Negotiate to sell.
Most offers to purchase your home will require some negotiating to come to a win-win agreement. Your real estate agent is well versed on the intricacies of the contracts used in your area and will protect your best interest throughout the bargaining. Your agent also knows what each contract clause means, what you will net from the sale and what areas are easiest to negotiate. Some negotiable items, price, financing, closing costs, repairs, appliances and fixtures, landscaping, painting, move in date. Once both parties have agreed on the terms of the sale, your agent will prepare a contract.
Prepare to close.
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. Your real estate agent can spearhead the effort and serve as your advocate when dealing with the buyer's agent and service providers. Depending on the written contract, you may pay for all, some or none of these items. If each procedure returns acceptable results as defined by the contract, then the sale may continue. If there are problems with the home, the terms set forth in the contract will dictate your next step. You or the buyer may decide to walk away, open a new round of negotiations or proceed to closing. Important reminder: A few days before the closing, you will want to contact the entity that is closing the transaction and make sure the necessary documents will be ready to sign on the appropriate date. Also, begin to make arrangements for your upcoming move if you have not done so
Close the deal.
"Closing" refers to the meeting where ownership of the property is legally transferred to the buyer. Your agent will be present during the closing to guide you through the process and make sure everything goes as planned. By being present during the closing, he or she can mediate any last-minute issues that may arise. In some states, an attorney is required and you may wish to have one present. After the closing, you should make a "to do" list for turning the property over to the new owners. Here is a checklist to get you started. Cancel electricity, gas, lawn care, 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.
Check out my latest listing here:
4989 Crescent Circle, Canandaigua NY
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Canandaigua Real Estate Blog
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Useful Links
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Agent: Cindy Alves
Broker/ Owner of AlCo Properties
Main Phone: 585-394-0020
Secondary Phone: 585-393-9919
Fax: 585-219-5200
Email Email Me Here
CanandaiguaRealtors.com
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Eight Steps To Selling Your Home / Part 2
Eight Steps To Selling Your Home / Part 1
Eight Steps To Selling Your Home / Part 1
Start by defining your needs.
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 prompt your need for a larger home, or a job opportunity in another city may necessitate a move.
For your goals, write down if you'd like to sell your house within a certain time frame or make a particular profit margin. Work with your real estate agent to map out the best path to achieve your objectives and set a realistic time frame for the sale.
Set your price.
Your next objective should be to determine the best possible selling price for your house.
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 state of the overall market in your area. It's often difficult to remain unbiased when putting a price on your home, so your real estate agent's expertise is invaluable at this step. Your agent will know what comparable homes are selling for in your neighborhood and the average time those homes are sitting on the market. 
If you want a truly objective opinion about the price of your home, you could have an appraisal done. This typically costs a few hundred dollars.
However, remember, you're always better off setting a fair market value price than setting your price too high. Studies show that homes priced higher than 3 percent of their market value take longer to sell. If your home sits on the market for too long, potential buyers may think there is something wrong with the property. Often, when this happens, the seller has to drop the price below market value to compete with newer, reasonably priced listings.
Prepare your home.
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. Your real estate agent can help you take a fresh look at your home and suggest ways to stage it and make it more appealing to buyers.
Believe it or not a home with too much "personality" is sometimes hard to sell also.
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.
Get the word out.
Now that you're ready to sell, your real estate agent will set up a marketing strategy specifically for your home. There are many ways to get the word out, including, the Internet, yard signs, open houses, media advertising, agent to agent referrals, direct mail marketing campaigns. In addition to listing your home on the MLS, your agent will use a combination of these tactics to bring the most qualified buyers to your home. Your agent should structure the marketing plan so that the first three to six weeks are the busiest.
Receiving an offer.
When you receive a written offer from a potential buyer, your real estate agent will first find out whether or not the individual is prequalified or preapproved to buy your home. If so, then you and your agent will 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. Also, the 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 or 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 your real estate agent right away.
Check out my latest listing here:
4989 Crescent Circle, Canandaigua NY
Check out the rest of my website:
Search MLS
Dream Home Finder
Contact Cindy
Useful Links
Buyers Page
Sellers Page
Moving Tips
Free Email Updates
Broker Referrals
Agent: Cindy Alves
Broker/ Owner of AlCo Properties
Main Phone: 585-394-0020
Secondary Phone: 585-393-9919
Fax: 585-219-5200
Email Email Me Here
CanandaiguaRealtors.com
Click Here To Read More
Tips For Selling Your Home
Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent
Experienced Canandaigua Real Estate agents cost the same as brand new agents.
There is a greater probability the experienced agent may be able to fetch you a little higher price for your home, in less time with fewer hassles
There's know doubt that over the years an experienced agent has picked up a few tricks along the way. We often joke that we could write a book about all the bizarre and unusual things that have happened. All these things make for a better agent, who can handle almost anything along the way.
It is important to take your time when selecting a real estate agent. Be sure to interview several agents. Ask friends and family for referrals. Selling your home often times is the most important financial transaction that you will ever make. Find an agent who will work with you directly, not with a bunch of assistants.
