a guide to selling your home

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Florida Real Estate Sellers.com Page 2 A Guide to Selling Your Home in 2014 Presented by: Call us: 863-899-1770 Visit our website: FloridaRealEstateSellers.com Table of Contents

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Page 1: A guide to selling your home

A Guide to Selling Your Home in 2014Presented by:

Call us:

863-899-1770Visit our website:

FloridaRealEstateSellers.com

Table of ContentsMission Statement………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3

Page 1Florida Real Estate Sellers.com

Page 2: A guide to selling your home

It’s All About You…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3

What People Say…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

The Team………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6-7

About Keller Williams………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8

Why do you need a real estate agent? ……………………………………………………………………………………….9

Intelligent Pricing………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10

Selling Price vs. Timing…………………………………………………………………….…….………………………………….11

Marketing Action Plan………………………………………………………………………………………………………………12

Why do we spend so much money on internet advertising?…………………………………………………….13

Sellers net more because of more exposure………....………………………………………………………………….14

Couldn’t I sell it myself?...............................………....………………………………………………………………….15

Factors that don’t affect the value of your home………………………………………………………………………16

The Guaranteed Sale Program………………………………………………………………………………………………..…17

Frequently Asked Questions……………………………………………………………………………………………………..18

Preparing Your Home for Sale…………………………………………………………………………………………………..19

Successful Showings & Open Houses…………………………………………………………………………………………20

Maximizing First Impressions…………………………………………………………………………………………………….21

Checklist for Moving………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….22

Preliminary Property Information……………………………………………………………………………………………..23

AHS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24

Three things can happen when your home goes on the market………………………………………………..25

WI4C2TS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………26

Strategic Partner List…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………27

Important Telephone Numbers…………………………………………………………………………………………………28

Florida Real Estate SellersMission Statement

Page 2Florida Real Estate Sellers.com

Page 3: A guide to selling your home

It is our focus to live our lives and conduct our business in such a way that the Lord, our parents, and our families would be proud. Never will our intent be to hurt or do harm to anyone. Our desire will always be to help, comfort, and please our fellow man. In business and in life our integrity will be our trademark. After an experience with the Florida Real Estate Sellers team at Keller Williams Realty all of our clients will realize that their best interest came first. They will know that every great effort was made and no stone left unturned in our effort to accomplish all of their real estate goals, and our recommendations are our sincere professional diagnoses to best accommodate their real estate needs. Ultimately, our clients will appreciate that our main goal besides helping them achieve all of their real estate goals is to make our clients so ecstatic about their real estate experiences with Florida Real Estate Sellers that they become our ambassadors of goodwill and are compelled to refer Florida Real Estate Sellers whenever any friend or family mentions real estate.

It’s All About You

Our real estate business has been built around one guiding principle: It’s all about you.

Your needs

Your dreams

Your concerns

Your questions

Your finances

Your time

Your life

Our entire focus is on your complete satisfaction. We work to get the job done so well, you will want to tell your friends and associates about it. Maybe that’s why over 50% of our business comes from repeat customers and referrals.

Good service speaks for itself.

We look forward to the opportunity to earn your business too.

What People Say About Keller Williams

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 “Highest Overall Satisfaction for Home Buyers and Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms”

Keller Williams received the highest numerical score among full service real estate firms for home buyers and home sellers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM. Study based on 2,994 total

evaluations measuring five firms and measures opinions of individuals who bought or sold a home between March 2011 and April 2012. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed

March-May 2012. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com

What Local People Say About the Florida Real Estate Sellers team:

“Thank you so much for your hard work. It was such a relief knowing you were handling everything. May God continue to bless you in your work.”-Jane Mahn

“You did a great job. Thanks for bringing the buyer and for all your hard work. It was a pleasure working with you.”- Jon Wanberg of Remax

“Thanks so much! You were such a great person to work with and you made the transaction so easy. I wouldn’t hesitate for one minute to use your services again. Again, I thank you for everything.”-Brandy Mister

“Casandra was the best! She was very patient with me through all my questions as a first time home buyer and I would very much recommend her.”-Summer Shad

“Casandra, Thank you so much for sticking by us and making our dreams of owning a beautiful house come true. You are the best realtor and person any buyer could ask for.”-Julie Kersey

“Dear, Casandra. Thanks so much for helping bring down the price of my house by $6,000. Please accept this bracelet I made as a token of appreciation.”-Carole DelGrade

What Local People Say About the Florida Real Estate Sellers Team

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“I must admit I wasn't exactly excited at the prospect of selling our home.  I had visions of people knocking on the door to see the house at all hours, thought I would have to spend days trying to track down our Realtor, and wondered just how much this was really going to cost my family.

