Seller's Survival Guide

Preparing Your Home

SELL

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You can help get the results you want by staging your home. Staging is not about redecorating your entire home.

It is about rearranging what you do have and making a few improvements to appeal to more buyers.

7201 Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 Richmond, VA 23226 RE/MAX Com804-288-5000

If you don’t want to do this yourself, ask a monwealth agent to recommend a professional stager. It can pay for itself by helping sell your home more200 quickly Westgate Pkwy, Ste 102 HomesInRichmond.com Richmond, VA 23233 and for a better price.

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De-Personalize

The number one rule in staging is to de-personalize.

Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms.

Create Great Curb Appeal

If buyers won’t get out of the car because they don’t like the exterior, you’ll never get them inside.

• Keep the sidewalks cleared • Mow the lawn and trim the bushes • Paint faded window trim • Plant or pot colorful flowers • Make sure visitors can clearly see your house number

De-Clutter

Almost every home shows better with less furniture!

• Pare furnishings down to the bare essentials • Pack up those cute knickknacks • Clean off everything on kitchen counters • Remove personal items from bathroom counters

Rearrange Closets and Cabinets

Buyers will open closets, kitchen and medicine cabinets • Organize pantry and cabinet contents • Reduce closet contents to half-full and organized • Neatly arrange clothing, shoes and shelf items • Put medicines and personal items out of sight

Make the House Shine

• Wash windows inside and out • Polish chrome faucets and mirrors • Clean out the refrigerator • Vacuum regularly • Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures • Replace worn rugs • Hang up fresh towels • Replace that old shower curtain

Make Minor Repairs

• Replace burned-out light bulbs • Replace cracked floor or counter tiles • Patch holes in the walls • Fix leaky faucets and doors that don’t close properly • Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks if necessary • Clean dingy grout • Consider painting the walls neutral colors

Showing Your Home

If the house looks comfortable, but not personal, you are almost done.

• Open drapes to let the sunshine in and turn on lights • Fresh flowers are a little luxury that make people feel good • Make sure the temperature is comfortable • Appeal to all the senses - Your home should smell fresh • Outdoor living spaces are becoming more important to people today, so add a few decorating touches

7201 Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 Richmond, VA 23226 804-288-5000

HomesInRichmond.com All offices independently owned and operated. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not intended as a solicitation. Agent licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ©2019 RE/MAX Commonwealth.

200 Westgate Pkwy, Ste 102 Richmond, VA 23233 804-360-5200

Simple Tips for Better Home Showings

• Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items.

Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.

• Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.

• Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been wellcared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.

• Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house.

Potpourri or scented candles will help.

• Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.

• Don’t disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.

• Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.

• Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

• Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.

• Make centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.

• Set the scene. Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.

• Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.

• Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.

• Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.

7201 Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 Richmond, VA 23226 804-288-5000

HomesInRichmond.com All offices independently owned and operated. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not intended as a solicitation. Agent licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ©2019 RE/MAX Commonwealth.

200 Westgate Pkwy, Ste 102 Richmond, VA 23233 804-360-5200

Photography Tips Taking the best possible photos will help sell your home quickly and for the best possible price. Be sure to photograph both the inside and outside of your home, including all major rooms and features that make your house unique.

You can have a direct impact on how well your home will look in the photos by following these guidelines:

General

• Open all drapes and blinds on windows with a good view.

• For security, remove any expensive artwork and firearms (even decorative) from view.

• Remove any furniture that obstructs windows.

• Turn all ceiling fans OFF. They will create a motion blur in photos.

• Turn all Televisions OFF, and clean the screens.

• Open doors between rooms to give an open feeling when possible.

• Remove ALL evidence of pets.

• Remove rugs from floors, especially tile or wood floors, don’t forget kitchen and baths.

• Replace any burnt out light bulbs.

• No shoes by doors or anywhere else... Place them in the closet.

Exterior

• Move vehicles from driveway and away from the front of home • Place trash barrels, and anything that is not attached to the home, in the garage or out of sight.

• Cut grass, and remove all weeds from cracks in concrete • Clean the windows! It really helps a home “POP” • Remove the yard sign.

• When possible, water the grass 4-5 hours prior to shootingEven a brown lawn will look better.

• Sweep walkways and porches.

HomesInRichmond.com

Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 Living/Family 7201 Room Richmond, VA 23226 • Conceal cords! Unplug from the wall if necessary.

