceilings or floors that you want to take with you
☐ Declaration of covenants, dues and management company (if applicable)
☐ Information on pending assessments
☐ Current termite bond, if applicable
☐ Home warranty copy, if applicable
☐ Past survey, appraisal, and/or title
☐ Copy of your floor plan
☐ List of updates made to the home
☐ Copies of permits for any additions
MARKETING MATTERS
WEB PRESENCE
Your home will be on my firm’s site, my site, and its very own site, too.
SYNDICATION
Your listing will be added to all the major real estate websites.
EMAIL CAMPAIGNS
Your listing will be announced to agents across the market area.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Professional photos will showcase your home in the best possible light.
VIRTUAL TOUR
Virtual tours bring the home to life, combining video and photo.
STAGING
Help buyers visualize your house as their home with a stager’s touch.
SIGNAGE
Yard signs and directionals will lead buyers to your home.
OPEN HOUSES
Open houses for brokers and the public create maximum exposure.
SHOWINGS
Each agent will be asked for feedback and we’ll review it together.
PRINT MATERIALS
Our designers will create pieces to give buyers a high-end takeaway.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Posting throughout your home’s journey keeps it top of mind.
ESTIMATED COSTS
Final costs and the responsible party vary for every transaction, but I’m here to help. I can provide you with a worksheet to help you estimate your net outcome.
Pre-Inspection Costs
Appraisal
Mechanical/Structural
Pest
Common Seller Costs
Real estate commission
$550+
$550+
$125
Payoff of all loans in your name
Fees, re-conveyance fees, and prepayment penalties
Home warranty, per the contract
Any judgments, tax liens, etc., against you
Recording fees to clear all documents of record against you
Pro-rated cost of any unpaid taxes
Common Buyer Costs
Appraisal
Lender’s title policy premium
Inspection fees, per the contract
Recording charges for all buyer documents
All new loan charges (except those required of the seller by the lender)
Interest on a new loan from date of funding to 30 days prior to first payment date
Radon
Well & Septic
$150
TBD, if applicable
Any unpaid homeowners association dues
Any assessments, per the contract
Any and all delinquent taxes per the contract
State tax stamps
Seller wire / courier payoff
New approval of well, septic
50% of the document preparation fee (unless VA or FHA loan; then you pay 100%)
Attorney fees
Home warranty, per the contract
Reserve account for taxes and insurance
Flood-certification fee
Homeowner’s insurance
Flood insurance
Credit report
Home inspections
HELPFUL CHECKLISTS
General Home Preparation Checklist
INTERIOR TIPS
☐ Declutter and pre-pack unneeded items
☐ Sell, donate, or recycle unnecessary items
☐ Add a fresh coat of light, neutral paint
☐ Shampoo carpeting, replace if necessary
☐ Clean and wax hardwood floors
☐ Wash windows and sills, vacuum blinds
☐ Clean fireplace
☐ Change HVAC filter
☐ Clean out and organize closets
☐ Remove extra furniture and worn rugs
☐ Repair loose door knobs, cracked molding, leaking taps and toilets, squeaky or off-hinge doors
☐ Discard worn furniture and rugs
KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM
☐ Clean and test appliances
☐ Clean forgotten spots, like under sink and top of refrigerator
☐ Declutter counters
☐ Organize items inside cabinets
☐ Set the table
BATHROOMS
☐ Remove all rust and mildew
☐ Clean tile, fixtures, shower doors, etc.
☐ Ensure all fixtures are in good repair
☐ Replace loose caulking or grout
☐ Make sure lighting is bright but soft
Preparing for a Showing
☐ Open all window drapes and shades
☐ Turn on all lights
☐ Turn on radio music at a low volume
☐ Open some windows to circulate fresh air
☐ Open all doors between rooms
☐ Consider fresh flowers as centerpieces
Moving Checklist
LOCAL MOVES
☐ Get estimates from moving companies
☐ Draw and share floor plan of furniture placement
☐ Cancel or transfer deliveries, newspaper, garbage collection, utilities, etc.
☐ Notify others of new address: employer, post office, banks, subscription services, relatives and friends, organizations, etc.
BEDROOMS
☐ Organize furnishings and define areas
GARAGE AND BASEMENT
☐ Provide strong overhead light
☐ Tidy storage and work areas
☐ Organize, hang tools, and utilize shelving
☐ Clean water heater and drain sediment
☐ Make room for easy inspection access
EXTERIOR AND CURB APPEAL
☐ Mow, trim, edge, weed, and mulch
☐ Sweep and/or pressure wash all surfaces and siding, repair where necessary
☐ Add color and fill in spots with plantings
☐ Clean and repair patio and deck area
☐ Remove worn or broken outdoor furniture
☐ Clean pool and/or spa
☐ Check for flat-fitting roof shingles
☐ Repair windows, shutters, and screens
☐ Check seams for solid caulking
☐ Touch up paint
☐ Repair gutters and eaves
☐ Clean and remove rust from window units
☐ Test doorbell
OTHER
☐ Plan to secure jewelry, small valuables, medications, and firearms or weapons
☐ Wipe surfaces, vacuum, and close toilet lids
☐ Make beds and pick up clothes
☐ Confine pets and eliminate odor sources
☐ Secure jewelry, small valuables, medications, firearms, and weapons
OUT OF TOWN
All of the aforementioned, plus:
☐ Plan travel and make reservations
☐ Pack arrival kit of necessities
☐ Request records from doctors, dentists, schools and/or veterinarians
☐ Ask for professional referrals, if available (doctor, accountant, dentist, etc.)
☐ Record expenses as possible tax deductions
WOMAN FOUNDED. FAMILY OWNED. LOCALLY OPERATED. SINCE 1975.