How to Sell your Home in 21 Days and Save Thousands

Allow them to calculate what they think they can buy it for and what their monthly payments will be.

Consider allowing local mortgage brokers who are hungry for business to leave their rate sheets and business contact info.

We won’t nag you about this, just do it. This is the most challenging part of moving. Don’t wait until youre behind the eight ball. I have had closings where my seller was still in the house the day of closing and, moving belongings to the front yard while buyers and their agent were yelling at me. No fun.

Talk it up. Get the word out to your friends and family. Use Social Media Tools to expose your home to prospective buyers looking for a good deal.

Marketing through Syndicated Real Estate sites and Social Media. Choose one and get started with the details. I like Zillow because Users get national exposure and a huge marketing base. It’s free, and we can easily link to the auction part of our site.

• Trulia
• Zillow
• Craigslist
• For Sale by Owner
• Facebook
• Linkedin
• Twitter
• Hootsuite
• Pinterest
• MLS System
• Realtor.com

This will help generate interest in your home.

This will help generate interest in your home.

This will help generate interest in your home.

Assure this agent they will be gaining exposure to “leads” and you expect a significant discount. Work out the terms and expectations for attendance at Open House and paperwork. Consider asking for a discount if you were to also use their services as a Buyer Broker.

Do the same with handymen and agree to display their business cards and signs in exchange for the opportunity to advertise.

Create a basic fact sheet with the necessary data. Most of this is easily duplicated from the information produced in your CMA’s by the three Realtors. Determine your Home’s Steal Value (about 50% of your estimated Sale Value as determined by the comps.) Decide on an offering price 50% to 70% of true value for best results at attracting a crowd.

Add a few photos and a short video.

List your home for sale on Zillow for free.

Describe why you have enjoyed living in this home.

Point out the faults too, like it needs a new roof.  A roofer looking for a new home won’t be afraid of this deferred maintenance condition.

Add this video to your listing and use it in your Social Media marketing.

Add your listing to ctMLS.net, Sell It Faster , with links to your MLS and/or Zillow listing. No need to duplicate everything again as long as you have relevant information linked. Post your ctMLS.net listing in your Social Media marketing.

Consider creating a small Single Listing Website to showcase your property.

Consider increasing your Social Media marketing outlets for distribution of your listing. Zillow, Craig’s List, Twitter, Instagram, FaceBook, Pinterest.

What is the profile of the most likely buyer for your home? Other than someone looking for a good deal, to whom do you think would be most intersted? Market to them. What kind of Market is it? Buyer’s, Seller’s, or Neutral?

Plans need to be made to coordinate moving your belongings after all contingencies have been removed.

Be ready to honor the terms of the sales agreement.

Consider offering a bonus for anyone who is the successful bidder. A 1% credit to buyer payable upon closing is an example.

The reason is simple: We want to get enough people pre-registered to allow us to conduct Open House.

The rule of thumb is offer it between 50% to 70% of what our home is currently valued. We want buyers to bid it up to it’s true value.

Know your Nut: Make sure of the payoff numbers for obligations, and disclose it is subject to a short sale approval.

Make it easy for interested buyers to find your property.

Be ready to aswer questions. Have fact sheets etc at your fingertips.

Anticipate and Propose solutions for Objections

Know your USB: What is the Unique Selling Benefit for your property?

Gather all required and support documents

Fact Sheet
Disclosures
Warrantees
Pertinent Town Record information
Appraisal or Home Inspection if you have them
Tax Records
Utility bills
Forms for to be used for the sale of your property

You are opening your home up to the world. Secure jewelry, cash, anything of value. Have your team assist you in keeping a watchful eye on your visitors.

It’s ok to be trusting, another to be indifferent to risk.

The conductor of the orchestra, who is your “point guard”. Important resource person who makes sure everything runs smoothly. This can be a trusted friend, ourselves, or even a real estate agent.

Although you won’t be filling these out, start to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of these docuents you will eventually be signing.  Allow your settlement Agent, Attorney, or possibly a Real Estate agent to prepare these documents.

Since most Real Estate agents will have a disclaimer that says they are not providing legal advice, we may as well get those praticioners involved before signing.

If you feel pressured, then add the clause “This document is subject to Seller’s attorney’s review within 3 days”. Some contracts will over-ride that language: Be careful.

Make it crystal clear what the rules and procedure are for the bidding process.

Register to Bid can be done online, with Buyer submitting their profile.

Buyer preferred terms, in response to seller’s proposed terms.

Buyer’s Opening Bid

Suggested Guidelines

Have a cutoff for opening bids, which may be changed anytime up until a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes before the Round Robin Bidding begins.

Opening Bidders are sorted from low to high prices.

We recommend bids are transparent, meaning visible.

The Highest Bidder goes first, and is allowed to stay with his current bid or increase it.

Bid increments of  Seller’s choice, $500 recommended.

“It’s your turn to Bid. The current high bid is  __________. With a minimum increment of  $500 needed,  will you place a bid of  (high bid +$500) = __________ or more to continue or pass?

Each bidder then gets their turn to top the bid or withdraw.

Allow a reasonable time for the bidder to respond, but perhaps a time limit of 5 to 10 minutes maximum. This is helpful especially if it is electronic bidding. It may be set up as a choice between New Bid, or withdraw.

If the first bidder’s high is topped, then bids continue until it is his turn again, and he should now be the lowest bidder remaining.With his new opportunity he must now top the bid or withdraw like everyone else did. Play continues until there is only one remaining high bid.

Optional Idea. Three remaining bidders.

Lowest bidder goes first, and has one chance to improve with his best and final offer.

Second lowest goes next, and highest goes last with the chance to have the best and final high.

Announce that bidding has ended and thank everyone for atttending.

You and the successful bidder are agreeing on price, terms and condtions in a non-binding negotiation. These facts can now be sent by the buyer to his settlement agent to draft for their signatures, then for yours AFTER your Settlement Agent reviews it.

Exchange information about your Settlement Agents. They will keep buyers and sellers posted regarding the details.

After You and the successful bidder sign the documents, allow the professionals to guide you with next steps and details up untill and through the closing.

Reminder, they guide, but you alone are responsible for making your business and financial decisions.

Now what?

Assuming you have a meeting of the minds in writing, the following are typical procedures and some of the details. Rely on the Professionals for your unique situation.

1. 24 to 48 hours for Buyer to submit purchase and sales agreement for Seller’s signature.
2. Executory Agreement: Both parties have signed, we have a valid contract, the clock starts ticking.
3. 10 to 14 days usually allowed for home inspection.
4. Apply for Financing, if any.
5. Negotiate the Inspection Report. Get agreement on any repairs or credits.
6. Appraisal is ordered.
7. Loan Docs, verifications of employment, funds, etc.
8. Buyer gets Conditional Approval. (30 to 45 days)
9. Lender/Buyer repairs are done by the Seller.
10. “Clear to Close”.
11. Insurance Binder, Utilities notified.
12. Final walk-through Inspection.
13. Closing. (45 to 60 days)

The packing process has taken maybe a few weeks in preparation for the sale. Be ready to move, but only after ALL contingencies ave been removed.

Be ready to honor the terms of the sales agreement.

Thank the Buyer

Purchase and Sale Agreement, disclosures, addendums are all signed, and filed away with important documents.

Thank You to friends who have helped, and real estate agents, contractors, lenders, other buyers.

Move on with your Life, have a house warming party wherever you land.