Sue Conlon Sellers Presentation

S E L L E R

W I T H

S U E

G U I D E

C O N L O N

ABOUT SUE CONLON Sue Conlon’s success as a real estate professional is built on her attention to detail and pursuit of excellence. She works tirelessly to handle every step of the moving process. Keeping you in the loop from consultation to closing, she provides you with information needed so you can make the right decisions.

A local to the Dubuque area, Sue’s keen insights and expertise allow her to match buyers with the home that best fits their lifestyle. Sue’s creative marketing plans and computer savvy are also key advantages that help sellers achieve a quick sale for top dollar.

When you are serious about buying or selling in the Dubuque area, you deserve to work with a professional who is committed to hard work and takes a meticulous approach to customer service. Sue Conlon knows when it comes to making the most of your real estate opportunities, it’s all in the details.

Sue Conlon Cell: 563.599.8195

sueconlon@yousq.net www.sueconlon.com

MY SELLING EXPERIENCE You have decided to sell your home.

You’re anxious to start the process. Before anything else, you should meet with an experienced agent. I am a full-time Realtor and have been selling homes in the Dubuque area since June of 2000. I have helped hundreds of sellers and buyers achieve their real estate goals.

Before anything else, I will help you clarify your motivations, determine a time frame and outline the selling process.

WHY SELL? Why do you want to sell your property? Do you plan on simply moving to a larger or smaller home or property, or do you plan on moving to another neighborhood, school district, city or state?

You might think your reasons are obvious, but it would be helpful for you to consider the implications of each option for your lifestyle, opportunities, and finances. Being clear about your intentions for selling will make it easier for me to determine the most appropriate option for your specific financial, lifestyle, and real estate goals.

WHEN SHOULD I SELL? You should immediately establish your time frame for selling. For many sellers, it is an urgent matter, and for others, not so much. Most sellers would like to sell as quickly as possible and for the most amount possible, however, it is good to know what the most effective plan of action is before listing your home. If you need to sell quickly, I can expedite the process by giving you a complete market analysis and action plan to obtain all of your goals. If there is no pressing need to sell immediately, I will review the current market conditions and determine the most favorable time for you to sell.

LET’S CONNECT Contact me anytime you would like a market update. When you’re ready to take the next step toward selling your home, I am here to help. I make sure your listing gets the best exposure and reaches the right buyer--whether they’re out of state or right around the corner.

My greatest attribute is my communication skills. You can be assured that you will be able to reach me within a reasonable amount of time. I strive to provide my clients with the best quality service possible, and that starts with constant communication. That starts with constant communication.

If you are selling your house, please hold me to our promise to communicate with you every step of the way.

ARE YOU DEALING WITH AN EXPERT? An agent who has earned the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation has years of experience and success. To receive this designation, Realtors must demonstrate outstanding professional achievements, including high-volume sales and pursue advanced training in areas such as finance, marketing and technology. My knowledge as a CRS will help you make smart decisions in a fastpaced, complex and competitive market.

MARKETING THE RIGHT WAY THE REAL FACTS When you’re ready to take the next step toward selling your home, I am here to help. My comprehensive marketing plan will get your home seen by thousands of motivated buyers. Ultimately, my goal is to get your home the most exposure necessary and highlight the best qualities of the home.

THE RIGHT PRICE I’ll quickly put together a custom marketing plan with an effective price. A well priced home often generates competing offers and drives up the final sale value. My market analysis takes into account the most actively searched prices and home values throughout your area, including expired listings and properties still on the market.

THE RIGHT EXPOSURE In marketing your home, I will emphasize your home’s best features and benefits. I will place your home on our local MLS which provides information and pictures to over 250 local Realtors who are working with buyers. Our nationwide network of Realtors and buyers will also have the opportunity to review your home’s information.

