Thank your or trusting me enough to list your home with me. I am looking forward to working with you. I will make every effort to sell your home and close the transaction as quickly as possible.
Many times when I meet with owners to list their property, there are questions that are not answered, or not added at that time. The purpose of this letter is not to make excuses, but to work with you on the marketing of your home, and to avoid any communication barriers or problems. If you are concerned about any of these items, or disagree with any after reading this, please call me to discuss it. Everyone has a little different idea as to how they expect their property to be marketed, and I want to work with you so you feel that the job is being done correctly.
- Your home will be entered into the computer within 48 hours after I have listed it, usually 24 hours. This means the information on your home will be instantly available to any other agent that is in our Multiple Listing Service. If an agent is watching for a new listing with a special feature that your home has then it is conceivable that your home will be shown within a few days after it has been listed. It is possible an agent might stop by to show it immediately if it’s convenient. It’s OK to ask them to give you five minutes to turn on lights. Important note: If your home goes a week or two without activity, it will seem like an eternity to you, and I ask for your patience. It is very important to me though, that if it is disturbing you, you call me and express your concerns. Gainesville has a strong market; however, once in a while there will be a lull.
- After we enter your listing into the computer, we will immediately "search for prospect codes". This is a function that gives us, the agents, codes from all other MLS offices that have a prospect with a desired feature that your home has. We will mail these agents a copy of the computer printout in case they should miss it when it first appears in the computer. This may not result in their showing of your home, but it will attract attention to your home.
- Within approximately one week after listing you will receive a "temporary" brochure which will be a detailed outline about your home. You will be asked to make any suggestions or changes, return one copy to me. A final brochure will be placed in your home within two weeks. It is important that you leave the flyer in an obvious location so that agents and their customers will have access to it. If you have pets that should be left inside (or outside) please put a note with these brochures, and also put one on all exterior or interior doors at eye level.
- Caravan is held on Tuesday before sales meetings. This is the time when the agents tour the newly listed homes. Because of the large volume of homes that are on the market today, we generally get to your home within two weeks, but sometimes that is delayed due to company meetings, holidays, etc. We will notify you no later than the day before the caravan. We will give you more advance notice if possible – often the caravan is not prepared till Monday so that homes that sell over the weekend are not included and to avoid the list having to be redone.
- When an agent phones to make an appointment, they will say something like "My name is Sue Smith with XYZ Realty. Is your home still for sale? May I show it between 1 and 2?" After you establish a suitable time, you should then say "And what did you say your name was? And what company are you with?" Then write it down. Hopefully the agent won’t be a "no-show". But by asking their name, it makes them feel a little more obligated to keep their appointment, or call you to cancel, many times there are things totally out of their control. Their prospect may take longer to look at homes than they anticipated, so they might not get to your home that day. Other times, they get in the car and they mention a requirement for a new home that totally eliminates some of the homes the agent has arranged to show. Or, after they’ve seen two or three homes, they change their price range and ask the agent to show them either less expensive or more expensive homes. Obviously, the agent has to pull together another list of homes, and does not take time to call and cancel appointments – or they might try to call you and you are not home.
- Though it may not seem important to you, "setting the stage and mood" really does help a house sell. So when you can, turn on lights (not overhead) table lamps and your dining room and breakfast chandeliers, have music on (preferably not the TV), and boil some cinnamon. Pets and children can be very distracting and cause a house to be eliminated. If weather permits please have them out of the house.
- How often will I personally show your home? It is quite possibly I won’t show it at all! It could happen that I might go through a listing period where all of the prospects I have are in a different price range, different style, and different location. To show your home, I will need to get a call from the sign or ad from someone whose needs fit your home and who financially qualifies for your home. I assure you that I will make every effort to show it to a buyer if he qualifies to purchase your home.
- Your home will be advertised in Homes and Land, Gainesville Sun and Real Estate Showcase. We will notify you when the ads are running and forward you copies. The internet has quickly become a very easy way for buyers to shop for a home. Information and photos about your home will be available through the internet. There are several ways to access information about your property including my website, my company’s website http://www.mmparrish.com/, the Multiple Listing System and others for buyers to search.
- Feed back and follow-up with agents: If you find a card left by a Realtor, please call the office and leave the name of the agent and the home/office numbers so we can call them. Please allow a few days for us to get back to you. Sometimes the agents do not return calls and we have to follow up more than once. Or they may still be out of the office showing property if it is an out of town customer.
Please call if you have any questions about the items that I have covered. Your goodwill is important to me, and I want the same results you do – A SALE
Sincerely,
Joann W. Whitworth, GRI, CRS, REBAC
Senior Vice President
Realtor