• Remove piles of newspaper and magazines.

804-288-5000 • Hide all TV/Stereo remotes.

• Declutter and remove personal items.

200 Westgate Pkwy, Ste 102 • Pack up any toys or children’s furniture.

Richmond, VA 23233 • Clear fireplace mantle of clutter.

804-360-5200

Kitchen

• Remove any calendars - calendars make a listing dated if it goes over 30 days.

• Clear all counter tops. - No sponges, soap, knives or cutting boards.

• Leave 1-2 small appliances for size perception, but more than that can be distracting.

• Clear the refrigerator completely. No magnets, pictures, lists etc...

• Clean shiny appliances very well. Dirty appliances will look smudged with flash cameras.

• Remove trash can from Kitchen.

• Remove pot holders and dishtowels from view.

Dining Room

• Set the table with complementing tableware.

• Add a colorful centerpiece such as candles or flowers.

• Conceal any exposed electrical cords.

Bedrooms

• Make all beds and tidy bedrooms, don’t store items under bed – they will show in photos.

• Clothes hung, folded and put away.

• Remove items from bedside tables - books, magazines, photos, clock radios, etc.

Bathrooms

• Close shower curtains. If custom tiled bath, showcase with shower curtain half-open.

• Remove toilet paper from holder, or use a full roll. No partial rolls please.

• Clear off all countertops – all items should be cleared off the tops.

• Remove shampoo and other products from the shower area.

• Toilet lids should be closed.

• Mirrors should be clean.

• Plungers, trash cans and cleaning brushes should be out of sight.

• Remove bathrobes, towels and any other personal items from hooks or back of door.

• Remove decorative towels.

Storage/Laundry/Hobby Rooms

• Declutter and organize to make spaces look larger.

• Remove hampers and storage bins.

• Organize exposed shelves.

7201 Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 Richmond, VA 23226 804-288-5000

HomesInRichmond.com All offices independently owned and operated. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not intended as a solicitation. Agent licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ©2019 RE/MAX Commonwealth.

200 Westgate Pkwy, Ste 102 Richmond, VA 23233 804-360-5200

MOVING TIPS

Planning Your Move • Start planning your move two months before your moving date.

• Get organized. Know what belongings you are going to be taking with you and what you will be selling or donating. Keep an inventory list of each room.

• Decide if you will be doing the move yourself or if you will be hiring a moving company.

Finding the Best Moving Company • Call at least three moving companies as soon as possible to come to your house and give you an estimate on how much it will cost to move your goods.

• Make sure the mover you choose is licensed, bonded, and insured.

• Decide if you will be doing the packing or if you will have the moving company do the packing.

• Research the firm you choose to make sure it is reputable.

• The price will normally depend on the weight and amount of your items and the distance of the move.

• Extremely low estimates could indicate the moving company is 7201 Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 of poor quality.

Richmond, VA 23226 • There are additional fees to consider when using804-288-5000 professional movers, including extra valuation coverage for your belongings; additional services, such as preparing appliances for the move or 200 Westgate moving a piano; and extra charges, such as expedited services Pkwy, Ste 102 HomesInRichmond.com Richmond, VA 23233 and long-haul charges.

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Finding the Best Rental Truck Company • Call a few rental truck companies to compare their rates. The rates usually vary depending on the size of the truck needed and whether it is a one-way move or if you will be able to return the truck to the original rental location.

• When renting a truck, there are many additional expenses that you might not think about. For example, most rental trucks do not get good gas mileage, so it’s best to ask how many miles to the gallon you can expect to get and budget accordingly.

• Contact your auto insurance company and your credit card companies to see if you would be covered if the rental truck gets damaged somehow. If you are not covered, make sure to purchase the insurance offered by the rental truck company.

Tips for Packing • If moving yourself, you will need to purchase all of your packing supplies, including boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers, etc.

• Pack a suitcase for each member of the family with their essential items and changes of clothes. These suitcases should not go on the truck but rather in your car.

• Start filling an “Open First” box. This box will contain the items that you will need right away, such as toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, trash bags, cups and plates, scissors, and snacks.

• Start a box for your valuables and important documents. Keep this box with you during your move.

• Make sure to label the boxes for the room that they will go into at your new home, and if possible, make a list of what is in each box to create a master list.

Moving Pets Across the Country • Call your veterinarian and get copies of the records for your animals. Ask your veterinarian if he or she has any referrals in the area where you will be moving.

