Ellicott City Realtor Catonsville Realtor

A series of weekly tips for sellers that are simple, quick and designed to bring you top value.

• Make sure stairways are safe by freeing them of toys or slippery mats, securing the handrail, and installing good lighting.

If you'd like more information about preparing your home for sale, feel free to contact me.

Recently I was near the completion of one of my rehab projects.  This is a hobby I really enjoy in addition to residential Real Estate Sales.  I was almost ready to put it on the market when I was approached by a lady from the neighborhood.  She said she had always admired the home and wanted to look through it.  Of course, she loved it and wanted to buy it and said she could pay cash.

I'm a Realtor, and of course I was going to list the home in the MLS, and pay a co-op fee.  Also, in the state of Maryland, I must disclose in the contract of sale that I am a Realtor and the owner.

We set up a meeting to do a contract.  The Buyer says she thinks my price is very fair and she knows the prices in the neighborhood.  She comes to our meeting with a deposit check and bank statements to prove she can pay cash.

I'm excited and nervous at the same time.  I'm excited because this looks like it's going to be a quick sale.  I'm nervous because I want her to feel like she's being treated fairly and honestly.  I told her she had the right to choose a Realtor to represent her, and if she chose to do so that I would pay for that Realtor's commission.  I made it clear that I would not be able to represent her as the Buyer in this transaction.  She said she would prefer to just deal with me directly and continue without representation.

Here is where some Realtors might just go about signing the contract and getting the absolute best deal they could get for themselves.  It is the perfect scenario - a cash Buyer who is willing to pay full price and not wanting representation of their own.  Being thorough, I still opted to go over all of the comps in the neighborhood with her.  Even though she already knew about the recent sales, I felt it was important that we review them together.  I agreed to her requests to get a Home Inspection and a Termite Inspection, and I offered to pay for half of her closing costs.  I also went over what representation means, and made sure she understood that she was entering this transaction without representation.

This is always a balancing act as a Realtor.  Most consumers are unaware of the laws in the state of Maryland regarding Real Estate representation, and all of the ramifications.  Here in Maryland, the laws are very clear.

If you're a Homeowner looking to sell your home and you hire a Realtor - lucky you!   These are the steps and risks your Realtor takes on your behalf, using all of their experience and knowledge of the laws and statutes to save you time, money and potential negative consequences down the road.

A series of weekly tips for sellers that are simple, quick and designed to bring you top value.

• If your wall-to-wall carpet looks fine except for a couple of worn spots, have it professionally cleaned and cover the imperfect areas with small rugs.

If you'd like more information about preparing your home for sale, feel free to contact me.

A series of weekly tips for sellers that are simple, quick and designed to bring you top value.

• If possible, plan to put your home on the market during peak real estate periods - spring and autumn.  Planning and preparing your home now will help it to be market ready in spring.

If you'd like more information about preparing your home for sale, feel free to contact me.

I'm leaving my opinion out of this, but take a minute to watch this video and draw your own conclusions.  It's definitely worth watching:

http://www.thinkbigworksmall.com/mypage/archive/1/32275

Let me know what YOU think.

A series of weekly tips for sellers that are simple, quick and designed to bring you top value.

If you have more than two cars in your driveway, park the extra vehicles at a neighbor's house.  This will give your driveway and yard a spacious look.

If you'd like more information about preparing your home for sale, feel free to contact me.

A series of weekly tips for sellers that are simple, quick and designed to bring you top value.

If your washer and dryer are in the basement, create a cozy laundry area by adding an area rug and shelves to store detergent bottles.

If you'd like more information about preparing your home for sale, feel free to contact me.

A series of weekly tips for sellers that are simple, quick and designed to bring you top value.

The basement needn't be spotless, but change light bulbs and clear cobwebs before showing the house.

If you'd like more information about preparing your home for sale, feel free to contact me.

A series of weekly tips for sellers that are simple, quick and designed to bring you top value.

Don't wait until the last minute to call professional painters because their schedules may be filled.  Hire them as soon as you make the decision to sell.

If you'd like more information about preparing your home for sale, feel free to contact me.

A series of weekly tips for sellers that are simple, quick and designed to bring you top value.

Use degreaser and a razor blade to make windows crystal-clear.

If you'd like more information about preparing your home for sale, feel free to contact me.