Homes of Virginia's "Selling" Real Estate

There are many things you should look for when selecting an agent to help you sell your home.

But most lists of "questions to ask when you interview an agent" don't talk about the really important things - they're too mired down in the details of the process. Here are some basic things to look for in selecting an agent to represent you in the sale of your home. Without these, it doesn't matter how many ads an agent promises, or even how many houses they sell every year.

The Three "E's"

#1
ETHICS

This will be a very close relationship, you must trust your agent, your agent must trust you. Not only does your agent represent your interests, the agent owes you certain duties such as absolute fidelity to your interests and confidentiality about your situation. But the agent must be able to "negotiate to yes" and create a meeting of minds in the marketplace, and that can't be done well without a strong sense of ethics.

#2
ENERGY

Selling a home can be a very exhausting process for all parties, requiring lots of hands-on contact and work by your agent, lots of follow-up and follow-through. You want more than bright-eyed enthusiasm, which can wane under stress, more than bouncy promises. You don't want over-promises and under-delivery, you want under-promises and over-delivery. And that takes energy.

#3
EXPERIENCE

There is no substitute for know-how based on long-term immersion in real estate. Here is where your agent should "tell it like it is," and you should listen, because the agent has an in-depth knowledge of the market and of what goes on in the market, what can happen. There are 50+ things which can go wrong in even the best of transactions, and the agent with experience has the foresight and experience to protect you and deal with the problems.

Once you've satisfied yourself about the agent's Ethics, Energy, and Experience, you can then investigate the process. Now haul out those lists of "10 questions" and ask to see the "marketing program." And here's a FOURTH "E":

#4
EXPOSURE

This means promotion (or advertising). You can have the best house at the best price, but if no one knows about it, no one will buy it. However, exposure goes way beyond an open house or a newspaper ad, or even a notice on the Internet. What does it take to sell a house (and please don't assume your house will "sell itself") in whatever kind of market you are putting it of sale?

There's more, e.mail or call me, Teddy Goodson, at 703-359-7800, ext. 306 for answers.

If you're like me when I sold my house, you want
"The most cash with the least hassle"

Marketing the home is, as you can see, just the beginning of the process.

What determines how fast a home sells, and how much it sells for is determined by many, many factors, but we do NOT control most of them. What do we control?:

Price & terms
Condition
Exposure

The seller controls Price-terms and Condition. The agent controls Exposure (Advertising).

PRICE AND TERMS

Base these on what your agent tells you in a market analysis and report; you may, in some situations or markets, find it helpful to order an appraisal (preferably a VA) in advance. Do NOT base you decision on selecting an agent on price alone, nor on what you feel you "need" out of the house.

CONDITION

Yes, you can sell the house totally "as-is" but don't expect top dollar or a quick sale. Your agent will advise you on what to do to prepare your home for sale; I give sellers an "A" List and a "B" list and they decide what to do, and then do it in a timely, professional manner. E.mail or call me (1-800-441-5420) for a list of trades people who can help you. Call me for a free, no obligation "Pre-market Counseling session"

EXPOSURE

This is the only factor under control of the agent, hence the importance of the agent's marketing plan, which should include ("but not limited to") such things as : multiple listing services, for sale sign, ads in print media as well as TV, radio, and the Internet in many forms, niche marketing to trade-up areas, to prospective buyers, even to fellow-agents, non-MLS databases, and so. Since we don't know just what will sell the house, it's good if your agent is prepared to do whatever it takes, as I am.

THE HOUSE IS SOLD - NOW WHAT

Getting an offer is just the beginning. Now comes the negotiating, the removal of contingencies (including financing for your purchaser), and the many things on the road to settlement or closing which can trip you up. Here is where your agent is really important, and it's the part of the process most sellers overlook, and don't even consider in selecting an agent. Your Realtor is your representative, your bargaining buffer, your mentor and guide.

My objective: to get you the "most cash with the least hassle" and do it effectively with grace and your best interests at heart. E.mail or call me (1-800-441-5420) for a pre-market counseling and to put your home on the market.

Basic Ways To Help Sell Your Home

First Impressions Really Matter
This means from the moment they turn down your street - especially how your home looks to buyers from the outside, and then after they get in the front door: neat, clean, picked up.

