Why you should choose Nicole to be your Agent
As your Realtor, I will assist you in every stage of the selling process, from setting the best price, to marketing, to showings and finally closing the deal.
A tech savvy agent like me will:
- Remain abreast of the market changes of your neighborhood. (New sales and listings in your area may impact your listing.)
- Market your home aggressively. (recommending staging techniques, professional-quality photographs, advertise on several platforms including social media)
- Vet potential buyers so you can deal only with serious prospects.
I will bring expertise to a complex transaction with many financial and legal pitfalls. I 'll do everything I can to sell your home quickly and at the best possible price
My pledge to you:
You can trust me to:
- Explain all the steps involved before they happen
- Return your calls and texts promptly
- Act as your connection to all relevant services
- Provide immediate feedback and information as situations change or arise
- Fully represent your point-of-view and best interests in all negotiations
- Make the sale of your home as simple, smooth and stress-free as I possibly can
Nicole's Toolbox
Your First Showing
Most buyers will find their home on the internet, therefore your listing photos will be your first showing. I will hire a professional photographer who understands how to use a light source and best market your home. I will feature the best of your home because we only have one chance to make a great first impression.
Creative Marketing
I will use creative ways to market you home. Every home is unique and It's my job to highlight what buyers are searching for. Social media is a powerful tool when it comes to marketing but it's not the only arrow in my quiver.
Exclusive Pricing Tool
As a Pricing Strategy Advisor and Weichert agent, I have access to proven methods to determine your best asking price. Weichert's proprietary Price Trend Analysis will project local trends to improve and shorten your selling process.
Your partner and neighborhood specialist
No one will do more to sell your home quickly and at the best possible price.
Preparing Your House for Sale
One of the first things I will do before putting your house on the market is prepare your house for sale. I want to show your house off in its best light to maximize your earning potential. I will tour your house with the eye of a buyer – what works, what doesn’t work.
Curb Appeal Does your house have curb appeal? Can we give it a little more pizzazz to draw the buyer in? Would a bit of touch-up paint add dollars to the sale? What about the garden? Is the lawn in order and neatly edged? Are trees and bushes neatly pruned? Are flowers in bloom? If not, it may be time for a garden upgrade. Adding colorful annuals to the front garden will make a big difference. Remember, creating curb appeal will add dollars to your house’s final selling price.
Welcome Home As I walk in the door of your house, I will ask myself, “Will this house say, ‘Welcome home’ to a buyer?” Looking through the eyes of a buyer, I will recommend changes that will enhance sales appeal. I’ll help you eliminate anything that gives the appearance of clutter. Countertops should be free and clear. Knickknacks, souvenirs, family photos, refrigerator artwork – it’s gone. We need to “de-personalize” the house so buyers can imagine it as their home. Closets and cupboards should appear large and roomy. It’s time to make a donation to a local charity or store belongings at a friend’s or family member’s home. Reviewing your home room-by-room, I will make recommendations that impact the sale. I’ll point out the pieces of furniture that should be removed, rooms that need new paint, carpet that needs to be changed, fixtures that need polishing, windows that need cleaning, and any other improvement that can easily be made to promote the sale.
Setting the Stage Before the first buyer walks in your door, I’ll show you how to set the stage. We want to engage the buyer’s senses. Lighting is critical. We’ll draw back curtains, open blinds, change light bulbs and add lighting where needed to welcome the buyer. We’ll enhance the ambiance with music playing lightly in the background and insure a pleasing aroma emanates from every room.
Move-in-ready
With new construction on the rise, sellers will need to present their homes in top shape. Today buyers are either looking for fixer-uppers or move-in-ready; very few are in between.
Cleaning
When a house is for sale, the goal is to make it as attractive as possible to potential buyers. The most cost-efficient way to spruce up the home is to clean it thoroughly. You want to clean the entire house from top to bottom but put in some extra time in the kitchen and bathrooms. Make sure all appliances, sink fixtures, mirrors, toilets, tubs and showers are all clean as possible. Try to look at things from a buyer's prospective.
Painting
Painting can be your best investment when selling your home. It is not a very expensive operation and often you can do it yourself. Light neutral colors works best because they will appeal many and light colors will help your rooms appear bright and spacious.
