Houston Real Estate - Home Selling
Selling a home is a complex task. There are terms,
conditions, procedures and issues. The following links will
help.
First Steps What to
do first.
Pricing How much will it
sell for?
Home Listing Plans Get
your home SOLD (includes MLS).
For Sale By Owner
Special listing plan.
Listing Agent Do I
need one?
Representation What does
that mean?
Save Time and Money
How?
Home Inspections Do I
need One?
Home Warranties What
for?
A Listing Agent is the RealtorŪ who Represents
you in the home selling process. He manages the selling of
your home and provides
the advice, counseling and service needed to compete in today's marketplace.
Choosing the right Listing Agent is critical to your
success in getting a sale. Picking one just because they are a friend,
neighbor or acquaintance is not a good idea.
The best Listing Agents are chosen on the basis of
experience, credentials, and service. National 'brand names" are not
important and may even result in lesser rather than better service. In fact,
independent RealtorŪ firms far outnumber the "brands" in most
areas.
The best Listing
Agents do not just work in one "area". They effectively operate
throughout a community. And, where their office is located is
unimportant. Just like doctors, lawyers and other professionals you should not
hire them based on office location.
The best Listing Agents are up to date with
technology. They offer complete internet services and provide prompt responsive
answers by email. They provide you forms and documents electronically, not by
snail mail or illegible faxes.
The Best Listing Agents offer service options to
meet your individual needs. The days of "one size fits all" are
gone.
Blakeman Properties is an
independent RealtorŪ and offers Listing
Agent Representation
in most areas of greater Houston.
Tom
Blakeman is a Graduate, RealtorŪ Institute and a Texas Real Estate Broker
with extensive experience selling homes using the latest technology.
Blakeman Properties offers Houston Home Selling Plans to
provide you with Representation at several different levels of service.
Register as a seller today:
Why be Represented as a home
Seller? What does that mean? Being represented means you are a
"client" of your RealtorŪ. Your RealtorŪ owes you the highest standard
of fiduciary responsibility and must protect your interests in obtaining a
sale. Such a RealtorŪ is also known as a "Listing Agent" or a
"Seller's Agent".
If you are not Represented you are out there
alone. A Buyer's Agent contacting you for information about your home has no obligation to you and does NOT represent you.
He Represents the buyer. A Buyer's Agent agent has a fiduciary
responsibility to the BUYER. His goal is the best price and terms for the buyer, not
for you.
Level the playing field. Call or
E-mail
Blakeman Properties to Represent
you as your Home Listing
Agent.
There are many ways a Home Seller can save time
and money on a real estate transaction. Here are a few:
1. Follow A Proven Approach -
There are good ways and better ways to do anything. Home
selling is no different. Doing things the best way will get you to the
finish line faster and cheaper. One proven approach is called The
Top Ten Tips.
2. Fix Up Your Home First -
No one wants to buy someone else's problems. If your home needs landscaping, paint,
and repairs you will come out ahead if you fix it up before trying to sell. Unsure
about what repairs might be needed? Get a Home
Inspection and find out.
3. Selling and Buying -
If you are doing both, you might be able to save some money. Just make
both your "full service" purchase and sale transactions with Blakeman Properties.
Call or E-mail for details!
4. Do-It-Yourself -
Perhaps you don't need or want the same level of service as your neighbor. Maybe an
MLS Listing and a sign is all you need and you can do the rest (with representation, of
course). Visit Houston Home Listing Plans to find out more or send an
E-mail.
5. Enhance Marketing & Reduce
Risk - Offering a more attractive "home sale package" will help get the
sale. Keeping the buyer happy after the sale reduces your risk. Accomplish
both with a Home Warranty.
6. More Ways - Every
situation is unique and there may be other opportunities available. Let Blakeman
Properties help you find them. E-mail
with details of your needs.
All buyers will have a home Professionally Inspected prior to
finalizing the purchase. Even the finest, most carefully maintained homes may have
issues that will show up at inspection time. If problems are found by the buyer it
could spell trouble including added cost for the seller or loss of the sale.
Home Sellers can get a jump on the process by having
preliminary inspections done prior to listing their home. Problems can be identified
and fixed at the convenience of the seller and usually at lower cost. Later, when
the buyer comes along, there is nothing to spoil the sale or cause the buyer to
"lowball" his offer.
For more additional suggestions and other recommendations see
the Houston Home Seller's Top Ten Tips. If you have other
questions or would like a list of inspectors please send an E-Mail.
There is potential liability for a Home Seller when selling a
home. Texas state law aids the Seller in reducing liability exposure and helps
protect the Home Buyer by requiring a Seller's Disclosure of property condition.
Your Home Listing Agent will be sure you have one
for your listing.
As a further precaution for the Home Seller (and as
protection for the Home Buyer) a Home Warranty (residential service contract) can be
purchased for the property. Blakeman Properties strongly recommends that a warranty
be provided. The warranty is purchased at closing at a nominal cost (usually about
$300.00) to the seller.
Offering the warranty as part of the "home sale
package" is also a great way to convey "good will" to potential buyers and
get higher offers for your home. This is in addition to the protection provided to
the Home Seller against unanticipated problems which could arise after closing.
For more information on Home Warranties and the Seller's
Disclosure please call 281-870-1280.
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