Selling your home, in many situations, is selling your most valuable asset! Statistics say that within seven to ten years, the average buyer will sell their home and either move to a larger home or downsize. Our needs change and as our needs change, so do our homes!
In the 22+ years that I’ve sold real estate, I’ve seen the Residential Sale Contract change continually. And every time it changes, it’s because of a new issue that needs to be addressed. The St. Louis Association of REALTORS® Board contract is written by attorneys. And because the sale of real estate is quite complex, the contract has changed with the complexities over the years. As an example, 22 years ago, the contract was two pages long. Today’s contract is 8 pages long! And I’m sure it will be getting larger, not smaller.
As today’s savvy buyers have obtained the use of Buyer’s Agents, so sellers have always had the ability to have the representation of a Listing Agent. Your listing agent should be well acquainted with not only changing environmental issues, but also title company and lender issues to name just a few of the concerns in most contracts for sale. All of these areas of concern are addressed in your Residential Sale contract as well as additional forms and addendums…and in your Listing Contract.
But, understanding a contract is not all that is required when selling your home. Selling a home is not unlike selling any product. Selling anything requires marketing and salesmanship. As your listing agent, we individualize our efforts into a marketing plan specific to your particular home. And, even though we are all ®REALTORS, we are also salespeople. Knowledge of sales skills is very important in Real Estate Sales. And we continually hone our salesmanship skills. We sell using the three P’s: Price, Product and Promotion.
From your signature on the contract, to the sign in the yard, to the contract to purchase…we are with you. And our knowledge and skills in marketing, salesmanship and real estate are yours because you have hired us.
We find that the process of selling a home can be broken into five steps. Below is a brief overview of what to expect in the Basics of Home Selling process.
Step 1: Create a Marketing Plan for Your Home
Step 2: Arrive at a Market Price
Step 3: Prepare and Showcase Your Home
Step 4: Seal the Deal
Step 5: Closing and Possession
Literally, the closing of one door allows for the opening of another. And if your sale requires you to purchase another home…we can coordinate the intricate balance of both sale and purchase.
Our goal is your goal. And our goal is a smooth transition for you! From marketing to delivery of keys, you can rely on your Sandy Bender, REAL ESTATE Realtor® to provide professional assistance in the sale of your most prized possession. (We can also recommend a Realtor® for you to use should you find yourself in the position of having to leave our fair city!) We form relationships that we want to last!