Getting Started

Selling your home is a big deal.  And, while I am immersed in the process of selling homes on a daily basis, I recognize that for most people this is a rare and momentous event.  I appreciate and respect the trust that you will be placing in me when I list your home.

We will start by looking at what we need to do to get your house ready to sell.  I will have you walk me through the house, as though I were a buyer - pointing out the pluses and minuses.  Most sellers have questions about what they should or should not do to prep their house for sale - we will review these, and have a frank conversation about the pros and cons of the house.  Please tell me everything you think is wrong with the house - we may need to disclose these.  And, later, I will ask you for a list of all of the improvements that you have made and a list of your favourite things about living here.

After our first meeting, I will create a "Plan to List" with the relevant dates for your review.  As you go through the process of preparing your house, please keep me posted and let me know if you need me to come take a second or third look at how things are progressing.

Because price is determined by comparable sales, it is a constantly moving target.  The list of comparable sales included in this binder may or may not still be relevant by the time we are ready to go to market, but it will give you a ballpark idea of where the market is currently.  The week before we list, I will do a market analysis on your specific property.  This is the process by which I take comparable sales (within the past six months) and adjust for things like square footage, updates, mechanicals, condition, etc.  This is how we figure out the listing price for your home.

As part of the Market Analysis Meeting, we will sign the listing paperwork and review your To-Do list (see tab labeled 'To Do').

While it is obvious that competence is critical when hiring a REALTOR®, it is also important that the "fit" between Seller and Agent is a good one.  Selling a house is funny that way - you have an intense relationship with someone who you may be a stranger one day, and who then becomes a big part of your life the next.  It is important that it feels right.  It is also important that we are up front and direct with each other.

MY LISTING SERVICE GUARANTEE:

My service guarantee is simple, I do what I say I'm going to do, when I say I'm going to do it.  If you are happy with my service, you may terminate our agreement.  No questions asked.

I look forward to helping to make this real estate transaction pleasant and painless experience, and hopefully even a little fun.

Preparing your Property for a Showing:

WELL MAINTAINED

• Repair leaky taps and toilets
• Check plumbing in the basement (if applicable)
• Check under sinks for water damage
• Clean furnace and humidifier
• Tighten door knobs and latches
• Repair cracked plaster
• Touch up chipped paint
• Clean and repair windows
• Replace burn't out light bulbs and update light fixtures
• Oil squeaking doors
• Check for septic tank locations and not when it was last serviced (if applicable)