Carpet and Flooring
Unless your carpet appears old and worn, or it is an outdated style or color, you probably should do nothing more than hire a good carpet cleaner. If it needs to be replaced, do so with something inexpensive in a neutral color.
Odor Control
Ventilation is the key... for those who smoke, you might want to minimize smoking indoors while trying to sell your home. Pets of all kinds create odors that you may have become used to, but are immediately noticeable to others. For those with cats, be sure to empty kitty litter boxes daily. For those with dogs, keep the dog outdoors as much as possible. There are several options available to assist with deodorizing your home but don't forget to open the windows and let the fresh air in.
Do forget to..
Wash the windows, remove the bugs from the light fixtures, freshen up the drapes, and dust thoroughly. Vacuum regularly using long straight strokes. Keeping on top of the cleaning chores will keep your home looking its best. The front door should be especially sharp since it is the entryway into the house. Polish the door fixture so it gleams. If the door needs refinishing or repainting, make sure to get that done
Hiring someone to do a deep cleaning is not a bad investment.
Removing Clutter, Though You May Not Think of it as Clutter
De-Personalize
You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertently create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property. The first step in getting your home ready to sell is to "de-personalize" it. Take down personal photographs and family items that create the sense that this is your home. You don't want the buyer wondering, "Who lives here?" You want the buyer to see themselves living there. Therefore, put away family photos, sports trophies, collectible items, knick-knacks, and souvenirs. LET'S START PACKING
Kitchen Clutter
In the kitchen, you should get everything off the counters. This helps the buyer see more space to put their things. This includes items like coffeemaker, toaster, flour container, etc. For the items you will use, place them in the cabinet or pantry. For items you do not use regularly.. LET'S START PACKING
Make sure the inside of your cabinets are organized and clean. Pack non-essential items to make the cabinets look more spacious
Closet Clutter
You want your closet to appear spacious. You should remove extra clothes and shoes or seasonal items that you will rarely wear. LETS START PACKING
Furniture Clutter
Too much or oversize furniture will give the illusion of limited space If you have pieces that you are not planning to take with you, now is a good time to sell or give them away. Make sure your furniture placement allows for easy traffic flow and shows the purpose of each room. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table if possible to make the room look larger. LETS START PACKING
Clutter collects on shelves, counter tops, drawers, closets, garages. Take a step back and pretend you are a buyer. Let a friend help point out areas of clutter, as long as you can accept their views without getting defensive. I can help too.
Which home improvements give the best payback?
Quick fixes before selling a home always pay off, but which home repairs bring the biggest return?
- Replace chipped or cracked tiles. Clean or replace the grout. But don't install ceramic (it's too expensive) unless it's for aesthetic reasons in an entry way.
- Remove outdated carpeting from living room, dining room, and family room. You can replace it with a very inexpensively laminate that you can install yourself.
- Get rid of dated wallpaper
- Dated paneling must go. Older wood paneling such as walnut, mahogany, cedar and pine, it's all gone out of style. Paint it a neutral and soft color after priming it.
- Say goodbye to old popcorn ceilings. It's not expensive but it is time consuming to remove. Lay down drop cloths and scrape it off. You will need to repaint.
- If your cabinets are simply dated, like oak, consider painting the wood a trendier color and adding new hardware.
- Replace leaky and dated faucets . Be sure to caulk.
- Granite counters are not always necessary but you may need to re-grout if stained.
- If your home needs a new roof, bite the bullet or be ready to discount your price. Buyers shy away from buying a home if the roof needs to be replaced. You may not get a 100% return but it will open up the pool of buyers who will buy your home.
- Check all the ceilings for water stains. Sometimes old leaks leave stains even after you have repaired the leak. Of course, if you do have a leak, you will have to get it repaired whether it is a plumbing problem or the roof leaks.
- Make sure there are no cracked or broken windowpanes. If there are, replace them before you begin showing your home.
- Make sure the doors open and close properly and be sure the doorknobs turn easily and that they are cleaned and polished to look sharp. Problems with the door may give the impression of foundation issues.
