Why Are You Having Trouble Selling Your Home?

Homeowners and readers of The Patterson Files have given me some inspiration. When I began my "Why Aren't Buyers Coming to See My Home?" series of posts, I did not expect the amount of interest in that topic on my blog. I was pleasantly surprised. Look for more of those posts in the future.

For this post, let's slightly shift the focus. There are some homeowners that experience a large amount of buyer traffic when putting home on the market. However.....ALL THEY HAVE IS TRAFFIC! Sellers want offers and contracts! If you are reading this post and you fit into that category, I have a question for you.

Why are you having trouble selling your home? Exposure to the market could be an issue! Pricing could be an issue! What are some other challenges with selling a home?

Take a Look at this Guest Contribution from Akanke Cadden
with OpenDoorStaging.com in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
(954) 302-4377 /Akanke@OpenDoorStaging.com



If this hits home, address the issue BEFORE YOUR NEXT SHOWING!

Fiduciary Duties are Important to First Time Home Buyers

This is Part 4 in my series on Columbia SC real estate agency laws.

In Part One, I expressed the importance of discussing agency relationships with real estate licensees (agents) and agreeing on your business relationship. In Part Two, I wrote about the difference between being a Customer and a Client. Part Three discussed the importance of some sellers and all home buyers becoming Clients.

This installment will discuss your expectations of a real estate agent and their fiduciary duties to you.

If you enter into a written agency agreement, as a Client, you can expect the real estate agent and her/his real estate Company to provide the following client-level services:

1. OBEDIENCE - If, and only if, you have SIGNED an agency agreement with an agent and/or real estate company, the agent is obligated to promptly and efficiently obey all of your LEGAL instructions. HOWEVER, you MUST HAVE a signed agreement to receive this level of client services.


2. LOYALTY - This fiduciary duty obligates a real estate agent to operate and negotiate in your best interest. Unless you have a SIGNED agency agreement with an agent or real estate company, the agent/real estate company is not required to be loyal to you. Therefore, when you walk on that new construction site and begin to sign documentation, remember this................

If you do not have representation with you, the on-site agent is not required to work for your best interest!


3. DISCLOSURE - An agent must disclose all known relevant and material information. For example, your agent should educate you about any factor that might affect the value or desirability of the home being considered for purchase.

By the way, NEVER ENTER INTO A CONTRACT without reviewing the Sellers Property Condition Disclosure Statement. If you are looking at new construction, this property will not be available to you for obvious reasons.

(NOTE -- Not all homes are required to have this document. For a list of exemptions, please feel free to email me at blogger@davidpatterson.net)


4. CONFIDENTIALITY - Unless you give consent, an agent is obligated to safeguard your personal information and your ability/willingness to pay more for a home than your offer price. However, if you do not have a signed agency agreement with a real estate agent or company.....

"ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU........" (Know Your Rights!)


5. ACCOUNTING - An agent and their real estate company is obligated to account for all money, deeds, documents and/or any other property given to them by you. For example, I have a client from Virginia that is moving to our area. In an effort for me to work on her behalf, she entrust me and Russell & Jeffcoat with $1250. This money is to be held in earnest and for payment of required inspections.

When hiring an agent, you must hire someone trustworthy! $1250 is not a trivial amount to being handing over to any Tom, Teresa, Dick, Denise, Harry or Harriet!


6. Reasonable Care and Skill - This is the most ignored duty by first time home buyers! Just because you have a friend or acquaintance that has their real estate license, that does not equate to possessing the skill necessary to fulfill this and the aforementioned fiduciary duties.

An agent is obligated to use reasonable care and diligence when representing you. You should expect a standard of care that only a COMPETENT real estate PROFESSIONAL can exhibit.

You should hire someone with superior skill and knowledge of the real estate market. No agent can possess superior skill AND knowledge by having closed only 1-4 transactions in their career.

You need to hire professionals such as an Accredited Buyer Representative, a Certified Residential Specialist or a real estate professional that has closed at least 25 transactions.

In my opinion, I would not want to be in the courtroom with an attorney that has never represented someone on trial for their freedom. That same mindset should be used in hiring a real estate agent.

In Part Five of this series, we will discuss Columbia SC Real Estate Types of Agency.

