Selling Tips

Get Ready To Sell

Before you begin, educated yourself about the real estate selling customs in the area where you live. Relatives or friends can give "good advice" but those who live in another area or state might relate information that may be different in their area, so avoid the mistake of relying solely on their advice when you consider selling your home, commercial property or land parcel.

Listing A Property 101

Remember the real estate process can be very different from one area to another and from one state to another. So, take the initiative and call a licensed realtor about the typical home selling scenario in the area. Choose a professional realtor like an agent from the team at the Beach To Bay Real Estate Center. He or she should be able to inform you in on nuances of selling property in Sussex County, Delaware. Please note this should not be a meeting that must lead to a Seller/Agent Agreement for that agent to list your property. Any agent who won't take the time to educate you about the "selling process" and pressures you to sign an agreement isn't much of an agent, so if the first few calls don't produce someone who will help you no strings attached, keep looking.

If you don't want to talk with a real estate agent, how about a bank loan officer or mortgage broker?

They look at home buying from a different perspective, but can usually give you a basic overview of the process.

Sellers, Some Questions to Ask

• If you decide to work with a realtor, will the agent help you define a fair market/listing price? If not, move onto someone else.
• What types of disclosures are sellers in your area required to give to buyers? Can the agent give you a sample copy of typical disclosures?
• What types of home inspections are standard in your area? Are there other inspectors that the agent recommends?
• How much do the inspections usually cost? Are they regarded as a sellers' expense? * When are inspections done?
• Is a survey required for most transactions? If so, who typically pays for it, the buyer or the seller?
• Who does the title search to verify that the deed is problem free, attorneys or a title company? What's the average cost for that service?
• Who acts as settlement agent, the person who puts together final paperwork for you to sign? (attorney, title company personnel, real estate broker, other)?
• What's the average total cost for closing fees that you, the seller, are responsible for? * Taxes, settlement agent fees, etc.
• How long does it usually take to close on a home once you accept an offer on your listing?

Keep a Cool Head

Even simple problems can be a burden when you're selling a home, commercial property or land parcel, so, don't over-react if you hit a few snags on the way to closing. Keep a cool head, go with the flow, ask questions... and rely on the professionals helping you through the transaction to resolve any issues that pop up.