CROWNED: Guide to Selling Your Dallas Home by Andrea Fowler

NEWAVENUEREALTY.COM

ISSUE NO. 1

CROWNED GUIDE TO SELLING

DON'T WAIT! MOVE UP TO THE HOUSE YOU ALWAYS WANTED

s a l Y O U R al H O M E D

HOW TO: GET THE MOST MONEY FROM THE SALE OF YOUR HOME!

EXCLUSIVE

NEW AVENUE REALTY: ULTIMATE MARKETING PLAN TO GET YOUR HOME SOLD

REASONS TO SELL THIS WINTER

INTRODUCING NEW AVENUE REALTY

YOU NEED AN AGENT WHO WILL PUT YOU FIRST

WHY NEW AVENUE REALTY? By Andrea T. Fowler

The friend that you need in real estate. When it comes to buying a home, whether you are a rookie homebuyer or have gone through the process many times, having a local real estate expert who is well versed in the neighborhood you are selling your home in, as well as the trends of that area, should be your goal. With New Avenue Realty, the thought of you is always put in mind. How does this affect you? How does this help you and your family? There are no sugarcoats but reality of what it takes to make your home sale with an advantage. Your friends provide the love, care, and your best interests at heart. That's the same feel that New Avenue Realty provides its clients. The relationship that we develop will always be the FIRST and FOREMOST thing in selling your home. You are selling a piece of your O M, Aand D I Cyou'll2 4 history, a major milestone forNyou need a friend by your side. |

THINKING ABOUT SELLING: WHY THE TIME IS NOW?

It is common knowledge that a large number of homes sell during the spring-buying season. For that reason, many homeowners hold off on putting their homes on the market until then. The question is whether or not that will be a good strategy this year. The other listings that do come out in the spring will represent increased competition to any seller. Do a greater number of homes actually come to the market in the spring, as compared to the rest of the year? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently revealed the months in which most people listed their homes for sale in 2016. The three months in the second quarter of the year (April, May, June) are consistently the most popular months for sellers to list their homes on the market. Last year, the number of homes available for sale in January was 1,820,000. That number spiked to 2,140,000 by May!

What does this mean to you? With the national job situation improving, and mortgage interest rates projected to rise later in the year, buyers are not waiting until the spring; they are out looking for a home right now. If you are looking to sell this year, waiting until the spring to list your home means you will have the greatest competition for a buyer. It may make sense to beat the rush of housing inventory that will enter the market in the spring and list your home today. A recent study of more than 7 million home sales over the past four years revealed that the season in which a home is listed may be able to shed some light on the likelihood that the home will sell for more than asking price, as well as how quickly the sale will close. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise that listing a home for sale during the spring saw the largest return, as the spring is traditionally the busiest month for real estate. What is surprising, though, is that listing during the winter came in second!

Real estate 101

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS REFRESHER

This may be the first time you ve ever sold a real estate property or it may have been some time since you ve been involved in a real estate transaction. Here s a quick refresher on some of the real estate specific terms you ll want to know. '

Real Estate Brokers and Real Estate Agents Listing agreements are made between real estate brokers and you, the seller. A real estate agent works for the licensed real estate broker. The commission for the sale of your home will be paid to the real estate broker. The real estate broker will pay a split of that commission to the seller and buyer agents where applicable. The Fair Housing Act The Fair Housing Act, originally passed in 1968 and amended in 1988, is a federal law in the United States that prohibits discrimination in housing. Seven "classes" are protected under the Fair Housing Act: Sex Race Disability Color Familial Statust Religion National Origin The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) The Multiple Listing Service is a proprietary database of all properties currently under an active listing contract in a given area.

