Selling with Us
We’re here to help you with any questions or concerns you may have about buying or selling real estate in Sherwood Park and the greater Edmonton Area. Our team of experienced agents are committed to providing you with the highest level of customer service and expertise. We understand that buying or selling a home can be a stressful process, which is why we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
FAQ
We Are Here To Help You With Any Questions You May Have
Deciding to sell your home is a major life decision. Every step you take is critical to help you get the highest return possible.
That’s why you need a plan. No two individuals are alike and no two home selling situations are either. If you are a savvy internet user you can use the internet to research home values in your area and more, but you’ll never learn everything you need to know.
In addition to determining the value of your current home there may be several other things that you need to consider. Do you have to sell your home first or can you afford to buy – then sell? Are you building a new home and don’t have a firm possession date? Have you considered all of the costs that may apply to your situation?
The most efficient way to get top dollar for your home is with the professional help of a licensed REALTOR®. But even a REALTOR® needs to know your plan before he or she can help you fully.
Even if you are just considering the possibility of moving, call The LorenzTeam Realty Group to discuss a plan that will work for you!
Selling your home will be one of the major financial transactions of your life. Do you want to gamble with the marketing of your own home?
NOT ALL REALTORS® ARE EQUAL!
There’s a fine art to listing a home to sell quickly and still bring you the highest price. The right REALTOR® can make it happen, and help you with every step of the selling process – from listing, marketing, and showing your home to making sure you’re ready to move on time.
Using a licensed REALTOR® to sell your home is one of the wisest decisions you can make for many reasons. BUT – every REALTOR® is different. We suggest you interview a few to find one who you feel comfortable with.
Research shows that most people are looking for a REALTOR® who:
- Understands their needs
- Is trustworthy and honest
- Brings buyers – not ‘shoppers’ – to see the house
- Doesn’t pressure them into making a decision
- Is a master at managing details
- Has valuable connections
- Is a trained expert in negotiating
The LorenzTeam members provide their clients with all of these qualifications and more:
- We maintain and graph market trends to provide absorption rates, listings to sales ratios and more
- We have a dedicated ‘Listings Manager’ whose responsibilities include:
- Focused prospecting – following up with past buyers and potential buyers for your listing
- Current advertising – we keep all of our ads fresh with a price!
- Regular follow ups – done daily for all REALTOR® showings on your property
- Ongoing communication – we have a weekly mandate to communicate with you, and as often as daily depending on activity – whether by phone, fax or email
- Ongoing analysis – of competitive market activity for your listing including both new listings and recent sales
- We have an extensive database of potential buyers as The LorenzTeam Realty Group is a member of The Chamber Of Commerce, Team members sit on the Board of Directors for the Information and Volunteer centre, and are active members of our local church along with a variety of social & networking organizations
- We have been selling Real Estate in the Edmonton District since 1976 with experience in all markets!
- We have conducted several seminars including first time home buyer seminar and purchasing a condo seminar.
- Our experience also includes an appraisal background, mortgage and lending backgrounds, as well as new & resale backgrounds for homes, condos and acreages
- We are the preferred REALTORS® in Sherwood Park for Daytona Homes and Christenson Developments ‘Centre in the Park’
If you’re thinking of selling your home, call The LorenzTeam Realty Group. We’ll provide you with an analysis of the market, a market value for your home, and a marketing strategy to ensure a smooth sale! We’ll even provide you with a list of questions you can use when interviewing other REALTORS®!!
Recipients of numerous industry sales awards including the Diamond award, Medallion award, Chairman’s Award, 100% club, SAM award & Realty Executives ‘Top Gun’ Award.
What is your home worth?
To sell a home for every dollar it’s worth talking to a real estate expert – a licensed REALTOR®. While you may enjoy researching real estate values on your own, much of the information you’ll find is either outdated or just plain incorrect. Plus, all your research won’t take into account one important factor: not all homes are created equal. Your home’s unique personality, used in the right way, can increase its appeal to potential buyers.
