SONYA GIERKE
LISTING PRESENTATION
Why Choose Sonya Gierke?
QUALITY SERVICE
When you choose to work with RE/MAX Commonwealth and Sonya Gierke to sell your home, you'll experience a whole new level of customer service.
First, Sonya Gierke has been a licensed agent since 2002 and has been involved with real estate for 30 years in a real estate family.
Sonya averages 70 percent of her business from repeat customers and referals, while other agents average about 30 percent from those sources.
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
The proof of quality service is in repeat customers and in customers who refer Sonya's services to their friends and family.
EDUCATION
Sonya prides herself on attaining continuing education on a monthly basis, this enables her to better serve her clients.
Designations: GRI - Graduate of the Realtor Institute
ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative
SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist
PRODUCTION
The experience and education means Sonya Gierke with the resources at RE/MAX Commonwealth, is better qualified to set the right price for the homes she lists, is better equipped to market those homes, and is likely to find a buyer in a shorter period of time. That experience and education also means she is better positioned to find the right buyer for your home.
Deciding to sell your home is a big step. Make sure it's a step in the right direction by
TESTIMONIALS
WHAT MY CLIENTS ARE SAYING
We have known Sonya now for over 10 years! We worked with her to buy our first home 10 years ago, and again recently to sell that home and buy our new house! Sonya is a very driven, reliable and a highly experienced real estate professional that helped us understand our options and gave us great recommendations both in the buying and selling processes. With Sonya's help, we sold our home in 10 days and designed and built our new home, which we love! Sonya has been instrumental in the home buying, selling and building processes for our family, and highly recommend her to family, friends and you!
Cassie Erickson
Sonya was great throughout the entire buying process. She responded quickly to my showing requests and was very patient when I questioned what I really wanted in a home. If she didn't know a particular area, she worked closely with local REMAX agents to help locate the right house. I am extremely happy with the home I purchased and the price.
David Brennan
From the moment we met Sonya we knew she had our best interests at heart. She was honest, direct, comforting, and encouraging. Sonya helped us sell our home and helped us with purchasing a newly constructed home... We always knew Sonya was on our side every step of the way and made us feel like we were the only ones she was working with... Her professionalism, work ethic, and honesty are rare in this world and anyone would be truly fortunate to work with her and have her on their side. We feel honored to have had her help us through this difficult and stressful process and will recommend her every chance we get. She's the best. We wish she could train other realtors.
Ron and Marty Pfeiffer
"Sonya has been instrumental in the home buying, selling and building processes for our family, and highly recommend her to family, friends and you!"
COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME
PRICING YOUR HOME TOO HIGH
One of the most common mistakes sellers make is pricing their homes too high. If your home is priced too high, it may sit on the market for much longer than anticipated while buyers look at comparable properties that are priced much more reasonably.
PET / UNPLEASANT ODORS
Strong odors such as pet urine and smoking can be major turn off for anyone thinking about buying your home. Consider shampooing carpets and deep cleaning prior to showing your home, in order to get rid of any offensive odors in the ho use.
NOT DE-CLUTTERING YOUR HOME BEFORE A LISTING
The one the biggest mistakes an owner can make is not de-cluttering their home prior to listing. This may seem like a minor thing, but having too much furniture or decorations throughout the home and make the space feel small, giving buers a hard time envisioning the potential of the space.
UNWILLING TO MAKE REPAIRS ON HOME
In most cases, a buyer is not going to want to move into a home that requires lots of work upon moving in. By doing necessary repairs, you make your home as appealing as possible to a wide range of potential buyers.
NOT STAGING YOUR HOME
Staging your home can give you a big advantage when trying to sell your home. The main point of staging is to allow potential homebuyers the chance to picture themselves living in your space. Seeing a home with furniture in place, and artwork arranged to highlight features of the home can play a huge factor when showing your home.
It can be a tough market for selling a home, but those conditions can get even worse if sellers aren’t careful. While a seller doesn’t control the real estate market, their actions can significantly contribute to how long and how much their home is sold for.
UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE WITH BUYERS
Sellers that are unwilling to negotiate on price, repairs or other parts of the selling process are less likely to find a willing buyer.
SHOWING AVAILABILITY
Sellers need to understand that listing a home will create some inconveniences. Buyers will want to inspect the property before submitting an offer. Having flexibility in your schedule will allow for more buyers to see your home and higher success rate of selling your home. You may want to make plans to vacate your home the first weekend it is on the market to allow for showings.
