sold FROM LISTED TO
A HOME SELLER'S GUIDE
845-256-8868 | LINDSAY@STEVENSREALTYGRP.COM
RESULT DRIVEN &
CLIENT FOCUSED
LET'S CONNECT
nice to meet you Lindsay Stevens TEAM LEADER & ASSOCIATE BROKER
As seen on HGTV, Lindsay Stevens is a Hudson Valley native who specializes in residential and commercial real estate. The #1 sales agent in the local market from 2017-2020, Lindsay currently leads a team of 27 real estate experts. Hudson Valley Magazine Voted this group "The Best Real Estate Firm in the Hudson Valley" and they were named "The 2021 Face of Hudson Valley Real Estate". Recently featured in the New York Times, Lindsay has over 15-years of business development, marketing and sales experience. Lindsay is the co-founder of Stevens Realty Group, which in 2020 aligned themselves with the fastest growing real estate company in North America, eXp Realty. Lindsay has assisted in the growth of Stevens from conception into a multi-million-dollar real estate team. Lindsay has worked and consulted with Fortune 500 companies such as Edelman Public Relations and Morgan Stanley. Her expertise ranges from sales, marketing, communications, client and public relations, advertising and client negotiations. Lindsay heads-up a great deal of client representation, including their sales and marketing efforts, as well as all community outreach. She works tirelessly in her role as a leader to consistently think outside the box and raise the bar in the real estate industry. Lindsay is a proud mother of two daughters, Mya and Kalli. She is an avid runner and outdoor enthusiast, growing up on the trails of the Mohonk Preserve. She is a lover of all things Hudson Valley and proud to ground her roots in a place where the mountains are considered home.
LET'S CONNECT
845-204-4447
lindsay@stevensrealtygrp.com
www.stevensrealtygrp.com
www.facebook.com/lindsayeileenstevens
instagram.com/lindsayeileenstevens
www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayeileenstevens
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCR cwNaPSUtaxkqzEWqC51JA
MEET THE TEAM
TEAM LEADER & ASSOCIATE BROKER Lindsay Stevens
PRESIDENT & CEO Bruce Stevens
Marty Krakower
SUCCESS MANAGER
Beth Barry
OFFICER MANAGER & CHO
MEET THE TEAM
SALES MANAGER Elijah Hoskins
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Eric Lein
CONTENT CREATOR & MEDIA MANAGER Hector Gilhang
AGENT CARE MENTORS Michael Carr Stephanie Way
Krysten Pollard
process HOME SELLING
STEP ONE
STEP SIX
STEP ELEVEN
consultation
going live
appraisal
STEP TWO
STEP SEVEN
STEP TWELVE
pricing
showings
title & utilities
STEP THREE
STEP EIGHT
STEP THIRTEEN
final walkthrough
staging
offer
STEP FOUR
STEP NINE
STEP FOURTEEN
photography & videography
negotiating
closing
STEP FIVE
STEP TEN
STEP FIFTEEN
pre-marketing
inspections
last steps
DETERMINING FACTORS FOR IF A PROPERTY WILL SELL OR WILL NOT SELL
FACTOR 3 marketing I offer SUPERIOR MARKETING TECHNIQUES to help get your home sold faster and for more money than the competition. PROSPECTING Prospecting daily for potential buyers, talking with neighbors, and our co-op agents and past clients. MARKETING The second you sign with me, I go to work on marketing your home! COMING SOON MARKETING, ONLINE MARKETING, SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING and PRINT MARKETING are all part of the success of getting your home seen by the most potential buyers, selling your home faster and for more money than the competition. COMMUNICATION Actively communicate with you through every step of the process. Diligently sharing feedback from showings, following up with agents after viewing the home, and calling weekly to discuss the progress from the previous week. FACTOR 1 pricing When pricing your home it is important to carefully consider top market value. Using my competitive market analysis tool, I will suggest your home’s best listing price. I sell homes HIGHER than the market average because I list homes at the correct price from the start. FACTOR 2 how it shows It is important to have your home ready for market on day one. I will help you make sure your home is ready for showings and online by: Completing repairs that need to be done Decluttering & removing personal items Making sure the home is clean and smells fresh Cleaning carpets Neutralizing spaces and walls
the advantage of listing with me 85% of professional marketed and advertised homes sold for 6-25% more Most tasks are completed during the appointment PROFESSIONAL MEDIA/MARKETING/ADVERTISING BOOSTED ONLINE EXPOSURE
Today’s market is centered on technology. Buyers are performing their own searches online, so it is important that your listing is ranked high and shown in it’s best light. Studies have shown that online buyers, disregard homes with limited photos, low quality photos, and minimal information. Rest assured I take the extra steps to get maximum exposure for your listing and give the online shopper a wealth of information, as well as quality photos, and video tours. PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
listing strategy
PRICING STRATEGY
Using a scientific market analysis in your area, we will price your home correctly the first time so that it will sell quickly.
