Sellers Guide

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics: A REALTOR® is more than just another real estate Agent or salesperson.

Whether you are buying or selling a home, it’s probably one of the largest financial investments of your entire life!

For this reason, it helps to have a trusted professional on your side. A REALTOR® is more than just another real estate Agent or salesperson. REALTORS® have training in ethics for their dealings with the public and with the real estate community.

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics is the cornerstone of the National Association of REALTORS® (“NAR”) ethics training. It guides REALTORS® and shows the public the level of commitment, education and dedication to their profession that each member of NAR possesses.

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics was first established by NAR in 1913. The market has changed a lot in over 100 years, so the code has been updated annually to keep up with the times.

The code is a living, dynamic statement to guide REALTORS® in their daily professional lives. While times have changed, the core principles are long-standing and guarantee fair dealings with clients, the public, and other REALTORS®. For example, the code’s articles include:

REALTORS® protect and promote their clients’ interests while treating all parties honestly.
• REALTORS® refrain from exaggeration, misrepresentation, or concealment of pertinent facts related to property or transactions.
• REALTORS® cooperate with other real estate professionals to advance their clients’ best interests.
• When buying or selling on their own account or for their families or firms, REALTORS® make their true position or interest known.
• REALTORS® make sure that contract details are spelled out in writing and that parties receive copies.
• REALTORS® give equal professional service to all clients and customers irrespective of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or sexual orientation.
• REALTORS® paint a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations.
• REALTORS® make only truthful, objective comments about other real estate professionals.

In choosing a REALTOR®, home Buyers and Sellers are selecting a professional who voluntarily holds to a high ethical standard.

Market Max America Realty Agents are taught to go above and beyond.

Our website is designed to be a learning tool and resource, not just another place where you can search for properties.

We want home BUYERS and SELLERS to be familiar with real estate terminology, so we included a Glossary.

For another example, we want home BUYERS and SELLERS to be familiar with the many steps involved on the way to a successful closing, so we included detailed sections for both BUYERS and SELLERS.

The more you know about real estate, the more you’ll appreciate the enormous value that a Market Max America Realty Agent brings.

Put one of our Agents to work for YOU, and you’ll appreciate us even more!

Steps to a happy closing and why SELLERS should use our Seller’s Agents.

Selling a home involves one of life’s biggest financial decisions and investments. It’s no wonder this is a very stressful time for many people. All at once, Sellers are faced with so many changes, decisions and legal responsibilities!

Surely you’d seek professional help for a $100,000 tax problem or legal issue, right? Well, your home is probably worth more, so it makes a lot of sense to consult with a professional who does this work for a living.

Having one of our experienced Agent’s guidance can save you thousands of dollars and save you from costly mistakes and headaches. You can turn a stressful time into a happy time like it’s supposed to be!

Yet for all that value they bring, a Seller’s first meeting with a Market Max America Agent often comes with no cost or obligation.

Below we’ve outlined the steps to a happy closing, so you’ll know what to expect and how our Agents help YOU every step of the way!

Our Agents Help SELLERS with first steps. Planning ahead before selling your home can save you time, money and many headaches later.

Below are just a few questions to consider:

1. How are current market conditions in your area and neighborhood?
2. What’s a realistic selling price for your home?
3. How much will you net after all the closing costs?
4. What repairs/updates should you make before you put your property on the market?
5. What repairs/updates should you not waste time and money on?
6. How should you prepare your home for showings?

The questions above are just the beginning! Many more questions will come up, and many options to consider. While you can research some things on your own, be aware that some online information can be confusing, and even misleading. Also, since every home and every situation is unique, you’re not likely to find answers online that are custom-tailored to you.

What is a Seller to do?

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH PLANNING AND CONSULTATION

Here’s a little secret:

Did you know you can consult an expert to come check out your home and help you with all of the above and usually at no cost or obligation?

That expert is your local Market Max America REALTOR®!

Our experienced Seller’s Agents know the value of planning ahead before selling, and know every step along the road, because they traveled it many times before!

Below is a list of steps to a happy closing for SELLERS, and a few of the many ways that our Seller’s Agents will help YOU at every step:

Our Agents help SELLERS to know the current market. Although the real estate market usually doesn’t change as quickly as the stock market, some local areas can experience dramatic change in a relatively short time.