Our Realtor was Bill Kilpatrick, with Florida Real Estate Sellers at Keller William's Realty and from the moment he stepped into our house my wife and I liked him.  He was patient, listened to us, gave us his cell phone number and explained every step of the process to us in simple terms.  He made us feel as if ours was the only house he was listing.

He gave us some excellent ideas on how to make the house more appealing to buyers, based on his experience and also made sure to contact us and set a good time for us before ever showing the house.  We really appreciated that.

I value my name and reputation - having said that, I highly recommend Bill Kilpatrick to anyone seeking an experienced, forthright, trustworthy Realtor.  He honestly made selling our home a great experience, with no surprises.  Thanks again, Bill!”- Keith Moscatello

“Bill Kilpatrick with the Florida Real Estate Sellers Team at Keller Williams was an expert at listening to what we wanted and finding the properties that satisfied our needs and dreams. We knew what we wanted and the area we desired to live and Bill thoroughly listened to our ideas and assisted us in finding the perfect home. Bill also marketed the home we were living in and thanks to his professional efforts he sold our home and we moved into our new home the same weekend. Bill was in constant contact, keeping us updated, and calming our fears or concerns. We recommend Bill to all of our friends looking to buy or sell their homes. We couldn’t have asked for a better blend of market knowledge and professionalism mixed with a personal touch.”-Loren and Jennifer White

“Casandra, you have been the best. We’ve bought other houses in the past & you have made things go very smoothly even though we ran into a lot of bumps in the road. You were always there and took care of things right away. You did a wonderful job and we very highly recommend you. Thank you very much for all your hard work.”-Don & Darlene Wieseler

“Thanks to Casandra for all she has done. She has been a fantastic Realtor. I highly recommend her. Me and Julie were really pleased with what all has happened with the closing of our previous house and closing of our new house and we love it. We can’t thank you enough.”-Ben & Julie Brown

“Casandra, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your diligence in working on this sale and making sure everything was in order. Thank you!”-Briana Wilson

“Dear Casandra, We would like to take this time to say a big thanks to you. Without your efforts this is impossible. Thank you very much for your dedicated work and time. We already have the house rented out. What good news! Everything is doing well. Thank you very much for everything you did for us. Wish you the best on your business and daily life!”-Chunxian & Huiqin Chen

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How to Get Your Agent to Work Twice as HardOur Team of Professionals

The fact is there isn’t much more to the average agent than the agent themselves. Most individual agents operate a one-person show – and they’re probably breaking their backs trying to do a good job for their clients. Realistically speaking, most individual agents can’t work any harder than they are already working. We know, because we used to do it this way. We found that our client’s suffered from our good intentions. You may feel sympathetic toward the fact your agent is working as hard as humanly possible, but if the quality and profitability of your home sale suffers as a result of them trying to do everything themselves…well, You then have a right to feel cheated. The simple explanation is that we have built a team of professionals to help us be in 10 places at once, and therefore greatly enhance the quality of service we can deliver to our clients. This is basically how other professionals like your banker or lawyer operate. And on top of this, we’ve used cutting edge technology to dramatically improve the speed, efficiency and innovative capabilities of every part of the service we deliver.We don’t expect you to care about the fine-details of the inner-workings of our office. What you should care about is simply this. Because of the highly unique way we’ve structured our real estate office Our client’s homes sell for more money in less time! And because our Team sells a lot of homes, we have extensive home selling experience that puts more money in our client’s pockets.

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The Team:Florida Real Estate Sellers

Casandra Vann, RealtorShort Sale Listing Specialist(863) [email protected]

Bill Kilpatrick, BrokerListing Specialist(863) [email protected]

Autumn DeRespiris, RealtorBuyer Specialist(863) [email protected]

Deborah Wright, RealtorBuyer Specialist(863) [email protected]

Ed Dimotta, RealtorBuyer Specialist(863) [email protected]

Whitney Roberts, RealtorBuyer Specialist(863) [email protected]

Christina Johnson, RealtorBuyer Specialist(863) [email protected]

Amy Manwaring, RealtorBuyer Specialist(863) [email protected]

James Boardman, RealtorLead Agent-Tampa Division (813) [email protected]

Danielle Falcione,Listing & Marketing Coordinator(863) [email protected]

Lori DunnOperations Manager(863) [email protected]

Vanessa ArmasShort Sale Specialist(407) [email protected]

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Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty® International (KWRI) is an international real estate company with over 700 offices located across North America. Currently the largest U.S. residential real estate firm in North America, Keller Williams began franchising its offices in 1991. The company has succeeded by treating its over 100,000 –plus associates as partners, and shares it knowledge, policy control, and company profits on a system-wide basis. Keller Williams Realty pioneered profit sharing with their associates, thereby creating a true partnership with their agents and ensuring that each agent has a vested interest in every customer’s experience with Keller Williams. This partnership between all of our associates ensures that you’ll have the best possible experience as one of our valued clients.

