YourHome SellingGuide inCapeCod
BY LYNN VAN NORMAN
A L ET T ER FROM OUR CEO
Nomatterthemarket,one thingthat stayssteadyisthe expertiseofourassociates.
Throughout my more than 20-year career in the industry, I?ve learned that change in real estate is constant
Gibson Sotheby?s International Realty was born in 2006, a time when the future of real estate was uncertain,and we grew to become the market leader in spite of that When the pandemic spread to alter nearly every facet of life, helping our clients safely live their best and fullest lives guided everything we did. Today? as interest rates climb and inventory is lacking? we face similar questions: Do we rise to the occasion? Or do we surrender to the challenge?
Our associates are always adapting, persevering, and providing crucial support and compassion to the thousands of people who need to make a move this year That?s nothing new And in shifting markets, that?s one thing that will never change There has never been a better time to work with a trusted real estate professional,and we?re ready to guide you with the highest levels of experience,stability,and expertise
Sincerely,
ColleenBarry Chief Executive Officer
Gibson Sotheby?s International Realty
LynnVanNorman
Global Real Estate Advisor, REALTOR®, ABR®, SRES® Rated among the Top 9% of REALTORS®on Cape Cod
508 2379380 | LynnVN@GibsonSIRcom
2404 Main Street,Brewster,MA 02631
As a dedicated real estate professional, I tirelessly assist clients in buying or selling their homes, offering a comprehensive suite of services including interior design consultation, staging, home organizing, contractor hiring, and landscape preparation to enhance your property's desirability, whether you're on the Cape or afar.
Immersed in the local housing industry from a young age? with a plumber father, a builder grandfather, and a realtor grandmother? I have amassed a wealth of knowledge Partnering with Gibson Sotheby?s International Realty empowers me to provide top-tier marketing and connect my clients with a global real estate network
Prior to my real estate career, I enjoyed a successful tenure in hospitality, instilling a deep commitment to customer service. I anticipate my clients' needs, help them achieve their goals, and guide them with compassion and understanding As a lifelong learner, I stay updated on the latest tools and market trends My entrepreneurial spirit, go-getter attitude, and ambitious nature sharpen my negotiation skills and reinforce my strong work ethic
As a Cape Cod native, I am deeply rooted in the local community My passion for environmental conservation drives me to protect and nurture the local ecosystem I host workshops on Ecological Landscape Solutions and love sharing the region's natural beauty with newcomers I am actively involved with the Orleans Conservation Trust, Orleans Chamber of Commerce, Orleans Pond Coalition, and Brewster Ponds Coalition. I volunteer tirelessly through my local church and enjoy gardening and giving back to the community
When you work with me, you can trust that I will deliver exceptional service and support throughout your real estate journey. Let?s make your buying or selling experience seamless and successful together
UNDER ALL IS THE WATER
LocalExpertise, GlobalConnections.
#1Massachusetts Based Firm
Locally owned and operated, Gibson Sotheby?s International Realty is Massachusetts?s largest independent real estate company and the premier provider in luxury real estate across Eastern Massachusetts. With over 450 expert real estate advisors throughout our 30 offices coupled with our powerful network of more than 1,000 Sotheby?s International Realty offices worldwide, we truly have the power to assist wherever your real estate needs may take you.
30 Local Offices
500+ Local Agents
3,900+ Clients Served
Proudly serving Boston,Greater Boston,MetroWest,North Shore,South Shore,South Coast,and Cape Cod.
Pilgrim Lake Sunrise,Orleans| PhotoCredit:LynnVanNorman
ExpertiseMatters
M Y A PPROACH TO SEL L I N G YOUR H OM E
We believe that exceptional properties deserve exceptional marketing To maximize property exposure, we work with an in-house team of marketing experts to form strategic marketing plans to showcase your property through a local,national and global lens
Our services include professional photography, custom brochures, targeted social media advertising and email campaigns, as well as unrivaled digital exposure through our global media partners In addition, to ensure that our campaigns are reaching the right audience of prospective buyers, we measure each campaign with a variety of analytics and reporting tools to define a marketing campaign?s impact and determine the next steps.
M Y VA LUE PROPOSI T I ON
- Become your trusted real estate professional for life by providing exceptional service.