Just as it’s wise to know the current condition of the stock market before you buy or sell stocks, it’s wise to know the current condition of the real estate market before you buy or sell. The right information could save you thousands of dollars!

Although you can do general research online, much of the information online is outdated, unreliable and confusing. Plus, it’s not organized and custom-tailored to you and your home.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH MARKET CONDITIONS

Nobody knows your local real estate market better than our experienced Agents that are familiar with your area. Nobody. Our Agents will discuss the overall market trends and the latest home sales in your neighborhood, plus the active listings that are your competition. This information is very valuable as it enables you to price your home strategically!

Our Agents advise SELLERS about repairs and updates. As a Seller, being familiar with your own home can often make you unaware of some of its faults.

Chances are, we’re all biased when we try to evaluate our own property. It’s not unusual for Sellers to overlook or minimize some negative things, especially if they’re trying to avoid spending money on repairs and updates.

Yet, those same little things could be enough to turn off a buyer. Sometimes, a relatively small investment in updates and repairs can make a huge difference in the time the property spends on the market, and the price you get. Every home is unique, so you have to know where to target your investment for maximum impact.

In some cases, you have to be careful not to overspend because you may never see your money back!

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH IMPROVING YOUR PROPERTY’S CONDITION

Before listing your home, we suggest having an unbiased person walk through your property, inside and out, and take notes of needed improvements.

Our experienced REALTORS® are ideal for this because they have seen hundreds of homes. Also, our REALTORS® know what Buyers like better than most people, because this is their specialty and they get tons of feedback!

Your home’s condition and updates play a major role in how fast your home will sell, and what price you get. Your Agent may recommend a pre-inspection to avoid surprises and re-negotiating down the road.

But BEWARE: Not all home improvements are a good idea, and some projects can result in you losing tens of thousands of dollars that may never be recouped!

Our experienced Agents will help you decide between the updates to consider and the wasteful updates. That is one more reason why Market Max America Realty Agent’s contribution to Sellers is priceless!

When listing your home, first impressions count. Curb appeal such as a freshly mown lawn, trimmed hedges, clean windows and front door really make a difference.

Buyers can quickly form an opinion of your property. It is important to keep the foyer, hallways, the kitchen and the bathrooms spotless during showings. We recommend cleaning each room, including carpets and floors.

Try to keep closets, cabinets, kitchen countertops and other areas such as the basement and the laundry room clutter-free. We recommend donating any unnecessary items and remind yourself that “less is more”.

Our Agents help SELLERS list at the right price. One of the most important decisions when listing your property is setting the right price. Yes, pricing too low can cost you thousands of dollars. But a more common mistake is pricing your home too high, which can also cost you thousands of dollars by:

1. Wasting months of time on the market;
2. Losing qualified Buyers, who go on to buy another home;
3. Missing great buying opportunities on your next home.

The best way to avoid these unpleasant scenarios is to list your home at the right price from the start. But how do you find the right price?

You should avoid crude, unscientific and unreliable ways of deciding on your asking price, such as:

1. How much you need to net at closing;
2. Opinions of friends and neighbors;
3. Public real estate websites.

All of the above can cost you in lost time and lost money!

There is a much better way to find the right Price”, and it’s usually without cost or obligation!

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH PRICING

Your Market Max America Realty Agent will help you decide on the right Price with a professional Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), which shows recent market activity for similar homes in your area.

A CMA performed by one of our experienced REALTORs® has many advantages over what you can find on your own, including:

1. DATA: The data available to REALTORS® is usually more accurate, complete, and current than what is found on public real estate websites.
2. TECHNOLOGY: The programs REALTORS® use in preparing a CMA are very sophisticated. Our Agents can compare the features of your home with the features of other homes using search criteria to narrow down the list of homes that are the most comparable.

   Our experienced Agents can enter data, and/or a range of data, for the time period, area, school system, distance from the subject property, architectural style, age, size, number of bedrooms, number of baths, existence, type and size of garage, existence and type of basement, and more!

   By comparing your home’s facts and features in an organized apples-to-apples way with others, the value estimates are usually more accurate and reliable.

