Selling : Home Seller's Guide

1. The Decision
2. Marketing Your Property
3. 5 Steps To Help You Sell Your Property Quickly
4. 21 Questions To Help Make A House Sell Faster
5. Building Permits
6. Helpful Information
7. N.Y.S. Taxes
8. Fair Housing

Deciding to Sell

• Is there a certain date by which you would like to have your property sold and how flexible is your time-frame?
• Have you sold property previously? If so, what worked well, and what did not?
• Do you have specific expectations of the selling price you would like to achieve? If so, what is the basis for this figure?
• How often do you expect to communicate with your agent, and in what form?
• Will you need assistance in relocating to another area?

• Location - The price should reflect the location and condition of your home in light of the current market conditions.
• Time - A reasonable time period should be allowed to find a suitable purchaser.
• Market Conditions - The market conditions at any given time are influenced by the number of homes for sale (inventory supply), the number of buyers (demand), and the financing conditions available at lending institutions (mortgage rates).

Marketing Your Property

• Consumers do not look to a single source to purchase a home. They are researching and shopping on the internet, local papers, and real estate sections of many periodicals they tend to come across. The Rallis Team has developed a unique and aggressive marketing model that guarantees your home the maximum media exposure.
• This "Gold Star" Marketing Program approach surrounds the consumer with our property listings from traditional print, public relations to direct mail and full internet exposure. This approach ensures your property will be seen by the maximum amount of consumers and lead to multiple Realtor showings.
• We believe since we personally control all advertising, we are able to identify your home's personal unique features. All of our properties highlight your home's unique features on our home brochures, MLS sheet, as well as a personal mortgage sheet thus informing prospective buyers of the value, price and highlights of your home.

5 Steps To Help You Sell Your Property Quickly

1. Prepare yourself to sell your house: Do your best to see the property in a different way, no longer as your home, but as a product to be marketed. This will take some effort, especially if you have lived in your home for a number of years and have many memories there, but is necessary for maximizing your potential.
   
   
2. Prepare your house: Stand back and look at your house as objectively as possible. Ask yourself if you would buy this house. Ask friends and neighbors the same question, and be sure they give an honest answer. Overlooking flaws could end up costing money later, so repair them prior to putting your house on the market.
   
   
3. Do what is necessary to make your house stand out from the competition: Make certain that your house is fresh, clean, and well maintained. Focus on both the outside and inside of your home so it stands out as special to potential homebuyers.
   
   
4. Remove some of your "imprint" on the house: Displaying a few family photos is fine, but having too many requires taking some steps to depersonalize your home. Buyers must be able to envision themselves living in the house, which can be difficult if too many personal items are displayed.
   
   
5. Consider a professional Licensed Home Inspector: A licensed inspector will most likely uncover any major defects before they create problems with a potential buyer. Performing an inspection will also signal to the buyer that you are responsible and ready to sell your house.
   
   

21 Questions To Help Make A House Sell Faster

1. Does the house or any part of the house need painting?
2. Shall I reseed the lawn and get my landscaping in top shape?
3. What about the screens? Any holes? What about the windows? Do they work well, or do they need attention?
4. Does the carpet need cleaning? How about replacing?
5. Are pets under control at all times?
6. Are all appliances in good working order?
7. Should I stay out of a prospective buyer's way?
8. What is the buyer's first impression of the exterior of our house?
9. What can I do to improve a buyer's first impression?
10. Should I take some of the clothes out to make them look roomier?
11. Can I take items from kitchen cabinets to make them more spacious?
12. Is there any furniture I could store or dispose of to make rooms appear larger?
13. Do any cabinets need to be touched up or refinished?
14. Should I give my RE/MAX agent a list of things my family likes about the house and the neighborhood?
15. What about the door mats? Should I replace them with new ones that are neutral and omit our family's name?
16. Should I remove an ornate item that a buyer may want as part of the house? For example, a special chandelier? Or wall system?
17. Should I ask my RE/MAX associate for a list of recommendations prepared specifically for helping market my house?
18. Is the price and terms offered going to appeal to most of the buying public in my price range?
19. Do I need to be aware of other houses similar to mine also being offered for sale?
20. Are the garage and storage areas as clean and neat as they should be?
21. Before spending needless time and money, should I consult with my RE/MAX associate?

Building Permits

1. Whenever a structural change or repair is made to a building, such as making an addition, moving a wall, or changing the size of a window.
2. When adding to the amount of living space, such as finishing a basement, converting a garage, or building a deck or porch.
3. Whenever a detached structural facility, such as a shed, deck, or gazebo is constructed.
4. In order to legalize changes made by previous owners, even though you may not have made structural changes to the property since you purchased it. This can be accomplished by obtaining an "as built" building permit and a final certificate of occupancy.
5. Consult the appropriate local code enforcement.

• For general maintenance or repairs that do not change the property's structure, except when rebuilding an existing deck, even when footings are not changed.
• Consult the appropriate local code enforcement for clarification.

• Structural work performed without a building permit is a zoning violation which can, and generally does affect the sale of a house.
• A majority of financial institutions will not issue a mortgage until zoning violations are removed. This can be accomplished by applying for a building permit and a certificate of occupancy "as built" after the fact.
• Homebuyers' attorneys are required to specify in contracts to purchase that all certificates of occupancy must be in place.

Helpful Information

• Building Permit:� Authorization issued by the town building department or code enforcement department for new work to be performed, or to bring previous work to current compliance.
• Certificate of Occupancy:� Certificate issued after inspections, verifying that work performed under the building permit conforms to state and town building codes.
• Plumbing Certificate:� Certification, signed by a Westchester County licensed plumber, covering plumbing work performed.
• Fire Underwriters Certificate:� All electrical renovation and new construction must be inspected and certified by the N.Y.S. electrical inspector (or underwriter).
• Carbon Monoxide Alarms:� N.Y.S. requires homeowners to place in their homes a plugged in Carbon Monoxide Detector.
• Property Condition Disclosure Statement: N.Y.S. requires that homeowners either must fully disclose through a 48 question disclosure form any concerns or defects about the property or issue to the buyer a $500 credit in lieu of the completed disclosure form.
• Lead Paint Disclosure:� N.Y.S. requires homes built prior to 1978 that a lead paint disclosure form relating to any knowledge of lead in the home be completed.

• Keep your house as clean as possible at all times, to be prepared for unexpected appointments with potential buyers.
• We will be in constant communication with you throughout the selling process and will provide you with continuous updates, feedback and information pertinent to the marketing process.
• Do not be afraid to ask any questions you may have or to voice your opinion.
• Keep an open mind throughout the entire process.

Transfer and Mansion Taxes

Fair Housing