All active agents and brokers who belong to this MLS will have access to information abou your property listing. Buyer s agents searching for a new home for their clients will learn about your property listing through this online database. '

Inspection In addition to an official appraisal, most interested buyers will request a home inspection before final sale. The goal of a home inspection is to give the buyer an objective, independent and comprehensive analysis of the physical condition of your property and check for any safety issues that might otherwise be unknowable. A professional inspector will check on the structure, construction and mechanical systems of the house. This usually includes checking: Electrical systems Plumbing and waste disposal Water heater Insulation Ventilation HVAC system Water source and quality

Waste disposal Pests Foundation Doors Windows Ceilings

Walls Floors Roof Radon gas Asbestos Lead paint

You may be considering ordering an inspection of your home before we place your house on the market. Not knowing the full extent of potential problems until an offer is made by a buyer is a recipe for an ugly negotiation process. Showing Appointments When an interested buyer is scheduled to see your property, it s best if you, your family and any pets you may own are not in the property. '

Buying a new home is a very emotional process, and it s sometimes hard for prospective home owners to imagine themselves living in a particular place when the current resident is still inside. I will work with you and the other real estate professionals who will be showing your home to schedule and supervise listing appointments. '

These home showings will most likely be an inconvenience for you and your family. I will do everything I can to work with you to minimize the impact, but an aggressive showing schedule will help us sell your property quickly, which is our ultimate goal.

Real Estate Portals Real estate portal websites like Zillow and Realtor.com are data aggregators on listing information. The marketing information on your listing will be syndicated to real estate listing portals in order to draw in the largest possible market of interested buyers. Appraisal Before you signed your listing contract with me, I offered you a competitive market analysis of your home s value. We will set the final asking price on your property based on this market value estimate. '

When you receive an offer on your home, the buyer s lender will require an official appraisal of the property from a licensed appraiser. This valuation helps assure the lender that they would own a marketable property if the buyer or the borrower in the lender s eyes should default on their mortgage. The buyer will pay for the house appraisal, but you should know that it may be different than the market analysis that I provided you. '

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Now that the housing market has stabilized, more and more homeowners are considering moving up to the home they have always dreamed of. Prices are still below those of a few years ago and interest rates are in the low 4%. Sellers should realize that waiting to make the move while mortgage rates are increasing probably doesn't make sense. As rates increase, the price of the house you can afford will decrease if you plan to stay within a certain budget for your monthly housing costs.

With each quarter of a percent increase in interest rate, the value of the home you can afford decreases by 2.5%. Experts predict that mortgage rates will be closer to 5% by this time next year. Act now to get the most house for your hard-earned money.

DON'T WAIT! MOVE UP TO THE HOME YOU ALWAYS WANTED Issue 27 | 234

COSTS OF SELLING YOUR HOME Selling your home is typically about making a profit. However, that doesn't mean that it doesn't come without costs. Here is an overview of some of the major costs you'll be responsible for paying. Mortgage Balance This is the remaining balance on your original home loan. You will need to pay off your mortgage in its entirety when your home is sold. Home Equity Loans (2nd, 3rd Mortgages) Any loan against the value of your home will also need to be paid in full after the sale of your home. Prepayment Penalties The bank or lending institution that currently owns your mortgage title may assess a pre payment penalty. You should speak to your lender now, ask if they plan on assessing a prepayment penalty, and figure out exactly how much that amount is. You may be able to negotiate with your lender to reduce or waive the prepayment penalty, if there is any. You'll also want to submit a formal prepayment notice to your lender. Presale Preparations In most cases, it's not advisable to make major investments in your home right before a sale. There are however, a few things that can be done to increase your home's curb appeal, fix minor problems, and otherwise make your property more attractive. Together we can identify what items should be addressed and create a budget for these presale preparations that are sure to show a significant return on investment. Closing Costs All closing costs associated with the sale of your home will be listed for you and for the home buyer in the Closing Disclosure form. They buyer is generally responsible for all of these closing costs which include:

HOW TO GET THE MOST MONEY FROM THE SALE OF YOUR HOME

Every homeowner wants to make sure they maximize their financial reward when selling their home. Buy how do you guarantee that you receive maximum value for your house? Here are two keys to ensuring you get the highest price prossible. 1. Price it a LITTLE LOW This may seem counterintuitive. However, let's look at this concept for a moment. Many homeowners think that pricing their home a little OVER market value will leave them room for negotiation. In actuality, this just dramatically lessens the demand for your house. 2. Use a Real Estate Professional This too may seem counterintuitive. You may be thinking that you can net more money if you didn't have to pay a real estate commission. With this being said, studies have shown that homes typically sell for more NOMADIC 24 money when handled by a real estate professional. |