EFFECTIVE INTERNET MARKETING Over 90% of buyers begin their search online so it is important to be on sites where buyers are looking, like Zillow, Trulia, realtor.com and Remax.com just to name a few. Your home will also be featured on our Facebook page that posts new listings and a link to all of our open houses every week--just another way to make it easier for the buyers to find your home online. This is a part of my marketing strategy that you can’t afford to miss.

THE BEST DEAL When I list your home, I’ll do so at no additional cost.

When you start to get offers, I will represent you during the emotionally charged negotiating process and ensure that you get the best price and the most favorable terms. As your professional aide, I oversee all the paperwork related to the sale.

Advertising is important. Exposure is key. Having the right products not only helps define your home, but also helps highlight its great qualities. However, great qualities cannot be highlighted by poor products. They go hand-in-hand.

Our premium marketing products meet and exceed your expectations.

YARD SIGNS A great way to advertise the availability of your home to people with an interest in your neighborhood or those who are becoming acquainted with your community. A yard sign is the #1 way to show your home is for sale. The RE/MAX yard sign is the most trusted real estate symbols in Dubuque. RE/MAX Real Estate Associates are known for their high quality service and advice. When home buyers see that sign in your yard, they understand that you’re working with a trusted brand and that you are marketing for maximum exposure.

OPEN HOUSES RE/MAX Advantage Realty holds the most open houses of any office in town. Open houses are listed in the Saturday open house directory in the Telegraph Herald. We also feature our open houses on several websites including our Facebook page.

SALES BROCHURES & FACT SHEETS I am committed to marketing your home with high quality materials that represents the time and effort you have taken in improving and maintaining your home.

MY SALES APPROACH My approach is simple — I do what it takes to sell your home in a timely manner.

COMPREHENSIVE While my sales approach is comprehensive, communication is a vital component to my success. I am committed to involving you in every step of the process. Whether it is establishing a sales price, holding open houses, negotiating and accepting offers, or closing the deal, I will communicate with you on a regular basis.

SALES INFO - DAYS ON MARKET Lowering the number of days on the market is an essential asset to helping you move efficiently, financially and responsibly. It could be the difference between tens of thousands of dollars and can give you the peace of mind and comfort needed while making the next step in your life.

SALES INFO - LIST TO SALE PRICE It’s one thing to close quickly, but some agents who have quick closings can end up costing you more money and are typically below the market average. However, it takes a dedicated, well organized, well-informed agent to close quickly for above average list to sale price. The difference can be thousands of dollars in your pocket.

II TRUSTED ADVICE II WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY Sellers often make the mistake of wanting to price their homes high at the start, with the assumption that they can always reduce the price to a more realistic level later on. However, interest peaks when your home is fresh to the market and often declines as time goes on sometimes making it necessary to seek a lower listing price.

HOME EVALUATION One of the most important question most people looking to sell their home have is: “What will my house sell for in today’s market?”

Prices can change due to local, regional, national and international economic conditions, political sentiment and of course inventory levels determined by supply and demand.

You need to have a Realtor like me to give you a comprehensive look at properties that have sold in your neighborhood in the recent past. This is critical!

There are many factors that determine what your home is worth in today’s market including: - area above grade and total number of bedrooms - recent renovations, upgrades and/or updating - finished square feet in the lower level and a walkout vs. a non-walkout - number of garages - location in the community: quiet or busy street, cul-de-sac, across from a park or green space, views, proximity to neighbors, etc.

Another important factor is the opinion of value. Properties priced too high will sit on the market and become “shop worn.” Ideally, the property should be priced at Comparable Market Value. Studies continue to show that a property listed at 15% over market value has a 20% probability of sale; 10% over market value has a 30% probability of sale; 5% over market value has a 50% probability of sale. Properties priced at market value have a 95% probability of sale.

The method most often used in evaluating single family homes is the Comparable Method. A property is worth what the buyer is willing to pay for it and this is determined by the basic laws of supply and demand. These two factors are evaluated by comparing the home with similar homes that have sold within the market area, with appropriate consideration given to location, amenities lot size, condition, and financing terms.

