Professional Photos
Drone Photo & Video
Video Walk-Through Tour
3D Virtual Tour
2D Floor Plans
Custom Website
While both real estate agents and Realtors® must be licensed by the state, a Realtor® must be a member of the local, state, and National Association of Realtors® (NAR) in which membership requires strict adherence and constant retraining to an ethical code.
NAR membership also gives Realtors® access to research, market statistics, and constant educational opportunities.
Your home is your biggest investment and your most cherished possession, so choose a real estate agent who is proven and knowledgeable.
Read their client reviews. Visit the agent's website. Take a look at their past sales. Then take a moment to think of questions to ask that are important to you.
The listing presentation is an opportunity to meet the real estate agent. You should have a complete understanding of the level of support you will receive, how the most recent market trends may affect the sale of your home, and the expert experience the agent brings to the table. The goal is to come away with a complete understanding of the process, and the peace of mind that your biggest investment is in good hands.
You should receive a detailed explanation of the Listing Agreement - the contract to sell your home with the real estate brokerage. This document should outline your responsibilities to each other, the compensation for selling the home, and, of course, the price your home will be listed for sale.
As you prepare your home for sale, you may also be informed of the benefits of pre-listing inspections, repairs, appraisals, and/or home warranties. You should be provided with a detailed market analysis of your home, and complete all necessary legal disclosures about the property.
At Hum Real Estate, we provide our sellers with a fully interactive Concierge List of over 300 local service providers in over 50 categories. Your agent should have a similar network of local vendors to be able to provide expert advice on getting your home ready for sale.
Staging can help your home sell at a higher price and more quickly.
Regarding staging, the National Association of Realtors says:
The most commonly staged rooms are the:
In today’s competitive market, a real estate team who uses the best of today's professional photography, videography, 3D virtual tours, 2D floor plans, and drone technology is crucial.
Over 95% of home buyers begin their search online. The best photos and videos can appeal to buyers and emotions. They can increase the property value of your home, and truly make the buyer feel like they are walking through the door. This is also a great way to reduce the foot traffic in your home, because buyers can virtually tour your home in a variety of ways.
You should receive weekly updates on how your home is trending on the market. Your agent’s team should invest time every day to collect data on the marketing efforts, and then use that information to adjust or implement new campaigns in order to to make the most positive impact on their goal of protecting your investment and maximizing your returns.
At Hum Real Estate, your home will have its very own, completely customizable website with a unique web address featuring our cutting-edge marketing suite:
For showings, your agent should utilize a system in which you have the option to narrow down times that are most convenient for you and your family.
This system should be able to notify you, in real time, about showing requests, giving you the ability to approve or reject the requests.
Finally, you should be given the option to be able to see who is showing your home, and any feedback they provide about their visit.
You and your agent will want everyone to come see all of your hard work, and an open house is a great way to do that! At Hum Real Estate, we provide some thoughtful provisions to make sure the buyers are informed and a toy or two to keep the kids entertained.
The event should be promoted across a multitude of platforms for the best turnout possible, and your agent may be able to provide individual follow-up with the attendees.
When a buyer submits a Purchase and Sales Agreement, it will include information like the price offered, the earnest money deposit, and a closing date. Upon receipt of the offer, you may accept, counter, or reject the contract.
The earnest money deposit gives you assurance the buyer is making a serious offer. This amount is most often 1% of the purchase price, and can be delivered on the contract date, or up to a few days after. It is deposited into an escrow account until the closing date, at which point the money may be applied to the buyer's costs at closing.
This contract will likely also have contingencies based on the satisfaction of the appraisal, inspections, insurability, and financing. Your agent should take the time to review each clause in detail.
The appraisal is typically ordered by the buyer’s lender for an objective way to ensure their offer price is appropriate.
An appraisal is an unbiased estimate of the fair market value of the home. It is a process that takes into account the home's condition and the values of similar homes in the area.
The success of the transaction can depend on the appraisal confirming the value of your home is equal to, or greater than, the purchase price. Otherwise, further negotiations may be needed.
There are several types of home inspections the buyer may consider, but the two most common are a general home inspection, and a Wood Destroying Organisms (WDO) inspection. Locally, these inspections are typically ordered by and paid for by the buyer.
A general home inspection is an objective, visual examination of the physical structure of the home from the roof down to the foundation.
A Wood Destroying Organisms inspection is an examination of the home for visible evidence of an infestation or damage by termites, beetles, or fungi.
In addition, the buyer will likely order a survey to confirm the plot of land they will be purchasing. The survey identifies land boundaries, and looks for easements and/or encroachments.
Title insurance and homeowners insurance are both extremely important, and often required by lenders. Title insurance may protect you from certain losses in the event an issue arises with the title after closing. Typically, title insurance will be required for both the lender and the buyer. Homeowners insurance policies typically cover damages caused by fires, lightening, windstorms, and hail.
It is important to understand what is covered in the quote, and look for additional insurance for damage caused by certain natural disasters, as well as flooding. In addition, home insurance providers may ask for a 4-Point and/or a Wind Mitigation inspection, which may help you save on rates. These inspections can usually be ordered from the same company preforming your general home inspection. A 4-Point inspection gives a snapshot of the roof, electrical system, plumbing system, and HVAC. While the Wind Mitigation inspection checks the home's wind-resistant features. It is prudent to find out which, if any, of these inspections will be requested, and adding them at a marginal cost before the general home inspection - rather than paying for an additional visit to the home.
In addition, the buyer will likely order a survey to confirm the land boundaries, identify conditions, and look for easements or encroachments.
The buyer will complete a final walk-through of the home before closing to ensure the home in is the same condition as when the offer was placed, that all negotiated repairs were completed, and that all items included in the Purchase and Sales Agreement are in the home.
Finally, closing will likely take place at a title company or attorneys office, however, you may also choose to close remotely.
If the wiring of funds is needed to complete the transaction, NEVER follow instructions sent via email. Always call the closing officer noted on the Purchase and Sales Contract to independently verify any money transfer instructions.
You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.
