Welcome

Before anything else, it is a good idea to sit down and clarify your motivations and draw up a basic time frame for the selling process.

Why Sell?

If you're having thoughts of selling ask yourself why do you want to sell it? Do you intend to find a larger property, or do you plan on moving to another neighborhood, school district, city or state? Being clear about your intentions for selling will make it easier to determine your real estate goals.

When Should I Sell?

You should immediately establish your time frame for selling. If you need to sell quickly we can speed up the process by giving you a complete market analysis and action plan to obtain all of your goals. If there is no pressing need to sell immediately we can thoroughly review the current market conditions and find the most favorable time to sell.

What is the Market like?

When you work with Maria Arduini you can be sure that you will have her knowledge, expertise and negotiating skills at work for you to arrive at the best market prices and terms. We will keep you up-to-date on what is happening in the marketplace and terms and conditions of competing properties. You will know exactly how to price and when to sell your property.

How Do I Optimize my Finances?

Deciding to sell your property demands a serious consideration of your current financial situation and future possibilities. With Maria Arduini's help you will be able to effectively assess the impact of these changes, estimate potential proceeds of selling your property, and plan tax savings. We will ensure that you not only take control of your finances, but use them to their fullest potential. 

Why should you choose Maria Arduini?
You may opt to sell your property independently. There are many excellent reasons, however, why you should choose Maria to assist you in this important undertaking. We will ensure that you maximize your opportunities in the current real estate market. With our extensive contact networks as well as our current and past clients, we will employ the most effective marketing and advertising strategies for your property. We will also guide you through the complicated paperwork involved from the initial agreement to the final documents.

What to look for in an Agent.

1. Experience and Expertise. You want a full-time agent who is familiar with your area and with the type of property you intend to sell. Does he or she employ a diverse range of marketing and advertising strategies? How tech-savvy is your agent? How many similar properties has he or she been able to sell in the past?

2. Availability and Commitment. Your agent should be capable of prompt and decisive action during the course of selling your property. Does your agent make it a point to keep in touch with you constantly? Can your agent easily be contacted in case of emergencies or even for the simplest questions? Is your agent available on the weekends or in the evenings when most buyers are out looking?

3. Rapport. Does your agent take the time to listen to your goals and clarify your needs? Can your agent understand your unique situation and be genuinely concerned about the outcome of the process? Your listing agent will be your guide and partner in this crucial decision, so it is important to find one with whom you can get along.

What is your Property Worth?
Without a professional agent most independent property sellers tend to overestimate the value of their property. You can avoid this pitfall by consulting with an experienced real estate listing agent.

You can do a lot to increase the appeal of your property and to create a lasting impact on potential buyers.

What to do to Prepare:

1. Curb Appeal.

Keeping your landscape pristine and adding creative touches to your yard such as colorful annuals will create an immediate impact on passers-by and potential buyers.

2. Property Repairs.

Simple upgrades such as window repairs, polishing the doorknobs, and a fresh coat of paint in the most frequently used rooms will instantly brighten up the property.

3. Cleanliness and Staging.

Keep your property uncluttered, sweet-smelling and well-lit. Put away the kitty litter, place a vase of fresh flowers near the entryway, pop a batch of cinnamon rolls in the oven, have your carpets cleaned. Maria will scan the property before it is listed for sale to see how you can improve the staging of your property.

4. Disclosures and Inspections.

Maria Arduini is very familiar with the legal procedures involved in disclosures and are ready to help you develop a thorough disclosure statement beneficial to both you and the buyer, as well as suggest home improvement measures before placing your property on the market.

5. Showtime.

Presenting your property to potential buyers is a job that Maria will take care of for you. Buyers feel more comfortable discussing the property with an agent if you are not there. Maria Arduini knows what information will be most useful in representing your interests when speaking with prospective buyers.

The Price Is Not Always Right.

“The higher the price, the better the offer.” Don't let yourself be fooled by this popular misconception. Price is not always the determining factor when accepting an offer for several important reasons: the initial offer is usually not final, and there are a number of terms & conditions that may influence the final outcome of a price. You can trust Maria Arduini to help you thoroughly evaluate every proposal without compromising your marketing position.

Negotiating the Right Way.

