Fully preparing your home for sale can make a considerable difference in the time it takes to sell it. You can help eliminate buyer objections before they arise by making necessary repairs and improvements, some of which are suggested below:

Outdoors

• Spruce up your garden and lawn; trim shrubbery and replace dead plants

• Yard and patio should be neat; outdoor furniture should be clean and in good shape

• Clean or paint your front door - remember first impressions last the longest!

• Manicure your front yard; make sure your driveway and entryway are free of clutter

Exterior

• Check that house numbers, mailbox, and exterior lighting are all in good condition

• Touch up with fresh paint as needed

• Inspect chimney for cracks or earthquake damage

• Repair loose trim, drain pipes, and fencing

• Clean stains and window screens

Garage

• Remove clutter and tidy up the shelves

• Clean the floor

Overall

• Apply fresh paint as needed. Think about brightening your interior with neutral-toned paint

• Clean draperies and carpets

• Replace burned out light bulbs

• Clean the fireplace and remove smoke stains from the wall and mantle

Kitchen

• Sinks, appliances and counter tops should sparkle; remove any clutter.

• Wax the floor

• Clean the oven range and other appliances

• Clean tile and grout; replace if necessary

Bathrooms

• Clean mirrors, glass, chrome and porcelain surfaces

• Replace shower curtain if necessary

• Fix any faucet drips or leaks

• Clean grout and caulking; replace if necessary

Closets

• Doors and drawers should open and close easily

• Remove clutter; tidy up shelves and racks

• Clothes should be neatly arranged

Indoors

• Check the basics around the house. It takes just a minute to check all doors, windows and cabinets to make sure they don't stick, squeak or are too loose

• Clean your furnace and water heater so buyers know they are looking at a house that has been well maintained

Marketing Your Home

Not all homes are created equal and neither are all REALTORS®. What sets us apart is our attention to the highest level of performance for our clients. It's reported that over 70% of all first inquiries regarding real estate use the Internet. Therefore, we've placed critical importance on the use of both technology and fundamental applications to insure you the most satisfaction throughout the process. They are as follows:

• Property Flyer - We prepare a professional marketing sales tool including graphics and highlights of your home to distribute to the brokerage community and potential buyers

• Multiple Listing Service (MLS) - Information about your home will be included in the Multiple Listing Service, a database of currently available properties accessible by real estate professionals

• Other Brokers/Agents - We cooperate with and invite other brokers and agents in the community to tour your home in order to find a buyer

• Relocation Connections - Prospects for your home also come from relocation services, corporations, executive search firms, and fellow associates who keep track of potential buyers and maintain relationships with former clients

• The Internet - With approximately 80% of today's consumers utilizing the Internet for real estate information, we employ a robust set of tools and resources to make your home available for preview

• Our website

• Our broker's website

• IDX

• Email alert

• Spotlight property electronic brochure with specific domain name

• We will provide you with periodic status reports including buyer reactions to your home, allowing us to continually evaluate and reassess our marketing strategy

Step 1: Preparing the Home for Sale

• Property Inspection – It may be a wise choice to get a home inspection before we put your home on the market. This will identify needed repairs and improvements that could increase profit on the sale.

• Staging - a professional decorator will stage your home so it can be presented in its best possible light so it help to sell for the highest possible price

• Establishing Goals - Markets can fluctuate so it's important to establish your goals so that we can work hard to meet them

• Listing Price - Establishing a competitive and strategic listing price is critical to the success of the sale. We use the most advanced CMA tools to derive the right price.

• Relocation - Prospects for your home also come from relocation services, corporations, executive search firms and fellow associates who keep track of potential buyers and maintain relationships with former clients

Step 2: Promoting the Property

• Digital photography - Once your home is ready to list, we will have professional quality digital photos taken

• Full-color property brochures - We prepare a professional marketing sales tool including graphics and highlights of your home to distribute to the brokerage community and potential buyers

• Full-color postcards of your home will be designed and distributed at showings, open houses, public venues, and through direct mail

• We will provide you with periodic status reports including buyer reactions to your home, allowing us to continually evaluate and reassess our marketing strategy

• The Internet - We employ the following set of tools to make your home available for preview.

• Our website

• Our broker's website

• IDX

• Email alert

• Spotlight property electronic brochure with specific domain name

Step 3: Technology Tools

• The Internet Data Exchange (IDX) is an electronic display of homes for sale listed in the MLS. Your home will appear in this Exchange.

• Multiple Listing Service (MLS) - Information about your home will be included in the Multiple Listing Service, a database of currently available properties accessible by real estate professionals

• Our website features an entire feed of listings for all viewers who come to this site to search for homes

• E-mail Updates - Our website also features an automated MLS search for clients who are seeking properties. They can initiate their search on our site and receive emails daily with listings that meet their criteria. Your home will be featured in that service.

• Transaction Details - Our website has a password-protected area where all transaction details are logged for your viewing.

Step 4: Showing Your Home

• Broker/Agent Open House - We will invite all local brokers and agents to view your home

• Public Open House - Following the agent/broker open house we will hold a public open house and present your home to the general public

• Marketing Kits - All materials regarding the promotion of your home i.e., flyers, brochures, business cards and media kits will be available on onsite.

Step 5: Expectations

• All calls and email inquiries regarding your home are followed up immediately

• Access to your property will be secured by us though secure lockboxes and no one will gain admittance to your property without our permission