Selling Your Home

“As with any business transaction you conduct, it is important to have full faith and trust in the person you are dealing with. I will work to build that faith & trust."

Sincerely,

Brent Banks

Selling your greatest financial investment best exemplifies the importance of having faith and trust in a true professional. That's where I come in.

When you list your home with myself and the Team at Prudential, you can rest assured that everything is being attended to in the most competent and efficient manner possible.

Many agents feel that a combination of listing your home in the MLS system, putting up a sign, and running a newspaper advertisement is sufficient. However, are you achieving the highest dollar for your home? My number one goal is to protect your investment so you can get the most out of the equity you have achieved. Your best interests are kept front and center at all times. Just ask some of my previous clients.  This high standard of excellence combined with my experienced negotiation skills ensure that no money is ever left on the table and your home sells for the highest amount possible.

Selling your home doesn't have to be stressful!

What Happens Next?

You've decided to sell your home. Simply contact me to get the process started. I will come to your home at your convenience in order to view the property and speak with you in person.  I want to personally see your home in advance of preparing an accurate listing price. This customized report is referred to as "An Opinion of Value" and is presented to you at a second meeting.  This suggested list price is obtained through researching and analyzing current market data.  I will carefully go through this report with you.  You deserve more than being told a possible list price for your property - You deserve to see and be explained as to how it was derived.

During the initial meeting, and on an ongoing basis, I will be very happy to answer any and all questions you may have.

When you have decided to go forward, I will prepare a Listing Agreement and review this brokerage contract with you. The next day, marketing for your property will begin. Many marketing techniques will be utilized but of key importance, your property will be entered into two MLS (Multiple Listing System) services. This includes one local MLS (Habersham/White/Stephens MLS) and a more broad MLS (Georgia MLS) to be used.

What is an MLS Service?

The MLS service is a very powerful and efficient real estate selling system that markets your home to other registered Realtors who are members of the MLS service. The combination of my marketing plan along with listing your home in the MLS systems will enable your home the greatest exposure possible.

There are hundreds of realtor members in our local real estate board who access these MLS systems and request to bring potential buyers to view your property.  All realtors, in addition to those at Team Prudential, can bring in offers on your home.

Selling Mistakes to Avoid

Pricing incorrectly (too high or too low) - Make sure you determine the current market value of your home.  If your asking price is significantly higher than what the market is currently bearing, many potential buyers looking for your style of home will view similar but lower priced homes first.  Not only does this limit the pool of potential buyers but it also increases the chances your home will sell for less than its actual value in the end. This is due to the "discount" often associated with properties that have been on the market for a longer than average time.  Alternatively, if your asking price is too low, you are literally giving away your hard-earned equity just because you did not know what the market would bear.

Failing to "showcase" your home - A little work can improve the first impression of your home a thousand-fold. First impressions are lasting impressions and can dramatically affect a property's perceived value.

Mistaking a Bank's appraisal or a new Tax Assessment as your home's actual market value - These processes are based on general guidelines such as lot size and square footage, not the specific qualities and improvements of your home. Using either of these as a baseline could cause you to over-price or under-price your property. It requires detailed background knowledge of all recent neighborhood sales as well as homes currently for sale in order to estimate value accurately. Allow me to perform a detailed market evaluation.

Choosing the right Realtor for all of the right reasons - It is critical that you have full confidence in your realtor's experience and abilities. You want a realtor who can explain the whole selling process to you, has a good feel for the market, has access to potential buyers and offers sound advice on how to improve your chances of selling. Try to avoid choosing a realtor on the basis of which one gives the highest estimate of your home's value. In order to achieve the best sales price within a reasonable period of time you need an accurate indication of what the true market value of your property is. Knowing this allows you to properly price your home, thus maximizing your chances of selling and allowing you to make your future plans with the sure knowledge that your goals can be attained.

Failing to take current market conditions/trends into account - Is it a Buyer's market, a Seller's market, a Balanced market? What do future trends look like?  I keep my hands on the pulse of the market and can help here.

Not taking advantage of market fluctuations - The Big Picture... Moving up in a market downturn? If your $150,000 home has dropped 10% in value, so has your $300,000 dream home. Yes, you lose $15,000 on your current home, but you save $30,000 on your next purchase! Always keep in mind the big picture.

Using "hard sell" during showings - No one likes being pressured. As well, buyers might wonder why you are so anxious to sell. Let your home speak for itself.

Mistaking "Lookers" for "Buyers" - Many people who look at homes for sale may just be getting a feel for the market, seeing how others "showcase" their homes, or even just looking for decorating ideas. Your realtor deals with these situations on a full-time basis and has the experience needed to separate the "Lookers" from the actual "Buyers".

Limiting the marketing and exposure of your property - Part of what a good realtor does is to ensure that your property is showcased and marketed in the best and most productive manner possible. Not allowing a "For Sale" sign on the front yard, or limiting viewing times can dramatically reduce the number of prospective purchasers seeing your home and have a serious impact on your bottom line.