Think Like Your Buyer
Go through your home with a gimlet eye of a prospective buyer, who is looking for any excuse not to spend a lot of money: fix all the niggling maintenance problems. If you can't afford fresh paint, then clean like a fanatic; if you can't afford to update appliances, be sure they're clean and in excellent working condition.

Calm, Quiet, Uncluttered Is Good
Noisy pets and children, blaring television or stereo sets are distractions and certainly won't encourage some one to make an offer: turn off the TV, turn the stereo to soothing, soft music or turn it off, put the pets out or take them for a walk, do the same with the kids. Be upstairs when the prospective purchaser is downstairs, be downstairs when they're upstairs - or out of the house entirely. Organize your closets, pack away the clutter, including the kitchen counters and the garage.

Create Cheerful, Home-Like Atmosphere
No one buys a "dark" house, so turn on lights, open draperies; add fresh flowers; avoid smelly cooking and instead bake something or boil cinnamon on the stove - anything to overcome bad odors with "good" (but don't make the mistake of trying to layer over offensive smells with incense or perfume). In cool weather, light a fire in the fireplace.

Call me (1-800-441-5420), Teddy Goodson, for a FREE copy of the helpful booklet; 27 Free and Easy Fix-ups.

Selling Your Home Yourself?
Most of the above applies, but here are some added tips:

NEVER allow people to look at your home alone; go with them, keep them together.
Protect your credit cards, don't leave them where they can be picked up.
If you advertise your home and include a phone number, be sure there's always someone there to answer calls (prospective buyers probably won't make a second call).
Hide all jewelry or small valuable items (including stamp/coin collections, silverware and so on) and avoid wearing expensive jewelry when showing the house.
Know where your keys are; if one turns up missing, change that lock immediately.
NEVER leave a minor child alone in the home, and NEVER allow that offspring to "show" the house.
If more than one party wants to look at the house at the same time, keep them all together, do not let anyone wander off on their own.
If you have anything valuable in the garage, be sure it is locked from the inside.
NEVER indicate that you will be alone in the house.
Should someone make an offer to purchase your home, seek advice before signing anything.

E.Mail
[About Teddy] [Homes for Sale] [Buying] [Mortgages] [Relocating] [Life in Virginia] [Jurisdictions] [Schools] [Transportation] [Contact Teddy] [Free Real Estate Reports] [Home]

Order Sellers Reports		There are many things you should look for when selecting an agent to help you sell your home. But most lists of "questions to ask when you interview an agent" don't talk about the really important things - they're too mired down in the details of the process. Here are some basic things to look for in selecting an agent to represent you in the sale of your home. Without these, it doesn't matter how many ads an agent promises, or even how many houses they sell every year.
		The Three "E's"
#1 ETHICS		This will be a very close relationship, you must trust your agent, your agent must trust you. Not only does your agent represent your interests, the agent owes you certain duties such as absolute fidelity to your interests and confidentiality about your situation. But the agent must be able to "negotiate to yes" and create a meeting of minds in the marketplace, and that can't be done well without a strong sense of ethics.
#2 ENERGY		Selling a home can be a very exhausting process for all parties, requiring lots of hands-on contact and work by your agent, lots of follow-up and follow-through. You want more than bright-eyed enthusiasm, which can wane under stress, more than bouncy promises. You don't want over-promises and under-delivery, you want under-promises and over-delivery. And that takes energy.
#3 EXPERIENCE		There is no substitute for know-how based on long-term immersion in real estate. Here is where your agent should "tell it like it is," and you should listen, because the agent has an in-depth knowledge of the market and of what goes on in the market, what can happen. There are 50+ things which can go wrong in even the best of transactions, and the agent with experience has the foresight and experience to protect you and deal with the problems. Once you've satisfied yourself about the agent's Ethics, Energy, and Experience, you can then investigate the process. Now haul out those lists of "10 questions" and ask to see the "marketing program." And here's a FOURTH "E":
#4 EXPOSURE		This means promotion (or advertising). You can have the best house at the best price, but if no one knows about it, no one will buy it. However, exposure goes way beyond an open house or a newspaper ad, or even a notice on the Internet. What does it take to sell a house (and please don't assume your house will "sell itself") in whatever kind of market you are putting it of sale? There's more, e.mail or call me, Teddy Goodson, at 703-359-7800, ext. 306 for answers. If you're like me when I sold my house, you want "The most cash with the least hassle"