WEEK ONE - "STAGE PREP"
Getting your home ready to be listed.
• Complete all dislosures and listing paperwork
• Make copies of all paperwork for seller
• Get home ready for a better overall showing
• Take profesional photographs for marketing
• Create color marketing booklets / flyers
• List as "Coming Soon" for up to 21 days prior, to create a demand
• Network via Email to Agents prior to home going "On the Market" to create awareness of your new listing
• Place electronic lock box on home
creates convenience for you and the potential buyer
provides security as combination / key is only given to verified licensed agents at the time of the showing
• HMS Home Inspection and Warranty Plan
Provides the safety of an inspection and security of a warranty to potential buyers
• Place ads online and on social media to assist in the sale of your home (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Craigslist, Twitter, etc.)
WEEK TWO - "SHOW TIME"
• Put your home on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) with photographs, and comments about each photo to show all the unique features of the home.
• Place advertisement on different websites, my committment is same day publication of listing and photos. The following are some examples of sites where the listing will be posting: Remax.net, Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Homes.com SonyaG.com, and Zillow.com.
• Install sign and arrow signs to home
Creates visibility for prospective buyers
• Realtor Open -- Open home to all local real estate agents to view for their perspective buyers.
How we will advertise your home once it's listed and ready to show.
• Hold an Open House (with your permission) including a color picture ad.
Place numerous signs at key intersections near your home.
Nofity local agents about the time of your Open House.
• Call active agents
• Network with other realtors by fax, phone, or email (over 9,000 agents).
• Place ads in online "Open House Directories".
WEEK THREE - "INTERMISSION"
While you're home is listed, we'll continue to advertise, listen to feedback, and adjust our plan.
• Follow up with showing agents and provide timely feedback on Open House
• Adjust according to feedback recieved, this would be a mutual decision.
• Continue with Open Houses to advertise your home.
• Continue with advertising on the Internet and in local publications.
• Update other agents on any changes to the listing of your home.
THE SALE - "CONCLUSION"
How we present offers and ensure qualified buyers.
• Screen all parties who submit a Purchase Agreement
Must have pre-approval letter from qualified lender
Careful review of specifics or qualification
• Ensure optimum timing for maximum results
Contact all agents that have interested
• Review and negotiate Purchase Agreement
Work diligently to provide you with the most proceeds possible
There are over 200 lines in a purchase agreement alone
Decipher and explain all offers and contingencies
Discuss options and different outcomes
Prepare net sheets
Help structure financing alternatives
POST SALE - "GRAND FINALE"
We've sold your home, but there's a few more steps before we actually "close".
• Work with appraiser to ensure an accurate appraisal
Meet appraiser at the property
Provide comparables to support purchase price
• Keep you updated as to the progress of post-sale activities
Inspections
Lender & Title Updates
Contingencies & Removals
PREPARING YOUR HOME
PRIOR TO LISTING
DE-CLUTTER
• Pack up the knick knacks, de-clutter rooms
• Clean off kitchen counters
DE-PERSONALIZE
• Pack up personal photos
• Potential buyers want to invision themselves living there
MAKE MINOR REPAIRS
• Re-caulk bathroom areas
• Replace burned out light bulbs
• Fix leaky faucets and running toilets
• Patch nail holes / spot paint walls and trim
MAKE THE HOUSE SPARKLE
• Dust and vaccuum
• Wipe down counter surfaces
• Wipe down appliances
According to real estate professionals, the cleanliness of your home can be one of the biggest factors in determining your home's pre-listing value.
Fortunately, it's also one of the most economical ways to increase the value of your home in a short period of time.
CONSIDER CURB APPEAL
• Keep sidewalk clear
• Pressure wash decks and sidewalks
• Make sure visitors can clearly read house numbers
• Consider your landscaping -- mow the lawn, new plants, fresh mulch
GENERAL
A copy of your survey (if you have one)
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
Prior to listing your home, have this information available for your real estate agent.
The average costs of your utilities (electricity, water, gas, e tc.)
Receipts, permits and/or warranties for any recent home improve ments (roof, windows, HVAC, kitchen appliances, etc.) or dates of improvements
Age of "big 5": roof, HVAC, hot water heater, windows & siding
Any other relevant information (copy of floor plans, builder in fo, etc.)
2 copies of your front door key
Any alarm codes
HAVE A HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATE (HOA)?
Maintenance fees and a list of maintenance fee inclusions (tras h, lawncare, etc.)
