Answer: It depends
In this area, for residential listings, a 6% commission, to be split 50/50 with buyer & seller agents, is typical. However, legally, commissions are negotiable. You can pay more or less; it’s whatever you and I agree upon. I don’t usually take a listing for less than 5%. A sellers agent is less likely to show your home if the commission noted is under 2.5%.

Answer: You tell me! Just let me know how often you’d like updates and your preferred method of communication. I will keep you up to date as often as you’d like.

Answer: Coldwell Banker Mountain West Real Estate guarantees to market your property 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Your home will be submitted to the ListHub Channel Partner Network powering hundreds of real estate search websites. Your property will also be featured in our full color ad in the Sunday Statesman Journal newspaper.

I take high quality photos of the house and do my best to include as many photos as possible in the listings. In addition, I do my own personal advertising in Homes and Land magazine and mail out “Just Listed” postcards/direct mailings. My website is a fantastic marketing tool and has an interactive home search feature. Depending on the home and the seller, I may also do Sunday open houses and possibly Broker open houses.

Answer: Yes and no.
Every neighborhood is different. Typically, Spring always comes out on top as the best time to sell. This is probably because people aren’t away for the summer holidays or busy with Christmas celebrations. Another good thing about spring is that your home will look better when the garden is coming into bloom and the sun is (hopefully) out for longer. Also, keep in mind that you will have more competition during the Spring and Summer months. Listing during the Fall and Winer months can be very advantageous for sellers. There is usually less competition during this time and homes decorated for the holidays can really touch a buyers emotions.

Answer: Third party websites, such as Zillow and Trulia, use computer generated home values based on calculations and formulas. In other words, it doesn’t take into consideration any of the personal qualities of your home. House finishes, condition, curb-appeal, etc, can make a big difference in valuating a home. These websites provide estimates that can create a false sense of hope (or undervalue a home) and lead a seller to frustration. A seller who is told their home is worth $20,000 less than the online estimate is going to be understandably upset. It’s critical that when selling a home, the value is determined by a Licensed Real Estate Professional, not an internet website!

Answer: A professionally completed Comparative market analysis, CMA, will take into account the many features of a home, but also the local area and neighborhood.

• Square footage
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms
• Upgrades to kitchen
• Window quality
• Roof age
• Lot features
• Location; primary or neighborhood street?
• Style and age of residence
• Flooring type

Answer: Clean up, Fix up, and Toss out!
Make a good first impression! With a little bit of elbow grease, you can improve your homes marketability. The key is to put yourself in the buyer's shoes. In fact, if you drop by some open houses (you may soon be a buyer yourself), you'll pick up some pointers. Then practice making your house as appealing and uncluttered as the home you wish to buy.

The exterior: Start here with "curb appeal". Basics: A trim lawn, well-proportioned shrubs. Remove garden hoses, lawn tools, dog house and toys from the yard. Check for moss on the roof shingles; clean gutters, shutters, windows and siding; solid caulking around frames and seams; paint. Keep walks and steps free of dirt and debris. Extras: Fresh paint on the front door. Seasonal door decorations. Planted flower pots. New bark and well kept flower beds.

The interior: A good thorough cleaning. From top to bottom, a deep down cleaning will make you home sparkle. Don’t forget about the ceilings and baseboards, these often get overlooked. No one likes cobwebs or built-up grime on the trim boards. Depersonalize and declutter. Less is more! We want the buyers to see the home, not the stuff in the home. Simplify. Half-empty the closets. Storage sells, but packed closets make it look like your home doesn’t have much room for a buyers’ things. Showcase your closets by taking half of your belongings out of the closets, then neatly organizing what remains.

These suggestions are only the beginning. I’m happy to perform a walk-through inspection of your home to give you a personalized list of ideas.

Answer: Tidy up and lighten up the house.
Be sure to have the home ready for viewing when you leave the house. Agents, may request a showing with little notice. When you are notified of an upcoming showing, be sure to set the stage. A quick sweep, mop and vacuum of the floors helps to freshen up. Clean off counters and load dirty dishes and laundry into their machines. Let the light shine. Open window coverings and turn on lights, especially in the inter and for night time showings. Don’t forget about a sweet aroma. A little room spray, a scented wax warmer or freshly baked cookies give the home a welcoming presence.

Answer: Taking care of small repairs will make a big difference for potential buyers considering your home. If buyers notice little things that are not fixed, then they may believe that there are other problems with the house that they are unaware of. Ultimately, these little problems may dissuade an otherwise interested buyer from making an offer on your home. Coldwell Banker Mountain West will send a professional handyman to go through your home to fix minor problems that could detract from your home's value and appeal to potential buyers.

Our handymen will provide the following services*, FREE, for as long as your home is on the market and listed with Coldwell Banker Mountain West.

• Leaking Faucets: Only the leak. We do not guarantee to repair damage resulting from the leak. We do not cover fixtures that need to be replaced.
• Leaking Sinks: Only the leak. We do not guarantee to repair damage resulting from the leak.
• Leaking Shower Head: Only the leak. We do not guarantee to repair damage resulting from the leak. We do not cover fixtures that need to be replaced.
• Wall Holes: We will repair holes in dry wall resulting from doorknob intrusion. Painting not included.
• Towel Racks: We will repair loose or removed towel racks where they attach to the wall. We do not replace the towel rack fixture.
• Light Bulbs: We will change out hard to reach light bulbs, interior and exterior. Light bulbs not included.
• Electrical Wall Sockets: We will repair all interior wall sockets. Does not cover code violations or updating to G.F.C.I.
• Interior Light Switches: We will repair all interior light switches. Does not cover code violations or updating to G.F.C.I.
• Leaking Toilets: We will repair toilet leaks at the water connection points. We will repair 'running toilets' if possible, but do not guarantee the internal mechanism.
• Door Adjustment: We will adjust door/cabinets where possible, within the manufacturer's allowed ability to do so. Excludes garage doors.
• Interior Caulking: Sinks, shower and tubs.
• Install Door Locks: As existing holes permit. Owner to supply locks.
• Install Battery/AC Power Smoke Detector: Property owner to supply alarms.

We will attempt to repair other problems you may encounter, but reserve the right to decline repair items not listed, at our sole discretion. When possible, we will perform repairs at no cost, with the exception of charging for materials. This service agreement covers only the items listed.

• Call our Service Representatives today to see what we can do!
• 503-485-5357
• Single family residence/duplex units only. Primary dwelling only, outbuildings not covered. CCB#152837