We take the ethical responsibility of fairly negotiating contractual terms very seriously. It is our job to find a win-win agreement that is beneficial to all parties. You may have to deal with multiple offers before ratifying the one you feel is most suitable for you.  Maria Arduini will guarantee a thorough and objective assessment of each offer to help you make the right choice.

The Initial Agreement & Deposit.

An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between a potential purchaser and the property’s seller. In order to be a legally binding agreement it may require consideration. This consideration (initial and additional deposit) is to be held in the closing agent’s escrow account pending the fulfillment of conditions in the effective agreement.

Some important tips to keep in mind to streamline the process even further:

• Keep written records of everything.
  Maria Arduini will assist you in drafting all the paperwork for your sale and make sure that you have copies of everything.
• Stick to the schedule.
  Now that you have chosen your offer, you and the buyer will be given a timeline to mark every stage in the process of closing the real estate contract. Meeting the requirements on time ensures a smoother flow of negotiations and also ensures that each party involved is not in breach of their agreements. During the process we will keep you constantly updated so you will always be prepared.

Inspections and Appraisals
Most buyers will have the property inspected by a licensed property inspector within the time frame agreed upon in the contract to purchase. Some buyers will have several inspectors inspect the property if they wish to obtain professional opinions from those who specialize in a specific area (eg. roof, HVAC, structure). If the agreement is conditional upon financing then the property will be appraised by a licensed appraiser to determine the value for the lending institution via third party. This is done so the lending institution can confirm their investment in your property is accurate. A buyer of a commercial property may also have a complete environmental audit performed if required by the lending institution.

The Closing Agent.
A title company/attorney will be selected as the closing agent whose job is to examine and insure clear title to real estate. After researching the complete recorded history of your property, they will certify that 1) your title is free of encumbrances (eg. mortgages, leases, or restrictions, liens) by the date of closing; and 2) all new encumbrances are included in the title.

Contingencies.
A contingency is a condition that must be met before a contract becomes legally binding. For instance, a buyer will usually include a contingency stating their contract is only binding when there is a satisfactory home inspection report from a qualified inspector.  Before completing his or her purchase of your property, the buyer goes over every aspect of the property, as provided for by purchase agreements and any applicable addendums. These include:

• Obtaining financing & insurance;
• Reviewing all pertinent documents such as preliminary title reports & disclosure documents; 
• Inspecting the property. The buyer has the right to determine the condition of your property by subjecting it to a wide range of inspections, such as roof, termite/pest, chimney/fireplace, property boundary survey, well, septic, pool/spa, arborist, mold, lead based paint, HVAC, etc.

Depending on the outcome of these inspections, one of two things may happen:

1. Each milestone is successfully closed and the contingencies will be removed, bringing you one step closer to the closing; or
2. The buyer, after reviewing the property and the papers, requests a renegotiation of the terms of contract (usually the price).

How do you respond objectively and fairly to the buyer when a renegotiation is demanded, while acting in your best interests? This is when Maria Arduini can make a real difference in the outcome of the transaction. Having dealt with various property sales in the past, we guarantee our expertise and total commitment.

Loan Approval & Appraisal.
We suggest you accept buyers who have a lender’s pre-approval, approval letter, or written loan commitment. Expect an appraiser from the lender’s company to review your property and verify that the sales price is appropriate.

Closing Day

If you've come this far this means it is almost time for a congratulations, but not yet. Do not forget to tie up these loose ends:

Final Walk-Through Inspection.

More of a formality than anything else, the final inspection takes place the day before or the day of the closing. The buyer visits the property to verify that all is in working order, everything is the same as when the buyer last viewed the property, and that there are no extra items left behind.

Cancel Home Services &Utilities.

We will provide a list of useful numbers for the termination of home services and utilities after the closing occurs.

Closing.

The closing agent will furnish all parties involved with a settlement statement which summarizes the financial transactions enacted in the process. The buyer(s) will sign this statement and then you will sign as well as the closing agent. If you are unable to attend the scheduled closing, arrangements can be made. If you are receiving funds from the transaction you can elect to have the funds wired electronically to an account at your financial institution, or have a check issued to you at closing. As seller, you should arrange to have all property keys and any other important information for the new purchaser at the closing.