Price Your Property Right
It is critical the right price is placed on the property. Anybody selling a product obviously desires to get the most money possible for that product. Placing an excessively high price on a property often proves to be counteractive to this cause. Before you set your price you should go over all the area sales and comparables in that area. Have your agent prepare this for you and get a copy to look over yourself. A high listing price will often cause prospective buyers to anticipate more than what you have to offer, or even cause them to lose interest before they even view your property. As a result, overpriced properties have a tendency to take an unusual amount of time to sell, and they end up being sold at a lower price.
Marketing and Advertising
There are many ways to market and advertise your property these days such as Multiple Listing Service, Signs, Classified Ads, Open Houses, Real Estate Websites, Flyers, etc. Your Realtor should employ a wide variety of marketing techniques. You also want to select a Realtor that is Full Time and Experienced and committed to selling your property; they should be readily available for every phone call from a perspective buyer.
Prequalify Buyers
It is important to be able to distinguish realistic potential buyers from mere window shoppers. Typically, a real estate agent should investigate a potential buyer's credit rating, savings, and purchasing power. This will help keep you from wasting your time marketing towards the wrong people. Often times people who do not come through a Realtor, are several months away from buying, and are more interested in browsing the market than actually making a purchase.
Prepare Your Home For Sale
The home needs to be made a presentable and as pleasant as possible when attempting to sell to prospective buyers. Be sure to make any necessary repairs and clean. A dirty home in need repairs will lower the value of your home and even turn away some buyers. Check out our Sellers Checklist below.
Prepare Your Home A Seller's Checklist: General Checklist
Freshen things up
Keep it light and bright
Remove clutter
Clean and polish door hardware and handrails
Clean wall switches and outlet covers
Clean and tidy basement and attic storage
Add plants and flowers throughout the house
House Exterior
Sealed driveway
Weed-free driveway and walkways
Healthy, weed-free, and trimmed lawn
Trees and shrubs trimmed
Wash front steps and porch
Check front doorbell and bell light
Clean or replace welcome mat
Repair and repaint fences and gates
Clean gutters and downspouts
Clean or repaint siding
Wash windows and screens
Clean shutters
Living, Family, Dining Rooms, Bedrooms
Repaint or touch up walls, ceiling and trim
Repair or replace damaged molding
Clean and wax hardwood and vinyl floors
Shampoo carpet
Clean drapes and bedspread
Clean out all closets
Put away all clothing
Bathrooms
Paint or wallpaper using light colors
Scrub tile, bleach, and repair grout
Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
Clean floor
Clean out medicine cabinet
Seal around tubs and showers
Replace old toilet seats
Replace shower window curtains
Put out a set of color coordinated bath linens
Kitchen and Laundry
Paint or wallpaper walls and ceiling with light color
Clean floor
Clean cabinets and appliances
Clean out refrigerator and wash interior
Empty dishwasher and clean around controls
Check operation of all appliances
Arrange and clean food storage areas
Clean out cabinets and drawers
Neatly display dishes in cabinets
Clear clutter from counter tops
Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
Wash or replace curtains
Garage
Check operation of wall sockets
Remove oil and grease from floor
Clean and organize storage area Maintain noisy garage door openerClick Here To Read More
Beautiful Canandaigua Lake NY
Canandaigua Lake is the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes, in the U.S. state of New York. It is called the "Chosen Spot" in the one of the languages of the Iroquois. The city of Canandaigua is located at the northern shore of the lake and the village of Naples is just a few miles south of the southern end.
There's so much to do in Canandaigua
Canandaigua Lake is 15 1/2 miles (25 km) long, 1 1/2 miles (2.4 km) wide, and has a shore line of about 36 miles (58 km).Near the northern end of the lake is Squaw Island.About fifty percent of the surrounding land is rolling fields or, forest, and most of the remainder is occupied by family farms.
Canandaigua Lake is a prime destination for tourist visiting the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.The lake is really beautiful in the summer time. And, there is so much to do. You can go fishing, ride a paddle boat, go site seeing, enjoy plenty of restaurants for dining. Or, just sit on one the many park benches along Lakeshore Drive and watch the sun set over the clean clear water of Canandaigua Lake.
Like to go shopping? Downtown Canandaigua has a fabulous street of shops where you can stroll and browse until your hearts content.Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park is located in the City of Canandaigua on the north end. It offers a boat launch for powerboats and fishing access from May to mid-October.
The lake has the distinction of having the second most expensive lakefront property values in the country, second only to Lake Tahoe in California. The lakeshore is dotted with sprawling waterfront estates and quaint cottages, and in the summer becomes a vacation spot for many affluent Rochesterians.
With the average lakefront home price hovering near $1,000,000 homes rarely remain on the market for longer than a month. The lake's convenient location only forty miles away from Rochester, New York makes it easy for the families of prominent lawyers, doctors, and businessmen to enjoy the pleasures of this beautiful body of water.
Our summer season lasts from Memorial Day through to Labor Day.
If you would like more information about Canandaigua Real Estate....
Please feel free to contact me anytime at 585-393-9919
OR, you can Email Cindy Here
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