KWRI’s agents are distinguished by their level of professional education, their full-time commitment to real estate sales, and their level of business success. Recently, Keller Williams was presented with the award for “Most Innovative Real Estate Company at the Inman News Features’ Innovator Awards.” For more information, visit Keller Williams® Realty online at www.kw.com.

Full Time Professionals: Keller Williams® is made up of top full time sales associates and supporting staff that are carefully selected to be part of the firm.

Knowledgeable: In addition to required education for licensing, the sales associates attend numerous courses through Keller Williams® University to keep them up-to-date on current real estate trends and information. The training is the most comprehensive in the industry.

Professional Standards: The standards for performance are for the benefit of the clients and they are the highest standards in the industry. The policy manual guarantees these professional standards.

Financing Power: The sales associates and staff maintain a day-to-day contact with preferred lending institutions in their business area. This helps the buyers find the best possible financing.

Pre-qualified Buyers: Keller Williams®, works to protect buyers and sellers by obtaining pre-qualifying information on all potential buyers. This service helps buyers know if they might be qualified to purchase a new home and it helps sellers know if their purchaser may be qualified to purchase a home.

Inventory Knowledge: In order to be successful in working with buyers, each Keller Williams® office maintains a large inventory of brokerage and new homes for sale. The associates are always aware of all the available properties within their market.

Total Commitment: The commitment to the customer is this- Keller Williams will always strive to provide professional real estate services to the very best of its ability.

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Why do you need a Real Estate Professional

Do you really have all the time, energy, information, resources, and contacts to properly market and sell your home? Would the process be a smooth one? Would it give you more time to focus on your personal life? Would you be able to get the best price for your home? Below we have listed just a few areas in which we believe a real estate professional truly earns their commission:Pricing A real estate professional is best suited to determine a pricing strategy for your property. You don’t want to miss opportunities by overpricing or undervaluing your property. Knowledge about the surrounding areas, pricing trends, local information, and experience will ensure you are getting the best price for your home.MarketingA real estate professional has many ways to effectively market your property. Proven marketing methods include flyers, open houses, the internet, local newspapers, and listing in the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). There is a common misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends and family, and personal contacts.Keep in mind advertising is only one part of marketing. The choice of media and frequency of advertising depends a lot on the home and specific market. Overexposure of a property in any media may give a buyer the impression the property is distressed or the seller is desperate. A qualified real estate professional will know when, where and how to advertise your property.Marketing also includes the exposure of your home to other real estate professionals and the general public. In many markets over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate professional other than yours brings in the buyer. Your real estate professional acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate professionals through the MLS, open houses, and office meetings.Preparation is critical to marketing your property effectively. A real estate professional is best suited to recommend repairs and cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your home. SecurityWhen the property is marketed with the help of a qualified real estate professional, you avoid allowing strangers into your home. Real estate professionals will generally pre-screen and accompany qualified prospects through your property. This increases your safety and allows for any last minute preparation.NegotiatingYour real estate professional can assist you with objectively evaluation every buyer’s proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the start of a process that involves appraisals, inspections, and financing – and a lot of potential obstacles. Your real estate professional can help you write a legally binding agreement that will be more likely to make it through this complicated process.Monitoring, Renegotiating and ClosingBetween the initial sales agreement and closing/settlement, questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are sometimes required to obtain financing or a concern with the title could potentially be uncovered. The required paperwork alone is intimidating for most sellers. Your real estate professional is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing/settlement.

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Your real estate professional can also meet with other professionals involved in the transaction process. Their industry contacts can make sure any unforeseen issues are handled reliably and quickly.

The Importance of Intelligent Pricing

A competitively priced home will attract a high percentage of prospective buyers.

The intelligent Pricing Pyramid above demonstrates that a home priced at market value will attract a greater percentage of prospective buyers than a home price above market value. The higher above market value the home is priced, the fewer prospective buyers. A home priced below market value will typically attract the greatest percentage of prospective buyers. The further below market value the home is priced, the more prospective buyers.

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Selling Price vs. Timing

You need to price your home prudently from the beginning,when buyer interest will be high.

Timing is very important in real estate. The above graphic shows the importance of placing your property on the market at a realistic price from the start. A home attracts the most excitement and interest when it is first placed on the market for sale. A home has its greatest chance for selling when it is newly listed. Pricing your home correctly, from the start, will help it sell in the shortest possible time frame.

