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Dave
Gresham
Owner &
Principal Broker
Smith Mountain Lake Homes & Realty, LLC
16700 Moneta Rd.
Moneta, VA 24121
(540) 297-6060 or (540) 721-5050
actyourageless@yahoo.com
Looking
to Sell?
I'm not an agent that
simply sticks a sign in the yard and hopes the phone will magically ring. I
work my listings, getting the word out with ads, emails, and fabulous marketing pieces*
(see photo on right). I'm also an expert at "staging" properties, an
important, yet sometimes misunderstood facet of marketing.
In addition, I'm a technology expert with programming skills and
multiple websites. Of course you'll get virtual tours on the internet, but
also important, the caliber of of the work will be exceptional, as I'm
literally a semi-professional photographer.
Also, if we do talk,
you can be sure of two things: One, there will be absolutely no sales
pressure. I understand you're just looking for information and ideas at
this point. And two, you can count on honest answers and opinions.
* Usually it's a 4 page, full color
brochure, printed on photo paper. At the end of the day, when
everything has become a blur to the buyer prospect, your home will still stand
out.
This is because when they look through all the flyers they collected from the
homes they toured, your information is going to be the best and most
professional looking. This helps you get that all important "second
visit", the one that often brings an offer.
Tips
Preparing Homes Before Selling
Two principles override everything: Neat and clean.
Many years ago I listed a house that
eventually sold for about 10% less than what it was worth,
because the sellers were unwilling to make it neat and clean, even after
repeated urging. Every time the house was shown there were dishes in the
sink, clothes were piled all
over, they never did get to the yard work, and the basement was a junkyard. The home should have sold in a month, instead
it took almost a year. Meanwhile, the smart buyers (very smart), got
immediate equity worth thousands more than they paid, without even lifting a
finger, since the sellers cleaned it up simply by leaving!
Preparing Land Before Selling
Pictures
above are before
and after. I was able to get twice it's purchase price
just one year later. It pays to make your lot nice! Nobody is going to part with their hard-earned money to buy a
building lot without taking a long hard look at it. If the property is overgrown
with weeds, saplings, briar patches and fallen trees, it’s hard to walk around
and see it... So will it sell? The problem is even worse at the Lake since buyers are often on
vacation, wearing shorts, and the wife probably has sandals on. I’ve
got a better chance of winning the lottery than convincing them to
wade thru your waist deep weeds and briars. So clean it up. If
you don’t have the time or money at least cut a pathway thru it.
What's
It Worth
Curious what your
property is worth? Call me and I'll work you up a
free analysis of everything in your neighborhood. What's in it for me? It's simple: One day you'll want to sell, be
it a month or 10 years from now. When that time comes, the fact we met and
talked beforehand increases the chance I get your listing. In the long run
it's not much time for me to invest given the potential rewards.
Accepting an Offer
Here
is my best advice about selling your home: List it at a
fair price and stand firm. The buyer's agent will always offer less
than what you're asking. Just say "No".
If the buyer prospects really like the home
they'll come back to pay a fair price, if you make them. You like the house
(after all, you bought it), so you know it's a great place. Don't give it
away.
Also, what are the
terms? Is the buyer pre-approved with a lender? How many days until closing do
you want versus how many they want, etcetera, and etcetera... our purchase
contract is 6 pages and only 1 deals with the selling price.
This is just a sampling of things to look out for....Call me and we'll talk. Real estate is a service business and I take that maxim seriously.
Again, please contact me if I can be of service in any way! It would be my privilege to talk with you!
Sincerely,
Dave Gresham
Owner
& Principal Broker
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