REALTORS® should be in the business to help you market and sell your home for its full market value. The financial and emotional investment you've made in your home should be a primary concern. When working to sell your home, REALTORS® should be committed to:
Selling a house successfully requires a partnership between Seller and REALTOR®. They will be handling much of the process without needing to be directly in touch with you. However, they need your cooperation in a number of key areas in order to realize the best value the market can provide. They are:
Showcase Your Home
The most important role you can play is to get your house up to marketable value by following the steps outlined as quickly as you possibly can. Much of the early activity will take place in the first 2 to 3 weeks your property is on the market. Experience has shown "you never get a second chance to make a first impression". The REALTORS® who come to see your house at the time of the agent open house, or when they bring their first buyers, will be making their impressions of your house that may last over several buyers who are looking for property with the specifications of your home. The most important commitment you can give is to showcase your home to the best of your ability and time .
Provide Easy Access by Installing a Lock Box
Professional real estate agents, who are quite likely to bring you the serious buyers you need to sell your home, will not be able to show your home easily if access is not readily available. They are very busy and frequently do not have the opportunity to hunt down keys when setting up appointments for showing a number of homes to a buyer. The best way to ensure your house is always available for showing is to install a lock box. With a lock box, you will never lose a showing because a buyer couldn't wait while the selling agent tried to find the key. Appointments are made ahead of time. (no surprises!)
Make your Property Always Available for Showing
Buyers are frequently moving to your area from another location entirely. They often cannot afford the time to "come back later" once they set up a schedule with their REALTOR®. Every showing you get is a possible sale in the making. It takes a determined buyer to come back once they have been turned down for a showing. Many buyers simply do not come back. Your property should be available for showings at all reasonably requested times.
Arrange to Leave the House During all Showings
Buyers want to try a house out for size when they come to view it. They need to be able to do that on their own, with the REALTOR® they are working with. They might feel uncomfortable voicing their personal opinion with you there which can result in a lost sale. It is always essential that you vacate your home at the time of the showing.
Notify Your REALTOR® When You Leave the House
If you are planning to be away for more than 2 days, it is important that you notify your REALTOR® and provide them with a forwarding phone, E-mail and/or fax number. All too often that is the time you receive a offer.
City Profiles > Brandon Home > Sell a House, Home, Property > REALTORS® should... > Costs
Here is a brief summary explaining some of the costs you may incur when you are selling your property.
1.Real Estate Commissions
Real estate commissions are usually in the range of 4% - 7% + GST of the sale price of the property. However, this could change depending on the nature of the agency relationship shared between the purchaser's agent and the purchaser. If the transaction is one of property rental, the commission is generally one month's rent, plus GST.
2. Survey Costs
In some cases the offer to purchase will state that the seller must provide a survey within so many days following the date of the offer. If you have a current survey in your possession, and nothing has changed since it was conducted, this will usually suffice. However, if you are obligated to provide a new survey, the cost will generally be approximately $700 - $1,000 in town, and possibly more in the country. Country surveys vary in price due to size of the area and the terrain. If the survey is old or poor, it would be a good idea to get a quote from a surveyor before an offer appears.
3. Legal Fees
There are 2 fees; one for the lawyer (plus GST) and their service and one for the disbursements. Ask for quotes for both. The fee may be higher if there is a mortgage being discharged on the sale. If you do not have a lawyer, we suggest interviewing three (3) and pick the one you feel comfortable with and whom you will feel will do excellent work on your behalf.
4. Mortgage Discharge
If your mortgage is being discharged prior to its maturity, there could be a penalty for early discharge, often 3 months interest or an interest differential penalty, whichever is greater. Also, a lot of mortgage companies require a discharge fee of between $100 and $200 to cover their administrative costs. Call your bank and ask for a mortgage discharge statement in advance of selling. This will minimize any "surprises".
In the case of an institutional lender, many mortgages provide a "portability" feature, which means in effect that the interest penalty may be waived if the seller transfers the mortgage from the home they are selling to the home they are buying, if in fact that is the case.
A REALTOR® can verify all this data in a "mortgage verification form" sent to your lender.
5. Other Expenses
All your final bills from utilities and suppliers should be fully paid up at the time of closing or shortly thereafter. These could include realty taxes, phone, hydro, oil, gas, cable TV, renovations, alterations, snow removal - all the bills which have to do with the house. Make sure all the companies and organizations involved are informed of the date of closing to ensure all final billings are made, and you are no longer responsible for any utility or tax charges subsequent to the date of closing.
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