		Marketing the home is, as you can see, just the beginning of the process. What determines how fast a home sells, and how much it sells for is determined by many, many factors, but we do NOT control most of them. What do we control?: Price & terms Condition Exposure The seller controls Price-terms and Condition. The agent controls Exposure (Advertising).
PRICE AND TERMS		Base these on what your agent tells you in a market analysis and report; you may, in some situations or markets, find it helpful to order an appraisal (preferably a VA) in advance. Do NOT base you decision on selecting an agent on price alone, nor on what you feel you "need" out of the house.
CONDITION		Yes, you can sell the house totally "as-is" but don't expect top dollar or a quick sale. Your agent will advise you on what to do to prepare your home for sale; I give sellers an "A" List and a "B" list and they decide what to do, and then do it in a timely, professional manner. E.mail or call me (1-800-441-5420) for a list of trades people who can help you. Call me for a free, no obligation "Pre-market Counseling session"
EXPOSURE		This is the only factor under control of the agent, hence the importance of the agent's marketing plan, which should include ("but not limited to") such things as : multiple listing services, for sale sign, ads in print media as well as TV, radio, and the Internet in many forms, niche marketing to trade-up areas, to prospective buyers, even to fellow-agents, non-MLS databases, and so. Since we don't know just what will sell the house, it's good if your agent is prepared to do whatever it takes, as I am.
THE HOUSE IS SOLD - NOW WHAT		Getting an offer is just the beginning. Now comes the negotiating, the removal of contingencies (including financing for your purchaser), and the many things on the road to settlement or closing which can trip you up. Here is where your agent is really important, and it's the part of the process most sellers overlook, and don't even consider in selecting an agent. Your Realtor is your representative, your bargaining buffer, your mentor and guide. My objective: to get you the "most cash with the least hassle" and do it effectively with grace and your best interests at heart. E.mail or call me (1-800-441-5420) for a pre-market counseling and to put your home on the market.
		Basic Ways To Help Sell Your Home First Impressions Really Matter This means from the moment they turn down your street - especially how your home looks to buyers from the outside, and then after they get in the front door: neat, clean, picked up. Think Like Your Buyer Go through your home with a gimlet eye of a prospective buyer, who is looking for any excuse not to spend a lot of money: fix all the niggling maintenance problems. If you can't afford fresh paint, then clean like a fanatic; if you can't afford to update appliances, be sure they're clean and in excellent working condition. Calm, Quiet, Uncluttered Is Good Noisy pets and children, blaring television or stereo sets are distractions and certainly won't encourage some one to make an offer: turn off the TV, turn the stereo to soothing, soft music or turn it off, put the pets out or take them for a walk, do the same with the kids. Be upstairs when the prospective purchaser is downstairs, be downstairs when they're upstairs - or out of the house entirely. Organize your closets, pack away the clutter, including the kitchen counters and the garage. Create Cheerful, Home-Like Atmosphere No one buys a "dark" house, so turn on lights, open draperies; add fresh flowers; avoid smelly cooking and instead bake something or boil cinnamon on the stove - anything to overcome bad odors with "good" (but don't make the mistake of trying to layer over offensive smells with incense or perfume). In cool weather, light a fire in the fireplace. Call me (1-800-441-5420), Teddy Goodson, for a FREE copy of the helpful booklet; 27 Free and Easy Fix-ups. Selling Your Home Yourself? Most of the above applies, but here are some added tips: NEVER allow people to look at your home alone; go with them, keep them together. Protect your credit cards, don't leave them where they can be picked up. If you advertise your home and include a phone number, be sure there's always someone there to answer calls (prospective buyers probably won't make a second call). Hide all jewelry or small valuable items (including stamp/coin collections, silverware and so on) and avoid wearing expensive jewelry when showing the house. Know where your keys are; if one turns up missing, change that lock immediately. NEVER leave a minor child alone in the home, and NEVER allow that offspring to "show" the house. If more than one party wants to look at the house at the same time, keep them all together, do not let anyone wander off on their own. If you have anything valuable in the garage, be sure it is locked from the inside. NEVER indicate that you will be alone in the house. Should someone make an offer to purchase your home, seek advice before signing anything.
		E.Mail [About Teddy] [Homes for Sale] [Buying] [Mortgages] [Relocating] [Life in Virginia] [Jurisdictions] [Schools] [Transportation] [Contact Teddy] [Free Real Estate Reports] [Home]