- Work tirelessly to find a buyer for your home through extensive marketing efforts including print ads,social media campaigns,and Open Houses
- Demonstrate honesty and integrity throughout the entire home selling process
- Provide timely communication of all necessary details
- Negotiate diligently on your behalf
- Maintain a positive attitude at all times
I truly enjoy being a Realtor®, assisting clients in sell their home and help them transition to a new chapter is the greatest part of my job Receiving testimonials and positive feedback after our time together is an added bonus.Let me put my expertise to work for you.
TheSellingProcess
I N I T I A L CON SULTAT I ON
Discuss Listing Timeline
Documents and Disclosures
Pricing and Valuation
PREPA RE YOUR H OM E
Decluttering and Cleaning
Repairs and Updates
Staging
M A RK ET I N G YOUR H OM E
Professional Photography and Floor Plans
Print and Digital Marketing
Showings and Open Houses
M A N AGI N G OFFERS
Review
Negotiate
Accept
M A N AGI N G T H E SA L E
Purchase and Sale
Financing/Appraisal
Mortgage Approval
M A N AGI N G T H E CLOSI N G
Documents and Certificates
Final Utility Readings
Coordinate Closing
TipstoPrepare YourHome
01 | DECLUTTERING
The first step in the process of preparing your home for sale is decluttering While going through old items in your home, a good rule of thumb to remember is that if you haven? t used the item in over a year,you probably won? t use it or need it again.
If you do decide to discard items that are still in decent shape, you can always donate them to a charity or nonprofit organization within your community For items that need to be thrown away,some towns will pick up used goods and recycle them in a beneficial way
For any items you decide to keep,store them away in boxes and closets so they are not visible,which will make your home look neater
02 | ORGANIZING
As potential buyers are touring your home, they might be interested in storage space, such as in closets or in the garage It is important to organize these areas before open houses to make sure there is a nice aesthetic.
To keep your kitchen cabinets organized maybe you alphabetize spice jars and neatly stack dishes. In bedrooms, you can keep the closets organized by making sure shirts aren? t falling off hangers and lining up shoes neatly In the living room, fold blankets, fluff pillows and neatly stack up any books or magazines that might be visible
03 | DEEP CLEANING
Whether you hire a professional cleaning company or you clean the house on your own, it is essential to make sure everything is spotless Not only should you clean all rooms and surfaces in your home by dusting, mopping, polishing, etc , but you should also focus on the exterior of your home such as cleaning the outside of windows and power washing.
Clean and air out any musty areas by opening the windows or lighting a candle. The night before a showing,be sure to avoid cooking with odorous foods such as fish or garlic Instead you can make the house smell welcoming with a fresh batch of baked goods!
04 | MAINTENANCE
In order to get the most money for your home, be sure to make any necessary repairs These could include replacing cracked floor or counter tiles, patching any holes in the walls, and fixing leaky faucets. You also want to check that all doors close properly and kitchen drawers don? t jam If there are any burned-out light bulbs in your house,make sure to replace those as well.
05 | STAGING
You want potential buyers to have a great first impression when touring your home, so this final step is very important Although hiring a professional stager is definitely an option, you can easily make a few updates to a room to make it feel new
The whole house doesn? t need to be staged, but instead focus on the main rooms such as the kitchen, living room and the primary bedroom In the kitchen, you can place a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter top or add some fresh flowers to the dining room table In the living room, add a decorative blanket and some throw pillows to the sofa
06 | MAXIMIZE CURB APPEAL
Don? t forget to create curb appeal by staging the exterior of your house, as this is the true first impression Keep your yard tidy by mowing the grass and trimming bushes and shrubs. You can also add color by planting flowers in your front yard. In the winter, add seasonal touches like a wreath or holiday lights to make your home more festive.
