| About selling
Real estate agents will do most of the work in selling your home, but it's important to give them all the ammunition possible! Even an ideal location and price won't sway a buyer who isn't attracted to your home.
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| Adding value to your home
Remodeling a house can be very expensive but may add to your enjoyment of it. Do not expect to recover all of your money from remodeling jobs if you sell your home.
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| Agents' commission
Real estate agents are paid a percentage of your home's selling price. You won't pay a fee up front to the agent. You'll meet with the real estate agent to discuss your home.
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| Agents-buying and selling
Buying agents are becoming popular with savvy homebuyers. Previously, most agents represented the seller's interests, because the seller paid their commission.
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| Choosing an agent
Finding a well qualified agent with whom you can do business is very important. Ask for referrals from co-workers, friends, and especially former neighbors.
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| Closing costs for the seller
Closing costs are fees which must be paid at the time of closing, rather than included in the financed amount of the mortgage. While most closing costs are assumed by the buyer, you may also be required to pay some of the expenses.
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| Lease with option to buy
A lease with a purchase option is a lease which includes a clause or statement determining the price of the property if you wish to purchase it. A lease agreement with an option to buy may also set aside a portion of each month's rent as down payment toward the purchase price.
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| Listing agreements
A real estate listing is a written agreement between a property owner and a real estate broker or agent. The owner and the broker or agent together determine the best length of time for a particular listing agreement.
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| Market value/analysis
Market value, also called fair market value, is the cash price that a willing buyer and a willing seller would agree upon, given reasonable exposure of the property to the marketplace, full information as to the potential uses of the property, and where neither party is under abnormal pressure to conclude the transaction.
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| Preparing your home for sale
When you put your house on the market you want it looking its best. To accomplish this, start by making an objective list of all of the problems and an estimate of how much time and money it will cost to fix them.
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| Pricing your property
To help you determine a price for your property, find out the offering and selling prices of similar properties in your neighborhood. Try to find at least three comparable homes that sold within the past six months and see how long each took to sell.
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| Property appreciation
Appreciation refers to the increase in market value of a property over a period of time. Appreciation is directly related to current market factors and can fluctuate with market conditions such as the strength of the economy, the number of homes available on the market, and current interest rates.
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| What to leave and what to take
While some items are negotiable, there's a general rule about what must stay with a property. Any structural or attached items, such as air conditioners or trash compactors, are part of the deal.
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