Property Improvements

When it comes to listing your home, there's no single set of blackandwhite rules regarding potential property improvements that apply to every property and every seller. Any upgrade or change you make should only be considered if the change is likely to have an appreciable effect on the market value of your property in the minds of most buyers.

Below are some common suggestions on Do's and Don'ts on property improvements for your listing:

The Do's Painting A fresh coat of a neutraltoned paint could make the sale easier. Let's face it – we all like things freshlooking.

Minor kitchen issues Things like plumbing leaks should be fixed, and small updates like swapping out light fixtures can make a big difference. You might even consider sanding, staining or painting wornlooking cabinets. Replacing old cabinet hardware is a lowcost improvement that makes a big difference in appearance.

Floors From fixing scratched wood floors, to replacing cracked tile, to cleaning dirty carpet, a little money spent on sprucing up floors can be well worth the investment.

other things you should keep in mind when you re selling your property! '

1. Stay neutral in style: No one wants to rip out home improvements that are obviously recent but don t meet their personal tastes. Any changes you make should play to the largest possible audience. '

2. Consider your neighbors: Keep in mind that your property is going to be judged directly to other comparable homes in your area. Take a look at homes near you that are listed around the same price as your property whenever you considering making changes to your home.

The Don'ts Major kitchen upgrades Unless there are major structural issues, most new buyers would prefer to do something to their own taste.

Energy efficient windows While adding new windows can be a major selling point, it's also a project that can quickly snowball in time and cost.

New gardens or ornamental landscaping It's always a good idea to spruce up your outdoor space and make sure everything is orderly, but don't waste your time adding anything new. If the potential buyer is not horticulturally inclined, new plants and flowers won't add to the offering price. The same can be said for expensive fences and stone walls – they look nice, but buyers don't pay up for them.

Last. Stage it. Making your house appear as attractive as possible is largely about allowing potential buyers the opportunity to imagine their lives in your property.

Home staging is essentially the process of using design principles and tricks that emphasize space. Creating the appearance of openness and space is key to getting your property sold. Remember, you're not selling your stuff!

Furniture Great staging, either DIY or by a professional, includes choosing furniture that shows the room in its best light. Minimize the amount of furniture you have in each room. If it's staying in the house, it needs to in good shape and be visually appealing.

A good rule to follow? Limit the number of items on top of any surface to

Décor It's time to remove anything that could be considered distracting decoration from your home. Importantly, this includes any personal items like family photos or mementos. Any décor that does stay up and visible in your home should be as neutral as possible.

If you have hanging mirrors in the house, these can be positioned to emphasize and reflect key areas in the home like a nice sunny window.

Beware of Odors It's not just the stinky stuff you need to pay attention to. There are obvious problem points in a home that can produce bad smells like the garbage cans and the disposal, but you should consider any strong smell a bad one. Don't rely on potpourri or air fresheners to mask unpleasant odors. These can be just as offensive to some buyers. Instead, be sure to open your windows when possible to keep fresh air circulating in the house.

The only exception to the strong smells rule is chocolate. Baking sweet chocolate treats before showing appointments or open houses can help potential buyers feel at home when viewing your house.

HOME STAGING USED TO BE OPTIONAL. TODAY, IT'S A NECESSITY IN SELLING A HOUSE" BARBARA CORCORAN

FIVE REASONS TO SELL THIS WINTER TO SELL OR NOT TO SELL Every year, we ponder whether we should relocate to a different part of the country to find better year-round weather, or perhaps move across the state for better job opportunities. Homeowners in this situation must consider whether they should sell their house now or wait. If you are one of these potential sellers, here are five important reasons to sell now instead of in the heat of spring. 1. Demand is Strong The latest Realtors’ Confidence Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains very strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now! Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market. 2. There is Less Competition Now According to NAR’s latest Existing Home Sales Report, the supply of homes for sale is still under the 6-month supply that is needed for a normal housing market (which is 4.5-months). This means, in most areas, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in that market. This is good news for home prices. However, additional inventory is about to come to market. There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move, as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last two years. Many of these homes will be coming to the market soon.