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MARKETING ACTION PLANOur marketing action plan is designed to get your home the maximum amount of exposure

in the shortest period of time. Each step involves proven techniques that leverage the opportunities to showcase your home to key people that can either buy your home or help

us find the right buyer: Prospective homebuyers, local real estate agents & investors.

We will:

1. Price your home strategically to be competitive with the current market and current price trends.

2. Advise you on how to stage your home to showcase features that buyers are most interested in:

Uncluttered rooms and closets, fresh paint and pleasing drive-up appeal.

3. Place Florida Real Estate Sellers For Sale signage in front of your home.

4. Follow up each inquiry with a personal phone call.

5. Digital photo tour of the inside and outside of your property and place it on the Mid-Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS) with Virtual Tour of home.

6. Add Listing and tour to REALTOR.com

7. Add Listing and Tour to the Keller Williams Listing Service (KWLS) with listing syndication to over 350 web sites.

8. Optimize your home’s Internet presence by posting it on local and global MLS systems and adding multiple photographs and creative descriptions.

9. Utilize Social Media outlets such as Facebook, Craigslist, YouTube, etc. to boost your homes exposure.

10. Feature your home in Central Florida Homes Magazine.

11. Generate HTML e-mail advertising and blast to database.

12. Target our marketing to active real estate agents that specialize in selling homes in your neighborhood.

13. Feature home on Lakeland, Florida Connects Facebook Fan page with over 14,000 fans.

14. Organize and host open house and/ or broker’s open.

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WHY DO WE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON INTERNET ADVERTISING?

Because that is where the buyers are!

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Page 14Florida Real Estate Sellers.com

SELLERS NET MORE BECAUSE OF MORE EXPOSURE

Extended Marketing Reach – When you list with the Florida Real Estate Sellers team, we will have access to the Keller William’s Listing System, or KWLS. This proprietary, exclusive system ensures your property is marketed online 24/7 through more than 350 of the most popular search Websites. More exposure will ensure better and higher offer on your property!

FLORIDAREALESTATESELLERS.COM

Page 15: A guide to selling your home

COULDN’T I SELL IT MYSELF?

The latest research shows only 5% of homeowner’s complete a sale without an

agent.

FACTORS THAT DON’T AFFECT THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY

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The value of your property is determined by what a BUYER is willing to pay in today’s market based on comparing your property to others SOLD in your area.

Buyers ALWAYS Determine Value!

The Guaranteed Sale ProgramDon’t’ Run the Risk of Owning Two Homes…Or None At All!

The Problem: We’ve all heard the old saying about being caught between a rock and a hard place. Well unfortunately, that’s where most homeowners find themselves when they decide to move from one home to another. You see if you buy before selling, you could run the risk of owning two homes. Or, just as bad, if you sell first, you could end up homeless. That’s what we call the Real Estate Catch 22, and for thousands of homeowners, it’s an extremely stressful position to find yourself in. This financial and emotional tightrope is one

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you usually have to walk alone because most agents have no way of helping you with this dilemma.

The Solution: Fortunately, Florida Real Estate Sellers can help with a proven and innovative system we call our Guaranteed Sale Program. Simply put, this program guarantees that you’ll sell your home in less than 99 days for top dollar, or we’ll buy it for you!* Before you hire any professional, you should research the market to find out who can do the best job for you. Who else but the Florida Real Estate Sellers can offer you this innovative, effective and proven way to avoid this costly homeowner dilemma?

*Certain restrictions apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t want to pay an agent’s commission. Won’t I net more money if I sell my home?It might at first, but according to statistics, the median selling price of a home sold by owner was 20% less than agent-assisted transactions.* That means in most cases, agents pay their own commissions, and sellers still receive more money than if they had done all the work themselves. So typically with an agent, you net more money and free yourself from all the paper, marketing and legalities involved throughout the process.

Are there thing we should do to our home to help ensure the maximum price?Yes. There is a benefit to making sure your home looks its best prior to offering it for sale. There are also small remodeling jobs that will pay off at resale. Even if you choose to sell

Page 17Florida Real Estate Sellers.com

BENEFITS TO HOMESELLERS

Eliminates the dilemma of whether to sell first or buy first by removing the potential stress of owning two homes or none at all.

You are much more likely to get a firm offer from buyers (vs. a conditional one) because we are willing to guarantee the sale of the buyer’s home.

This is a better than risk-free offer because if your home sells for a price that is higher than the guaranteed price, you get this higher amount, not us.

It converts ready, willing and unable buyers into ready, willing and able buyers. This means more qualified people looking at your home. More people mean more money for you in less time!

