Hershel Strother Home Services is committed to every client who becomes an extension of our real estate family. Starting with every interaction, every marketing opportunity, every negotiation process, every completion of your deal and in every opportunity to serve you better.
90% of all home purchasers start their search online, so we’re there – EVERYWHERE. We market properties with both high volume organic traffic and paid targeting advertising locally and abroad. We also use the best tools for our unique California market to collaborate in real time with potential qualified buyers.
While homes tend to look their best in the summer or winter, peak season varies from year to year and market to market. Early spring and early fall are thought to be prime listing seasons. Selling your home during peak season will allow more buyers to see your home but also there may be more house in your neighborhood competing with yours.
Determining your best time can sometimes be difficult due to any underlining circumstances that may arise. In the interim, I have provided some suggestions you may want to consider when deciding to sell:
DO give plenty of thought to your time-frame, circumstances, family, lifestyle and your availability to ensure a successful sale of your home.
DON’T base your decision to sell strictly on the season. Base your decisions on the specific needs of your family and your financial situation.
DO spend plenty of time with Hershel to stage your home for fruitful showings and a prosperous sale.
DO determine whether your specific neighborhood is in a buyer’s market (with more houses for sale) or a seller’s market (with more buyers than houses).
DON’T forget to consider the buyer and what attracted you to your home.
DO take a moment to speak with Hershel regarding his knowledge on selling your specific home to expedite the process. He has an immense amount of experience and can provide wise and thoughtful insight.
What helps Hershel stand out in a competitive market is his willingness to do what other luxury agents won’t in addition to providing a wealth of first class concierge services to his valued clients that follow you on land, air and sea.
Hershel will:
Research comparable properties to determine the right price and terms.
Help you stage and prepare your home to sale.
Work on your behalf to sell your home as a trusted advisor while analyzing the progress.
Strategically create and implement a comprehensive, innovative marketing plan that is unique to your specific home – ensuring all potential buyers are exposed to the lifestyle your property delivers.
Utilize the Internet, social media, A list events to meet the ever-increasing demands of today’s potential online buyers.
Carefully prepare all the paperwork necessary in the successful sale of your home, which including all required disclosure documents.
Serve you and your family as your chief negotiator for the price, terms and conditions that are agreeable and satisfying to you.
Determining the selling price of your home can be calculated by the current market value, which means what potential buyers are willing to pay. The most effective way to judge market value and ensure you get the best price is to obtain a Comparable Market Analysis from Hershel or a member of his team.
The Comparable Market Analysis of homes in your area includes those that are currently on the market, expired from the market, pending a sale or already sold. To effectively pinpoint your home’s value we will look at the sale price for similar homes in your area that have already sold.
Please keep in mind that the comparison is based on several factors:
the proximity to your home
similar characteristics, such as lot size, square footage and number of bedrooms and baths.
To ensure a balanced market analysis, you and your family will sit down with Hershel to look at four basic groups:
Current listings to identify “the competition.”
Recently sold homes to indicate what buyers are willing to pay.
Homes with a sale pending to point to current demand for this type of home.
Expired homes to suggest what buyers are unwilling to pay.
Hershel will help you make sure you are taking into consideration the most appropriate details that are unique to your home but please keep in mind that the following suggestions do not affect market value, such as:
How much money you need to purchase your next home.
How much you paid for your home.
How much you paid for home improvements.
The value of a similar home in a different community.
Area appreciation statistics.
The cost to build the same home today.
Personal attachment.
Here’s is the list of improvements that can possibly provide the most return on investment:
Kitchen is King
Front Yard Makeover
Add or replace tile
Breakfast bar
Granite tile countertops instead of slabs
Upgrade new bathroom fixtures
Re-grout the shower, add crown molding and brighten up the room with a fresh coat of paint.
Room addition
Replace cabinet fronts
Replace light fixtures
A mid-range garage door replacement
Replacing exterior siding with upscale fiber cement
A new wood deck
Upscale window replacements windows
Simple caulking around doors and windows
Adding Attic Insulation
Brighten Up Your Space
Update Plumbing
Add can/recessed lighting in the kitchen and bathrooms to brighten the space
Remove the Paneling and Popcorn
In some cases first impressions is all you will get. A buyer is looking for curb appeal and it is imperative you show your home in it best condition. Here are some of the things that you’ll need to think about when reviewing your home’s exterior. In order to sell your home for top dollar, you may need to consider repairs, updates and regular maintenance in the following areas:
Arrange outdoor items neatly and put away lawn equipment.
Check siding, trim and doors for dirt and peeling paint.
Check your fence or brick wall.
Check loose or damaged roof shingles or flashing.
Clean and repair broken windows or screens.
Clean gutters and downspouts.
Clean and neatly arrange the garage or shed.
Clean the sides of the house from any unnecessary items.
Keep the lawn manicured, mowed and shrubs trimmed.
Make sure the gas grill and fire pits are clean.
Make sure the entry light and doorbell work.
Make sure the front hose is neatly placed.
Make sure any porch furniture is neatly placed and clean.
Plant fresh shrubs and flowers.
Remove dead tree limbs and other yard debris.
Wash the driveway and sidewalk.
Your home should be looking its best when an agent shows it to potential buyers.
Here are some tips for making sure your home is ready for a showing.
Avoid excessive placement of children’s toys throughout the house.
Beware pet odors.
Choose sophisticated neutral colors.
Create a gender-neutral master bedroom.
Create a lifestyle people are looking for.
Do not use scented sprays and remember to dust daily.
Empty your kitchen trash, even if it is stored under the kitchen sink.
Keep the beds made in all bedrooms.
Keep floors swept, mopped and vacuumed.
Open those “clean” closets and allow the buyers to envision their clothes hanging there.
Open all draperies and curtains to let in as much natural light as possible.
Pick up stray items – newspapers, empty glasses, etc.
Put out fresh flowers, your best towels and a nice tablecloth, if suitable to your decor.
Placing something that draws the eye at the top of the stairs, in hallways or in corners can pique curiosity and keep potential buyers interested throughout a whole home tour.
Re-position or remove bulky furniture so that each room feels open and roomy.
Show how you can use awkward areas.
Style your dining room table.
Stage the outdoors too.
Take down personal pictures so that buyers can envision their pictures throughout the house.
Take your pets with you or ask a friend to watch the pets.
Turn on all the lights, including the outside entrance.
Turn off the TV.
Think seasonally.
Use “extra” rooms wisely
Statistics prove that your home will attract the most excitement and attention when it’s first listed. And all the buzz simply increases your chance for a quick sale. However, nobody can promise when your house will in fact sell. It could sell in the first three hours, one day, two weeks, three months – or longer. The time-frame depends on the following factors:
Local and national economic factors
Market conditions
Number of comparable homes for sale in your area
Whether or not people are buying new homes, existing homes, or none at all
Congratulations, you have an offer! Once you’ve read the offer, you have the follow choices:
Accept the terms with no changes and sign the offer.
Make a counteroffer to the buyer by making some changes. In some cases, a series of counteroffers will take place before the final agreement is signed.
Reject the offer entirely.
For many this will be a time of celebration and exciting transition and your HSHS Advisor will be at your service every step of the way in this new season for you and your wonderful family.