There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move, as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last two years. Many of these homes will be coming to the market soon. Also, as builders regain confidence in the market, new construction of single-family homes is projected to continue to increase, reaching historic levels in 2017. Last month’s new home sales numbers show that many buyers who have not been able to find their dream homes within the existing inventory have turned to new construction to fulfill their needs. 3. The Process Will Be Quicker Fannie Mae announced that they anticipate an acceleration in home sales that will surpass 2007's pace. As the market heats up, banks will be inundated with loan inquiries causing closing timelines to lengthen. Selling now will make the process quicker & simpler. 4. There Will Never Be A Better Time to Move Up If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by 5.2% over the next year, according to CoreLogic. If you are moving to a higher-priced home, it will wind up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. 5. It's Time to Move on with Your Life Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. You have the power to take control of the situation by putting your home on the market. Perhaps the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.

CROWNED

MARKETING PLAN

73 Ultimate marketing plan to S-O-L-D What makes New Avenue Realty's listings stand out? MARKETING. Our innovative, unique touch of selling connects to where buyers are. No longer do you get an agent that does the three P's of selling: put a sign in the yard, place it in the MLS, and pray it sells. Your home has to stand out to attract today's buyers. New Avenue Realty's marketing does just that with 30 touches.

CROWNED

Ultimate Marketing Plan

MARKETING PLAN

1. Electronically submit the listing information to the Multiple Listing Service for exposure to over 10,000 active real estate agents in the Multiple Listing Service area. 2. Maximize showing potential through professional signage. 3. Place appropriate Riders on Sign to attract additional attention and traffic 4. Place "Text for More Info" Sign in Yard 5. Create property information brochure for "Text for More Info" Service 6. Create Single Property Website with detail info about your property 7. Set up a 24 hour Text message service with mobile website for the property to allow buyers to access information at their convenience 24 hours a day 8. Submit to property to Top Internet Sites: Realtor.com, Homes & Land.com, Yahoo Real Estate,Homes.com, MSN Real Estate, and more than 20 others. 9. Place as Featured New Listing on www.NewAvenueRealty.com website 10. Advertise the property electronically to all the North Texas Area Realtors with full color flyers e-mailed directly to their inbox. 11. Prepare a full color photo flyer with a list of features of the property to leave at the home for visitors to take with them after the showing. 12. Create a minimum 3 minute Video of the property and it's best features 13. Announce listing on Facebook "Keller Williams DPR" Page 14. Post on New Avenue Realty Facebook page announcing new listing 15. Create a series of Facebook ads to targeted demographic audience 16. Post listing announcement on Twitter and other social media sites 17. Mail a minimum of 100 "Just Listed" Postcards to homes in the neighborhood 18. Perform a Reverse Prospecting Search to attract prospective buyers within the MLS. 19. Provide Open Houses with a licensed Realtor at the sellers request. 20. Provide a professional home staging consultation. 21.Place electronic MLS Keybox (or combo) on property for Realtor access 22. Provide a seller's home warranty to protect the seller and attract buyers 23.. Contact buyer leads, centers of influence, and past clients for potential buyers with property information. 24. Create Instagram Ads targeted to local buyers and place on appropriate sites 25. Work with seller to make the property the most marketable and salable within the seller's budget and timeframe. 26. Promote the property at the bi-weekly company sales meeting. 27. Work with you to price the property correctly so that it gets attention and showings

