Don't Put Your Home on the Market Until You've Read This Report - Part Two
Selling your home can be an exhausting experience. Last minute walk throughs, inconvenient calls, price adjustment and the possibility of being stuck with two mortgages are real concerns. If you are not completely prepared you could end up losing hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in profit.
The difference between a profitable, seamless transaction and a break even, miserable experience is often a fine line. In the majority of cases it comes down to the subtle know-how of your professional. By utilizing the knowledge of a qualified real estate professional, you'll insure the quick, profitable sale of your home. This report is designed to arm you with the knowledge to avoid 11common mistakes that cost sellers serious money.
This Article is Part 2 - read the first 5 mistakes of Seller Beware! Avoid 11 Mistakes That Could
Cost You Hundreds....Thousands of Dollars Part 1 here
•6. Market Timing/Seasonal Selling. Just as a broker who continually follows the trends of a stock, your professional agent continually follows trends of your home market. They will know if the market cycle is poised to net you the mostmoney. Avoid believing that property sales are seasonal ... property is always selling!
•7. Refusing to Make Cosmetic Changes the prospective home buyer's firstimpression is the most important. An unbelievable amount of home sales have been lost to unkempt lawns, cluttered rooms, bad stains, unpleasant odors ...all the seemingly little things. Imagine you were the home buyer and clean your place from top to bottom -military style.
•8. Wasting Time With An Unqualified Prospect Your agent's responsibility is to screen a prospect's qualifications before valuable time is lost. Be sure to align yourself with the right professional and eliminate negotiating with unqualified prospects.
•9. Don't Test The Market Never put your property on line to sell unless you are serious. The right professional will find you buyers and if you are harboring indecision ... you will blow the sale.
•10. Believing you are Powerless to Make a Difference Be a part of the team! Take an active role with your agent to see what you can do to facilitate your sale. Networking with professional peers and personal friends often results in the sale of a home. It's surprising how many homes are sold this way.
•11. Believing All Realtors are the Same With all the intricate details and critical decisions to be made concerning your home sale, should you rely on anyone but a top producing professional? Many friends and family members have been estranged as a result of failing to meet expectations. Your home sale is a time consuming, effort related, difficult task. Maximize your profit by utilizing a professional.
Ada Michigan - Ada Village Trick or Treat at Ada Village Shops &
Fire Hall Open House Sat. Oct 31st 5-6pm
Cascade Michigan - Halloween Open House at 2865 Thornhills Ave
Fire Station: Oct 31st 6-8pm
East Grand Rapids MI - Halloween Saturday Oct 31st 6-8 pm
Grand Rapids MI - Halloween Event Activities in GR from Jack the Ripper to corn mazes,
something for everyone.
Kentwood MI - Kentwood Halloween Hoopla - Oct 31st Woodland Mall
4-6pm Free Event - must pre-register by Oct 27th
Lowell MI - Oct 31st - Halloween - 6-8pm
Rockford MI - Trick or Treating City of Rockford Sat October 31st. Sirens will sound to start and finish or recommended hours 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Keep your porch light on if participating. Drive slowly to protect our children!
____________________________________________________________________________
If you are looking for a home in the Grand Rapids Area, we service the following areas: Metro Grand Rapids, Ada-Cascade, East Grand Rapids, Caledonia, Kentwood, Lowell, and Rockford. We have moved people in and out of their homes here for the last 35+ years. Call 1-616-292-7263 to talk with Terry or email him at: terry@terrywestbrook.com.
For MLS access to the homes for sale in the West Michigan Area,visit: Westbrook Realty ~ Grand Rapids Real Estate for a free search. Your search can be saved and modified as you view homes, with no obligation.
Thinking of selling your home? We offer one of the most extensive marketing campaigns in Grand Rapids with a major online presence for your home. With over 85% of buyers looking for homes online, this is where we concentrate our efforts. Click here to view Terry's Realtor profile.
Subscribe to our Grand Rapids Michigan Real Estate Blog
Westbrook Realty - Giving You Our Personal Best
Don't Put Your Home on the Market Until You've Read This Report - Part One
Selling your home can be an exhausting experience. Last minute walk throughs, inconvenient calls, price adjustment and the possibility of being stuck with two mortgages are real concerns. If you are not completely prepared you could end up losing hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in profit.
The difference between a profitable, seamless transaction and a break even, miserable experience is often a fine line. In the majority of cases it comes down to the subtle know-how of your professional. By utilizing the knowledge of a qualified real estate professional, you'll insure the quick, profitable sale of your home. This report is designed to arm you with the knowledge to avoid 11common mistakes that cost sellers serious money.
•1. Refusing to Make Profit Inducing Repairs. It always costs you more money to sell 'as is' than to make repairs that will increase the value of your home. Even minor improvements will often yield as much as three to five times the repair cost at the time of sale. Your agent will be able to point out what repairs will significantly increase the value of your home. Seemingly small fix up jobs can have quite an impact.