If your home is priced at fair market value, it will attract the largest number of potential buyers in the first few weeks.
If a home is overpriced it will attract the fewest number of buyers looking to purchase a home. The majority of home buyers look at a lot of homes, and they quickly get a feel for the price range that homes sell for in a given condition and location.
10% 30% 60% 75% 90%
+15% +10% -10% -15% *MV
WHEN MOST OFFERS ARE RECEIVED
WEEKS ON MARKET 123456789101112
*MV = Market Value
PROFESSIONAL STAGING To make sure your home is shown in the best light to buyers, I will provide professional advice to ensure your home is ready to go on the market. Our job is to neutralize your home to appeal to the maximum number of potential buyers. PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY In today’s market, home buyers are searching online first. It is imperative that the photos of your home are top notch and of the best quality to catch the buyers attention and stand out from the competition. Having more eyes on your home, is the fastest way to get it sold and sell for top dollar. AGENT MARKETING I am part of a very large agent network. I will reach out to this network to see if your home might be a great fit for one of their buyers. This agent network is key to connecting buyers with your home as 88% of residential sales involve real estate agents. ADVERTISING & MARKETING I know the importance of marketing a property. This is an area I heavily focus my budget on. My expertise is attracting hundreds of buyers per month, and increasing brand awareness.
A clean, neutral, and streamlined look helps buyers to imagine what life would be like in your home. The action points below will help them be able to do that. maximize your home's potential preparing to list
01
EXTERIOR
• Wash or paint the home’s exterior • Paint the front door • Keep the yard nicely trimmed • Keep the lawn free of clutter
• Weed and freshly mulch garden beds • Clean interior and exterior windows • Apply fresh paint or stain to wooden fences
02
INTERIOR
• Remove personal items, excessive decorations & furniture • Replace or clean carpets • Get rid of clutter and organize and clean closets • Apply a fresh coat of paint to walls, trim and ceilings • Replace outdated ceiling fixtures, and clean lighting fixtures • Minimize and clean pet areas in the home • Be sure that all light bulbs are in working order
03
• A new coat of exterior paint helps a home's curb appeal. It isn’t a low-budget item, but if you can swing it...DO IT • If you can’t paint the entire home, paint the trim. This is a relatively simple thing to do and it helps give a home that wow factor • Update exterior light fixtures. This can quickly give a home an updated look • Put a fresh coat of paint on the front door FRESHEN THE PAINT & FIXTURES
the art of staging
Staging a home is definitely different than designing a home. The goal is having a trained eye come into your home and look at it as a buyer would. This service is provided to create a clean, decluttered look so that potential buyers can look at your home like a blank canvas to envision all their loved ones and belongings in the space for years to come.