BENEFITS TO HOMEBUYERS

Eliminates the dilemma of whether to sell first or buy first by removing the potential stress of owning two homes or none at all.

You can look at homes with confidence because you know that if you find one you like, nothing is stopping you from buying it.

Sellers will take your offer more seriously because they know your home is sold – guaranteed.

You won’t risk losing your dream home because your current home isn’t sold.

Sellers don’t need a right of first refusal provision because they know you are a real buyer.

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your home without assistance, we would still be happy to advise you about specific improvements that will increase your home’s marketability and value.

If I listed with you, how would you advertise my property?We don’t just list homes; We market them. We will make sure your home is marketed to potential buyers around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As part of our marketing action plan, we will customize a marketing plan to reach buyers most likely to purchase your home. We know how to maximize the power of the Internet for our client, while also using traditional methods including newspaper ads, brochures, yard signs and direct mail.Will you be present at all showings?

At open houses I, or a member of our team, will be there. For showings, potential buyers will bring their own agents to see your home. Most buyers prefer only their own agents be present when evaluating a prospective new home.

What if another agent tells us they can get us more for the house?Some agents will quote a higher listing price just to get your business, but an overpriced house will not sell. If you choose to work with us, we will conduct a comparative market analysis prior to recommending an asking price for your home. We will explain how we arrived at the price, but ultimately the decision is up to you. We will offer our professional opinion on how the market will value your home.

If I worked with your team, would I have any responsibilities during the marketing of my home?Your primary job during the sale of your home will be to keep it neat and clean for showings and open houses. A large part of a home’s appeal involves staging, which is everything from furniture placement to home fragrance. We will advise you on how to stage your home well, giving you easy tips and quick marketing, screening of prospective buyers, offer evaluations, negotiation of terms of sale and management of your closing.

What happens once we get an offer?We will help you consider each offer and negotiate the best deal for you. Once you’ve accepted an offer, we will guide you through the entire closing process and ensure everything proceeds smoothly.

*Source: The 2013 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Preparing Your Home for SaleWith a little effort on your part, your home can be sold more quickly and at a better price. The following tips have proved invaluable to owners and are worth your special attention:

  Preparation For Showing:

o First impressions are lasting!  The front door greets the prospect.  Make sure it is fresh, clean, and paint the trim. 

o Keep lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse. Reseed the lawn and fertilize if necessary, weed the gardens, and add mulch. Deep green grass makes a lasting impression. In winter, be sure snow and ice is removed from walks and steps.

o Decorate for a quick sale.  Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce appeal.  Why try

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to tell the prospect how your home could look, when you can show him by redecorating?  A quicker sale at a higher price will result.  An investment in neutral new kitchen wallpaper will pay dividends.

o Let the sun shine in.  Open draperies and curtains and let the prospect see how cheerful your home can be.  (Dark rooms do not appeal)

o Do the windows and window screens work well and look good? Have the windows spotless.

o Are the appliances operating properly and sparkling? o Fix the faucet!  Dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty plumbing. o Repairs can make a big difference. Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped

cabinet drawers and other minor flaws detract from home value.  Have them fixed. o From top to bottom.  Display the full value of your attic, basement and other utility

space by removing all unnecessary articles.  Brighten dark, dull basements by painting walls and adding brighter light bulbs.

o Safety first.  Keep stairways clear.  Avoid cluttered appearances and possible injuries. o Pack excess linens and clothing to make closets look bigger.  Neat, well-ordered

closets show the space is ample. o Bathrooms help sell homes.  Check and repair grout in bathtubs and showers.  Make

this room sparkle. Don’t let the Handy Man add gobs of caulking when grout is what you need.

o Arrange bedrooms neatly.  Remove excess furniture.  Use attractive bedspreads and fresh looking window coverings.

o Have I removed or mentioned to my realtor any attached items that are not included, such as special chandeliers, shelving or garden plants?

o Am I familiar with similar homes on the market that I may be competing against?o Have I asked my realtor for a list of ways I can improve the “marketability” of my

home without wasting time and money?o Can you see the light?  Illumination is like a welcome sign.  The potential buyer will

feel a glowing evening when you turn on all your lights for an evening inspection. o Am I ready to disclose any structural defects such as roof, foundation or wiring

problems?o Have I started looking for my new home? Do I know what I want in another home? o What do I need to do to prepare for my upcoming move?

