seller's smooth road to settlement

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T T T HE HE HE S S S ELLER ELLER ELLER S S S S S S MOOTH MOOTH MOOTH R R R OAD OAD OAD TO TO TO S S S ETTLEMENT ETTLEMENT ETTLEMENT DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY TO SERVE YOU. Scott Smith, Realtor: 443-506-4567 Alice McClure, Client Care Manager: 410-382-2001 Email: [email protected] www.itsGottobeScott.com

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Smooth road to settlement for Sellers

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Page 1: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

TTTHEHEHE SSSELLERELLERELLER’’’SSS SSSMOOTHMOOTHMOOTH RRROADOADOAD

TOTOTO SSSETTLEMENTETTLEMENTETTLEMENT

DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY TO SERVE YOU.

Scott Smith, Realtor: 443-506-4567Alice McClure, Client Care Manager: 410-382-2001

Email: [email protected]

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 2: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement
Page 3: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Alice McClure, Client Care Manager, Licensed Realtor.

You are going to love Alice as much as we do. She comes from yearsof having run the Children’s Ministry at Grace Fellowship Church inTimonium, Maryland which included 180 volunteers and over 1500

children at a time—she KNOWS how to get things done but does it with a smile! Sheand her husband, Jim, have 3 children of their own and have spent their lives servingothers.

We want to go out of our way to make sure that the sale of your home is as painlessand as stress-free for you as possible. Alice will be working behind the scenes with myproven system for smooth settlements and will be here to answer all of your questionsalong the way. And, for our Spanish-speaking friends, Alice is especially anxious tohelp you in your home buying or selling process.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Your Client Care Manager

Page 4: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

The Win/WinListing Agreement

In line with our desire to promote a Win/Win relationship withour clients, we have designed the following commission schedule:

5.5% Another Agent and Brokerage represents the buyer,

Seller shall pays a total commission of 5.5%

4.5% We find the buyer and there is no other agent

involved. You benefit from the relationships we havewith our buyers.

2% You find the buyer before we list your property and

want us to write the contract, and walk it throughto settlement for you.

The Term of the listing agreement will last 6 months. In additionto an Administration Fee of $395, due upon final Settlement orearly cancellation of the listing agreement, Seller is responsible forpaying 1.25-1.5% for their portion of the standard State andCounty Transfer Taxes and Recordation Fees.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 5: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

The Most ImportantQuestions You ShouldAsk Your Realtor

“What is your List-Price-to-Sales-Price Ratio?” &“How fast do you sell homes compared to your

competition?”

A study of 5 real estate brokerage companies was done in 2005, Baltimore’shottest Real Estate Market, to discover what the ORIGINAL List-price-to-Sales-Price Ratio and Days On The Market (DOM) were for the housesthese Brokerages listed in all of Baltimore County. Remember, these arejust listings (Seller’s Sales) that settled. Here were the results:

First, No matter who sold the home, all Listing Sales in Baltimore Countyhad an average List-Price-to-Sales-Price Ratio of 97% with an average of27 Days on the Market.Advance Realty Which advertises a 1.75% fee which does not include theCommission to pay the Buyer’s Agent was 98.59% and 21 DOM.Long and Foster was 98.10% and 27 DOM.Coldwell Banker was 97.74% and 30 DOM.Mr. Lister was 97.97 % and 34 DOM.KELLER WILLIAMS was 99.98% and 20 DOM. Not Bad! Netting theSeller nearly 2% more on average and selling 30% faster.

The Scott Smith Realty Group had an average List-Price-to-Sales-Price Ratio of 100.48% and 11 DOM. In an area of specialization,that number rose to 103.1%!! For an average $300,000 house, that

meant $15,000 more to the seller.

Scott’s experience in Real Estate sales has given him a distinct edge in hisability to negotiate one of the best List-Price-to-Sales-Price Ratios in the Balti-more Market. Despite current market conditions, this translates to more moneyin your pocket, in the least amount of time with the least amount of hassles for

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 6: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Getting to Know Scott Best job ever held: Being the Father of Wilson, Olivia and Jackson and being the

