SELLERS PRESENTATION
LM ABOUT LORI McDONALD A Successful Real Estate experience is based on knowledge and trust..... For many people the purchase or sale of a home will be their largest investment. Lori’s goal is to successfully and easily help you navigate through the financial and emotional decisions involved with this investment. Whether you are new to the area or have lived here for years, Lori is a valuable community resource for you. Lori’s involvement in real estate doesn’t just start and finish with the transaction. Personal interactions, community involvement and the ability to create long lasting relationships is what sets her apart from others. “As your local Realtor, being part of a community and helping it grow is highly beneficial and gratifying for me. I love helping people and being an integral part of my own community.” Lori’s charitable organizations include the Children’s Orthopedic Hospital Guild, which she has been active in for over 25 years. She has also been a member of Chamber of Commerce and the Enumclaw Planning Commission for 10 years. As an agent, Lori has been a licensed Real Estate agent for over 20 years. She has excellent negotiation skills to help you maximize your Real Estate investment. She surpasses your expectations with excellent customer service, knowledge, honesty, and integrity, which are her top priorities! You are not just buying a home, you are making a life decision. “It’s important to work with an area expert and I take my commitment to meeting your needs very seriously.”
206.730.1588
lm@loriamcdonald.com
WHY SELL WITH ME? You have decided to sell your home. You’re anxious to start the process, but you really want to make sure you have the right person working to sell your home for all it’s worth. Before anything else, it is a good idea to sit down with an experienced agent and clarify your motivations, draw up a basic time frame and get a detailed outline of the selling process. But first, there are a few questions you may need to ask yourself before listing your home. WHY SELL? Why do you want to sell your property? Do you plan on simply moving to a larger home or property, or do you plan on moving to another neighborhood, school district or city? 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 situation.
LM THE SELLING EXPERIENCE
WHEN TO SELL WITH ME? 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. Obviously, serious 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, we can speed up the process by giving you a complete market analysis and action plan to help you obtain all of your goals. If there is no pressing need to sell immediately, you can sit down with me to thoroughly review the current market conditions and find the most favorable time for you to sell.
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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. THE RIGHT PRICE I will thoroughly 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, for sale by owner and properties still on the market. THE RIGHT EXPOSURE When I market your home, we develop a listing that emphasizes its unique and saleable aspects. I then put your home in front of buyers, establishing it on the local MLSŽ, other websites, new listings sheets, and real estate publications. My nation-wide network of professional real estate contacts and buyers will also have the opportunity to check out your listing.
LM MARKETING YOUR HOME I
EFFECTIVE MARKETING EFFECTIVE INTERNET MARKETING I will use the Internet and my innovative website to make your listing highly visible. With more than 80% of buyers checking the web first when looking for a home, this is a part of your marketing strategy that you can’t afford to miss. THE BEST DEAL When I list your home, I will do so at no additional cost. When you start to get offers, I can represent you during this emotionally charged negotiating process and ensure that you get the best price, and favorable closing terms that are clearly spelled out. As your professional aide, I also oversee all paperwork related to the sale.
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MARKETING YOUR HOME II
MARKETING PRODUCTS Advertising is important. Exposure is key. Having the right products not only helps define your home, but also helps highlight the great qualities of your home. However, great qualities cannot be highlighted in poor products. They go hand-in-hand. My premium marketing products will meet and even exceed your expectations. These products include: 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 John L. Scott yard sign is becoming one of the most trusted real estate symbols in our community. John L. Scott 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. BROKER TOURS & OPEN HOUSES: The broker tour opens up your home to agents from other various firms. It is a great way to expose the great qualities of your home that may be otherwise missed. It is also a great way for other agents to bring their buyers in to see your property. 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 obtaining and maintaining your home.
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SELLING ADVICE
OUR SALES APPROACH My sales approach is simple — I do what it takes to sell your home in a timely manner for all it’s worth. COMPREHENSIVE: Even though my sales approach is comprehensive, communication is the vital component to my success. I will involve you in every step of the process. Whether it is establishing a sales price, holding open houses, accepting offers, or closing the deal, we 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 help you move on with your life. It could be the difference between 10’s of 1000’s of dollars and can give you the piece of mind and comfort needed while helping you take the next step in your life. SALES INFO - LIST TO SALE PRICE: It is one thing to close quickly, but most agents who have quick closings usually 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. It is vitally important that we take advantage of this window of opportunity.
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HOME EVALUATION “What will my house sell for in today’s market?” We have a very dynamic real estate market. Prices can change due to local, regional, national and international economic conditions, net migration to the city, political sentiment and of course inventory levels determined by supply and demand. You need to have a real estate professional like me to give you a comprehensive look at properties that have sold in your neighborhood in the recent past. This is critical! Factors that determine what your home is worth: - area above grade and total number of bedrooms - recent renovations, upgrades and/or updating - exterior landscape and upgrades including pools and solar - number of garage parking stalls - location in the community: quiet or busy street, cul-de-sac, across from a park, views, etc.
LM YOUR HOME & ALL ITS WORTH
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.
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PRICING YOUR HOME There are many factors involved that lead to the successful sale of your home. However, two key components stand out from the rest. These components are an essential part of the process. FIRST: Pricing your home correctly is so important. An overpriced home can be detrimental in the end, while an undervalued property certainly doesn’t always generate the buzz it needs. Pricing your home properly takes an experience team that understands the market and has a track record of success. The last thing you want is for your home to stay on the market longer than expected. At that time, interest starts to diminish and perception of the home could go from positive to negative. The following page shows the best time to sell and your window of opportunity. By taking advantage of these models, you can price your home properly, create a buzz and gain traffic.
