SELLER SERVICES
The Abe and Wags team are designated sellers agents and represent the sellers of properties in the resorts and Laurel Highlands. You do not have to be here to sell your home. Specializing in absent owners, we have the programs to sell your home with just the key. We have worked in this area since 1978 and carefully monitor the market place to get you the best price and terms for your property in the shortest possible time. Go to our “Key to Closing” program below to see what we will do for you to get your property SOLD.
If you are thinking of selling your home in the Laurel Highlands we offer a unique and effective marketing plan. National Association of Realtors statistics indicate that over 90% of home buyers are using the internet, and our internal statistics show that over 95% of resort home buyers are using the internet. For that reason we have developed a very powerful internet marketing strategy, with Featured Home placement on Realtor.com, associated links and property placement with the next 10 top home search sites, a complete newspaper and homes magazine ad program, flash and visual tour presentation of properties, and an e-mail newsletter that goes to nearly 4000 buyers, sellers, and Realtors with an interest in this market area.
How do I sell smart for the best net return in this area?
1. Do your homework and know the market. Read above in researching and preparing to sell in this market. Realtor.com will only give you the asking price and what is listed on the market. A good listing agent will know all past solds, sold price, their condition, days on market, current inventory, and how long on market and at what price you should expect. Notice I say best net return in this column. Buyers will run inspections and there can be remedial expenses. To date, the highest has been $26,000.00 on a 6BR off the resorts, which we negotiated down to $4000.00 in repairs. Remember as a seller it is not what the buyers pay, but what you get that counts. A good listing agent will start to minimize your exposure to repair cost for radon, mold, plumbing, electrical, water and septic from day one. If they don’t, get another agent.
2. Top Condition = Quick Offers = Best Price. The shiniest penny sells first here. With most second home buyers looking for turnkey homes having current paint, properly prepared, and ready to be occupied this is key to selling at best price. The buyer who is willing to replace your fogged windows, change over the worn out carpet, install new appliances, and repaint the place is going to grind you into the ground on price. Do these updates yourself and go for the high end buyers who are too busy making money to do this stuff and will stroke the check for a ready to go house. If you have no design talent, we have a stager to fluff up your place and give it some interior appeal.
3. Select a designated sellers agent only. Look your agent in the eye and ask, “are you a designated seller’s agent?” If they don’t say “that is all we do” then go shop. Why? If they do not exclusively represent the seller then they are not representing you. Exclusive sellers’ agents will be the top agents in the market. They have to be. Remember, all commissions are split, at closing half goes to the listing broker and half to the selling broker. The broker then compensates the agent with about half of their half of the commission. An exclusive listing agent only makes 25% of the total commission, so they must be aggressive sellers in the market. Another reason to go with the designated listing agent is buyers’ agents love them! Listing agents only get paid when the property sells, so they will list the property at the right price, good condition, and property ready to close. You want to be in this position in the market place.
4. Don’t test the market, price right and get in it. Most second home owner don’t have to sell, but don’t use this as an excuse to overprice your home. In this area there are about 6 agents who continually work the market. They know that your floor plan with that age carpet and appliances and this access to the slopes or pool sold for this amount. Go much over that amount without clear added value and these agents will be telling their buyers that there is more home for less money someplace else. Once these agents have been through a property, they know where it should be and won’t be back unless something changes. If you keep lowering the price they will wait you out to see how low you will go. Not a good strategy.
5. Know what a good deal is and take it when it comes. Discuss with your listing agent the balance between offers and terms and what will be your “best net” result. For example, radon mitigation usually cost an average of $1000.00. Getting new paint in a 3 bedroom condo can cost $2000.00. A basic new appliance package can go beyond $2500.00. Getting new carpet in a 3 bedroom property goes for $3000 to $5000.00. Not having to repair or replace these items could mean that a lower offer with less inspections or contingencies will be a better ‘net’ for you than the higher offer with more expected from you to close.
KEY TO CLOSING SELLERS SERVICE PLAN
We offer FULL SERVICE TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT and DISCOUNTED COMMISSIONS.
We offer our clients a HIGH VALUE/ LOW COST selling plan to MAKE MORE MONEY FOR YOU.
Contact us personally for a NO OBLIGATION market assessment and marketing plan at
412-551-1859 or e-mail us at rwagner@topproducer.com.
We specialize in representing absent sellers of resort properties. You do not have to be here for your property to be sold and properly represented. Using modern technology we will provide you personalized websites, communication systems, and current updates to keep you totally on top of the marketing, showings, and feedback about your resort home to maximize its sales potential. We are currently publishing home information on over 35 websites, making our internet marketing the most aggressive in the Laurel Highlands. Our established pool of skilled fair price tradesman will detail your home for best market appeal and value. We make this easy for you. All you have to do is:
Give us the key.