Showing The House:

o Whenever possible leave your house for showings, if not, follow the tips below.o Three's a crowd.  Avoid having too many people present during showings.  The

potential buyer will feel like an intruder and will hurry through the house. Showing The House: (continued)

o Music is mellow.  But not when showing a house.  Turn off the blaring radio or television. Let the agent and buyer talk, free of disturbances.

o Pets underfoot?  Keep them out of the way--preferably out of the house.o Silence is golden.  Be courteous but don't force conversation with the potential

buyer.  He wants to inspect your house--not to pay a social call. o Be it ever so humble.  Never apologize for the appearance of your home.  After all, it

has been lived in.  Let the trained agent answer any objections.  This is his/her job.

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o Remain in the background.  The agent knows the buyer's requirements and can better emphasize the features of your home when you don't tag along.  You will be called if needed.  Allow the buyers to take "psychological possession." 

o Why put the cart before the horse?  Trying to dispose of furniture and furnishings to the potential buyer before he has purchased the house often loses a sale.

o A word to the wise.  Let your Realtor discuss price, terms, possession and other factors with the customer.  They are eminently qualified to bring negotiations to a favorable conclusion.

o Use Keller Williams Realty.  We ask that you show your home to prospective customers only by appointment through this office.  Your cooperation will be appreciated and will help us close the sale more quickly. 

Successful Showings & Open HousesWhen you plan open house appointments, it allows you time to prepare, but there are times when you won’t have the luxury of advanced notice and your property needs to look the best that it can to entice the motivated buyer. Remember, every time you leave your home, you need to make sure it is ready for unexpected showing…here’s how.

General Preparationo When preparing your home, think about the interior decorating ideas used to show

builders’ model homes and how you would be wowed if you were the potential buyer.o Remember the pointers from “First Impressions” checklist, especially regarding

cleanliness, clutter and repairs – interior and exterior.o Open drapes and light lamps including those in closets, basement or attic – creating

as light, cheerful and calm environment as possible.o Make the potential buyer feel welcome by filling candy dishes and putting out fresh

flowers.Bedrooms

o Make the beds; put away clothes and toys.o Turn the blinds so slats are uniformly open and don’t forget to put on light if room is

dark.Bathrooms

o Put out a clean hand towel, fresh soap and clean soap dish, and make sure there is a full box of tissues.

o Put toilet lid down.o Potpourri dish can provide a nice sight and scent.

Kitcheno Put away all dishes and discreetly conceal countertop articles.o Simmer a few drops of vanilla on stove for a relaxing fragrance.

Dining Roomo Arrange inviting centerpiece and turn on the lights/ chandelier.o Consider setting the table with fine china and linen.

Successful Showings & Open Houses (continued)

Living Room/Family Room/ Deno Straighten pictures on walls and wipe all tabletops.o Fluff and arrange couch cushions and throw pillows.o Dispose of newspapers and drink containers.

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o Light fireplace in winter.Entryway

o When exiting just before buyers arrive, turn around at front door and review the “First Impression” checklist. What is the first thing that catches your eye from that viewpoint? Will it help or hinder the appearance of your home?

o Notify your neighbors of scheduled open house days. You never know if they have friends or families that are in the market for a home.

Maximizing First Impressions of the Exterior

Exterior and Curb Appealo Experts say most buyers make their decision at first sight.

General Exterioro Prospective buyers will react well to signs your home has been meticulously

maintained.o Manicure landscaping: mow, edge and water lawn, trim hedges, weed and fertilize

flowerbeds, and prune trees.o Keep driveway clean and free of parked cars, and keep the garage door closed.o Repair or replace loose or damaged roof shingles.o Minimize cracks or crumbling on walkways, walls, or steps, and keep them clean and

free of obstructions like toys or snow.o Items from RV’s to waste cans left out can contribute to a cluttered or busy

appearance. Make sure that form the street, your property window coverings from the curb.

o Repair any peeling paint or loose caulking on windows or other areas.o Take steps to eliminate insect or rodent pests.o Pick up after your pets and neighborhood animals.

Doorwayo While agents work the lockbox for a key, buyers have idle time to notice detailso Apply a fresh coat of paint to front door.o Consider adding pots of flowering plants in the entryway if weather permits.o Eliminate cobwebs and groom doorway area windows, porch light, or decorative

glass.

Maximizing First Impressions of the Interior

Interior Appealo Once inside, experts say most buyers are reaffirming their curbside decision.

Clean, Clear, Light and Brighto Give every room in the house a thorough cleaning and remove all clutter. Hiring a

cleaning service may pay for itself by adding to a buyer’s perceived value of your home.

o For a sleeker, more spacious look, consider placing furniture form crowded rooms in storage.

o Clear kitchen counters of everything other than perhaps a few pretty items. Ask yourself: In a model home, would a professional decorator put your choice of items out on the counter?