TheMarketingProcess
PRE-MLS LAUNCH
- Property Preparation
- Professional Photography
- Property Video and/or 3D Matterport Virtual Tour
- Professional Floor Plans
- Install ?For Sale?Signage on Property
- Create and Finalize Print Collateral (i e brochures,inserts,etc )
WEEK OF LAUNCH IN MLS
- Submit property to MLS to reach the brokerage community
- Feature property on SothebysRealty.com and GibsonSothebysRealty.com
- Property will be distributed to our global property marketing partners,comprised of the most authoritative news,lifestyle and financial voices such as Realtor com,Zillow, WSJ com,etc
- Listing agent to share the property via email and calls to personal sphere of influence
- Announce the listing to GSIR?s agent network and the local brokerage community via email blast
- Send a direct-mail postcard to a targeted list of potential buyers,introducing the property
- Launch a paid social media campaign targeting consumers within a 15-mile radius of the property
POST MLS LAUNCH
- Feature property in office window displays to capture optimal foot traffic
- Showcase the property across Gibson Sotheby?s International Realty?s social media channels ? Facebook,Instagram,and LinkedIn with a combined reach of 15K followers
- Continue to feature property in various email campaigns
- Consider placing a print and/or digital advertisement to increase exposure
PositioningYourHome fortheMarket
Maximize your sale by pricing it right Real estate agents are constantly on alert for new properties to show to their active, qualified buyers. As a result, the majority of showings by real estate agents for a new listing occur when the house is first placed on the market
Above Market Value
Limits the number of interested buyers
Fair Market Value
Helps maximize profit
Attracts buyers
Increases your chance for a faster sale
Below Market Value
Reduces profits
Limits your options if your home doesn? t sell quickly
Fair Market Value
Number of Buyers
DrawbacksofanOver PricedProperty
Real estate agents are constantly on alert for new properties to show to their active, qualified buyers As a result, the majority of showings by real estate agents for a new listing occur when the house is first placed on the market. Once this group of agents and buyers has seen the property, showing activity decreases to only those buyers new to the market Therefore, it is important to position your home at the best price during the first market exposure.
Week 1: Anew property on the market generates a high level of interest
Week 2: Market awareness peaks during the first two weeks on the market
Week 3: Declining awareness as other new properties arrive on the market
Week 4: Continued decline in awareness and interest.
Mypassiontohelpothersspans theglobe.
Being engaged with the community is very important to me From Cape Cod towns to the small villages that have become near and dear to me from my worldwide work and travels, I believe strongly in helping others grow and prosper
A charitable donation will be made in your name, or in memory of a loved one, to a non-profit organization of your choice upon successful completion of our real estate transaction together.
I support the following organizations:
- Brewster Pond Coalition
- Orleans Conservation Trust
- Lower Cape Outreach Council
- Terra Firma Solutions,East Africa
Brewster
South
Client Testimonials
"You will never find a better Realtor than Lynn!! Not only is she the nicest and most caring person you will meet, but she works incredibly hard, every single day, until you find a house you are looking for Lynn is a wonderful listener and really understood what we wanted With Lynn?s help,we found the right house for us! We then retained Lynn to sell our house, and again she has been amazing!! If you don? t hire Lynn,you are missing out - she?s the best in the business "
? Karen and Neil H.
"Lynn Van Norman is an exceptional realtor We have bought and sold multiple personal and business properties on the Cape, and recently have had the opportunity to work with her with excellent results She was also able to locate and close on a unique property for friends of ours Lynn goes beyond the usual copy and paste of MLS listings, and will research aggressively based on your needs She is very pragmatic and has a contractor's sense of the quality of a listing, so she can give you an honest assessment of the value of a property. Having grown up on the Cape she is extensively familiar with all of the neighborhoods Lynn takes the time to listen and fully understand both you and your property's needs without judgment. I highly recommend her both as a buyer's and a seller's broker. She has integrity and is hardworking "
? Carol P
"As a first time home buyer, I was in way over my head Luckily I found Lynn, who made the entire process easy and stress free In a tough market, she got me exactly what I needed and I can? t say enough good things about the entire experience "
? Daniel S.
"We enjoyed our experience working with Lynn.We found she truly listened to what we wanted (or what we thought we wanted!) She cared deeply that we found the perfect home for our family Lynn will work tirelessly to ensure you find your dream home!"
? Amy M
"Lynn is a pleasure to work with She is knowledgeable, patient, and thorough Searching for your perfect home in this competitive market can be time consuming and stressful but Lynn is willing to do the extra leg work to make finding the home of your dreams possible."
? Christin G
"We worked with Lynn to purchase a home on the Cape with great success Lynn was perfect, she worked very hard for us as we searched for a home in difficult market She's a good combination of coach, advisor and friend without being overwhelming I would recommend Lynn to anyone looking for a home; she is dedicated,knowledgeable and works to meet your needs "
? Patrick G
"Lynn was super helpful and professional, went above and beyond with the process of purchasing a home sight unseen Thank you Lynn!"
? Susan G.
LynnVanNorman