staged homes increased sale price up to
90% staged homes spent less time on the market
5%
BENEFITS OF STAGING
•LESS TIME ON THE MARKET •INCREASED SALE PRICE •HIGHLIGHTS THE BEST FEATURES OF THE HOME •DISGUISES FLAWS OF THE HOME •DEFINES SPACES AND REVEAL PURPOSE OF EACH SPACE •DEMONSTRATES THE HOMES FULL POTENTIAL •CREATES THE WOW FACTOR YOU WILL NEED IN PHOTOS TO MAKE YOUR HOME STAND OUT
real estate photography
a picture says a thousand words
A listing's photos are often the first and sometimes only opportunity to attract a potential buyer. Most buyers are finding their homes online and photos are the first impression of your home. Pictures are the key to getting a home noticed, showings scheduled and therefore sold. As your agent, I will ensure that your listing will be shown in its best light. Many times a buyer has already decided if they are interested in your home just from the pictures online, without ever stepping foot inside your home.
interesting facts:
118% quality photos enjoy more online views
19K MORE professionally shot listings can sell for up to
10 TIMES potential buyers look at professionally shot photos longer than non professional photos
videography
PROFESSIONAL
video is the number one form of media for engagement
of homebuyers watch video house tours 70%
Real estate listings with video receive 403% more inquiries
Videos attract 300% more traffic for nurturing leads.
Video gives a prospective buyer a true feeling of moving through a home, and is far more descriptive of a space than still images can ever hope to be.
Using aerial photography in real estate can show buyers a much more accurate depiction of what the property is actually like. aerial PHOTOGRAPHY
benefits of having aerial photos:
Provides views of the entire property & land
The condition of the roof and other property features
The neighborhood and surrounding area, including the home’s proximity to schools & amenities Developments or local districts that are supported by the buyer’s property taxes
tours VIRTUAL
A virtual tour is a sequence of panoramic images that are 'stitched' together to create a 'virtual' experience of a location. Once created, the viewer is able to experience what it is like to be somewhere they are actually not
THE BENEFITS
Utilizing cutting-edge technological solutions, we can narrow in on the most serious buyers. By using virtual tours we can give buyers a good look at your home without disturbing you. Leaving only the more serious buyers to schedule a showing. They are interactive by design, which means users spend more time exploring than they would looking at photos. The more invested in the interaction potential buyers feel, the more likely to take the next step in their purchase journey.
Potential home buyers don't like to wait and they want all the information now. Never missing another opportunity. A virtual tour allows your home to be on display around the clock.
Exposes your home to a wider audience. Your home can be toured from clear across the country at anytime.
brochures PROPERTY
Property brochures are a memorable marketing piece for buyers to bring home with them after a showing. These brochure outline every detail of your home seen and unseen. We love using these to show all the unique details, photos, neighborhood specs, schools, upgrades and features your home has to offer.
We have you covered safe KEEPING YOU
Once your listing goes live, we provide all the necessary protective gear, and friendly reminder signs for all of your showings.
We will provide face masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, shoe covers, and social distancing reminder signs. We are SOLD on keeping you safe!