30 Things Before Putting Your Home on The Market

Guest Contribution from Jill Wente, Realtor
Prudential Gary Greene - Spring, Texas
Phone: 281.804.8626 / jwente@garygreene.com




Top 30 things to do before putting your home on the market. Make your home's "First Impression" its "Best Impression"

1. Trim your shubbery





2. Add color with flowers and potted plants





3. Powerwash the front sidewalks and driveway





4. Clean the pine needles from the roof





5. Repaint to a neutral color walls with vivid colors





6. Wash the windows





7. Refinish your front door and polish the hardware





8. Get a new door mat that says "Welcome"





9. Clean up after your pets
   




10. Organize the garage to make the space seem larger




11. Make sure all your light bulbs are working and replace any burnt out ones




12. Replace old, stained, worn out carpet. If they don't need replacing have the carpets professionaly steam cleaned





13. Remove excess furniture that make your rooms look small
    




14. Wipe down the walls. If the walls need more than a thorough cleaning, apply a fresh coat of paint.




15. Powerwash the exterior of the home



16. Set out "show towels" in the baths



17. Clear away the items on your sink vanities and store them in the cabinet.



18. Get as much stuff off the floors in your closets as possible. Thin out your hanging clothes. Neaten up the things on your closet shelves. These actions will make your closets look larger.





19. Depersonalize your home. Put away family photos, sports trophies and yoru collectibles.
    
    



20. Organize your pantry



21. Remove all the items from the top of your kitchen counters. Only leave out those items that you absolutely use on a daily basis



22. Remove everything from the top, front, and sides of the refrigerator.





23. Repair or replace any leaky faucets



24. Make your fireplace the focal point of the room instead of the television



25. Dust all the light fixtures



26. Recaulk the grout around your shower and bathtubs


27. Clean your tile grout


28. Check all the ceilings for water stains. If an active leak exists repair it. If the stain is from an old repaired leak, repaint the ceiling.





29. Dust the baseboards
    


30. Freshen the air by deodorizing pet areas

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Get A Home Warranty!

For homeowners, selling a home can be a challenging task. For home buyers, purchasing a home is a major investment and a big step in their lives. For both, most systems are hidden from view and are easily taken for granted until something goes wrong. That is when your asset/investment can become a major headache! Hence, home warranties are becoming a fundamental part of all real estate transactions.

Homeowner Advantages

Sellers give themselves a marketing advantage and are protected from unexpected bills on covered systems and appliances during the listing period. Sellers also reduce their after-sale liability. In this litigious society, that type of protection speaks for itself.

Buyer Advantages

After making your down payment, covering your closing costs, paying for moving and incurring all incidentals, your home should provide comfort and joy, not the surprises of extra (and expensive) repair bills on major systems and appliances.

Beginning on the day of closing, your year-long home warranty provides for the repair or replacement of mechanical systems and major appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. Plus, if you like the peace of mind that is provided by your home warranty, you have the option of renewing your warranty on an annual basis.

For more detailed information about your Home Warranty options, please feel free to email me at blogger@davidpatterson.net

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Welcome to The Patterson Files!

The Patterson Files is the blogging voice of David Patterson, Broker with Keller Williams Realty in Columbia, South Carolina. Through this blog, David will express his opinions on metropolitan Columbia real estate, area attractions, local vendors and public establishments. David will also share his thoughts on sports happenings, music and an assortment of other topics.

“From personal experience, I have found that trust can be gained through friendship.” – David Patterson

“In order to make a friend….you first gotta be a friend.” -- Chuck Brown (http://www.windmeupchuck.com/).

The Patterson Files is David’s attempt to be your trusted source for Midlands community information and your friend in Columbia real estate.

From time to time, David will be inviting some Guest Contributors to this blog. His goal is to build a network of families, friends, neighbors and fellow real estate agents in an effort to openly discuss real estate and life in our lovely corner of the world known as Richland County.

Who knows……you might be asked to become a Guest Contributor.

“Remember…this blog is for my readers (that would be you). Without you, it cannot be a success." -- David

If you’d like to submit a topic for to be covered on this blog, please send your topics to blogger@davidpatterson.net

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