CROWNED

MARKETING PLAN

28. Prospect three hours, and contact twenty people per day looking for potential buyers. 29. Promote the property to Realtors who have sold within a 2 mile radius of the home for prospective buyers. Distribute color flyer to other agents in my office. 30.Coordinate scheduling time that benefits the sellers through the Centralized Showing Service. 31. Create a Coming Soon video to entice buyers looking within a radius of the home 32. Create social media ads that incorporate video prospecting for the home. 33. Enter listing in MLS Data Co-op to share with other MLS services to capture relocation buyers 34. Weekly meeting with the team to mastermind on what steps have been completed and executed in the marketing of the home. 35. Provide Staging Checklist to suggest constructive changes to the property to make it more appealing, to show exceptionally well and help it to yield the greatest possible price to an interested buyer. 36. Provide seller with a Showing Checklist which offers home showing guidelines to help have the home prepared for appointments. 37. Provide seller with updates from showings and marketing efforts weekly. 38. Prequalify all prospective buyers to avoid wasting sellers time with â&#x20AC;&#x153;shoppersâ&#x20AC;? and "tire kickers". 39. Require all offers include buyers pre-approval and proof of funds for down payment and loan qualification. 40. Re-write Advertisements weekly to keep them fresh. 41.. Listing Cancellation Policy. 100% Satisfaction GUARANTEE 42. Targeted telemarketing directed to qualified buyers. 43. Meet with our preferred lenders to see if they have any prospective buyers in their network. 44.. Monitor buyer and agent feedback to make any necessary changes to price, condition...etc. 45. Open Escrow with Title Company to eliminate in advance any title issues 46. Arrange all inspections, including utility and municipal 47. Provide a list of Interview Questions for prospective seller to use when interviewing agents. 48. Determine if the property qualifies for the property to be toured by agents from my office following our weekly sales meetings. 49. Communication Guarantee. Call the seller every Tuesday or they fire us. 50. Target all marketing to determine who is the most likely buyer willing to pay the highest price.

MARKETING PLAN CROWNED 51. Follow up with all buyer leads and inquires within 30 minutes. 52. Place advertising in all New Avenue Realty advertising media 53. Coordinate scheduling of appraisal and supply comparable sales if needed. 54. Provide a Homeowners Guide to prepare the home for showings and negotiate the inspection process. 55. Cooperate with all Real Estate companies in the DFW Metro Area. 56. Tele-market to bring more buyers and sellers together through our network. 57. Improve the marketing of any under-performing marketing campaigns via testing 58. Submit professional photos available to millions of people via our website at www.NewAvenueRealty.com, which is linked to hundreds of other sites 59. Contact national Relocation specialist with community, neighborhood, and property information 60. Enter the sellers name and address in office computer system to keep seller informed of market changes, mortgage rate fluctuations, sales trends or anything that may affect the value and marketability of their property. 61. Research propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ownership, deed type, current use and zoning, and market the property appropriately 62. Represent the seller on offer presentations, and negotiating the best price and terms. 63. Provide seller with a list of preferred vendors for repairs, staging, appraisals, title, escrow, etc. 64. Explain the use of the Sellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Property Disclosure Statement the seller will complete, and that will be presented to the buyer of their home. 65. Research tax records to verify full and complete legal information is available to prospective buyers and buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agents on MLS printout. 66. Market the neighborhood and community as well as the property to all prospective buyers 67. Work closely with appraisers to determine highest home value 68. Monitor local foreclosures and short sales that can affect pricing of the property 69. Specialized team of full time licensed assistants to care for the sellers every need 70. Discuss qualifications of prospective buyers to help determine buyer motivation, ability to purchase and probability of closing on the sale. 85. Enable option for prospective buyer can speak with someone in our office about the property immediately. 71. Track all marketing and advertising sources to determine where the buyers are seeing the property 72. Work to qualify prospective buyers and assist them in obtaining suitable mortgage financin through our preferred lenders. 73. Mail the seller copies of any advertising regarding the property

CROWNED

ONLINE REAL ESTATE

90%

BUYERS SEARCHED ONLINE DURING THEIR PROCESS VIDEO USED TO TOUR INSIDE OF HOME

70%

TAKING LISTINGS ONLINE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS KNOW CUSTOMERS ARE UBER-CONNECTED AND INFORMED. NINE IN 10 HOME BUYERS TODAY RELY ON THE INTERNET AS ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY RESEARCH SOURCES.