NETWORKING
A large percentage of real estate transactions happen with co-operating agents in the country. I will expose your listing to this market. NETWORKING A sign will be placed in your yard as well as pointers and open house signs prior to an open house. These will be placed at the most opportune times to gain the most exposure. SIGNAGE Buyers in today’s market first start their search online. We will meet your potential buyer where they are...online! Not only will your home be featured in the local MLS, it will also be featured on the major 3rd party real estate sites, and syndicated to literally hundreds of other listing sites. Your home will be featured on our company website, and social media. SUPERIOR ONLINE EXPOSURE An email will be sent to our current buyer database of thousands of buyers searching for properties on my website. A new listing email alert will go out to my agent network of thousands of agents in the area. EMAIL MARKETING robust marketing
Highly informative and creative property flyers will be displayed inside your home. These help potential buyers remember the key items and unique features of your home. PROPERTY FLYERS
Lockboxes are essential for the safety of all. They allow an agent to show your house whenever he or she needs to, rather than relying on you the owner for a key. Owners are also expected to vacate the property for showings. Having a lockbox makes this process much easier for all involved. LOCK BOX When we list your home, you will also be signed up with a showing service that immediately communicates with you when a showing is scheduled. When feedback isn’t left, I will follow up with those agents requesting their feedback within 24 hours. SHOWINGS After reviewing many surveys, we have discovered the perfect formula for what day is best to list a home and the perfect day for an open house. OPEN HOUSES We practice regular social media marketing on today’s top social sites which include and are not limited to: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest. SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
WHERE DO BUYERS find their home
29%
ONLINE 52%
REAL ESTATE AGENT
100%
YARD SIGN/OPEN HOUSE SIGN 6%
6%
FRIEND/ RELATIVE/ NEIGHBOR
4%
HOME BUILDER 3%
<1%
DIRECTLY FROM SELLER/ KNEW THE SELLER
PRINT ADVERTISING
*2020 NAR HOME BUYER AND SELLER GENERATIONAL TRENDS
maximum
exposure
I will feature your home on the top home search sites, on social media and syndicate it to over 400+ other sites. GET FEATURED
Homes that receive the top 10% of page views sell an average 30 days faster!
showings A few tips to help your home showings go as smoothly as possible
FLEXIBLE Be as flexible and accommodating to the buyers schedule as possible. We want to avoid having missed opportunities if at all possible. INFORMED Make sure everyone in the home is informed when showings are to happen so they can keep their spaces clean. DAILY CLEANING Keep up with daily messes. Wipe down kitchen and bathroom counters before leaving for the day. ODORS Avoid strong-smelling foods: Keep your meal prep as neutral and simple as possible. FURRY FRIENDS Keep pet areas clean. Clean up after your pets immediately and wash their bedding regularly. Hide pet food or litter. Not everyone is a pet person and it may hinder a potential buyers ability to picture themselves living in your home.
NATURAL LIGHT Open blinds and curtains and let in as much natural light as possible. Leave lights on before you leave for a showing.
TRASH Empty trash cans to avoid any odors. Try to empty trash cans nightly so that the home is fresh when you leave for the day.
TEMPERATURE Keep the room temperature comfortable. This demonstrates to buyers that the HVAC is working properly.
PERSONALS Make sure you place all valuables and prescriptions out of site and in a safe place.
VACATE Having a seller present can make buyers feel awkward. We want to make the buyers feel at home and stay awhile.
offers Price is just one of many considerations when deciding which offer is best for your home. Here are some of the other factors that matter
CONTINGENCIES
The fewer contingencies on an offer the better. Shorter time periods are also valuable.
ALL CASH BUYER
A cash offer is usually more appealing than a finance offer as the seller doesn’t need to worry about the bank approving the loan.
PRE-APPROVAL
Assures home sellers that the buyer can get the loan they need.
LOAN TYPE
A conventional loan is often the least complicated. This is an appealing choice for sellers. An FHA loan can cause delays because they require certain repairs and approvals.
CLOSING TIMELINE
You might need to close quickly to move on to the next adventure, or you might need to extend closing to allow time for the next home to be ready. Choosing the offer with the closing time that fits your needs will be most attractive to you.
CLOSING COSTS
Sometimes an offer comes in high, but the buyer asks you to pay a percentage of the buyer’s closing costs.
BUYER LETTER
If you care about the future of your home, a buyer letter could assure you that you’re selling to someone who will love the home and your neighbors as much as you did.
REPAIR REQUESTS
If the home needs some repairs, but you don’t have the time or money to do them, a buyer who is willing to do them for you might be what you need.
OFFER PRICE
Of course price matters too! If a high offer will cost you more in closing costs, repairs or other factors—then it probably won’t be the better offer.