3. EXPERIENCE: In addition to having access to better data and advanced technology, our REALTORS® have the big advantage of experience. When one has seen many homes and worked with many Buyers, one naturally develops a sense for what Buyers like and value.

   While the results of numbers crunching are important, your Agent may perceive hidden factors that don’t show up in the numbers. So, having an Agent’s unbiased opinion of the right price may save you valuable time and money!

Remember, every property is unique in location, size, floor plan, condition, features, updates and more. Even with photos some features cannot be fully appreciated until seen in person.

For that reason, although an Agent can email you a CMA from anywhere, we believe a more accurate CMA Report will include a walk-through of the property by one of our Agents, so they can take notes as an unbiased party. That way, you and the Agent can make adjustments that more truly reflect the value of your unique property.

Your Market Max America Realty Agent will prepare a CMA and walk through your home to give you professional, unbiased opinion about the value, and also give you advice on how to prepare your home for the fastest sale, at the highest price!

All with no cost or obligation to you! What more can you ask for? You have nothing to lose and a world of valuable information to gain!

Our Agents help SELLERS understand documents and responsibilities. Listing a property involves many documents, and many legal responsibilities for the Sellers, including but not limited to, truth in advertising, non-discrimination laws, Seller’s Disclosure Statement, Lead-Based Paint Disclosure and others.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITHLISTING DOCUMENTS

As part of the routine, your Agent will take room measurements and photos, and consult with you to fill out the feature sheets, remarks and other listing documents.

Your experienced Listing Agent will ask you to share a list of updates or renovations that were made to the home. They may even ask when the updates were made and how much was spent. Your Agent may ask what made this home special to you and why you love the home. Other items may be requested of you such as warranties, homeowners association governing documents, information about the neighborhood, etc. This will help your Agent market the home to the highest standard.

Market Max America Realty Agents are trained to review all listing documents with the Sellers and to answer any questions. Our goal is to have well-informed Sellers, which will reduce stress and make the home-selling experience pleasant and rewarding!

Our Agents market YOUR property in the most effective ways. Some Sellers trick themselves into thinking they will save the commission if they list By Owner instead of hiring a REALTOR®.

Below is factual data that shows how much Sellers LOSE when they try to sell By Owner:

Source: 2016 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics

• 88% of Buyers purchased their home through a Real Estate Agent or Broker—a share that has steadily increased from 69% in 2001.

FACT: The fewer QUALIFIED BUYERS you reach, the LOWER your SALE PRICE is likely to be! And yes, the statistic below shows that this is indeed a fact:

1. FSBOs accounted for 8% of home sales in 2015. The typical FSBO home sold for $185,000 compared to $240,000 for Agent-assisted home sales.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH MARKETING

REALTORS® make their living marketing properties, and the facts clearly show that nobody markets homes better.

The marketing EXPOSURE a property gets with REALTORS® is hard to match.

Market Max America Realty strives to offer the best marketing plans, with the goal of getting you the best price in the most reasonable time.

Yes, we offer custom marketing plans for luxury homes and high-end properties. Consult with one of our Agents for details.

But we also feel that every listing deserves a high-quality marketing plan that has been proven to get results.

Below is a brief summary of how our remarkable marketing plans work. Since 88% of Buyers work with a REALTOR®, it makes sense to target REALTORS® first.

Once the paperwork is complete, your Market Max America Realty Agent will order the yard sign, if desired, and upload the listing, including photos and disclosures, into Realcomp, Michigan’s largest Multiple Listing Service, (MLS).

But that’s just the first wave of exposure. Realcomp also has many data-sharing agreements with other MLS, including the “Great Lakes Repository” (GLR) and many more! That pretty much covers Michigan’s REALTOR® population.

After these steps, we target Home Buyers directly, to make sure we don’t miss any serious Buyers! Your listing, including photos, is broadcasted to many public real estate websites, such as Realtor.com®, MoveInMichigan.com, Homes.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com, and many more!

Your Realtor® may send a mass email notifying local Realtors, potential Buyers and the public that your home was just listed. They may even invite them to visit your home by hosting a Broker Open, or Open House. This event is designed to showcase your home for sale to other real estate agents and prospects.