Clean, Clear, Light and Bright (continued)

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o Remember, closets will be opened! Keeps closets, cupboards, and even your attic orderly and neat. Since you’re anticipating a move anyway, consider holding a garage sale or boxing and storing unused belongings.

o Floor coverings with a light, neutral shade. Bright rooms look bigger, and neutral colors help buyers envision their own furnishings and décor.

o Repair dripping faucets, burned out light bulbs, or cracked windowpanes.o Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, and tiles.

Warm and Homeyo Subtle scents of potpourri in bedrooms or baths and fresh baked cookies or cinnamon

in the kitchen can make your home more inviting.o Keep an attractive set of towels in each bathroom to be brought out only for

showings.

Checklist for Moving

Before MovingMoving can be a busy time with many small yet important tasks to complete. You want to make sure all of your belongings arrive safely at your new home, the mail is forwarded, and the lights are turned on. This checklist will help keep you organized as you prepare your move.

Change of address noticeso Post Officeo Banks, Credit Cards, other monthly billso Insurance – new locations for fire and autoo Subscriptionso Friends, Relatives

Utility Companieso Gas, water, electricity, telephone, fuel. Turn them off at your current home and on at

your new home. Don’t forget to ask for refunds if you made any advance deposits.Finances

o Find a new bank if necessary. Arrange check-cashing and coordinate credit references.

Medical Recordso Obtain referral for doctors, dentists, & veterinarian.o Obtain any necessary prescriptions, x-rays, eyeglasses, medical records, & birth

records.Packing

o If using a moving company, check for: insurance coverage, payment schedule, other shipping documents, arrival day, labor, & prep work to be accomplished beforehand.

o If you are moving, have plenty of boxes & wrap on hand.o Pack as much as possible in advance, don’t wait until moving day.o Empty & clean freezer & refrigerator.

Moving DayTransportation

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Page 23: A guide to selling your home

o Prepare for the needs of small children and animals. What will they do while you are packing and how will they get to your new home.

o Double checko When the house is empty, but before the moving truck door closes, double check

closets, attics, back yard, and any other storage locations to make sure they are empty.

Moving Day (continued) Important Items

o Carry jewelry and documents yourself or send them registered mail.Money

o You should carry enough cash or travelers checks to cover your move and expenses until you reach your new home.

Keyso Leave old house keys with a neighbor or your real estate professional.

At Your New Home

Utilitieso Confirm that your gas, electricity, water, & telephone have been turned on.o Check pilot lights on stove, water heater, & furnace.

Automobileo Change the address on your driver’s license.o Register vehicle within 5 days to prevent penalties if you have moved out of state.o Apply for a new driver’s license if you have moved out of state.

Remembero Register children in new school.o Locate new doctor, dentist, etc.

Preliminary Property InformationMost title and abstract companies will provide you with preliminary property information, including but not limited to:

o Warranty Deedo Deed of Trusto Restrictionso Plat Tax Information

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Page 24: A guide to selling your home

Home Warranties Can Aid Buyer & Seller

Many home purchasers erroneously assume that the Seller is always somehow liable when there is a defect or failure found in the home’s cooling, heating, plumbing, electrical and/ or appliances after the Buyer moves in. Unless otherwise provided for in the contract provides that heating, plumbing, pool & equipment, electrical, etc. be “operative” on or until date of possession, disputes can always arise as to when the breakdown occurred, who is responsible, how the repairs are to be funded, and when they are to be made.Home warranty plans go a long way to alleviate these risks and concerns. For a modest price (currently basic coverage is $299 to $385, slightly more for optional coverage), Seller can provide to Buyer a one year warranty covering, specified heating, plumbing, electrical, water heater or appliance breakdowns. Coverage under most plans commences at closing (although some can be made to commence during the listing period as well). In all cases, there are important limitations and exclusions (example: appliances/ systems must be operative at commencement of coverage).

Page 24Florida Real Estate Sellers.com

Page 25: A guide to selling your home

Selling Your Home:

Three Things Can Happen When Your Home Goes on the Market

1. We Get No Showings If we have few to no showings: We have

missed the mark, price wise, and we arein need of a significant repositioning.

2. We Get Showings, but No Offers. If we get showings and no offer: We need

a minor price repositioning.

3. Your Home Sells FAST and For TOP DOLLAR Your Home Sells Right Away: Yay!

Just a reminder: You have chosen the Florida Real Estate Sellers to market your home. If you are getting Showings from agents, even if it is not by one of ourBuyer Specialists, then our efforts are working.

We appreciate the opportunity to help serve your needs. Thank you!