HOME PREP - EXTERIOR • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

House number should be easy to read Lights on timers to ensure house is lit up after sunset.

Gutters, and down spouts in good repair Garage/car port clean and tidy Litter picked up Cracked or broken window panes replaced Doorbell and door hardware in good repair Touch up trim paint on doors, window frames, fascia, etc.

Mow, edge and weed the lawn frequently until the home is sold Overgrown shrubbery should be cut back to show as much of the exterior as possible A low cost investment in seasonal flowers/ground cover adds a personal touch Inspect the roof for necessary repairs of visible broken shingles or tiles Stucco water stains can be repaired using a mild bleaching agent Fences should be repaired and painted Wash all windows inside and outside

HOME PREP - INTERIOR • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Lights should be on and drapes left open during daylight hours.

Heat set at a comfortable temperature.

Fresh flowers/plants in various rooms.

Chipped plaster and paint touched up and repaired.

Doors and cupboards properly closed.

Leaky faucets and toilets repaired.

Burned out light bulbs replaced.

Squeaky doors oiled.

Mirrors, light fixtures and faucets cleaned and polished.

Seals around tubs and sinks in good repair.

Floors cleaned, garbage containers emptied.

Inside of closets and cupboards neat and tidy.

Valuable property, out of reach, out of sight, or locked away.

Pets absent, where possible, or contained during showings.

All torn screens should be repaired or replaced.

Avoid repainting the entire house unless completely necessary.

Light, neutral colors are easy to work with and make rooms look larger.

Fireplace lit in cool weather air conditioner turned on in warm weather.

Countertops clutter-free and appliances cleaned.

PRICING YOUR HOME Not only will you miss prospective buyers by overpricing your home, but you will affect how long your home will remain on the market and what the eventual selling price will be.

ACTIVITY VS. TIMING Timing is extremely important in the real estate market. A property attracts the most interest and excitement from the real estate community and potential buyers when it is first listed. Therefore, it has the highest chance of a sale when it is new on the market. Setting a realistic price from the beginning will help take advantage of this initial period and increase the chance of a timely sale.

Activity (Amount of Interest)

TIMING VS. SELLING PRICE When a home is overpriced at the start, it misses what can be the most critical time period in selling a home--the first two weeks after it is listed.

Once this period is passed and little traffic is generated at the initial price level, it becomes necessary to seek a lower listing price. Depending on market conditions, this cycle may repeat several times before a sale is made, resulting in an eventual sales price that is well below the initial listing price, and possibly lower than the market value for your home.

Highest Potential

Lost Potential Multiple Offers

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Time on Market (Weeks) Your Asking Price

Dangerous Risk Gamble

ACCEPTING THE OFFER THE PRICE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT “The higher the price, the better the offer.� Do not let yourself be fooled by this popular misconception. Price is not always the determining factor when accepting an offer for several important reasons: the initial offer is usually not final, and there are a number of terms and conditions that may influence the final outcome of a price. You can trust me to help you thoroughly evaluate every proposal without compromising your marketing position.

NEGOTIATING THE RIGHT WAY I take the responsibility of negotiating the purchase contract very seriously.

It is my job to help you achieve a contract that meets your needs and is in your best interest. It is possible that you may have to deal with multiple offers before approving the one you judge to be the most suitable for you. As your agent, I will guarantee a thorough and objective assessment of each offer to help you make the right choice.

THE PURCHASE CONTRACT An effective agreement is a written purchase contract between the sellers and buyers and signed by both parties. Verbal agreements are not enforceable in court, therefore, until it is in writing, it does not exist. Earnest money and a pre-approval letter from the buyers are two very important items that should be included with the initial offer, without either of these, it gives the impression that the buyers are not very serious.

