Best of both worlds

Getting you the most money for your home and doing so in the shortest amount of time is Andrew’s top priority. Together, you and Andrew, will help you get your home ready to show at its best. Andrew will also sit down and look at today’s real estate market and price your home correctly.  This two-pronged approach is what has helped the hundreds of clients that have hired Andrew and achieved these outstanding results.

Staging your home 

Of all the things homeowners control when selling their home, the condition of the property is one of the most important. Some thoughts on condition and staging include: 

Think like a buyer.  People always want the best for themselves, and your home should represent the buyer’s answer to his goal. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes! Remember, they arrive at your front door wanting to find the right home. Don’t make them search somewhere else for it. If you have done your homework, every room in your home will create a desire for the buyer to stay. 

Start making a list.  Walk outside and take a look at the property through the critical eyes of a buyer. Is there anything that needs painting, repairing, looks worn, or is outdated? Start writing these items down on a list. Walk through the interior and look for the same things as on the outside. 

Do everything before putting your home on the market. Complete all of your repairs, improvements and enhancements prior to your first showing. Remember, your best showings come early in the listing period. Be ready! 

Pricing your home 

Did you know that pricing your home is one of the most important steps toward successfully marketing your home? Here are some things to consider when determining your property’s current market value. 

Your original purchase price.  Chances are you paid market value. Markets change and today we have to deal with current market conditions which may have changed significantly. 

Over-improvements.  Improvements should be made for enjoyment, not resale. You cannot add an item to a home, select it to your style, use it and then expect a buyer to pay the original cost. 

The owner’s need for money.  The owner’s need for money or the fact that the owner is moving to a more expensive area where he or she will have to pay more for a home, has nothing to do with the home’s current market value. Need never determines value. 

Dangers of overpricing 

Overpricing your home helps sell other competitively priced homes first. Your home may be used to demonstrate the good value of other properties. Your objective should be to enter the market in a position that will attract prospects, not drive them away. 

You will lose the excitement that a new listing generates.  Real estate agents are working with buyers who have seen what is currently on the market and are waiting for something new to be listed. Therefore, the most activity will take place in the first 30 days of a listing. Your home will probably receive its highest and best offers during this time. After that initial period, the only people who will look at your home will be new buyers. 

You will lose the most qualified prospects.   Buyers won’t be able to “make an offer” because they probably won’t see your property. They will view the properties that are priced within their price range, knowing they cannot afford anything above that limit. 

Your home may become stale on the market. Prospects may wonder why it has been on the market for so long or if something is wrong with the property, even after you lower the price. A house takes on a reputation surprisingly fast, so don’t wear out your welcome on the market. 

You lose a strong negotiating position when your house is on the market a long time, both financially and mentally.  Prospects will not rush to make an offer on an overpriced property, and you may feel compelled to accept less when they finally do. 

Advertised every day until sold

Internet advertising  “94% of buyers use the internet in their home search.”  Your home will be featured on the top real estate websites in your marketplace as well as websites listing homes across the county. This is an excellent method to advertise to buyers relocating to Utah from other areas. 

Direct mail and print advertising. Over 1,200 mailed advertisements featuring your home will be delivered to prospective buyers’ doorsteps each month.  These flyers are delivered in and around your neighborhood. They are also distributed in areas strategically selected. Research shows that the majority of people moving, spend at least $100,000 more on their new home than on their prior home. 

Digital Photos.  Technology enables home buyers to preview your home on their computers. Photos of your home are made available on the Internet as well as on mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets and even cell phones. 25 color photos are a powerful marketing tool. Andrew will work with you to make sure your home is ready for the photo shoot. 

Yard sign.  Nothing tells the public your home is up for sale better than a yard sign. This sign acts as a beacon to those passing by as well as those searching for a home in your particular neighborhood.  The telephone number on the sign rings directly to our buyer hotline. Every call will be handled professionally and personally by Andrew. 

Instant Info.  Instant information about your home will be at buyers fingertips with on demand technology, delivering information to buyers via text messaging. Text messages with pictures and the current price can be sent to the buyer’s phone in an effort to give potential buyers what they want. 

Home tours.  From time to time during the listing period, Andrew may invite a large group of realtors to visit your home. This is a great marketing tool for the following reasons. Your home is exposed to Realtors with real buyers who may just be looking for exactly what your home has to offer.  Every Realtor attending your home’s tour is asked to give feedback on the condition and asking price of your property. If you think the expertise of one real estate professional is great, just think what you will gain from an entire bus full. 

Open house.  One of the most traditional ways to market a home is holding an open house. Andrew and his team have taken the Open House practice one step further by certifying in Quantum Home Tours. 

Working for you 

One of the advantages The Ask Andrew Team offers is the team approach to providing top quality service. Andrew is heavily involved in making sure your home is marketed properly to get your home sold fast. All negotiating of contracts is also done by Andrew to deliver you the most money for the sale of your home. 

In addition to these important tasks, many other things need to happen to reach your goals. Therefore, other professionals will be working for you as part of Andrew’s real estate team. 

Over the years we feel we have developed a system for success. We hope you feel the same way. However, if ever you feel there is something that can be changed or improved in anyway, please don’t hesitate to let Andrew and his team know. 

Progress updates.  Communication is one of the most important steps to a great relationship. Andrew and his team is constantly working to get your home sold and in an effort to keep you informed they have put systems in place to do just that. 

Weekly Update Phone Call. 

Andrew talks with his sellers once a week to update them on progress and plans. 

Mail and Email.  From time to time during the listing period you will receive letters sent to you via mail or email, which ever you prefer, explaining what the next step in the marketing process will be. The same will be true once an offer is accepted and your home is under contract. 

Getting you the most money

Getting you the most money for your home and doing so in the shortest amount of time is Andrew’s top priority. Together, you and Andrew, will sit down and look at today’s real estate market and price your home correctly. 

Under Contract

Congratulations! 

You have just put a home under contract and the status is also referred to as “sale pending”. This means the seller cannot sell it to anyone else. It also means you can now spend some of your time and money testing and inspecting the home before you actually buy it. 

Typically, the time between going under contract and closing is 30 days. 

Due Diligence

Home Inspection 

It’s easy to make sure the home you’ve chosen is a smart buy. By having a home inspection, the home’s vital systems are checked. A home inspection allows you to purchase your home with confidence. Andrew will help you set one up after you have chosen the home you like. We recommend the following minimum standards when choosing an inspector:  1. Membership in ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) and adherence to its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
2. Written report at the time of inspection.
Cost for a home inspection is typically $500 and is paid for by the buyer directly to the inspector the day of the inspection. 

Appraisal 

Your lender will order an appraisal on your the home. This is done to make sure the home is worth the price we have negotiated. This is paid for by the buyer and in included in your closing costs.

Sign on the line

When you wrote your offer purchase, you and the seller agreed on a day to settle the transaction. As your loan is finalized and all your inspections are completed, you will be ready to sign papers to meet the settlement deadline. This process happens at a title company. 

Your closing will consist of signing papers regarding your loan and giving the title company a deposit for any down payment that has previously discussed and agreed upon.

Funding and Recording

After you have signed all the paperwork at the title company, a few things happen behind the scenes. The seller signs similar papers at a title company. Your signed papers get sent to the lender providing you the loan. After being reviewed, the money is released to the title company and immediately following receipt of the money, the home is taken out of the seller’s name and recorded into your name at the county offices. At this point, you are the legal and proud owner of your new home.

Getting the keys

Once the property is funded and recorded into your name, Andrew will meet you at the house and hand you the keys to your new home. Welcome home!