Parking and locker numbers. Fob key to the building and any common areas
A list of bylaws and restrictions
Details of any physical aspects of the home that HOA covers, for example: roof, siding, doors, and windows.
ONLINE MARKETING
DAILY MARKETING REPORTS. Our online ad system sends out daily marketing reports, so we can monitor how your ad is performing and maxizime our marketing efforts. Your digital ads generate approximately 3,000 impressions.
POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS IDENTIFIED. Ads identify potential buyers through behavior online and geographic location.
CUSTOM ADS. The Ad platform uses online ads for your home that follow potential buyers everywhere they go on the web.
NATIONAL VISIBILITY. Your home will be displayed on national websites across the country, including: New York Times, ESPN, YouTube, Forbes, Washington Post, Realtor.com, USA Today and many more.
PERFORMANCE REPORTS. Through the Megaphone dashboard, we can easily create performance reports for clients.
EXTRA EXPOSURE. At an additional cost, you can create more exposure by advertising your home on Google, Facebook and Instagram.
ELECTRIC
• Dominion Virginia Power - 1-888-667-3000
• Southside Electric Cooperative - 804-552-2118
• Rappahannock Electric Cooperative - 804-552-2118
WATER AND SEWER
• Richmond Public Utilities - 804- 644-3000
• Chesterfield - 804-748-1291
• Hanover - 804-365-6024
• Henrico - 804- 501-4275
GAS
• Richmond Public Utilities - 804- 644-3000
• Chesterfield Columbia Gas - 1-800-543-8911
• Henrico - 804-644-3000
• Hanover -804 -365-6024
GOVERMENT WEBSITES
• Richmond: www.richmondgov.com
• Henrico: www.co.henrico.va.us
• Chesterfield: www.chesterfield.gov
• Hanover - www.hanovercounty.gov
CABLE TV
• Comcast - 804-266-1900
• Verizon - 1-800-Verizon
• Comcast - 804- 743-1150
• Cox Cable - 866-939-3173
• Dish Network - 804-554-2183
GARBAGE AND TRASH
• Richmond - 804-646-7000
• Chesterfield - 804-748-1297
• Henrico - 804- 501-4275
SCHOOLS
• Richmond - 804-780-7780
• Chesterfield - 804-748-1405
• Hanover - 804 -365-4500
• Henrico - 804- 652-3829
Estimated costs tied to home inspections during the home selling process.
SELLER PAID
Termite Inspection (seller):
Well Pump/Flow Test (seller):
Well Bacteria & Lead Test (seller):
Sewer Lines:
Septic Distribution Box (seller):
Septic Tank/Pumping (seller):
BUYER PAID
Whole Home:
Fireplace/Chimney/Flue:
$75-100
$250-500
$200-400
$500-600
$150-400
$300-400
$400+
$50-75 Per Flue
Flood Certification: $25-50
Foundation/Structural Engineer:
Gas Log:
Generator:
HVAC:
Lead Paint:
Mold Fungus:
Pool/Spa:
$200-500
$100-200
$150-250
$100-200
$200-400
$300-400
$200-600
Property Survey: $300-800
Radon: $150-250
Roof: $100-300
SELLER'S ROADMAP
MEET WITH A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL
There’s no commitment required on your part for the initial meeting. It will be educational and help you identify your next steps.
Your agent will provide a market analysis, which will help you set an asking price.
As difficult as it may be, it’s important to review the market analysis and consider your home price objectively.
PRICING PREPARE YOUR HOME LIST IT FOR SALE SHOWINGS
View your home through the eyes of the buyer and ask yourself what you’d expect. Your agent will offer some useful suggestions.
When everything is in place, your agent will put your home on the market. It’s critical you make it as easy as possible for potential buyers to view your home.
Potential buyers may ask to see your home on short notice. It’s best if you can accommodate these requests so you never miss a potential sale.
If everything goes well, a buyer (and most often the agent who represents them) will present your agent with an offer.
Your agent will present the benefits and risks of each offer. You will have the opportunity to either accept or counter an offer based on its merits.
At this point, you and the buyer have agreed to all of the terms of the offer and both parties have signed the agreement.
While under contract, the buyer will work with their mortgage provider to finalize the loan and perform other due diligence.
This is the transfer of funds and ownership. Depending on when the buyer moves into the home, you will need to be all packed up and ready to move.
SONYA GIERKE, REALTOR®
Phone : 804-273-7754
Office : 804-360-5200
Email : Sonya@SonyaG.com www.SonyaG.com
Office : 804-360-5200 www.HomesInRichmond.com