NEGOTIATIONS
AFTER AN OFFER IS SUBMITTED
WE CAN:
•Accept the offer
•Decline the offer
If the offer isn’t close enough to your expectation and there is no need to further negotiate. •Counter-offer
A counter-offer is when you offer different terms to the buyer.
THE BUYER CAN THEN:
•Accept the counter-offer
•Decline the counter-offer
•Counter the the offer
You can negotiate back and forth as many times as needed until you can reach an agreement or someone chooses to walk away.
OFFER IS ACCEPTED
You will sign the purchase agreement and you are now officially under contract! This period of time is called the contingency period.
Now inspections, appraisals, or anything else built into your purchase agreement will take place.
WHAT IS INCLUDED Roof & Components Exterior & Siding Basement home INSPECTIONS
Foundation Crawlspace Structure Heating & Cooling Plumbing Electrical Attic & Insulation Doors Windows & Lighting Appliances (limited) Attached Garages Garage Doors Grading & Drainage All Stairs
FAQ
INSPECTION TIME FRAME TYPICALLY 10-14 DAYS AFTER SIGNING CONTRACT. NEGOTIATIONS USUALLY HAPPEN WITHIN
5 DAYS COSTS
NO COST TO THE SELLER. THE BUYER WILL CHOOSE AND PURCHASE THE INSPECTION PERFORMED BY THE INSPECTOR OF THEIR CHOICE. POSSIBLE OUTCOMES INSPECTIONS AND POTENTIAL REPAIRS ARE USUALLY ONE OF THE TOP REASONS A SALE DOES NOT CLOSE. COMMON PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUNDATION, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, PESTS, STRUCTURAL, MOLD, OR RADON UPON COMPLETION:
BUYER CAN ACCEPT AS IS
BUYER CAN OFFER TO RENOGOTIATE
BUYER CAN CANCEL CONTRACT
home APPRAISAL
If the buyer is seeking a loan to purchase your home they will need to have an appraisal performed by the bank to verify the home is worth the loan amount. As a seller we want the property to appraise for at least the sale amount or more. It is very difficult to successfully contest your appraisal. An experienced agent demonstrates certain strategies to reveal value of the home prior to the appraisal.
APPRAISAL COMES IN AT OR ABOVE SALE PRICE You are in the clear, and closing can be begin!
APPRAISAL COMES IN BELOW SALE PRICE
Renegotiate the sale price with the buyer Renegotiate with the buyer to cover the difference Cancel and re-list Consider an alternative all-cash offer
Closing is when funds and documents are transferred in order to transfer ownership of the property to the buyer. The escrow officer will look over the contract and find out what payments are owed by who, prepare documents for closing, perform the closing, make sure all payoffs are completed, the buyer’s title is recorded, and that you receive payoffs that are due to you. what to expect CLOSING THE SALE
YOUR COSTS
1. TRANSFER FUNDS The transfer of funds may include payoffs to: • Seller’s mortgage company as well as any lien holders • Local government, if any property taxes are due • Third-party service providers • Real estate agents, for payment of commission • Sellers, if there are any proceeds from the sale of the home 2. TRANSFER DOCUMENTS The transfer of documents may include: • The deed to the house • Certificate of Title, Bill of Sale, and other real estate-related documents • Signed closing instructions and/or settlement statement (HUD 1) • Receipts (if needed) for completed repairs, per sales contract 3. TRANSFER PROPERTY The transfer of property may include: • Recording of the signed deed (completed by third-party) at county courthouse • Post-closing agreement, if seller will need to rent back home for specified time frame • Exchange of keys, garage door opener, security codes and/or devices, appliance manuals, etc. • Homeownership legally transfers to the new owner when the signed deed is recorded at the seller's local county courthouse.