Husband to Elisabeth since 1989. Liz works as an Interior Decorator

1985, graduated Covenant College — Cum Laude

Prior to Keller Williams Realty, Scott was consistently, A Top-

Producing Agent with Remax Greater Metro for 8 years

Career Sales of over $80 Million

Scott ranks within the top 1% of agents nationwide according to the

National Association of Realtors and has been a realtor since 1994

2008 #1 Sales Agent for Keller Williams Excellence

2007 #1 Sales Agent for Keller Williams Excellence

2006 #1 Sales Agent for Keller Williams Excellence

2005 Keller Williams Double Gold production member

2002 Earned the designation of e-PRO

2000 Earned the designation of Seniors Real Estate Specialist

1998-2003 Earned Re/max’ 100% Club honor

1997 Earned Re/max’ Executive Club honor

1997 served on the Education Committee of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors

1997 (Fort Lauderdale, Fl), 1998 (San Francisco, CA), 2001 (Orlando, FL), 2004 (San

Antonio, TX) attended Howard Brinton’s Star Power conference designed to bring

together over 1800 of the top realtors in the world

Present Member of The Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors, the Maryland Association

of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

“ TO BUILD A REAL ESTATE PRACTICE, SECOND TO NONE, AND CENTERED ON

TRUTH, BY CREATING RAVING FANS OF OUR CLIENTS.PERIOD! ”

IN OTHER WORDS

WE HAVE NOT SERVED YOUUNTIL YOU HAVE REFERRED US.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 7: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Scott, I wanted to thank you for all your helpand kindness during my town-home buyingprocess. I really feel fortunate that I was ableto work with you. Looking back, I wouldn’twant to work with anyone else.-Brent Shoemaker

You are trustworthy and honest. You helpedmake this entire process easy and comfortablefor us when it could have easily been stressfuland overwhelming. You literally took care ofeverything—home inspection, pest control,title company, lawyer… we will alwaysrecommend you to people we know who arelooking for a home!-Hunter and Christine Young

We never thought, when we agreed to go lookat a house with you, that it would end upbeing the house we would buy. We can’tbegin to tell you what a difference having youas our Realtor has made for us in this wholeprocess. Thank you. Thank you for lookingfor us. Thank you for looking out for us.-Wade and Stephanie Kerns

I just want to thank you again for your all ofyour professionalism, insight and guidance inselling my home in just two days, and thenfinding me a new home within a week.Astonished as I was that my house sold soquickly, and for $10,000 more than the listprice, I then faced the challenge of finding anew home that I could hopefully move into bymy settlement date. Within a week youfound the right new home for me, and I wasable to move in before settlement on myprevious home. All of this was possiblebecause you are not only professionallycompetent, but sensitive to the needs of yourclients.-Pat McClelland

Thank you again for all your help on a verypositive first home buying experience. I knowyou worked on my behalf a lot behind thescenes and I appreciate it. You can count on

my referrals.-Kelleigh Johnson

I just wanted to formally write to you and letyou know how much I appreciate yourprofessional handling of the sale of my home.It is completely the opposite of my previousexperience and a very welcome change. Thisis such a stressful, difficult experience for meand knowing that you are giving me and myhome ‘due’ attention really eases the anxiety.Your constantly being in touch with me inone form or another has helped me to feel alittle less ‘alone’… So thank you very muchfor working so hard for me.-Carolyn DeFatta

I will never forget how kind you were to mewhen you sold my house. You did so manythings for me, being alone would have been areal chore…I am very happy in myapartment- the best move I could have made.Lots of happiness.,-Ardis O’Connor

“Scott, your expert guidance and attention todetail were outstanding and trulyappreciated!”-Nancy Manger

Scott, We just wanted to say a HUGE“thank you” for helping us with our home.We loved working with you. You made apotentially stressful time an easy one and forthat we’re very grateful. We look forward toworking with you again down the road.-Brandon and Amy Luckett

We want you to know how much weappreciate your conscientious work in helpingour daughter to find the perfect house duringher recent search and move. We could tellwhen we finally met you what a good realtoryou are. And Wendy shared other stores

with us about your expertise which againconfirmed it. It’s a big move to buy a house.And you made it a positive one for Wendy –And us, her folks who live far away in Mass.-John and Nancye Tuttle

I want you to know how much we appreciatedyour efforts helping us sell the property at 19W. Elm Ave. Your advise about the manydetails of selling a house were invaluable. Wegreatly appreciate your professionalism andFriendship! Thanks for making theexperience of both Selling and Buying a homeso enjoyable and stress free. WarmestRegards,-Bill and Jo-Ann Beck

We wish to thank you for everything you didto assist with the purchase of our home onThornwood Ct. There were many detailsthat we could not have handled on our ownand we always felt you were acting in our bestinterest. You also gave us wise advice aboutthe pricing of our home on Doxbury Roadand that transaction went very smoothly aswell. We are looking forward to the birth ofour first child and to raising him in such agreat neighborhood. Thanks again foreverything,-Gerri and Stephen Nichols

THE CUSTOMERS ALWAYS WRITE

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 8: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Automatic Email of NewListings.

