Seller Tips
Here is a step by step look at the home selling process.
We understand the many questions and concerns of home sellers, so we designed this flowchart to show you the process of selling your home. It is our goal to provide you with the most professional and informative service available.
Projects that Will Pay You Back
Top Five Remodeling Project Paybacks - replacement projects that boost curb appeal - siding, windows, and decks give you the greatest chance of recouping your money. Inside - kitchen and bathroom remodels may increase your value.
- Siding - fiber cement, vinyl, or foam-backed vinyl
- Wood deck
- Kitchen remodel
- Vinyl and/or wood window replacements
- Bathroom remodel
Making home improvements not only reduces the sellers' stress by keeping the seller in the driver's seat with the negotiations, but they also make buyers' lives easier.
Preparing Your House to Sell
For some sellers, it may be simple home improvements that can help you get the most for your home and sell it quickly. Our sales professionals assist thousands of home sellers each year and can help you focus your effort on the things that will make a real difference to buyers.
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
- First impressions are so important - A curb appeal (exterior) is vital. Your lawn and landscape should be trimmed, sidewalks swept, front door clean, and doorbell working
- Here comes the sun - Open the curtains or blinds and clean the windows so a prospect can see how bright and cheerful your home is
- Bathrooms sell homes - Make your bathroom sparkle! Clean sinks, tubs, toilets, and repair any damaged or discolored caulking
- Make closets look larger - Remove seasonal items that can be stored elsewhere. Neat, well-organized closets show there is ample closet and storage space
- Avoid cluttered appearances - Remove excess furniture and other seldom used items. Keep toys, newspapers, and other articles picked up and stored. Clean stairways are essential.
- From top to bottom - Let prospects see the full value of your basement, attic, garage, and closets by making all these areas accessible. Rent a short-term storage space if necessary
Home Staging
Now, the paint brush is put away, the clutter is cleared away, and the house is sparkling. Staging goes beyond decorating and cleaning. It is about perfecting the art of setting the mood! Staging makes your home look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, and more enticing to potential buyers.
Mel Foster Co. has several agents that are certified in the staging of your property to attract potential buyers. The well-trained Accredited Staging Professionals® (ASP) are highly skilled and certified in creating just the right atmosphere that will appeal to all five senses of every buyer.
Well-staged homes sell 30-50% faster than those that have not had professional staging experts. For help in how to stage your home today for a quick sale, contact one of our experienced professionals.
|
Iowa |
Illinois |
| Bettendorf Davenport (Kimberly Road) Davenport (I-74) Eldridge
|
Moline |
The Offer
An acceptable offer depends on many factors:
- Is the offer close to the list price?
- Does the seller have another house payment?
- Do you have enough time to wait for another offer from another potential buyer?
- What if several offers are received at the same time?
Leaving Your Home
Closings usually take about 30 days to complete. The time frame usually depends on the buyer's financing availability, successful home inspection, and various lender conditions (i.e. title search, title insurance, inspections, surveys and appraisals).
To make sure the property's condition has not changed, it's important for the seller to conduct a final walk through of their home. It is also important that both the buyer and the seller make sure the documents they sign at closing reflect the agreement of the original sale.
The process of closing is the transfer of the title of the property from the buyer to the seller. The seller will receive the payment for the property, while the buyer receives the keys to the home or the deed to the land. The seller's amount is based upon the amount that is still owed on the mortgage, any outstanding fees or taxes and any additional closing costs.
Making the Move
A new job, a new neighborhood, or just a change of pace - whatever the reasons for your move, it's bound to be hectic. Moving to a new, unfamiliar neighborhood or community can be exciting and stressful for your whole family. To ease the transition, Mel Foster Co.'s highly trained agents will provide you with guidance or refer to our Vendor Services for more information.
Back to Top