Seller’s commonly pay: • Mortgage balance & penalties if applicable • Any claims against your property • Unpaid assessments on your property • Real estate agents, for payment of commission • Title insurance policy • Home warranty
WHAT TO BRING
Sellers need to bring to closing: • A government picture ID • House keys • Garage door openers • Mailbox and any other spare keys
AFTER CLOSING
Keep copies of the following for taxes:
• Copies of all closing documents • All home improvement receipts
steps FINAL FOR SELLERS
Turn off valves to the sinks, toilets, appliances, and water heater. Turn off all light switches and fans. Lastly, call the electric company. TURN EVERYTHING OFF Let everyone know your new address. Submit a change-of-address form to the post office. CHANGE ADDRESS Once title transfer has occurred contact your insurance agent to cancel your policy so you can receive a refund of any prepaid premiums. CANCEL POLICIES Cancel utilities and close those accounts. Keep a list of phone numbers for each of your utility and entertainment companies. CLOSE ACCOUNTS Secure all closing documents as well as the contract and closing documents. Keep them in a safe place. DOCUMENTS Put together a packet of manuals, receipts, and any warranties as well. GATHER HOME PAPERWORK Move out your personal belongings completely. Check all drawers, cabinets, and closets. CLEAR OUT PERSONALS Ensure that your home is completely clean upon leaving the home. Clean the cabinets, refrigerators, and other appliances inside and out. Thoroughly clean out the garage. Schedule trash pick up prior to the day of closing. Leave your home the way you would like to find it if you were the buyer. CLEAN Leave all house keys, remotes, gate keys, pool keys, and mailbox keys in a drawer in the kitchen. INCIDENTALS
Vacuum and sweep floors one more time FLOORS
Ensure all blinds are closed, and lock the windows and doors. LOCK UP
resources recommended
general contractor
painting
house cleaning
flooring
electrician
plumbing
decking
fencing
landscaping
REVIEWS
This was a very challenging listing. Put the house on at the height of the pandemic, so showing and inspections, etc. needless to say were work. During all this Lindsay was a pleasure to work with. Very knowledgeable with an extensive backup network.
Working with Lindsay was absolutely wonderful! Throughout the entire process of selling our first home, Lindsay took care of us and made sure the journey was as easy and smooth as possible. She knows this business inside & out, and her expertise is evident in her professionalism. Simultaneously, she brings a warmth and kindness to the whole experience, which was so comforting when making such a monumental life change! Saying we highly recommend Lindsay Stevens is an understatement! We could not have had a better experience selling our first home! We consider ourselves lucky to have worked with Lindsey for years now. She has been our agent for multiple purchases and sales and has found us multiple tenants. Her responsiveness is exemplary, she is friendly and warm and truly cares about her clients. She is local and brings all that knowledge with her, but she also keeps up with what is happening elsewhere. She possesses infinite patience during complicated and trying negotiations. Also, she does things without having to be asked if she sees they need to be done, but never without letting her client know. If you want an honest, energetic, responsible, knowledgeable, smart, and friendly person to work for you, Lindsay is your woman!
Lindsay is the consummate real estate professional! She remained communicative and available to answer any questions we had throughout the process of selling our home. She is adept at problem solving and does what it takes to make deals happen in a way that is positive and mutually beneficial to all parties. Lindsay is confident, competent and a pleasure to work with throughout the entire process. I highly recommend Lindsay to anyone looking to buy or sell their home. Thanks again Lindsay for a great experience!
Our experience with Stevens realty was great! Lindsay listed our house, had amazing photos taken, and negotiated a top dollar price in less than a week. Whether you’re buying or selling these are the people you want to use. They are by far the best in the Hudson valley!!
WHAT TO EXPECT
HONESTY & TRANSPARENCY INTEGRITY RESPECT TIMELY & REACHABLE ACTING IN YOUR BEST INTEREST Lindsay Stevens 845-204-4447 | LINDSAY@STEVENSREALTYGRP.COM
sold FROM LISTED TO
845-256-8868 | LINDSAY@STEVENSREALTYGRP.COM
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