Your home has been wellmaintained. You've updated the kitchen, installed new floors, and even put in a backyard oasis. YET No one is rushing to visit your home. In today's market, you can have curb appeal but no one will know if your digital curb appeal doesn't entice the buyer. Don't settle for the agent who takes listing photographs with their cell phone because they want to save a little money. If you are paying full price, you'll need the best to make sure your home sells in the fastest amount of time. The rise of smart devices means that because many people have the internet in the palm of their hand, almost every buyer will now get their first impression of a newly listed property from its online photos. “

Instead of driving past your house, prospective buyers will now scroll through pictures of both the outside and the inside of your home before deciding to physically see it. The reality is that if they don’t like what they see online, they will probably never bother to contact the agent about a viewing.. “

Issue 27 | 234

THE WHOLE DEAL: FROM OFFER TO CLOSING It would be great if closing a real estate transaction was like buying a new bike or TV, just cruise through the aisles, pick your favorite model and head for the register. But this just isn t the case. Real estate transactions are complex and involve as many as twenty different players including real estate brokers, buyers, sellers, attorneys, inspectors, appraisers, lenders, and often contractors. Because of this, even the simplest transaction today typically takes between 30 and 45 days to close. '

Here s an overview of how the process will typically work once an interested buyer has submitted an offer. '

Dealing with Offers When a buyer or a buyer s agent makes a formal offer we will review the offer in its entirety together. It will include the offer price, as well as the terms and conditions of the offer. '

Offers will come on a legal form, and if accepted, you will be entering into a legal contract with the buyer. Keep in mind that there are still lots of ways out for both you and the buyer at this point. (

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When we evaluate offers we'll of course consider the offer price, but we also need to review:

All of the terms and conditions of the offer. Home buying offers regularly include terms such as what should be included in the sale of the home. Anything that is an unusual request or requirement of the purchase offer. We ll want to explore the full implications of anything odd that the buyer is includin in a purchase offer. Whether or not there are other offers on the table that are a better fit for you. -

After a buyer submits an offer you can accept, reject, or counter offer. We will prepare an counter offers together, and I will submit that to the buyer s agent or the buyer and guide you through the negotiations. '

PREAPARING FOR CLOSING Understanding the steps and terminology used for the closing procedures are key, and I am happy to help you with a quick run down of the process in our local area. There are a few things that you will need to do to prepare.

As a seller, you can help to ensure a smooth closing meeting by making sure to do the following things: 1. Review the Closing Disclosure form that the buyer s lender or closing agent will provide you 3 days before closing.This document will contain a detailed description of all costs associated with the transaction. 2. Verify with your closing agent any other items that you need to bring with you such as a valid driver s license or other form of identification. '

After the sale

Moving is often a chaotic yet exciting event in your life. After the big moving day, you ve got a lot of work ahead of you. Unpacking is just the first part of the battle. Next you ll need to get your regular routines sorted out and make sure everyone in the family feels comfortable in the new home. '

With all of the changes and the responsibilities of a big move, it s easy to misplace important items and make mistakes. To help keep your life in order, be sure to keep these things on your to do list! '

Securely store these records: 1. Your closing statement 2. Property deed 3. Receipts for home improvements 4. Warranty information 5. Loan papers 6. Insurance policies

Change your address Start with USPS to make sure that all your mail is getting forwarded and you don t miss any important mail or bills. You can do this online at moversguide.usps.com. '

Once this is done you'll also want to update your address with: Banks Credit Cards Insurance Providers Work Department of Motor Vehicles Driver s License and Car Registration Voter Registration Online Vendors Especially with automated payments &

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Andrea T. Fowler REALTOR® Keller Williams Realty atfowler@kw.com 972.813.9788 972.468.5565 www.NewAvenueRealty.com