What we will do:
- Offer designated Sellers Agency. We represent you at all times
- Provide you full service hands off transaction management
- Do everything to close and get you the check
- Advise you on every step of the way
- Supply seller with a Comparative Market Analysis
- Research all current and recently sold properties
- Provide you with over 30 years of experience
- Price your home at the best competitive price
- Advise you on preparation for best market presence
- Minimize end of deal expenses and repairs
- Minimize after sale complaints and law suits
- Educate ourselves to offer you the most current concepts
- Utilize modern technology to the benefit of the client
- Be direct, honest, and ethical at all times
- Put our sellers in the front of the competition
- Take aggressive approach to selling of your home
- Maintain team and systems for success of the client
Design and implement a marketing program to sell your home
- Create full color advertising flyers to promote your home
- Enter home in the Pittsburgh West Penn MLS System
- Place all 8 photos of property into the MLS System
- Provide links to visual tours into the MLS
- Install company sign at property if allowed
- Install custom sign at property if requested
- Place custom riders at our expense at property
- Place and stock brochure box with color flyers
- Create advertising theme and logo for property if needed
- Place and pay for classified ads in Tribune Review
- Place and pay for classified ads in Post Gazette
- Place classified ads in Business Times at sellers expense
- Place classified ads in Luxury Homes at sellers expense
- Place classified ads in Wall Street Journal at sellers expense
- Place classified ads in New York Times at sellers expense
- Place classified ads in Washington DC papers at sellers expense
- Place classified ads in specialty publications at sellers expense
- Place ads in Harmon Homes at our expense
- Place ads in Westmoreland Homes at our expense
- Create a virtual tour of property at our expense
- E-mail tours of your property to prospective buyers
- E-mail tours of your property to buyers agents
- Broadcast e-mail to over 4000 agents and buyers
- Network by e-mail to over 600 Prudential Agents
- Maintain 8 to 5 360 day showing coordination center
- Track and follow by e-mail or phone all showings
- Forward e-mail feedback to seller
- Featured home placement on Realtor.com in zip 15622
- Featured home placement on Realtor.com in zip 15502
- Featured home placement on Realtor.com in zip 15628
- Visual Tour link on Realtor.com placement
- Complete written description on Realtor.com
- Maximum photos on Realtor.com
- Flash photography on www.LaurelHighlandsLiving.com
- PDF downloads of all property info on www.LaurelHighlandsLiving.com
- Offer quick improvements to upgrade sales potential
- Coordinate staging house and interior design if needed
- Coordinate needed repairs and maintenance if needed
- Coach seller on minimizing buyer expectations and expenses
- Hold agent and broker open house if requested
Create and implement internet marketing plan
In this market the internet is generating over 90% of all buyer leads and is the core of our aggressive exclusive plan to put our clients’ property in front of qualified buyers by posting it on over 35 internet real-estate sites.
Market your home on www.ABEandWAGS.com
Market your home on www.PrudentialPreferred.com
Market your home on www.PrudentialPreferredRealty.com
Market your home on www.Prudential.com
Market your home on www.realtor.com
Market your home on www.realtytrac.com
Market your home on www.yahoo.com
Market your home on www.harmonhomes.com
Market your home on www.digitalcity.com
Market your home on www.sold.com
Market your home on www.Homeseekers.com
Market your home on www.visualtour.com
Market your home on www.pittsburghlive.com
Market your home on www.tribrealestate.com
Market your home on www.CraigsList.com (Pittsburgh)
Market your home on www.CraigsList.com (Cleveland)
Market your home on www.CraigsList.com (DC and Maryland)
Market your home on www.CraigsList.com (Toronto)
Market your home on www.Zillow.com
Market your home on www.Trulia.com
Market your home on www.vast.com
Market your home on www.googlebase.com
Market your home on www.Google.com
Market your home on www.oodle.com
Market your home on www.frontdoor.com
Market your home on www.propsmart.com
Market your home on www.cyberhomes.com
Market your home on www.AOL.com
Market your home on www.Luxuryrealestate.com
Market your home on www.Uniqueglobalestates.com
Market your home on www.WorldProperties.com
Market your home on www.Live.link.com
Create a personalized Virtual Tour highlighting the key selling points of your home
Personalized Web Page for all marketing at Topproducer.com
Personally schedule all showings and follow up with agent.
Set up seller on e-flash for all new properties on market
Schedule and confirm all appointments
Show your home to interested buyers
Install a lock box allowing viewings of your home without you if allowed
Pre-qualify buyers before showing them your home
Bring relocation clients through worldwide relocation network
Monthly e-mails of market conditions and property information
Mail you information on marketing and progress
Bi-Monthly mailing of all internet and print media
Monthly e-mails of all internet activity and viewings
Consult with the client on all offers
Review the 11 page Agreement of Sale and presentation of required disclosures to possibly include the following issues:
- Consumer Notice
- Disclosures
- Price
- Hand Money
- Inclusions or exclusions
- Closing Dates
- Mortgage Information
- Inspection of the Property (including Wood Boring Insects, Lead Base Paint and Radon)
- Disclosure on Assessments
- Zoning Ordinance
- Mediation
- Contingency to Sell the Buyers Home (if applicable)
- Closing Coordination
- Failures
Negotiate on all terms of the sales agreement
Coordinate all activities to take property to closing
Provide Escrow Account
Negotiate all terms of agreement with acknowledgement
Coordinate closing activities and get you the check
Keep you informed on the status of your sale
Resolve all issues prior to closing
Assure all necessary documents are ready for closing
Take all actions to prepare for closing to include:
- Having house cleaned and prepared for transfer
- Pack and ship all personal items
- Deed Preparation
- Homeowners Insurance Policy
- Tax Verification
- Survey
- Termite Inspection report
- Mortgage Payoff
- Repair Receipts
- No-Lien Letters
- Resale Certificate from Associations
- Home Warranty
- Security System Code
- Pay off for all utilities
- Pro-rating of all taxes and fees paid
Attend Closing on your behalf if requested
Review all documents for accuracy before closing
Confirm time and place of closing
Assure all parties have proper documents to close
Coordinate closing with buyers agent
Coordinate closing with closing agent
Coordinate wire transfer of funds
SEND YOU THE CHECK
Follow up on transaction and your satisfaction with an independent survey.
