Sell Your Home Now: The Complete Guide to Overcoming Common Mistakes, Selling Faster, and Making More Money »

Sotheby’s International Realty Southern California

Approximately 20 percent of the real estate market is comprised of “for sale by owner” listings. Put your home at the head of the market with the help of Laura Riddle’s expertise. Riddle, a master’s-level, award-winning real estate broker, walks today’s home sellers through everything they need to know to get the best price in today’s real estate market. This complete guide includes information about:

•   Techniques for selling up to 80 percent faster
•    Advertising to sell for 15-20 percent more
•    Where to list your home online to get the most exposure
•    Staging the home for the quickest sale
•    Gaining an advantage over foreclosures in your neighborhood
•    Common mistakes home sellers often make that could hinder your efforts
•    Contracts and Home Inspection reports 

Riddle guides readers through the basics of the home-selling process, as they learn how to determine the value of their home, prepare the home for sale, and choose the right times to list the home, plan for showings and open houses, accept an offer, ultimately selling your home for top dollar. 

Sell Your Home Now also includes timely information for sellers and buyers, including resources for short sale and foreclosure options and foreclosure prevention programs.  The book also compares FHS, USDA, and VA loan programs, allowing readers to choose the loan that works best for them. With information about the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Act, passed in Febrauary 2009, along with options for loan modifications and assistance programs for down payments, this complete guide gives you everything you need to put your house up “for sale by owner.”

Riddle has included case studies from agents and sellers around the country to provide readers with proven tips and tricks for selling a home in the quickest manner possible. This book is a must-have for any individual looking to effectively sell their home for the best price.
•    Selling techniques for a 80 percent faster sale
•    Advertising to sell for 15-20 percent more
•    Where to list the home on the Internet to get the most exposure
•    Staging the home for the quickest sale
•    Gaining an advantage over foreclosures in your neighborhood
•    Common mistakes home sellers often make that could hinder your efforts
•    Contracts and Home Inspection reports 

Laura guides readers through the basics of the home selling process. Readers will learn how to determine the value of their home, prepare the home to be sold, stage the home inside and out, know when the time is right to list the home, plan for showings and open houses, accept an offer, and ultimately sell for top dollar. 

Sell Your Home Now also includes timely information for sellers and buyers, including resources on:

•    Short sale versus foreclosure options
•    FHA, USDA, and VA loan programs
•    Foreclosure prevention programs
•    Down payment assistance programs
•    The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Act passed in February 2009
•    Loan modification options
•    Selling the home “for sale by owner”

Laura has included case studies from agents and sellers around the country to provide readers with proven tips and tricks for selling a home in the quickest time possible and for the most money. This book is a must-have for any individual looking to effectively and quickly sell their home for the best price.

Foreword 11

Introduction 15

Chapter 1 Welcome to Super Selling 21

How to Be an "11" Seller on a "1 to 10" Scale 21

Time and Effort are of the Essence 22

The Basics of Home Selling: What Happens - and When? 24

How to Determine the Value of Your Home: Do Your Own CMA 24

Should You Sell? 27

Chapter 2 Mentally Preparing Yourself to Sell 33

It is a Business Transaction; It is Not Personal 33

Planning is Half the Battle 35

Chapter 3 Physically Preparing Your Home 45

You Do Not Live in a Home the Way You Sell It 47

Sorting, Cleaning, and Decluttering 48

Taming the Paper Dragon 53

Less (Stuff) is More Money 57

It is Time for Spring Cleaning 59

The Nose Knows - Smell Matters 63

Planning a Budget to Fix and Sell 65

Chapter 4 Staging to Sell 80 Percent Faster 69

Staging Examples: The Little Details Count 74

Staging the Outside of Your Home 84

Selling a Home Within a Homeowners' Association 89

Chapter 5 Listing 101 97

Stop: Before You List, You Have To Read This 97

Timing a Market 98

Make 3 to 11 Percent with an Agent 100

The CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) 108

Review the Realtors'

Suggestions for Determining Proper Price 112

Listings 115

Border Areas 119

All About Realtor.com 120

Errors in the MLS and Advertising 122

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go 125

Chapter 6 All About a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) 127

Promoting the Home Yourself 127

Showing the Property 130

Chapter 7 Putting the Home on the Market and Preparing It For Showings 135

The Importance of the Directions 135

Secret Weapons 139

Pictures 141

Descriptions That Sell

Homes Faster and For More Money 145

Other Places to Advertise the Home 147

Chapter 8 It is Showtime 151

What to Expect From an Agent Showing the Home 152

Common Showing Obstacles and Solutions 152

Lights, Camera, Action 158

Dealing With Tenant-Occupied Properties 164

Ongoing Maintenance 166

Level the Playing Field 167

Overcoming Panic 170

Other Options to Selling 173

Chapter 9 Lending 101 - Show Me The Money 177

Helping the Buyer in the Wake of the Mortgage Meltdown 177

Hope for the Self-Employed 178

Understanding the Lending Environment 180

Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Loans Demystified 182

The Two 100 Percent Loans: USDA and VA 185

Community Down-Payment Grants (Down Payment Assistance Programs) 186

Rate Locks/Interest Rate Buy-Downs 187

Declining Markets 188

Help - I am In Trouble 191

The Foreclosure Prevention Programs 196

Bankruptcy 203

Foreclosure 101 204

Predatory Refinance Loans 206

Hard Money Loans 209

Loan Modifications 210

Short Sale 214

Tax Liens 217

Chapter 10 The Offer 219

The Offer and Contract 219

Entertaining Offers 220

Once an Agreement Has Been Reached 227

Chapter 11 Understanding the Inspection Process 229

Preparing for Inspections 229

Types of Inspections 232

The Appraisal 235

The Title Report 238

Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement (NHD) 240

The Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) 242

Unpermitted Rooms/Structures 243

Chapter 12 Moving and Closing 245

The Cheaper/Greener Move 245

Moving Out 247

Appendix A Real Estate Glossary 249

Appendix B A to Z Religious Faith Guide 253

Appendix C Sample Contracts, Inspections, and Forms 259

Residential Listing Agreement 260

Transfer Disclosure Statement 263

Residential Purchase Agreement 266

Wood Destroying Pest Inspection 274

Request for Repair 275

Notice to Buyer to Perform 276

Property Data Change Request 277

Fireplace Inspection Report 278

Termite Inspection Report 280

Author Biography 283

Index 285