LM THE RIGHT SELLING PRICE
ATTRACT BUYERS NOW! SECOND: Attract buyers immediately! Sellers and agents tend to experiment with price by starting high and dropping it over time. This rationale is not the best approach. A listing gets the most attention on its debut. As the WALL STREET JOURNAL reports, “the week that a listing goes on the market, we estimate that it gets nearly four times more visits on real estate websites than it does a month later, which is when most sellers will initiate a price reduction.�
Highest Potential
Lost Potential Multiple Offers
Dangerous Risk Gamble
Your Asking Price
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HOME PREPARATION
HOME PREPARATION - EXTERIOR • House number should be easy to read • Lights on timers to ensure house is lit up after sunset • Eaves 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 be cut back to show as much of the exterior as possible. • A low-cost investment in seasonal flowers or ground cover will add a personal touch • Inspect the roof for necessary repairs and any visible broken shingles or tiles • Stucco water stains can be repaired using a mild bleaching agent • Fences should be mended and painted
HOME PREPARATION - INTERIOR • Lights should be on and drapes left open during daylight hours • Set home at a comfortable temperature (insert suggested temp) • Fresh flowers/plants in various rooms • Chipped plaster and paint touched up and repaired • Doors and cupboards properly closed • Leaky taps and toilets repaired • Burned out light bulbs replaced • Squeaky doors oiled • Mirrors, fixtures, and taps cleaned and polished • Seals around tubs and basins 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 when possible • All torn screens should be repaired or replaced
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THE OFFER PROCESS
ACCEPTING THE OFFER THE PRICE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT Have you ever heard the saying, “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 us to help you thoroughly evaluate every proposal without compromising your marketing position. NEGOTIATING THE RIGHT WAY I will take the ethical responsibility of fairly negotiating contractual terms very seriously. It is my job to find a win-win agreement that is beneficial to all parties involved. You may even have to deal with multiple offers before ratifying the one you judge to be the most suitable for you – and as your agent, I will guarantee a thorough and objective assessment of each offer to help you make the right choice. THE INITIAL AGREEMENT AND DEPOSIT An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between a potential purchaser and the property’s seller. Laws vary but in order to be a legally binding agreement, the agreement may require consideration. This consideration (initial and additional deposit) is to be held in trust pending the fulfilment of conditions or contingencies in the effective agreement. KEEP WRITTEN RECORDS OF EVERYTHING For the sake of clarity, it will be extremely useful to transcribe all verbal agreements including counter-offers and/or addendums, and convert them to written agreements to be signed by both parties. I will assist you in drafting all the paperwork for your sale and make sure that you have copies of everything. STICK TO THE SCHEDULE Now that you have chosen your offer, you and the buyer will be given a timeline to mark every stage in the process of closing the real estate contract. Meeting the requirements on time ensures a smoother flow of negotiations and also that each party involved is not in breach of their agreements. I will keep you constantly updated so you will always be prepared for the next step.
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WEB SYNDICATION I use the Internet and all online tools to help sell your home. With more than 80% of buyers checking the web, getting online is the most effective and efficient way to connect with potential buyers. My web presence and online network will help me show your home to thousands of buyers online. 99% of people search for a home using three main search engines. I make sure to connect with as many potential buyers and agents with buyers as possible on these platforms. More than half of all home buyers search online first when looking to purchase a home. It is vitally important that your home receives the exposure it needs in order to sell. I make sure my web syndications allow your home to be shown on my website and other high-traffic sites as well.
LM ONLINE PRESENCE
WHERE DO BUYERS COME FROM? These are the first steps buyers take when looking for a home.
51% - INTERNET (HOME SEARCHES & RESEARCH) 34% - REALTOR® 4% - Call on yard sign 4% - Friend/relative/neighbor 4% - Open House 2% - New Builder 1% - Local newspaper & magazines 1% - Knew the seller
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TESTIMONIALS My wife and I contacted Lori from a friend that used her for the purchase of their home and had nothing but great things to say about her. I now can say the same thing. She was very easy to work with and always provided the information needed. Lori was very efficient and knowledgeable with both sides of the sell/buy. I highly recommend her services and will be using her in the future. - DENNY I don’t think there is a harder working agent other than Lori. She went above and beyond on the sale of our house and the purchase of our new home. In fact, I’m confident to say that it’s because of HER that we got the house of our dreams even in the very competitive buyers market. And once all of the signatures were accounted for she continued to work for us even after the fact we had closed and already moved in. She’s the greatest. Period. - ALEXANDER Lori is knowledgeable about the local marketplace, a responsive listener, and creative in suggesting marketing strategies. She recognized the strengths of our property that we could capitalize on and made a number of helpful suggestions for cost-effective improvements which added to the value of the property. She was energetic in marketing the property including staging, photographing, determining its value, showing it in open houses and with on-line advertising. Lori genuinely cares about her clients and community and was really pleasant to work with and helpful in every way possible. We would definitely work with her again, and highly recommend her to others. - ANONYMOUS I worked with Lori on an investment property I had purchased, rehabbed, and was ready to put it back on the market to sell. Lori was instrumental in assisting my partner and I through the process of cleaning, staging, pictures, and listing. With her amazing pictures she put together a slideshow, listed the property, did the proper marketing and we had a full price offer within a few days! Throughout the lengthy and frustrating inspection process, Lori was very calm, collected, and reassuring. Thanks to her deep knowledge and expertise of the area and industry she was able to advise us to push back where we could stand our ground and to agree to a few touch ups where she thought the buyers asks were merited. Overall, I would definitely sell a house through Lori again and she comes highly recommended! - ASHLEY
LORI McDONALD lm@loriamcdonald.com
1700 NW Gilman Blvd. Suite 300 Issaquah, WA 98027 www.lorimcd.johnlscott.com