We offer all of our buyers anexceptional email system that automaticallysends the hottest listings on the market toyour email each day. This will give you theadvantage of being notified before otherbuyers may find out about a property.

Loyal clients.Having sold hundreds of properties in

the Baltimore area since 1994, those yearshave provided Scott with many wonderfulpast clients who feel comfortablerecommending us to their family and friends.Remember…

WE HAVE

NOT SERVED YOUUNTIL YOU

HAVE REFERRED US.

Inventory of homes for sale.We are fortunate to market many

desirable homes, in a variety of areas andprice ranges. This inventory prompts callsfrom old and new customers every day.Buyers know that they will have the insidetrack to the freshest listings.

High Internet presenceScott’s listings are featured on his

website as well as are prominently featuredon the No. 1 home-selling site in the world,“Realtor.com”.

TV and radio advertisingcampaigns.

Ads are run consistently throughoutthe market on both Cable, Networkprogramming as well as on radio resulting ina large number of calls every day.

Consistent and extensivemailings.

We love to keep in touch with past andpotential clients through regular postcardsand newsletters. Because of this, We areoften the first to hear about new listingsbecause of our mailings.

Why

The Scott Smith Realty GroupWorks with so many Buyers

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 9: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Mo Anderson

Gary KellerChairman Of The Board

AboutKELLER WILLIAMS®

Realty

Founded in Austin, Texas, on October 18, 1983 by Gary KelllerAnd Joe Williams

KELLER WILLIAMS® Realty laid the foundation for agentsto become real estate business people.

Gary hired Mo Anderson who, at the time, owned the #3 fran-chise in the largest real estate company in the world who thengrew KW to be the 4th largest Real Estate Company in NorthAmerica.

Gary Keller was chosen by Realtors across the U.S. as oneof five of the “Most Admired” REALTORS® in the nation.

KELLER WILLIAMS® FACTS: “Most Innovative Real Estate Company” — Inman News. 76,000+ real estate consultants. 700+ offices in the U.S. and Canada. 4th largest real estate company in North America. Excellence in real estate consultation training.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 10: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

KELLER WILLIAMS® Realty

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 11: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

The KELLER WILLIAMS® Culture

Win-Win — or no dealIntegrity — do the right thingCommitment — in all things

Communication — seek first to understandCreativity — ideas before resultsCustomers — always come first

Teamwork — together everyone achieves moreTrust — starts with honesty

Success — results through people

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 12: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

What You Do & Don’t Control

Seller Controls:•Property Condition

•Availability for Showing

•Price

•Home Warranty

Seller Doesn’t Control:•Competition

•Current Market conditions -whether it is a Buyer’s orSeller’s Market

•Interest Rates

•When The Perfect BuyerWalks Thru the Door

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 13: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Home Warranty Plans

Home warranty plans I am a huge supporter of

the AHS Warranty. Period. I have had the AHS War-ranty on my own home for years because they stand be-hind their word—I have had to call them several times ayear for my own HVAC, Stove, Refrigerator, etc. I am soglad that I had them in my corner. In fact, I was a weekaway from settling on the sale of my own home when theAir Conditioning unit just stopped working. I called AHSand within a few days and a $50 deductible, I had a brandnew unit and we settled on time. The Buyer was happyand I was even happier!

For a modest price, the Seller can provide to the buyer aone year warranty covering specified heating, plumbing,electrical, water heater or appliance breakdowns. In allcases, there are important limitations and exclusions(example: appliances/systems must be operative at com-mencement of coverage).

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 14: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

InspectionsInspections and potential repairs are the number one reasonsales don’t close. Typically, buyers have a certain number ofdays in which to inspect the property and accept or reject theproperty based upon these mechanical and structuralinspections.

HOW THE SELLERSEES THEIR HOUSE

HOW THE INSPECTORSEES YOUR HOUSE

HOW THE BUYERSEES YOUR HOUSE

Save Yourself Time, Money and Disappointment— Do Deferred Maintenance Now!

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 15: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

ACTIVITY VERSUS TIME

Timing is extremely important in the real estate market.