•2. Not Considering Other Financing Terms Cash is not always the most advantageous transaction. Income level, tax benefits and current legislation are all critical factors when considering purchase terms. Professional real estate agents are experts at home transactions and can show you the way to the highest yield.
•3. Provide Easy Access for Showings Accessibility is a major key to profitability. Appointment-only showings are the most restrictive, while a lock box is the least. However there are certain considerations to take into account: your lifestyle, time frame for the desired sale and the relationship with your agent. The more accessible your home is, the better the odds of finding a person willing to pay your asking price. You never know if the one that couldn't get a viewing was the one that got away. By developing a trusting relationship with your agent, he or she will show the home with your best interests in mind.
•4. Priced Too Low/Priced Too High. One critical reason to find the right professional is to make sure the property is priced appropriately for a timely and profitable sale. If the property is priced too high it will sit and develop the identity of a problem property. If it's priced too low it could cost you considerable profits. The real estate market has subtle nuances and market changes that should be re-evaluated by your agent every 30 days to help you maximize your return.
•5. Relying Solely on Traditional Methods To Sell Your Home The agent who is innovative and willing to offer new strategies of attracting home buyers will always outperform agents who rely on traditional methods. Demand around the clock advertising exposure, innovative lead generation methods and lead accountability. These services exist and should be offered on your home sale.
Read Sellers Beware Avoid 11 Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands of Dollars Part 2 here.
Nature has so many lessons to teach us. We don't always pay attention to what
she is saying but when we do....we have a chance to share a moment of clarity and
wisdom. On our excursion through the Grand Rapids area yesterday, we encountered
this maple tree. How many times have we sped past and not noticed it?
Hundreds, probably. Why did we notice it yesterday?
It shone out its brilliant yellow light on a rainy day, saying: Look at me! In a few days
my golden leaves will be on the ground, so notice me today....right now!
We did. We stopped to take a photo and share it with you. Each day we have the
opportunity to notice and appreciate the beauty around us.
Scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, construction has started on the new
elementary school at the old Ottawa Hills High School plot, formerly Iroquois
Middle School. The Grand Rapids Public School system sold the land and
buildings and the old Ottawa High School building was torn down this summer.
Major construction is now underway for the new school by GrandRapids Christian
Schools. This is what the site looks like now:
Site Map of the Future Facility:
Ottawa Hills Home for Sale [1 blk from this new school construction]
 |
|
|
Our team strives to provide Buyers & Sellers in the Greater Grand Rapids Mi Area the best resources & user friendly tools we can find to make a stress free decision about their real estate investment
As leading real estate professionals in Grand Rapids MI, including Ada MI,
Cascade MI, Caledonia MI, East Grand Rapids MI, Kentwood MI, Lowell MI
and Rockford MI , we can assist you in determining which area of our community
is best suited to your needs as a Grand Rapids Buyer.
Our GRAND RAPIDS WEBSITE contains tons of information just for you.
You can SEARCH FOR HOMES in Grand Rapids, Ada, Cascade, Caledonia,
East Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Lowell, Rockford, and all surrounding
WEST MICHIGAN areas.
Grand Rapids Buyers: Search ALL The Listings in the West Michigan market.
We have lots of information for Buyers, whether it is your first time or you are a
seasoned real estate veteran. When your are ready to purchase a home, give
Terry a call at 1-888-240-1988 ext 0.
When you SEARCH LISTINGS on the TerryWestbrook.com web site,
you can save your custom searches and refine them as you become
familiar with Grand Rapids neighborhoods. The search page is
designed to help you, our home buyers, see the current real estate
in the Greater Grand Rapids, Kent County and West Michigan Market.
You can see ALL existing homes offered for sale on the Multiple
Listing Service. Search by location, price, features. When you're ready,
contact Terry at 1-888-240-1968 ext 0 and we'll arrange a tour of
homes just for you.
You can also sign up for a FREE EMAIL REPORT of any new listings
that hit the MLS that meet your requirements DAILY! This customized
free service for our buyers we gladly provide to make searching for
homes easier.
We have lots of RELOCATION FACTS, PHOTOS, and Videos on our
Grand Rapids Real Estate Blog. Get to know the many different areas of
Grand Rapids and West Michigan before you look at homes.
We also offer a RELOCATION Packet that can be customized for you
which includes: Maps, School Information, Shopping, Grand Rapids
Chamber of Commerce info, etc.
Find out if you QUALIFY for a home mortgage and HOW MUCH Home
you can qualify to buy. This is extremely important in today's market.
Pre-qualifying is not difficult and makes the purchase of a home when
you are ready so much easier.
We can make referralls to legitimate lenders and professional
mortagage lenders whom we can refer with confidence.
We offer full service Real Estate Transactions for Buyers & Sellers,
including:
New Home Sales & Construction: There are many
new homes and new home developments ready for
immediate occupancy in the Greater Grand Rapids Area.
The Westbrook Team is well versed in new home construction
and all the details it requires. From making your color selections,
final walk through, to closing the transaction, we have the expertise
to make your new home purchase as easy as possible.