The steps above are just a brief summary of our standard marketing plans. We may also upload certain listings directly into some websites, and use mailers and print media when it makes sense. Again, we strive to offer the best marketing plans, with the goal of getting you the best price, in the most reasonable time.

Our Agents help SELLERS respond to inquiries. Responding to property inquiries in a timely and professional way is important. Whether by phone, email or in person, the first contact with a potential Buyer can be critical. Responding in time, and knowing what to say, can be the difference between arranging a showing of the property or losing that potential Buyer.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES

Our Agents always makes time to respond to property inquiries quickly and professionally. Our Seller’s Agents know what information to share in order to peak the Buyer’s interest.

Our Agents are available to show even when SELLERS are not Most Sellers have regular jobs and other responsibilities, so it’s not always possible to show their property whenever a buyer wants to see it.

And for safety concerns, it’s never advisable to let strangers into your home. In fact, we suggest everyone take reasonable precautions when allowing complete strangers in the home.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH SHOWINGS

As far as safety, our Agents are advised to pre-screen the Buyers they work with. Our experienced Agents will guide the Buyer to a Lender or Mortgage Company to make sure they’re financially-qualified before they begin showing them homes. Proper pre-screening can also provide an extra level of protection for the Agents and Homeowners.

As for availability, not only are Agents available to show your home from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on most days, they’re also trained in how to present all the great features your home offers, without over-selling.

Once you’ve instructed your Agent what days and times the home can be shown, your Agent can make the home available only during those times. Whether you’re at work or on vacation, or already moved out of the house, the showings can continue without you!

Our Agents will work with Buyer’s Agents to confirm showings, notify you via text, email and/or calls of confirmed showings. We will also work with Buyer’s Agents to obtain feedback and statistics of all past showings.

It’s wise to keep the home clean and to cooperate with showing requests. Remember, if you turn down a showing, that Buyer may end up buying another house. We never really know which showing will result in an Offer to Purchase.

Our Agents explain offer documents to SELLERS. When you receive an Offer to Purchase, it’s very important that you read and understand all of the offer documents before you sign. You may want to consult an Attorney to protect your interests in this transaction. Where the transaction involves financial and tax consequences, you may want to seek the advice of your accountant or financial advisor.

Understanding the entire offer, including your obligations and responsibilities, is very important because, once an offer is accepted by you, it becomes a legally-binding Purchase Agreement.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH EXPLAINING OFFERS

In most cases, your Agent can help you review the offer, answer any questions, and discuss the pros and cons of different responses. You also have the option to consult with your Agent’s Broker or your Attorney, but note that there may be time limitations for responding to the offer. Where the transaction involves financial and tax consequences, you may want to seek the advice of your accountant or financial advisor.

Our Agents can help SELLERS negotiate the best deal. Many factors can be negotiated in real estate transactions including: price, terms, deposits, closing date, possession time and charges, items included in the sale, inspections, repairs and more.

Negotiating real estate matters effectively requires powerful communication skills, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg, especially when you’re up against an experienced REALTOR®. Remember, when you NEGOTIATE, you’re in a high-stakes contest. It’s a potential mine-field where saying the wrong thing at the wrong time could give away your hand, cost you thousands of dollars, or even cause you to lose the deal.

It’s also good to know when to stop negotiating, because you already have a great deal, and pushing further could make a delicate situation worse. One of our experienced Seller’s Agent will help you recognize the signs.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH NEGOTIATIONS

Our experienced Seller’s Agent can make a big difference in how successful your negotiations are. In our opinion, the best real estate negotiators usually have these qualities:

1. Effective communication skills,
2. Not emotionally involved,
3. Knows his/her client’s position on the subjects being negotiated,
4. Listens well for clues,
5. Learns as much as possible about the opposition,
6. Strong knowledge of the current real estate market in the area, and
7. Strong negotiating experience with home sales.

Let’s face it, Sellers are usually not the best negotiators, precisely because they do not exercise these important qualities. The right Seller’s Agent can save you thousands of dollars with this step alone!

Our Agents help SELLERS navigate through inspections. After a Seller accepts an offer, it becomes a legally-binding Purchase Agreement, but there are still many conditions and contingencies that must be met before the closing.

