Becky Timbrook will help you Sell Your Home
I realize selling your house is not as simple as just sticking a “For Sale” sign in the yard. It requires that you find out how much your home is worth, you need to figure how much it will cost you to sell your home, as well as how much it will cost you to buy a new home, you need to get it ready to sell and make any necessary repairs, and you must get it ready to show.

I know how to ‘Get Your Home Ready To Sell’. Below is an overview of some of the steps I have my clients go through to ensure they sell their home quickly and for what it is worth.

1. Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan

Before you decide to sell the house, get pre-approved by a lender you trust and research the housing market in the area where you wish to live so that you have a good idea how much it will take to buy a replacement.

2. Check Your Mortgage Payoff

Call your mortgage lender to check the payoff for your current home mortgage.

3. Determine How Much Your House Is Worth

Determine your home's fair market value. I can help you determine value as a courtesy, but we also recommend you take it a step further and arrange for a home appraisal.

A real estate appraisal helps to establish a property's market value–the likely sales price it would bring if offered in an open and competitive real estate market.

>> Our Glossary of Real Estate Terms is a handy resource.

4. Estimate Your Costs to Sell

How much Real Estate commission will you pay? At First Coast Realty World our listing fee is 7%. Why do you pay this commission?

First Coast Realty and I personally as your agent will provide a great deal of marketing to help us sell your home. First your home will be listed in the Multiple Listings for Carteret or Craven County. This is a list of real estate property and it assists other agents in finding the perfect home for their client. We run monthly ads in a local Homes & Land publication, real estate publications and of course on the world-wide web that features current listings and is distributed throughout the county and at our office.

We recommend you do several open houses. I will be happy to host these open houses for you.  This gives the public an opportunity to browse through your home on their own or with an agent.

 
5. Estimate Costs to Buy a New Home

Calculate moving expenses, loan cost, required down payment, home inspection, title work and title policy, the cost of new hazard insurance policy--all expenses related to buying a home. Your lender should give you a disclosure of estimated costs when you apply for loan pre-approval

6. Calculate Your Estimated Proceeds From The Sale of Your Home

Subtract the mortgage payoff from your home's fair market value. Then subtract the cost of selling your home so you can have an estimate of your proceeds you will receive at closing.

 
7. Make Necessary Repairs

Make all needed repairs unless you want the house to be regarded as a fixer-upper. We are not referring to cosmetic updates--just items in need of repair. Anything that's obviously broken gives potential buyers a reason to offer you a lower price.

 
8. Get the House Ready to Show

I strongly recommend you create some curb appeal for you’re your home. Tidy up the yard, and spiff up your porches and decks by having them power-washed. And, if your home needs an exterior face- lift then consider investing in having it painted. It normally pays off. Another consideration to a quick sell is to ensure the interior of the house is kept clean and organized. Make sure your closest areas and cabinets are net. “Clutter-free” is so important when selling your home. It really does appeal to the prospective buyer. A fresh coat of paint inside is also something that typically doesn’t go unnoticed. When considering painting the interior prior to putting it on the market then stay with neutral colors. And last but not least, have clean windows.

 
9. Leaving Your Home during a Showing.

As your real estate company we will ask you to leave when the house is shown. We have found that prospective buyers are much more comfortable in the home and more relaxed when the sellers are not present. They tend to ask more questions and spend more time in the home.

Since we are entering your “personal space” and since other realtors showing your home will be entering we ask you open your heart up to the idea of having strangers enter your home while you are away. And, we also recommend we not always have to be at all showings with other agents since again, this makes many buyers uncomfortable.