Page 25Florida Real Estate Sellers.com

Page 26: A guide to selling your home

W I 4 C 2 T S WI4C2TS

Our Belief System In Action…

Win-Win Or no deal Integrity Do the right thing Commitment In all thingsCommunication Seek first to understand Creativity Ideas before results Customers Always come first Teamwork Together Everyone Achieves More Trust Starts with honesty Success Results through people

Strategic Partner List

LAW SERVICES:

Mascia Law Firm  | (321) 281-3488

TITLE SERVICES:

Florida Family Title  | (863) 937-9126

Page 26Florida Real Estate Sellers.com

Page 27: A guide to selling your home

MORTGAGE SERVICES:

Loan Finder  | (863) 816-5806

HOME INSPECTION SERVICES:

Best Check Home Inspection  | (863) 802-9196

Mikro Home Inspections  | (863) 698-2100

Amerispec  | (863) 401-3692

Air Conditioning Services:

Amado | (863) 644-5700

Construction Services:

Joe McCloud | (863) 709-1356

PEST INSPECTION SERVICES:

JP’s Pest Termite & Pest  | (863) 648-4152

LOCKSMITH SERVICES: Ace Lock & Key  | (863) 602-7648

LAWN SERVICE:

Robertson Lawn Service  | (863) 640-2992

Michael Thirion Lawn  | (863) 858-0105

ROOFER:

Mike Lombard & Son  | (863) 984-2430 Williams Roofing  | (863) 965-3661

HANDYMAN:

Stuart Simm  | (863) 529-8608

Maid Service:

Misty Holt  | (863) 709-4890

Kitchen & Bath:

Silver Leaf Kitchen & Bath, Pam Leonard | (863) 692-3400

Investment:

James I. Black & Co, Jim LePere  |

(863) 559-6653

GARBAGE REMOVAL/RECYCLING

Lakeland Solid Waste Management  | (863) 834-8773

Services  | (863) 665-1489

UTILITIES

Lakeland Electric  | (863) 834-9535 TECO Peoples Gas  | (877) 832-6747 Central Florida Gas  | (863) 293-2125 Polk County Utilities  | (863) 298-4100

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Page 28: A guide to selling your home

TELEPHONE

Bright House Networks  | (866) 976-EASY Verizon  | (800) 483-4200

CABLE TELEVISION

Bright House Networks  | (863) 965-7766 Verizon  | (863) 683-4390

NUMBERS TO KNOW

Florida Consumer Services | (800) 435-7352 Better Business Bureau | (800) 275-6614

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce | (863) 688-8551

Central Florida SCORE | (863) 619-5783 Enterprise Florida | (407) 956-5600 Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency |

(863) 834-6011 Lakeland Downtown Development Authority |

(863) 687-8910 Lakeland Economic Development Council |

(863) 687-3788 Small Business Development Center | (863)

534-5915

EMERGENCY & PUBLIC SAFETY

Emergency | 911 Fire Department Crisis Hotline | (863) 519-3744 Fire Department Business Office | (863) 834-

8200 Police Department Non-Emergency|(863) 834-

6900

EMERGENCY & PUBLIC SAFETY (CONTINUED)

Police Department Crime Report | (863) 834-6966

Polk County Emergency Management| (863) 534-5600

Polk County Sheriff Non-Emergency | (863) 534-6647

Lakeland Electric & Water Emergency| (863) 834-4248

Sewage Emergency Line | (863) 834-8277

CITY OFFICES

City Hall Offices | (863) 834-6000 Library Reference | (863) 834-4280

Parks & Recreation | (863) 834-6035

POLK COUNTY OFFICES

Animal Services | (863) 499-2600 Board of County Commissioners | (863) 534-

6000 Building Permits | (863) 534-6080 Clerk of Circuit & County Courts | (863) 534-

4000 Courthouse Annex | (863) 603-6412 Environmental Services | (863) 534-7377 Health Department | (863) 413-2620 School Board of Polk County | (863) 534-0500 Social Services | (863) 533-1111 Supervisor of Elections | (863) 534-5888 Tag Agency | (863) 603-6497 Tax Collector | (863) 534-4700 Traffic Signs/Signals | (863) 534-7334

FLORIDA STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Agency for WorkForce Innovation | (850) 245-7105

Driver License Division | (863) 499-2323 Florida Highway Patrol | (863) 499-2300 Revenue, Department of | (863) 499-2260 State Information Operator | (850) 488-1234

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Federal Bureau of Investigation | (863) 682-6114

Social Security Administration | (800) 772-1213 I.R.S. | (Tax Forms Only) | (800) 829-1040 Post Office | (800) 275-8777 Veterans Administration | (800) 827-1000

Page 28Florida Real Estate Sellers.com