When a client asks me a question about a service related to the purchase or sale of a home, it’s not enough to have an answer ready. I have to BE the answer – able to meet my client’s needs without hesitation.
It’s been said that it takes a village to raise a child. The same is true in the real estate business: it takes a village to buy or sell a home.
In the following series, I will cover the most frequently asked questions I receive, and illustrate how having a prepared answer and a plan to help is the best way to provide excellent customer service.
It takes a Village Part I – When you’re looking to sell
When a client approaches me about selling their home, they often ask me what they can do to give their property some “curb appeal.” The Dave Roach Team offers clients a number of services that includes a network of partners whose top priority is helping you get the most buck for your bang. All at no cost!
Home Staging – Lynda Schmidt, L.B. Schmidt Creative Design
Staging a home before putting in on the market can result in a faster sale and a greater return on your investment – my clients often get it back in spades! Lynda Schmidt is an accredited staging consultant with over 30 years’ experience who can help you get your home “show ready.” Lynda will provide you with a full staging consultation that includes a prioritized checklist so you can work through her suggestions and get your home in optimal condition. I first started with working with Lynda in 2005 and can’t recommend her enough.
Lynda is also officially designated to help seniors downsize and move, with a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation through the Kitchener-Waterloo Board of Realtors.
Photography – Susan Arness, Virtual Properties
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then providing a photographic portfolio of your home to potential buyers can be worth thousands of dollars. I have worked with Susan on home staging projects for more than 13 years now.
Susan Arness is an experienced professional photographer with over 15,000 homes on her resume – that’s quite a slideshow! She has the unique ability to capture your home’s features in their best possible light, clearly showing room dimensions and the amenities both inside and out.
Most prospective homebuyers will do their initial “window shopping” online, so it is important to have high-quality photos that can be added to your MLS listing.
Home Inspection – Rod McGillivray, Baseline Home Inspections
A pre-list home inspection reviews the condition of your home prior to placing it on the market and will give you a better understanding of its condition, which could be discovered by the buyer’s inspector. Additionally, it gives you an opportunity to make repairs that will put your house in its best selling position.
I do pre-list home inspections because they can be done quickly. It’s a sure-fire way to make sure nothing major is amiss and provides buyers with comfort and security – two important conditions that help them can confidently put in an offer on your property.
I’ve worked with Rod since 2011 and he is adept at inspecting and analyzing houses, providing robust reports on what issues might be hiding in the walls, ceiling, and basements.
In my next article in this series, I will give you some ideas about who best to connect with when you’re looking to buy your dream home. Stay tuned!