You've decided to sell your home.

As an experienced HomeLife Higher Standards Sales Representative, I know that selling a home can be a confusing and complicated process. Chances are, you have a lot of questions. Questions like, "Should I sell it myself or use a Real Estate agent?", "How do I price my home?" and "What are the costs to me when I sell my home?". This guide will answer your questions and help you through the process from the day you decide to sell to the day the sale of your home is finalized.

Why Choose A HomeLife Sales Representative?

The Difference Higher Standards Can Make

The sale or purchase of a property can be an enormously complex procedure. This is why it pays to have a HomeLife Higher Standards Sales Representative on your side. From the moment your home is listed until the day you receive your money, we will be with you through the process of listing your home, considering offers, closing the sale, securing financing and moving.

Continuous training at HomeLife University education centre ensures that our team develops the Higher Standards needed to maintain a leading rate of repeat and referral business. Our Sales Representatives are known for their enthusiasm and a willingness to work with you until your home is sold.

Part of the HomeLife promise of Higher Standards is the "Pledge of Availability" which simply states that your HomeLife Sales Representative will be available whenever you need them and communicate with you regularly. Our Sales Representatives usually work five to seven days a week, including numerous evenings.

This dedication to customer service is at the heart of our Higher Standards promise. Buying or selling a home is perhaps the most complex transaction an individual can undertake. HomeLife makes it easy. The HomeLife name means better service, more qualified sellers and the best price possible on your property.

We Know Your Community

Local Ties, Global Strength

The Sales Representatives at your local HomeLife office know your area better than anyone. Why shouldn’t we? Just like you, we’re an active part of the community. With an office in your area, you’ll find HomeLife Higher Standards Sales Representatives to be knowledgeable about local shopping, parks and schools. Knowing the area makes a difference. The connections we have to the community allow us to set strong and attractive prices, find qualified and passionate sellers, and represent your home to its fullest extent.

Based on experience, we will help develop your home’s "distinct capacity" by touring your property with our professional sales team to determine its principal benefit. This may be a newly renovated kitchen, an excellent local school, a close by transportation line, or an especially large yard. While one home might stand out because it backs on a golf course, another may attract a seller’s attention due to an in-ground swimming pool. Finding what makes your home different allows us to highlight your home’s individual character, breaking through the clutter to catch the seller’s eye.

For the HomeLife team, familiarity with your community is just another aspect of our promise of Higher Standards of customer service. Knowing your community means knowing your street. Knowing your street means knowing your home.

HomeLife’s 20-Point Marketing Strategy

Our Five Star Marketing System

Since 1985, HomeLife’s success has been based on a company wide commitment to Higher Standards. At HomeLife, we use the steps outlined in our 20-point plan to sell your property quickly, with the best possible terms and at the best possible price. We will post your property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®), an electronic database that will allow REALTORS® from every major firm in the country access to your listing. Your home will also be listed in our easy-to-use online 24 Hour Home Finder, which can be accessed globally at www.HomeLife.com.

However, we are not solely reliant on technology. We will also use effective conventional methods to sell your property, such as informing homeowners in your area, conducting open houses, placing an attractive sign on your property and displaying your listing at our HomeLife Airport Kiosk. Our overall marketing strategy is based on a genuine dedication to customer service. This commitment to our clients is exemplified by your Sales Representative’s 20-point Higher Standards plan of action, which is their promise to you.

My 20-Point Higher Standards Plan of Action

HomeLife's Promise To You

The following is a twenty-point promise; outlining all the steps I will take as your HomeLife Sales Representative to ensure that your home is sold quickly, for the best possible price with the best possible terms.

1. Prepare a market analysis of your home
2. List your property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) for maximum exposure
3. List your property at www.HomeLife.com, using our 24 Hour Home Finder
4. Display your property at our HomeLife locations, while also promoting your property to HomeLife staff at marketing meetings
5. Prepare a detailed highlight sheet listing the features, advantages and benefits of your property
6. Help develop your property's "distinct capacity" by touring your property with our professional sales team to determine its principal benefit
7. Place a professional and distinct HomeLife sign on your property
8. Advertise
9. Promote the sale of your property throughout your community
10. Communicate to you regularly on all aspects of marketing
11. Provide regular updates regarding market conditions
12. Pre-qualify potential purchasers to save you time
13. Make you aware of all financial alternatives regarding your sale
14. Explain our home warranty program to you
15. Offer moving services to both buyer and seller
16. Communicate with you regularly and give you my "Pledge of Availability"
17. Represent you on all offers and negotiate for the Best Possible Price and Terms
18. Provide you with copies of all information relevant to the sale of your property
19. Follow up on all necessary closing details until the money is in your hands and you're ready to move
20. Leave you a copy of My Action Plan
    

The Listing

Putting Your Home on the Market

The first step toward putting your home up for sale is to meet with your Real Estate Sales Representative at your home. What we call the "listing appointment".But beforehand, it's important to understand “who's who" and how REALTORS® may co-operate to sell your home.

Listing Agent: An individual Real Estate Agent or Company whom the seller hires to represent the seller through a contract called a "listing agreement". The listing Sales Representative is associated with the Listing Agent.

Before the listing appointment, both the home seller and the listing Sales Representative have some homework to do. While the home seller collects a list of documents requested by the Sales Representative, the listing Sales Representative studies recent area sales of homes comparable to the seller's, and also comparable homes currently for sale.

There's No Place Like Home

At the listing appointment, the listing Sales Representative will want to inspect the entire home and yard to become familiar with its special features and exact floor plan.

You have probably enjoyed living in your home and have been pleased with its many unique features. Your listing Sales Representative will want to tell prospective buyers about the special features of your home and community. Be ready to be specific about schools, churches, daycare, nearby metro, and other desirable community features, as well as home features not readily apparent.

Remember, prospective buyers will be "comparison shopping" and keenly aware of subtle differences in homes for sale in the area. Be sure to tell your listing Sales Representative why yours is special from any home remodelling to afternoon winter sunshine.

Questions & Answers

What is a "Lockbox"?

A lockbox is a universal metal container for your house key that is hung on the front door and can only be opened by a special key or combination by licensed Sales Representatives. It provides access when the owner is away, thus assuring full exposure to prospective buyers.

Do certain geographical areas have unique home selling requirements?

Yes. Home selling requirements vary from area to area. Ask your listing Sales Representative to investigate special taxes or other requirements applicable to the area in which you live.

Comparative Market Analysis

Maximizing Market Value

Preparing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is an important tool HomeLife Higher Standards Sales Representatives use to help you earn the highest possible price for your home. A CMA involves looking at the public records of Real Estate Business in your community to better understand market conditions.

There are four steps your HomeLife Sales Representative will take in preparing your home's CMA:

1. Your HomeLife Sales Representative will consider the amount paid for at least three recently sold homes in your community. These homes will be comparable in size to yours and together comprise a factual record of what buyers will pay.
2. Your HomeLife Sales Representative will then consider the asking prices of at least three presently listed homes in your community.
   
   Because these homes are similar to yours, these homes will be the benchmarks against which your home will be priced.
3. Your HomeLife Sales Representative will then consider the asking prices of at least three homes in your community that went unsold for at least 90 days.
   
   Similar to your home, these homes illustrate the dangers of overpricing your property.
4. Finally, your HomeLife Sales Representative will use all the price information gathered to arrive at an ideal asking price for your home..