CONTACT Westbrook Realty for timely real estate information in the Kent
County or Grand Rapids market area. TerryWestbrook.com is on top of
market values and the latest in SOLD stats to help YOU get the
best price, whether buying or selling a home in Greater Grand Rapids.
We can guide you through the minefield of a "short sale" if you find yourself
in this financial situation. It can be a daunting project but it is something
that can usually be accomplished. Calling us early is much better than
waiting until your house is in the foreclosure process.
We have provided video tours of some of our local areas so you can get an
idea of what they look like and we have lots of local information. You can get an
idea of what it is like to live here in Kent County.
Click on the communities below to view:
Ada Caledonia Cascade East Grand Rapids
Local Information Blog Articles:
Ada Township Hall Rockford Park #2 EGR Park
Local School Links Watermark Country Club
Caledonia Park #1 Real Food Cafe Rockford Park #3
The Grille Restaurant Forest Hills Foods
"Green" Grand Rapids Famous GR Natives Ada Township Park
Cascade Park Leslie E Tassell Park
GR-Top 50 Cool Cities West Mich Golf GR Micro Brew Pubs
GR Dream Home GR Baseball GR Facts
Foreclosure Home Grand Rapids Golf
We strive to provide information, tools, and resources so Buyers & Sellers can make informed decisions
about real estate investments in Grand Rapids, Ada, Cascade, Caledonia, East Grand Rapids,
Kentwood, and Rockford. Relocating to Grand Rapids? We would like you to have the benefit of our
30+ years of experience in marketing, negotiating, and finalizing real estate investments with as little
stress and discomfort as possible to the Greater Grand Rapids Mi area. If you have a home to sell or
are looking for a home to buy, contact Terry 1-888-240-1968 ext.0 or terry@terrywestbrook.com
Terry is a very dedicated realtor! Our family can not say enough good about him. He was patient, persistent, creative and very knowledgeable in the selling of our home.
Our home was on the market during the time when homes in Michigan were not selling. We had an old farm house with acreage on a very busy road__ not an easy home to sell even in good economic times. With Terry's persistence and dedication we fortunately were able to sell our house. Terry even persisted on working coming right out of surgery. He completed the buy/sell agreement for our home a day after he was discharged out of the hospital. What dedication!!!
Our family would highly recommend Terry for selling or buying a home. He developed a personal relationship not only with my husband and I but also with our two teenage sons. What a wonderful realtor to have during a "stressfull" time for our family. Thank you so much Terry for all you did for us!!
Mary Beth, Mike, Kenzie & Dalton 
After six disappointing months with another company, we signed with Terry. The activity increased immediately and he sold our home quickly and easily. Tom & Joan
Terry helped us sell our house, then buy property to build a new one. Our family is now enjoying our wonderful new home. Jeff & Heather
When I started looking at buying a home in Grand Rapids, I met with a couple of realtors, and in a matter of 2 years, I had only been shown 3 houses. So, I decided to try looking on my own. I spent a lot of time looking in the paper, and just driving around. I went with a good friend one day to look at a house I had seen in the paper, and ended up driving around for quite a while trying to find it. She said, "Chris you can't do this on your own, it's too time consuming. You need someone to do all this looking for you. We'll call my realtor when we get to my house." Being a full-time working, single mom, I knew she was right. I was very apprehensive about making this call, as her house was substantially more expensive than the price range I was in the market for. So, my thoughts were that I would just be "small potatoes" in her realtor's eyes, and he would probably not spend much time assisting me. Especially since his commission would depend on the price of the house. But, we made the call and I set an appt to meet with him. We sat down, and he asked me lots of questions, and gave me some information about different areas in Grand Rapids. He took notes on what I was looking for (no other realtor had done that) and we scheduled an appt. to look.
The first day we went to look at homes, he handed me a color portfolio with helpful guidelines for what to look for in a home, and information with photos of 9 houses we were going to look at that day! I was amazed. From then on, he would send me information on new listings, and I would give him my feedback.
Since I am divorced, there were several hurdles that I had to jump to be able to buy a home. My realtor was helpful in getting me with the right people in order to take care of those issues, and he was patient as I did so.
Today, my young son and I have a beautiful home, where we've painted his bedroom room to his liking, he has a nice yard to play in, and friendly neighborhood children to play with. What I once thought was far out of my reach is now a reality, and I am so thankful to my realtor for all the help to get us here. I am also thankful for my good friend for pushing me to make the call in the first place. Realtor: Terry Westbrook ~ Christine
I have to thank you for the super job you did getting me so well settled. It could have been a very traumatic time but everything moved as " smooth as glass. " Your preparation was awesome, too. I sold real estate for only 2 years and I wasn't near you in the work you did for me. You sold my house and have me so well tucked in the new one in about one month! Has to be a record. Thank you and Bonnie, too for everythng. I can recommend you very happily -
Loretta M.
Just a note to let you know how much I appreciated everything you did for me in purchasing my condo - the circumstances were not great & the problems were many but you made it all happen pretty smoothly and always with a smile on your face. You have a great way of making sure we all "get with the program!"
-Lin C.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