A property attracts the most activity from the real estate community and potentialbuyers when it is first listed.

It has the greatest opportunity to sell when it is new on the market.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 16: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Why

Pricing is So Important

Faster sale—when a property is priced properly, “the market” will let you know fairly

immediately by initial excitement and activity whether or not it believes your price is right.

My best strategy for getting your price is to foster an environment where you receive

multiple contracts on your property.

Stress factor - The longer your house “sits” on the market, the more

stress you will feel.

What is the 5% rule? - When the price is “in the ballpark” offers will

be made. If it is 5% out of what the buyers can afford, they typically won’t

even bother to make an offer. It’s just too much trouble to put together an

offer for them.

Agents talk - News travels fast if the price and condition of a property are either

favorable or unfavorable.

“Too” Comments — “the rooms are too small”, “the kitchen is too

outdated”. Buyers will use “too” in sentences to their agent when they are

really saying “there are other homes on the market which have the features

we want for less money.”

Showings rule — The National Association of realtors says that for every 10

showings you should be presented a contract. With every 3 contracts, one should be

ratified. If the property is not being shown the market is rejecting the price of the home.

Appraisal —Every sale, unless otherwise stated, is dependent upon a successful

appraisal done by the lender giving the money to the buyer. It is important that the home

be priced according to comparable sales in the area or else the buyer’s lender won’t

approve the loan.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 17: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Research conducted by the National Association of REALTORSâ showsthat more buyers purchase their properties at fair market value – notabove it. The percentage of buyers increases even more when the pricedrops below fair market value. If you price your property at market value,you are exposing it to a much greater percentage of prospective buyers and youare increasing your opportunity for a sale.

Pricing Factors

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 18: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

The value of your property is determined bywhat a BUYER is willing to pay in today’s market

based on comparing your property to othersSOLD in your area.

Buyers ALWAYS Determine Value!

FACTORS THAT DON’T AFFECTTHE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 19: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Trulia – Real Estate Search EngineLIVE!

GoogleBase – World’s largest search engineLIVE!

Yahoo Real Estate - use Yahoo! RealEstate to find real estateLIVE!

Homescape – Provides local, comprehensiveproperty listings and rich content to home buyersand sellers nationwide through affiliation with 125online newspaper partners and 23,000 advertisers.LIVE!

Cyberhomes – Website powered by Fidelity Na-tional Financial, Inc that provides home valuation andneighborhood information.LIVE!

AOL Real Estate- Homepage ofAOL.com which is Web services companythat runs one of the country's largest Inter-net access businesses.

LIVE!

Yuvie.com – Helps home buyers find open housesnationwide, schedule visits and find homes for sale.LIVE!

Zillow - Zillow.com is an online real estate servicededicated to helping you get an edge in real estate byproviding you with a Zestimate® home valuation as astarting point for anyone to see — for free — formost homes in the U.S.LIVE!

Point2Homes.com – Provided by Point2NLS asnational marketing and advertising platform exclu-sively for real estate professionals.Under Construction

Unique Global Estates - largest aggregator of inter-national property listings in excess of US $1Million.Under Construction

When you list your home with the Scott Smith Realty Group, the top real estate consumerwebsites will automatically market your listing on their sites. Keller Williams has formedthese strategic internet business relationships to help feature your home and get it soldquickly.

Page 20: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED YOUR

STRATEGIC PARTNERS?1. Title Company - The company that the Buyer will choose to handle set-

tlement. The title company can also prepare a specific Power of Attor-ney if needed.

2. Moving Company - Names can be provided if needed3. Handy Man Services - It is best to contact this person sooner than later4. Carpenter - Repairs may be needed after the buyer performs their home

inspection5. Pool Service - Is winter setting in? Best to close up the pool now.6. Roofer - Again, be mindful of the season. Rainy seasons keep roofers

busy. It is best to call a roofer when there has been a dry period both forpricing and availability.

7. Landscaper - The first thing that your buyer will notice on their “Drive-by”.

8. Cleaning & Maid Services - Costs of a cleaning can range in theneighborhood of $75-$150 but is well worth the price to present abeautiful home to the public.

9. Yard Services - Why put all of the responsibility on yourself to keep thehouse looking good throughout the marketing phase? Don’t be afraid tohire help.

10.Window Washing - This can usually be handled by most cleaning ser-vices.