To find out what your home is worth, a licensed REALTOR® will provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) which shows the prices of comparable, recently sold homes, homes currently on the market, and homes that were on the market but didn’t sell. Experienced REALTORS® will provide an analysis of the market as well as a marketing strategy.
Here are 5 other time-tested strategies to help understand how much your home is worth:
- Abandon your personal point of view.
Buyers care more about how they see using the home than about how much you paid for it, or how many memorable moments your family shared there. It’s a shame, but true. - Do your own market research.
You may talk to your neighbors to learn more about homes selling in your neighborhood. When you compare yours, consider location, size, amenities, and condition….but you should always talk to a pro! - Consider RECENT upgrades.
Upgrades are an important consideration – but only if they’re recent. Major improvements can also benefit you, especially if they’re in the kitchen and the bathrooms….but be realistic about the present condition of the improvements. A 10 year old kitchen is NOT a new kitchen.Items to consider:
New Roof, windows (Low E), flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, furnace, hot water tank, paint etc.. - Consider market conditions.
Are homes in your area selling quickly or are they just sitting? Will your home be for sale in a buyers market or a sellers market? What are the current mortgage rates? What is the outlook of the economy? What are the current listing to sales ratios? Absorption rates? How do things compare to a year ago? - Sweeten the Deal.
If you’re willing to close within 90 days or less, you’ll attract buyers who want to move right away. People buy on emotion. Be prepared to act quickly.
When The LorenzTeam Realty Group gives you an evaluation, consider their combined Real Estate experience – appraisal & mortgage backgrounds – and NO obligation approach.
LITTLE IMPROVEMENTS = BIG RETURN
A few well spent dollars can earn back twice as much!
It’s always a good idea to spruce up the exterior and interior of your home before listing it for sale. But that doesn’t mean you have to undertake major and/or expensive projects.
Here are some simple steps you can take to increase the perceived value of your home and make a great first impression. Not all on the list will apply to you, but you can get The LorenzTeam Realty Group’s professional opinion about YOUR home. Email us today!!
Exterior Appearance
- Keep lawns cut
- Trim hedges and shrubs
- Weed and edge gardens
- Clear driveway and clean up oil spills
- Clean out the garage
- Power wash
- Touch up paint..window sills..door frames
- Plant colorful, inexpensive flowers
At The Front Door
- Clean porch and foyer
- Ensure doorbell works
- Repair any broken screens
- Fresh paint or varnish front door
- Repair door locks and key access
Create A Buying Mood
- Make sure your home smells fresh and clean
- Turn on lights
- Turn on the heat..or air conditioner..
- Open the drapes
Create Space
- Clear halls and stairs of clutter
- Store surplus furniture
- Clear kitchen counter and stove top
- Clear closets of unnecessary clothing and ‘stuff’
- Remove empty boxes and containers
- Put away personal photos so buyers can envision the house as theirs
Maintenance
- Repair any leaky taps and toilets
- Clean furnace and filters
- Tighten door knobs and latches
- Repair any cracks in walls or around windows
- Paint where necessary
- Clean and repair any windows
- Repair any seals around tubs
- Make sure all the light bulbs work
- Oil any squeaky doors
Clean..Clean..Clean
- Clean the bathrooms
- Clean the fridge and stove
- Clean around the vents
- Clean around the washer and dryer
- Clean the floors..carpets..drapes..
- Eliminate odors from pets…hockey bags…
Always remember – cosmetic improvements will always make you the most money back. Moving a wall, developing a basement and pouring a concrete pad in the yard…may all add to your families enjoyment of the home – but may not result in someone paying you more! Call The LorenzTeam Realty Group to hear what they have to say!!
Deciding to sell your home is a major life decision. Every step you take is critical to help you get the highest return possible.
That’s why you need a plan. No two individuals are alike and no two home selling situations are either. If you are a savvy internet user you can use the internet to research home values in your area and more, but you’ll never learn everything you need to know.