CONGRATULATIONS--AN ACCEPTED OFFER Now that you have a signed, accepted purchase contract, time is of the essence. All parties must move forward to meet the deadlines outlined in the contract. Meeting these requirements on time ensures a smooth transaction and ensures that each party involved is not in breach of the contract. During this process, I will keep you updated as contingencies are met so you will be prepared for the next step.

WEB SYNDICATION The real estate network that has the most competitive advantages to offer home buyers and sellers will be an industry leader. RE/MAX is that leader. Thanks to its global network and stellar reputation, it’s no wonder people turn to RE/MAX when they embark on the home buying and selling process.

For over 25 years, RE/MAX Advantage Realty has sold more real estate than any other real estate company in the tri-state area.

RE/MAX Realtors are full-time agents who sell twice as many homes as other agents.

RE/MAX Realtors have twice the industry average experience.

RE/MAX’s extensive advertising, combined with national television advertising and broad Internet exposure, inspires sellers and buyers to see out RE/MAX agents.

When you list your home with a RE/MAX agent, it will receive wide exposure.

When you look for the highest quality real estate service, look to a RE/MAX agent.

Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX.*

TESTIMONIALS “Sue fully understands the market. She is able to match the needs of the buyers with the offerings of the sellers and highlights the qualities of the property. Sue keeps the process going and has an organized approach to insure everyone’s needs are met. I am recommending Sue to everyone I know.” E. Bronk “In both selling and buying a home, Sue made things VERY simple. From answering questions to showing houses; everything about the way she does things shows professionalism and an attention to detail that is greatly appreciated. I would not EVER consider buying or selling without her as part of my team. Thanks for all the hard work, daily/nightly emails, and phone calls that made this experience a very easy transition for my family. Sue’s hard work and dedication, as well as friendly atmosphere, makes buying/ selling an enjoyable experience.” R. and S. Camps “Sue goes above and beyond finding the right person to buy your home. Sue also lets the sellers know of feedback after showing a home or if something needs to be changed or updated. She did a super job—great person to work with.” S. Redding “I think everyone should know that Sue is a fabulous person. She is sincere and honest and follows through on every detail when selling or closing on a home. I never worry when I have Sue I my court. Even when I was selling my home and went on vacation for two weeks, Sue handled the inspections and always kept me up to date. I would and have highly recommended her to help you sell or purchase a home. She is truly an honest and caring person and does a wonderful job.”

J. Reding ”We had a wonderful experience using Sue as our Realtor. We were long time home owners not knowing if moving was the right thing to do, but Sue was able to be patient and very understanding with us. After our first meeting with Sue we felt she was the type of Realtor we were looking for…patient, not pushy, and reliable. She knew what we were looking for and gave us very good advice on making an offer on a home and selling ours. We bought a home and sold ours within three days. You can’t ask for a better low stress experience than that. We couldn’t be more happier with the home that we found! Thank you Sue for a job well done.” C. and J. Scardino ”Sue was cheerful and organized which made buying and selling our homes with her an awesome experience. She really listened to us, understood our needs and watched out for us We’ve recommended her to several people because she made the whole experience less stressful. We felt we were her number one priority.”

J. and A. Ford “Sue is very pleasant, outgoing and we felt very comfortable with her. I have recommend her already to co-workers and friends. We felt very confident in her and trusted her judgment. She made our house sale less of a stressful time.”

G. Foley Sue took care of us and watched out for us through the whole process. It was a pleasure to work with someone who is as professional as Sue. She followed through on everything and kept us up-to-date at all times. Her diligence, knowledge and customer service, along with her personality, made the whole process less stressful and extremely smooth.” B. Scardino ”Sue is a very professional Realtor who knows all the ins and outs about buying or selling a home. Sue always answered all of our questions quickly and completely. I would recommend Sue as a Realtor to everyone.”

R. and M. Klein

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

suecolon@yousq.net www.sueconlon.com

563.599.8195