Selling your home in Summit County?

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Write down all the reasons for selling your home. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to sell and what do I expect to accomplish with the sale?" For example, a growing family may want a larger home closer to the ski resort. For your goals, write down if you'd like to sell your house within a certain time frame or make a particular profit margin. Cary Piecoup will work with you to map out the best path to achieve your objectives and set a realistic time frame for the sale. 

Your next objective should be to determine the best possible selling price of your home. Setting a fair asking price from the outset will generate the most activity from other real estate agents and buyers. You will need to take into account the condition of your home, what comparable homes in your neighborhood are selling for, and the state of the overall market in your area. It's often difficult to remain unbiased when putting a price on your home. Cary Piecoup will know what comparable homes are selling for in your neighborhood and the average time those homes are sitting on the market. 

Most of us don't keep our homes in "showroom" condition. We tend to overlook piles of boxes in the garage, broken porch lights, and doors or windows that stick. It's time to break out of that owner's mindset and get your house in tip-top shape. The condition of your home will affect how quickly it sells and the price the buyer is willing to offer. First impressions are the most important.  Cary Piecoup can help you take a fresh look at your home and suggest ways to stage it and make it more appealing to buyers. 

•  A home with too much "personality" is harder to sell. Removing family photos, mementos and personalized décor will help buyers visualize the home as theirs. 
• Make minor repairs and replacements. Small defects, such as a leaky faucet, a torn screen or a worn doormat, can ruin the buyer's first impression. 
• Clutter is a big no-no when showing your home to potential buyers. Make sure you have removed all knick-knacks from your shelves and cleared all your bathroom and kitchen counters to make every area seem as spacious as possible.

Now that you're ready to sell, Cary Piecoup will set up a marketing strategy specifically for your home. There are many ways to get the word out, including:

• Internet
• Yard signs
• Open houses
• Agent-to-agent referrals
• Direct mail marketing campaigns

In addition to listing your home on the MLS, Cary Piecoup will use a combination of these tactics to bring the most qualified buyers to your home.

When you receive a written offer from a potential buyer, Cary Piecoup will first find out whether or not the individual is preapproved to buy your home. If so, then you and Cary Piecoup review the proposed contract, taking care to understand what is required of both parties to execute the transaction. The contract, though not limited to this list, should include the following: 

• Legal description of the property 
• Offer price
• Down payment
• Financing arrangements
• List of fees and who will pay them 
• Deposit amount
• Inspection rights and possible repair allowances 
• Method of conveying the title and who will handle the closing 
• Appliances and furnishings that will stay with the home 
• Settlement date 
• Contingencies 

At this point, you have three options: accept the contract as is, accept it with changes (a counteroffer), or reject it. Remember: Once both parties have signed a written offer, the document becomes legally binding. If you have any questions or concerns, be certain to address them with Cary Piecoup right away. 

Most offers to purchase your home will require some negotiating to come to a win-win agreement. Cary Piecoup is well versed on the intricacies of the contracts used in your area and will protect your best interest throughout the entire process. Cary Piecoup also knows what each contract clause means and what areas are easiest to negotiate. Some negotiable items:

• Price
• Financing
• Closing Costs
• Repairs
• Furnishings 
• Move-in date

Once you accept an offer to sell your house, you will need to make a list of all the things you and your buyer must do before closing. The property may need to be formally appraised, surveyed, inspected or repaired. Cary Piecoup can spearhead the effort and serve as your advocate when dealing with the buyer's agent and service providers. 

"Closing" refers to the meeting where ownership of the property is legally transferred to the buyer. Cary Piecoup will be present during the closing to guide you through the process and make sure everything goes as planned. By being present, Cary Piecoup can mediate any last-minute issues that may arise. Prior to closing, Cary Piecoup will send you a list of "to-do" items for turning the property over to the buyers. Here are some items on the list:

• Cancel electricity, gas, snow removal, cable and other routine services.
• If the new owner is retaining any of the services, change the name on the account.
• Gather owner's manuals and warranties for all conveying appliances.