Information for Sellers | Vandalia GMAC Real Estate

Vandalia GMAC Real Estate has become one of the most successful real estate firms in the Fayette County area by providing unsurpassed service to homebuyers and sellers. Vandalia GMAC Real Estate continues to lead the market by offering custom marketing programs and complete transaction services to each of our customers. Our commitment to innovative marketing and technology programs has made us a nationally-recognized leader in the industry. As a GMAC Home Services Company, Vandalia GMAC Real Estate provides homeowner services and consumer-related products through a strong network of affiliated brokers and national service providers.

We Recognize and Work With the Critical Elements of the Sale:

Listing Price - This is the number one factor in the sale of your home. Our sales and marketing programs provide exposure to a large segment of potential buyers. The actual market value is then determined by what a buyer is willing to pay.
Property Location - The second most important factor in the buyer s mind is location. The proximity to area amenities and schools is typically a concern.
Property Condition - Buyers look at the structural and mechanical integrity, as well as the upkeep and cosmetic appeal of the property. Neutral décor, including floor and wall coverings, appliances and fixtures, offers the broadest appeal to potential buyers.
Market Conditions - Interest rates, competition from other properties, the economy and consumer confidence all influence the sale of your home. Each of these factors is beyond our control, so we must respond to these conditions with the appropriate marketing and price consideration.
Contract Terms - The terms of a sale can make or break the contract. House sale contingencies, closing dates and exclusions of accessories or fixtures should always be handled clearly up front in order to avoid any confusion that could affect the sale.
Marketing - When the advertising exposure and positioning are done correctly, your home will sell more quickly and will command a higher price. We pay close attention to how your home is showcased in an advertisement, the publications in which it appears, and the frequency with which the advertisement appears. Aggressive Internet exposure is also essential, and your listing will be available for viewing on your site.

Our agents are committed to helping you sell your home as quickly as possible. Individual agents offer different services, but as staging one's home is becoming more and more important in the selling process, rest assured that we are ready to help you with this.

The Home Selling Process

It is the one thing that almost everyone does at one point in their lives - sells their home. This can be a very confusing time, filled with many questions and few answers. It is hard to understand all of the questions you may have about selling your home. Fortunately, Vandalia GMAC Real Estate can help.

Vandalia GMAC Real Estate can help you with all of the questions you have about selling your home. Vandalia GMAC Real Estate has many years of experience in the real estate industry. We pride ourselves on quality customer service. Our customers come first and we make selling your home, the same way. We will make you our first priority.

Let's begin the home selling process so that you can understand how easy and hassle-free Vandalia GMAC Real Estate agents make it for our valued clients.

Choose a link from the list below, or follow them step-by-step to learn more:

Preparing to Sell your Home
So You're Ready to Sell your Home
You're Ready to List
Determining Property Value
Getting Your Home Out There
Selling Your Home
Saying Goodbye to Your Home
Surviving the Move
Hiring a Moving Company

#1 Preparing to Sell your Home
The first question you might want to ask yourself is, "Why do I want to sell my home?" Do you need more space? Are you an empty nester looking for a smaller space? Have you accepted a job in a different part of the country? All of these questions affect the potential sale of your home and the negotiating process of that sale.

You may also want to begin making a list of all of the interior and exterior projects that you want to complete before placing your home on the market.

Contacting a Vandalia GMAC Real Estate Real Estate Agent will point you in the right direction, too. Our agents have the knowledge and understanding of the industry. They can provide reliable information and get you moving in the right direction towards the sale of your home.

#2 So You're Ready to Sell your Home
Assessing your home is key in beginning the home selling process. You may want to ask yourself, "What would I like to see or not see if I were touring this home as a potential home buyer?"

Problems like chipped paint, dirty walls, windows and doors, unfinished remodeling projects and cluttered garages are all areas for home selling improvement. Treat the sale of your home as you would with any day living in your residence. Neat, tidy and organized works!

#3 You're Ready to List
Before you list your home, it is important to do your homework on the real estate companies in your area.

Search the Internet for your local real estate companies.
Review local publications for agent advertisements.
Call each company to compare commission fees, marketing campaigns and yearly sales volume.
Talk to your friends and neighbors. 9 times out of 10, someone you know has sold their home and can provide a credible recommendation to point you in the right direction.

When choosing a real estate agent, do not be afraid to meet with many different agents. Thay are, after all, competing for your business. This competition is what makes the real estate industry successful.