11. Trash Hauler - Why wait. If you are not moving it with you get rid of itnow.

12. Carpet Company - If you were buying your home, would you want tomove into your home with the carpets that are there? If not, call a carpetcompany today to arrange for an appointment. Installation usually takesabout 2 weeks.

13. Duct Cleaning Service14. Chimney Cleaning Service - Chimney inspections have become a stan-

dard in the industry.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 21: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Your home

THROUGH THE EYES OF A BUYER(OR... A FEW DOLLARS NOT SPENT TODAY COULD COST YOU THOUSANDS LATER!)

Ok, this is Clutter’s Last Stand!

What should you do with all your clutter?Box it. Hide it. BURN IT! Now is the time to just...

GET RID OF IT!

Clean out the attic, garage and closets and

dispose/box up everything you are not going to move.

Call your favorite relative and say, “I have a small favor to ask.” Then, just show

up with your truck-load of stuff and dump it in their garage for a few weeks!

Clean garage floor and if applicable, sweep any attic space over garage

Stack items neatly against the walls of the basement or garage so the spaces will

appear larger

Then, if necessary, paint the ceilings of your rooms bright white and walls neutral

colors

Kitchen

The kitchen is probably the most important room in the house. Make it as bright

and attractive as possible. Perhaps new cheerful curtains can be hung

Countertops are surprisingly inexpensive to replace but make a good impact when

they are new

Clean the ventilation hood on the stove

If the kitchen floor is badly worn, put down new flooring. If a single tile of

linoleum is loose, try this trick: apply heat to the tile with an iron covered with a

soft cloth to soften the adhesive, then replace the tile or refasten to floor

Remove any appliances that you keep on your counters like a toaster, coffee maker,

can opener, etc. Clean counters to make the room look larger.

We all like “stuff ” on our refrigerators but try to keep it limited to a corner of the

Fridge.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 22: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Bathroom

Repair dripping faucets.

Clean off the bathroom counter.

Conceal cleaning products.

Keep fresh towels in the bathroom

Use special cleaning products to remove stains from the toilets, bathtubs and

sinks. Keep sinks and mirrors shining

If sink and bathtub drain too slowly, unclog them.

Keep a solid deodorizer in the bathroom area.

All Living Areas

Have all plaster/drywall in top shape. Cracks are easy to fix. I would be happy to

tell you the secrets.

Check ceilings for leak stains. Fix the cause of the damage, repair the ceiling and

repaint. Don’t give the home inspector, which the buyer hires, reason to write

down any more than they need to

When painting and redecorating, stick to conventional white and neutrals

Clean off the clutter from surfaces of desks, counters, tables, mantles, etc.

Curb AppealAll of the buyers that I work with me first drive-by any potential properties before calling me to

make an appointment. If they don’t like what they see on the outside they don’t even ask me to

show them the inside. So, here are just some ideas to help you spruce up the outside of your home.

Install a new, full-view storm door with brass handles. Brass fixtures have a way

of turning heads and are great for curb appeal—mail boxes, door knob, kick plate,

etc.

Flower boxes under the windows and on the front porch make a house say “Look

at me!!!

Wreaths are not just for Christmas anymore. Find one that sets off the colors of a

freshly painted front door. Don’t be afraid to use a new color of paint

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch—Have you ever heard the saying, “ Mulch covers a

multitude of sins”? Probably not because I made it up —–But it’s true!

Bushes were never meant to be bigger than your car. Keep them cut back to waist-

height.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 23: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Preparing Your Home For Sale

With a little effort on your part, your home can be sold more quickly andat a better price. The following is a checklist which has proved invaluableto owners and is worth your special attention:

THE CHECKLIST:

First impressions are lasting! The front door greets the prospect. Make sure it is fresh,clean, and paint the trim.

Keep lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse. Reseed the lawn and fertilize ifnecessary, weed the gardens, and add mulch. Deep green grass makes a lasting impression.In winter, be sure snow and ice is removed from walks and steps.

Decorate for a quick sale. Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce appeal. Why try to tellthe prospect how your home could look, when you can show him by redecorating? Aquicker sale at a higher price will result. An investment in neutral new kitchen wallpaperwill pay dividends.

Let the sun shine in. Open draperies and curtains and let the prospect see how cheerfulyour home can be. (Dark rooms do not appeal)

Do the windows and window screens work well and look good? Have the windows spot-less.

Are the appliances operating properly and sparkling?

Fix the faucet! Dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty plumbing.

