Sellers

Cris has included the following information to assist those who are selling properties:

Preparing Your Home for Sale | Pricing Your Home | Listing Your Home
The Offer | Cris' Service Guarantee

10 Point Listing Guarantee (pdf)

Preparing Your Home for Sale

• Clean your home and make it ready for lots of people to see it at its best. Remember, 1st impressions are the lasting impressions!
  
• Clean carpets if necessary, make sure any pet stains are spot cleaned if applicable
  
• Paint any areas of walls or trim that show heavy wear
  
• Repair any items that need repairing that you are aware of . Remember, your buyer will have a home inspection at his/her expense to check structural, electrical & mechanical. It is better if these things are in order prior to the inspection
  
• Spruce up your landscaping if it's spring, summer or fall
  If you have pets, determine a place where they will be when some one comes in to preview especially if your not going to be home. Make sure all liter boxes for cats are tidy & fresh
  
• Remove all clutter to the eye. Rent a storage unit, store in boxes in basement or garage
  
• Contact a Real Estate Professional. They have the expertise, education, & marketing experience to get the job done for your in a timely & positive manner

Pricing Your Home

• * Many things determine the value, you can not assign a price with out the comparables around you and some research by your Realtor. The government & lenders are holding the appraisers accountable for inflated and false values. It's important to put an accurate fair market price to start
  * Remember, an experienced Realtor with a proven track record is your best source to successfully market your home and it's fair market value

Listing Your Home

• Choose a Realtor, get paperwork prepared & signed, get an extra key made for the Realtor/Lockbox
  
• Does the Realtor charge a Transaction Fee or Charge the Seller for the HMS Warranty. Baldus Real
• Estate provides a 1 Year HMS Warranty with a 90 day listing at full commission. Baldus does not charge a transaction fee to our Seller's or Buyer's
  
• Make sure the Realtor is not just putting your property in the MLS, but preparing a brochure, doing digital & color photos for Homes & Land Magazine, local papers, flyers, etc. After all, this is what you're paying for
  
• Determine whether you want your Realtor coordinating showings with other Realtors or whether you want the other Realtor calling you directly. Remember, your Realtor works for you and looks out for your best interest. The Buyer typically has their own "Buyer's Agent" who looks out for them. It's their job to get them the best deal
  
• Make sure your Realtor gets the buyers pre-qualified. You don't want strangers walking thru your home, making offers if they have not financial means or credit to follow thru with the purchase. Believe me, this happens all the time and the Seller gets false hopes of going to settlement and walking away with proceeds. In most cases, Your Realtor can determine up front if there are any foreseen obstacles with the buyer's credit, cash, etc and inform you so that you can make a decision to accept or decline their offer

The Offer

This is the point in the sale of your home where it is imperative to have someone who has the expertise & negotiating skills to make your offer a legal binding contract.

• Is the contract a current Maryland Form or is it expired
  
• Is the buyer qualified, do they have a reputable lender and a lenders approval letter. (A Pre-qualification letter is only an opinion from the lender and should not be excepted)
  
• What contingencies are there and are the time frames reasonable
  
• Is each party clear in writing on the items that convey with the house and items that don't
  
• Have all parties to the purchase signed?
  
• Are there missing forms or addendums that are necessary to make this a legal binding contract?
  
• Have both parties agreed on a settlement date?
  
• Has the buyer been notified of utility company's and phone numbers to change service
  
• Which title company will they be using and what are their charges to the seller
  
• Is everyone clear of closing help or the splitting of the state & local transfer & recordation taxes

REMEMBER, AN OFFER IS ONLY AN OFFER UNTIL ALL PARTIES HAVE AGREED AND SIGNED/INITIALED WHERE APPLICABLE. MISSING INITIALS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS BUYERS GET OUT OF PURCHASES

Cris' Service Guarantee

1. Provide a one year warranty on your home, free of charge.*
2. Provide you with a written competitive market analysis of your home.
3. Make available to you a moving discount through a national moving firm.
4. Personally notify the neighborhood that your house is on the market.
5. Prepare a personalized specification chart of your home and make it available for all prospective purchasers.
6. Personally send you copies of all ads for the sale of your home with a personal accounting of all showings and calls.
7. List your house in the MRIS & Realtor.com.
8. Advertise your house in the Homes and Land Magazine, on the Internet, in the
Maryland Independent, and/or variety of other leading media.
9. If you are not satisfied with our services, you may cancel your listing upon 24 hours notice, no questions asked.