Gerald Merriweather- Home Guide

REALTOR®

HOME SELLERS GUIDE

CELL: 706-627-9382

•

OFFICE: 706-763-3375

I have made my home in Augusta for the last 25 years and am a proud graduate of Butler High School. I obtained my real estate license in 2004, but have a long history in sales. At the age of 12 I was selling various products door to door, moving on as I got older to shoe sales, car audio equipment and cell phones. My experiences in these positions have helped me become a good listener, communicator and extremely customer service oriented.

In the 15 years that I have been selling real estate I have worked in assisting both buyers and sellers of resale property, foreclosures and focused on New Construction. I enjoy working with military families as well. I am licensed in Georgia, and though I can sell anywhere in the area, I focus most of my efforts in the Grovetown and Hephzibah areas. In 2018 I reached President’s Club level, the top sale club level, with Meybohm Real Estate.

When I am not selling real estate I am spending time with my children, 2 sons and a daughter. You may also find me at Evans High School where I am the Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach. I spend much of my free time playing sports or helping train athletes. I have mentored several high school athletes and helped them obtain scholarships to college.

VICE PRESIDENT • ASSOCIATE BROKER HOME STAGING EXPERT• REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATION EXPERT

MARKETING STRATEGY

SAMPLE MARKETING MATERIALS

DOOR TO DOOR WALKING NEIGHBORHOODS

Every home is different so every marketing or sales strategy is different. Every sales has its own set of circumstances and complications. Most of the advertising and marketing will be similiar but some homes will take more or less than others!

PLACES YOU MAY FIND YOUR HOME ADVERTISED WHILE ON THE MARKET INCLUDE:

THE WAY YOU LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE VS. THE WAY YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE

Research shows that homes that have been properly and throughly prepared to go on the market not only sell faster than they would have otherwise, they also sell for more than they would have otherwise.

DECLUTTER

Toss, donate, gift or recycle anything you don’t LOVE or use.

BANISH BAD SMELLS

Even a beautiful, well- priced home won’t sell if it smells.

GET YOUR HOME SHOW READY & KEEP IT THAT WAY

Deep clean your home, keep a swiffer handy and develop a 5-minute cleanup plan.

MINIMIZE PERSONAL ITEMS & STYLES

This is essential in getting someone else to see themselves in your home.

CURB APPEAL & YARD MAINTENANCE

Many buyers will eliminate a property based on its drive-by appearance.

Price; WHAT YOU PAY. Value; WHAT YOU GET.

-WARREN BUFFET

MISSON STATEMENT

Our mission is to provide a remarkable Real Estate experience to the people we serve by having a highly skilled and trained team of professionals who aspire to live and work under a strict code of integrity and honesty.

Over 300 agents, licensed agent assistants and adminstrative staff, 5 strategically located offices & the most recognized name in the Augusta & Aiken Real Estate Market

WWW.MEYBOHM.COM

The new and improved Meybohm.com provides a user friendly experience, is geared towards driving traffic to your listing as well as capturing leads. During your time on the market, let me sign you up for market insights to keep you up to date on what is happening in your specific area.

230,000

UNIQUE VISITORS A YEAR

33,000 VISITORS PER MONTH

Property Search

THE MOST SEARCH PAGE

It is my policy to charge 7% for my services, which is what I charge all my clients. Within that fee, I pay for professional photography which includes a professionally produced virtual tour, and extensive advertising to both the public and professional realtors. I will host a public open house and a professional realtor luncheon, all at my expense.

I have a reputation for staying in touch with sellers making sure showings are documented and providing feedback along the way. When an offer is presented I will be the one to make sure all documents are properly and legally executed and will serve as your negotiator. Working diligently to bring you the best offer within market conditions.

I am always working to improve my level of expertise and professional skills which requires a considerable commitment of my time and money. The two certifications of particular importance to you and to getting your house sold is the Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE) designation as well as the Home Staging Expert (HSE) designation both under the National Association of Realtors(NAR).

You have my word that as your listing REALTOR® you will receive professional, ethical and productive representation.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. I want you to be comfortable working with me and confident your home is in good hands.

FOR THE FEE YOU RECEIVE (Including

but not limited to)

• My Time

• Comparative Market Analysis to Help you set a Realistic List Price

• Listing Appointment

• Staging

• Professional Photography and Virtual Tour

• Continued Market Analyses throughout Days on the Market

• Open Houses

• Realtor Luncheon

• Showings

• Social Media Time

• Negotiating Contract and Preparing/Ensuring all Paperwork is Legal and Accurate

• Navigating the Home Inspection and Repair Request

• Closing Appointment

• Web UpKeep to include: MLS Listing with Professional Photos

• Advertised on Meybohm.com/Zillow/RedFin/Trulia/ LookyLoo and many more!