Repairs can make a big difference. Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabi-net drawers and other minor flaws detract from home value. Have them fixed.

From top to bottom. Display the full value of your attic, basement and other utility spaceby removing all unnecessary articles. Brighten dark, dull basements by painting walls andadding brighter light bulbs.

Safety first. Keep stairways clear. Avoid cluttered appearances and possible injuries.

Pack excess linens and clothing to make closets look bigger. Neat, well-ordered closetsshow the space is ample.

Bathrooms help sell homes. Check and repair grout in bathtubs and showers. Make thisroom sparkle. Don’t let the Handy Man add gobs of caulking when grout is what you need.

Arrange bedrooms neatly. Remove excess furniture. Use attractive bedspreads and fresh-looking window coverings.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 24: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

(Continued)Preparing Your Home:

Have I removed or mentioned to my realtor any attached items that are not in-cluded, such as special chandeliers, shelving or garden plants?

Am I familiar with similar homes on the market that I may be competing against?

Whenever possible leave your house for showings, if not, follow the tips below.

Three's a crowd. Avoid having too many people present during showings. The po-tential buyer will feel like an intruder and will hurry through the house.

Music is mellow. But not when showing a house. Turn off the blaring radio or tele-vision. Let the your agent and buyer talk, free of disturbances.

Pets underfoot? Keep them out of the way--preferably out of the house.

Silence is golden. Be courteous but don't force conversation with the potentialbuyer. He wants to inspect your house--not to pay a social call.

Be it ever so humble. Never apologize for the appearance of your home. After all,it has been lived in. Let the trained agent answer any objections. This is his/her job.

Remain in the background. The agent knows the buyer's requirements and can bet-ter emphasize the features of your home when you don't tag along. You will be calledif needed. Allow the buyers to take "psychological possession."

Why put the cart before the horse? Trying to dispose of furniture and furnishingsto the potential buyer before he has purchased the house often loses a sale.

A word to the wise. Let your Realtor discuss price, terms, possession and other fac-tors with the customer. They are eminently qualified to bring negotiations to a favor-able conclusion.

We ask that you show your home to prospective customers only by appointmentthrough our office. Your cooperation will be appreciated and will help us close the salemore quickly.

www.itsGottobeScott.com

Page 25: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

WHEN IT IS TIME FOR YOUR

VERY FIRST SHOWING!

It is generally accepted that, “Lots of light makes a

person feel happy” So, keep your draperies pulled back,

let in as much light as possible. Next, be sure to turn on

all lights throughout the house, even in daylight hours. It

helps to showcase your home. Replace burned-out light bulbs to make sure

every light works. For evening showings, make sure porch lights and

outdoor lights are turned on.

If there are any items you plan to take with you that buyers might mistake

for fixtures to the house, be sure to tag them.

Please, do not let strangers into your home unaccompanied by an agent. All

agents must register their name, their real estate company and their phone

number with Centralized Showings before being given permission to enter

your property. Centralized Showings will call you with appointments.

As much as is reasonably possible, you want to have your home in the same

condition as you would when you invite your boss for dinner (and he or she

wanders through your home, opens all your closets and...well, you get the

idea!). Go ahead and clean those windows and shine up the kitchen

appliances.

Keep pets outdoors or in cages when your home is being shown. They tend

to be a distraction even if they are friendly.

Let the Buyer’s Realtor show your home. Answer questions candidly when

asked but avoid questioning potential buyers as it feels “pushy”.

Page 26: Seller's Smooth Road to Settlement

Many Agents think their mostimportant job is satisfying the customer: Idon’t think that’s true. I believe that satisfyingthe customer is simply the minimumrequirement for staying in business. I workconstantly to improve my systems, processesand services to go well above and beyond yourexpectations.

Simply put, our objective is to get youthe most money in the least time and with the fewest hassles. Wewant to provide the best service in the industry. We want to makeyou so happy that you listed your home with us that you will gladlyrefer us to your friends. Remember...

WE HAVE NOT SERVED YOUUNTIL YOU HAVE REFERRED US.

TTTHEHEHE SSSELLERELLERELLER’’’SSS SSSMOOTHMOOTHMOOTH RRROADOADOAD

TOTOTO SSSETTLEMENTETTLEMENTETTLEMENT

DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE SCOTT SMITH REALTY GROUP TO SERVE YOU.

Scott Smith, (Cell) 443-506-4567 Alice McClure, Client Care Manager (Cell): 410-382-2001