Feel free to ask them the following questions:

How many years of experience do you have in this industry?
What is your selling experience in my community?
What professional certifications do you hold (ex. Certified Residential Specialist–CRS)?
What services will you provide for me as my agent?
How will you represent my property?
Can you provide a market analysis for my property?
How will you determine the price of my home?
What is the fee for your services?
Can you provide all of the different scenarios with the sale of my property? (as far as commissions and fees)
Can you explain the paperwork that I will need to sign?
What is the timeframe for listing my property with you?

#4 Determining Property Value
There are a number of factors that go into determining the value of a home.

It is realistic to compare the homes in your area and the asking prices of those homes.
The law of supply and demand always comes into play. Do you live in an area with increasing job opportunities or an increasing supply of homes?
Owners needs greatly impact the selling price of a home. Do you need a quick sell or do you have time to sit on your sale?
The selling price is not cut and dry. On many occasions, the seller will negotiate the price, split closing costs or offer different allowances to the buyer, to make the sale of the home complete.

Only a qualified Vandalia GMAC Real Estate agent can provide a fair market analysis of the homes for sale in your area. A Market Analysis is usually free and without obligation. For more information on how to receive a FREE Market Analysis that will help you properly determine the value of your home, contact Vandalia GMAC Real Estate at, 618-283-4436 or contact us here.

#5 Getting Your Home Out There
There are a number of different ways that an agent can drive traffic to view your home:

Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
Open Houses
Websites/Internet
Print Advertising
HOMES™ Magazines
Vandalia GMAC Real Estate Marketing Strategies

#6 Selling Your Home

The Offer

An acceptable offer depends on many different things:

Is the proposed offer near the asking price?
The timeframe of the seller – Does the seller have another house payment? Insurance?
Does the owner have enough time to wait for the agent to bring them more potential buyers?
What if the home is listed and never receives a single offer?
What if several offers are received at the same time?

The Counter-Offer

When potential buyers are searching for a home, they can respond in three different ways to the seller(s):

This home is not what we were looking for. We are not interested in the property.
We are interested in the home and we will purchase the property on the buyer's terms per the real estate agreement.
We are interested in the home, but here is our counter-offer for the property.

Negotiating

This negotiating process can at times seem very complicated. However, if you are equip with the right Vandalia GMAC Real Estate agent, all of this can be made hassle-free.

During the negotiating process of the sale of a home, the seller can react in one of three different ways:

Accept the buyer's proposed offer
Decline the buyer's offer
Make a new counter-offer

#7 Saying Goodbye To Your Home
The closing process is always changing. It is even referred to as "settlement" or "escrow" in different parts of the county. With increased technology, most closings are completely automated and both parties do not have to be present at the same time to sign.

Closings usually take about 30 days to complete. This mainly depends on the buyer's financing availability, successful home inspection completion, and various lender conditions (ex. title search, title insurance, termite inspections, surveys and appraisals).

The closing process is the transfer of the title of the property from the buyer to the seller. The buyer will receive the keys to the home or the deed to the land, while the seller receives payment for the property. The amount the seller receives is based upon the amount that is still owed on the mortgage, any outstanding fees or taxes and any additional closing costs. All legal papers are filed with the local record office.

It is this step where the buyers and sellers do very little. It is important as the seller to take a final walk through the property to make sure the property's condition as not changed. It is equally important for both the buyer and seller to make sure the paperwork they are signing reflects the agreement of the original sale.

#8 Surviving the Move
Moving can be one of the most emotional times in your life. The thrill of something new … new career, a new neighborhood, a new home. While this may sound great to some people, for others, these changes can be an emotional rollercoaster.

The key to surviving your move is to first analysis the situation. You may want to ask yourself this question, "What does my move entail?" "Will I be moving across the country or just down the block?" "Could I handle the move myself, provided I have the right packing materials and friends to help" Or "Do I need to explore the option of hiring a professional moving company?"

There are many resources out there. You may want to consult your Vandalia GMAC Real Estate agent for guidance or refer to our Moving Checklist for more information.

#9 Hiring A Moving Company
If you plan on hiring a moving company, you might want to do some research first. Our Moving Guide offers great information for those researching the possibility of hiring a mover.

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Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 07/29/2010. The listing information on this page last changed on 07/29/2010. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of sirmls (last updated Thu 07/29/2010 2:52:07 PM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Vandalia GMAC Real Estate may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved. --
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