• Advertised on Facebook

• Color Listing Brochures, Mailers, Open House Ads

A SELLER’S JOURNEY

MEET WITH ME AGREE ON SELLING PLAN

HOME

DECISIONS/PREPARATIONS

Meet With Me

Our journey begins with meetings to establish rapport, want, needs, and counseling about the selling process. You may not have sold a home in several years or this may be your first time selling and you want assurances you will be working with a trusted advisor.

Agree On Selling Plan

Market conditions change over time. Agreeing on a selling plan involves reviewing market conditions and the tools available to test the market at the agreed price and condition of the home.

Stage Home

Painting and freshening decor helps sell the home. Reducing clutter helps sell the home. Landscaping and ongoing cleanliness helps sell the home. You cannot change the location of the home. You can change the condition.

Listing Paperwork

This is where you officially partner with a REALTOR® and brokerage company. The listing paperwork kicks off Meybohm’s team of professionals to legally and officially tell the world your home is for sale.

MARKETING/PRICING

Photos Taken

The first showing of your home is primarily done through internet websites. The number one item desired by buyers when viewing homes online are photos. Photos, 3D Zillow Tours, and Zillow tours are critical to a successful journey.

Market Exposure

Agents are constantly looking for new homes to show their interested buyers. We should make every effort to provide agents information and access to your home. Consumers will soon learn after agents that your home is on the market. Our systems help spread the word about your home to the world through traditional and technological tools.

Showings

After agents and consumers see your home electronically, they may want to visit the home and get a much better feel for what could be their next home. We call these visits “showings”.

Price Adjustments

Current market conditions determine the price buyers will want to pay. Price adjustments, usually a reduction in price, may be needed if no showings and/or offers occur. Price adjustments are a NORMAL part of a seller’s journey.

Successful sellers are sufficiently motivated to go through the challenges of marketing and selling their home in order to make a move.

Offer Presented

When an agent is working with a buyer and the buyer wants to place an offer on a home, the buyer’s agent contacts the seller’s agent. The seller’s agent then contacts the home seller to present the terms and conditions of the offer.

Negotiations

Not all buyers and sellers are thinking the same when it comes to transferring legal ownership of a home. In the end, negotiations are a NORMAL part of the seller’s journey.

Counter Offer

As the seller, you wait for the buyer to make the first offer. You can agree to their terms and conditions or you can counter offer with your own terms and conditions. It is FAIR and REASONABLE for both sellers and buyers to counter offer as they negotiate the terms of the sale.

Accepted Contract

At some point in the offer/negotiation/counter-offer process the buyer and seller agree with each other. This is called the accepted contract, which ends one phase of your seller’s journey and starts the final phase.

Inspections

In most real estate transactions, the buyer will write in the accepted offer to have a property inspected. The inspection is to protect the buyer from hidden issues that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Inspections are a NORMAL part of the seller’s journey.

Repairs

After home inspections and/or appraisal reviews, you may get requests to have repairs done with the home. It is FAIR and REASONABLE for the buyer to ask that repairs be made. It is your choice to make the repairs -- most sellers do.

Buyer Closing Process

You are waiting for the buyer’s mortgage company, title company, appraisers, agents and lawyers to go through all the due diligence, paperwork, and final walk-thru to legally transfer the property. Further negotiations may be needed to keep your seller’s journey on track.

Closing

This is when you meet to sign the legal papers to transfer ownership and collect any money due at the closing. This is when you get to move forward towards the life you want for yourself and your family members.

Keeping up with all of the dates and numbers can be difficult during the selling process. This table is for your own use and to help when you need a piece of information so you don’t have to go digging for it.

Contract Price

Earnest Money Amount

Sellers Contribution to Buyers Closing Costs

Contract Stipulation Due Diligence Period

Home Inspection Date

Necessary Repairs

Vendors for Repairs

Financing Contingency Period

Termite Inspection Company & Date Closing Attorney Information Closing Date

W. Baxley Chew, with the law firm of Turner Padget Graham & Laney, PA, has been practicing real estate law in the Greater Augusta Area since 2001. A 1991 graduate of the University of Georgia and a 1995 graduate of Georgia State University College of Law, Baxley represents Buyers, Sellers, Builders, Developers and Lenders throughout the real estate development, sale and financing process. Baxley’s legal practice consists of both complex commercial real estate matters as well as residential home closings.

Locally Turner Padget Graham & Laney, PA maintains offices in both Columbia County and Downtown Augusta and members of the firm are licensed in both Georgia and South Carolina.

If Baxley can be of assistance please call 706-860-7595.

Chris Halliday, a resident of Evans, GA, has more than eighteen years of mortgage industry experience serving the families of the Central Savannah River Area. His commitment of listening to and structuring the optimal home mortgage for his clients is reflected in the testimonials of his clients who value his contribution over these many years.

If Chris can be of assistance please call 762-224-0721

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WATER

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706-863-6928

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706-863-4576

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706-556-3448

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NATURAL GAS

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706-541-0650

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706-868-3330

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844-723-0252

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800-266-2278

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706-364-100

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706-826-1000

TRASH & RECYCLING

311

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

706-721-5800

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706-821-2300

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REALTOR®