In addition to determining the value of your current home there may be several other things that you need to consider. Do you have to sell your home first or can you afford to buy – then sell? Are you building a new home and don’t have a firm possession date? Have you considered all of the costs that may apply to your situation?
The most efficient way to get top dollar for your home is with the professional help of a licensed REALTOR®. But even a REALTOR® needs to know your plan before he or she can help you fully.
Even if you are just considering the possibility of moving, call The LorenzTeam Realty Group to discuss a plan that will work for you!
Selling your home will be one of the major financial transactions of your life. Do you want to gamble with the marketing of your own home?
Some friendly advice if you’re thinking of trying on your own…
Are you really saving as much as you think?
Selling your home yourself requires an extensive commitment of time and effort to market your home, qualify buyers, negotiate well, and stay objective with potential buyers.
If you can do all that, read on:
Set your price by researching the internet, looking at other home prices in your area, and visiting the county tax records office to see what the homes actually sold for. Investigate the average price increases for your area and adjust accordingly.
Read ‘Little Improvements = Big Return’ and make sure your home is in the best shape inside and out. You may want to invest in a few books and/or videos to support your efforts. Set your advertising budget. Most people who sell their homes themselves spend between $1000-$2000.
Put a prominent FOR SALE sign on your lawn. Display a fact sheet at work, in local supermarkets, and other high visibility locations. Run weekly ads in the local newspapers. Send a letter to all the local real estate offices. Create a small website with interior pictures of the home and list the web address on all your marketing materials.
Make sure to return calls from prospective buyers promptly. Make appointments to see them as quickly as possible. If they are looking at your home, chances are they are looking at others. Accommodate their schedule as much as possible, whether it is during the day, evenings or weekends. Encourage offers – even from the bargain hunters – as offers on ‘paper’ can always be negotiated.
Constantly monitor the market and be ready to adjust to trends. The value given at one moment in time may not be indicative of the market a month, a week or even a few days from now.
For your own safety and security, try to prequalify buyers before you invite them into your home. Ask questions over the phone, including:
How will they pay for the home?
Can they get a mortgage?
Are they pre-qualified for a mortgage? (keep in mind that many banks will give a ‘pre-qualified’ certificate to their clients – SUBJECT TO income verification, credit bureau check etc. So, how pre-qualified are they? Have they provided tax assessments and/or letters from their employers? Has a credit bureau been pulled?)
Is their home sold or on the market?
Do they have a potential buyer for their home? Is that buyer qualified?
What terms or conditions are you willing to entertain in an offer?
It’s easy to see why the idea of selling on your own is tempting. But saving that commission can ultimately cost you more than you saved. Why?
It’s an interruption of your personal and business lives. What is your time worth?
You have to spend a substantial amount to advertise. Most successful REALTORS® allocate a minimum of 10% to their advertising budget. There will be a cost for running newspaper ads, and printing flyers, making signs and creating a website.
If you welcome agents to show your home, you will have to sacrifice part of the ‘saved’ commission to them. Add that to what you spend and your savings are hardly worth the effort.
All members of The LorenzTeam Realty Group are pros at selling Real Estate. If someone read a manual or watched video on what YOU do for a living, would they have the same success as you do in a day? Would you represent yourself in court as well as a lawyer? Can you cut your hair as well as your hair dresser? Maybe. Maybe Not.
Good REALTORS® are home buying and selling professionals with a complex combination of skills and experience, including:
- Marketing
- Sales
- Negotiating
- Qualifying Buyers
- Staging the home
- Handling objections
- Developing strategies and plans
- Managing your contract
- Getting you to the closing table
We also have resources available exclusively to us. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) website has exceeded 9 million hits in 1 day!! The exposure your house can receive is unobtainable by the average person.
If you are willing to invest your time and effort, list it yourself and see how it goes. Give yourself 30 days. Research shows if a home isn’t sold within 21 days, you won’t sell it on your own.
The LorenzTeam Realty Group is a team of professionals that bring many unique skills and qualities to the table. Why not hire 5 people for the same price as one?
