Preparation
When selling your property, it should not look like your home, but should invite potential buyers to see themselves in that home. In order to do so, you MUST follow the guidelines listed here. Michaela will consult with you to help itemize and prioritize your pre-listing “to dos”.

• Minimize Contents: each item in a room must have its own place.
  

  • If there is too much furniture preventing a natural ‘flow’ through that room, then specific furniture must be removed or relocated.
  • Books must all fits on shelves without stacking. Knick knacks must be packed up (not on display).
  • A photo or two are acceptable, but a wall full of photos or furniture covered with framed photos must be removed.
  • Kitchen counters must be cleared of all contents (no small gadgets, pots, pans, bowls, paper etc).
  • Refrigerators must be free of magnets and paper on the exterior, as well as thoroughly cleaned inside and out.
  • Cupboards and closets must be organized so that everything fits neatly (if a buyer opens the cupboards or closet to see items jammed in, they WILL get the impression that, “there isn’t enough storage in this property” which can easily turn them away.)
  • Basements and attics too must be open enough to see the size and space offered therein.
  • Get rid of or donate items that you no longer need.
    
    Doing this important work now, will save you later in the bigger picture packing process. Michaela can provide you with recommendations of ‘to dos’ specific to individual rooms in your property.
     

• Paint: if your rooms are stark white, brightly colored, or highly used they must have a fresh coat of neutral colored paint in a flat or eggshell finish. This is especially important in high traffic areas like hallways, kitchens and baths. Michaela will provide you with appropriate color recommendations based on your individual property.
   

• Cleaning: Your property must be SO clean that it feels “brand new”.  A light or medium cleaning will not do. This is about details – baseboards, window sills, fingerprints on light switches etc. Michaela can provide you with professional cleaners for this task if you are not up to it.

Pricing
Pricing your property to sell is of huge importance. It is a matter of embracing reality while also accommodating your needs. Michaela will review the recent activity and current competition that is specifically relevant to the value of your property. She will make a price range recommendation and a time frame in which to get the property sold based on that price. In addition to understanding the comparable properties, it is important that you know what does and what does NOT affect the value and therefore the price of your property.

• What does NOT affect the value of your property

  • What you paid for the property.

  • How much you need to get out of/sell the property for.

• What DOES affect the value of your property

  • Preparation & Presentation

  • Updates & Renovations

  • Comparable Properties

  • Foreclosed Properties

  • Timing Needs

Patience
Selling a property requires patience of the Sellers, even if the sale is a quick one. In order to maximize their net profit, a Seller must maintain the ‘showroom’ state of their home -that is NOT the same as your ‘typical life’ condition of your property. This is an on-going task that requires patience of you, the Seller.

In order to get as much exposure as possible, you need to accommodate every showing request possible. This also requires patience of you, the Seller while you are temporarily displaced from your home. If you have unfriendly pets, you will need to remove them from the property for all showings and Open Houses.

The typical transaction takes 6-8 weeks from offer acceptance to closing. If your pricing was realistic, you will have an accepted offer as quickly as possible. If your pricing is ‘aggressive’ (higher than recommended), this will lengthen the amount of time your property is ‘on the market’ and take longer to get an offer. Many Sellers find themselves tired of trying to sell vs actually selling their property. This is usually a result of unrealistic pricing. Michaela will guide you throughout the transaction enabling you to make the most informed decisions possible based on your own needs. She will do everything possible to support you and keep your patience reserve full!