• Since moving can be stressful for any animal, ask your veterinarian if there are any medications that can relieve stress for your animal or what signs you should be looking for if your animal is in trouble.

• Depending on the distance of your move, you might want to hire a pet-moving service, as moving companies are not permitted to move pets.

7201 Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 Richmond, VA 23226 804-288-5000

HomesInRichmond.com All offices independently owned and operated. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not intended as a solicitation. Agent licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ©2019 RE/MAX Commonwealth.

200 Westgate Pkwy, Ste 102 Richmond, VA 23233 804-360-5200

8 Reasons Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Here are five reasons why it pays to work with a REALTOR®.

1. Navigate a complicated process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multipage settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. Information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

3. Help finding the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties.

4. Negotiating skills. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

6. Someone who speaks the language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.

7. Experience. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. Even if you have done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.

8. Objective voice. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, homebuying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll every make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you.

7201 Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 Richmond, VA 23226 804-288-5000

HomesInRichmond.com All offices independently owned and operated. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not intended as a solicitation. Agent licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ©2019 RE/MAX Commonwealth.

200 Westgate Pkwy, Ste 102 Richmond, VA 23233 804-360-5200

10 Questions to Ask When Choosing Your REALTOR®

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, and assistance with technology can help an agent sell your home.

9. 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?

10. 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.

7201 Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 Richmond, VA 23226 804-288-5000

HomesInRichmond.com All offices independently owned and operated. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not intended as a solicitation. Agent licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ©2019 RE/MAX Commonwealth.

200 Westgate Pkwy, Ste 102 Richmond, VA 23233 804-360-5200

Understanding Agency Relationships

It’s important to understand what legal responsibilities your real estate salesperson has to you and to other parties in the transaction. Ask what type of agency relationship your agent has with you:

SELLER’S REPRESENTATIVE A seller’s agent is hired by and represents the seller. All fiduciary duties are owed to the seller. The agency relationship usually is created by a listing contract.

assist the buyer in any way that would be detrimental to the seller, a buyer-customer can expect to be treated honestly by the subagent.

It is important that subagents fully explain their duties to buyers.

BUYER’S REPRESENTATIVE A buyer’s agent is hired by prospective buyers to represent them in a real estate transaction.

The buyer’s rep works in the buyer’s best interest throughout the transaction and owes fiduciary duties to the buyer. The buyer can pay the licensee directly through a negotiated fee, or the buyer’s rep may be paid by the seller or through a commission split with the seller’s agent.

DISCLOSED DUAL AGENT Dual agency is a relationship in which the brokerage firm represents both the buyer and the seller in the same real estate transaction. Dual agency relationships do not carry with them all of the traditional fiduciary duties to clients. Instead, dual agents owe limited fiduciary duties. Because of the potential for conflicts of interest in a dual-agency relationship, it’s vital that all parties give their informed consent. In many states, this consent must be in writing. Disclosed dual agency, in which both the buyer and the seller are told that the agent is representing both of them, is legal in most states.

SUBAGENT A subagent owes the same fiduciary duties to the agent’s customer as the agent does. Subagency usually arises when a cooperating sales associate from another brokerage, who is not the buyer’s agent, shows property to a buyer. In such a case, the subagent works with the buyer as a customer but owes fiduciary duties to the listing broker and the seller. Although a subagent cannot

agent of the buyer. Designated agency avoids the problem of creating a dual-agency relationship for licensees at the brokerage. The designated agents give their clients full representation, with all of the attendant fiduciary duties. The broker still has the responsibility of supervising both groups of licensees.

NONAGENCY RELATIONSHIP Some states permit a real estate licensee to have a type of nonagency relationship with a consumer. These relationships vary considerably from state to state, both as to the duties owed to the consumer and the name used to describe them. Very generally, the duties owed to the consumer in a nonagency relationship are less than the complete, traditional fiduciary duties of an agency relationship.

DESIGNATED AGENT

This is a brokerage practice that allows the managing broker to designate which licensees in the brokerage will act as an agent of the seller and which will act as an 7201 Glen Forest Dr, Ste 104 Richmond, VA 23226 804-288-5000

HomesInRichmond.com All offices independently owned and operated. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not intended as a solicitation. Agent licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ©2019 RE/MAX Commonwealth.

200 Westgate Pkwy, Ste 102 Richmond, VA 23233 804-360-5200