Smith Mountain Lake Realty, LLC

16700 Moneta Rd.
Moneta, VA 24121 
  (540) 721-5050 
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Sellers  

   I'm not an agent that simply sticks a sign in the yard and hopes the phone will ring. Listings are marketed using ads, emails, and superbly designed and produced brochures. I personally am also an expert at staging properties, an important yet often underrated facet of marketing.
   In addition, I'm technologically proficient, including programming skills and multiple websites. Of course you get virtual tours on the internet, but more important, the caliber of of the work will be exceptional, including first class photography and premium printing materials for those brochures I mentioned. (Usually full color, printed on photo paper.) At the end of the day, when everything is a blur to the buyer prospect, your home will stand out when they look through all the flyers they collected that day. The best and most professional looking brochures helps get that all important "second visit", the one that often brings an offer. Also, if we do talk, you can be sure of two things: One, there will be absolutely no sales pressure. And two, you can count on honest answers and opinions. 

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, all 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 of a lake access lot at Smith Mountain Lake. I was able to resell this property for twice its purchase price just one year later. It pays to make your property look nice! Nobody is going to part with their hard-earned money to buy a lake 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 lake 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 7 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 call me at (540) 721-5050 or e-mail 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
Smith Mountain Lake Realty, LLC
(540) 721-5050
E-mail