Below are a few common conditions and contingencies in Purchase Agreements:

1. Title Objections: If Buyer objects to the condition of the title, see your Purchase Agreement for what rights you and the other party may have, what procedure must be followed, and what time frame you must act within.
2. Mortgage Contingency: When a Lender is involved, see your Purchase Agreement for what procedure must be followed, what time frame you must act within, and what rights you and the other party may have.
3. Inspection and Due Diligence Contingency:

When there is a Property Inspection and/or Due Diligence Contingency, see your Purchase Agreement for what rights you and the other party may have, what procedure must be followed, and what time frame you must act within.

Most inspection and due diligence contingencies give the Buyer a specific time period after Seller’s acceptance, during which time the Buyer may have the property inspected, at Buyer’s expense.

Common property inspections are done for visible features, such as the roof, attic, foundation, windows, siding, heating, plumbing, electrical, etc. Inspections can also be done for pools, pests, mold and air quality, radon, lead-based paint, asbestos, well and septic systems, and more.

Some agreements, but not all, allow the Buyer to perform due diligence and research during this time. Due diligence may include, but is not limited to, any inspections or research deemed necessary by Buyer, to ensure the property meets the Buyer’s needs and intended use.

If Buyers are not satisfied with the results of the inspections and due diligence, then Buyers must follow the procedure outlined in the Purchase Agreement, and Buyers must act within the stated time period.

See your Purchase Agreement for details, rights you and the other party may have if you are not satisfied, and the time period you must act within.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH INSPECTIONS AND DUE DILIGENCE

There are many advantages to having one of our experienced SELLER’S Agents in your corner during the inspection period, including:

1. Taking action to resolve any inspection-related issues in a timely way.
2. Skills and experience to negotiate repairs or price reductions on your behalf.
3. Ultimately help you save a good deal from falling apart.

Having one of our experienced Seller’s Agent negotiate on your side at this critical time is very important. Once again, one of our experienced negotiators may save you thousands of dollars, or even save the deal entirely!

Our Agents help SELLERS with title insurance. Title is the ownership rights one has in property. A Seller’s title may have limitations, such as easements for utilities or other purposes. Some easements limit your ability to use and enjoy the property. Other title issues which can affect your ownership rights include mortgage liens, unpaid taxes and water bills, unpaid assessments, mechanic’s liens, plus other liens and claims against title.

With so many things that can go wrong, how can both Sellers and Buyers protect themselves from future title issues?

After title work is ordered, a Title Company searches the public records and issues a preliminary report called a “Commitment for Title Insurance”. This document is then usually emailed to the Seller, the Buyer and/or to their Agents, and should be reviewed immediately.

The Commitment for Title Insurance is based on what is found in public records and shows the owner’s name, legal description, and liens, defects, burdens and obligations that affect the subject property. It also lists the requirements that must be met before the title policy can be issued, and also lists various “Conditions, Exclusions and Exceptions” that will apply to that particular policy.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH TITLES

Both Sellers and Buyers should review the entire Commitment of Title Insurance immediately, and raise any questions with their Agent, the Title Company and/or an Attorney, as soon as possible.

In most cases, the Title Company lists certain requirements that must be met before the title policy is issued. Some of these requirements may be common and ordinary, such as requiring the Seller to pay off mortgage liens, taxes, etc.

But other “requirements” that must be resolved on or before closing, may come as a surprise to the Seller, or the Seller may not agree with.

That’s why it’s wise to review the Commitment for Title immediately. While most title problems can be resolved, it’s wise to act quickly to avoid delays to the closing.

Sellers should do their best to cooperate in “clearing the title” to make it acceptable to the Title Companies and Buyers.

If Buyers are not satisfied, they must act in a timely way to object to the condition of the title by written notice to Seller or their Agent. Most Purchase Agreements specify how “title objections” are to be handled.

Our Seller’s Agent will obtain a “Payoff Authorization” from the Sellers for each unpaid mortgage or lien, which will allow the Title Company to obtain correct payoff figures in a timely way.

Our Agents help SELLERS with the final walk-through. Many Purchase Agreements entitle the Buyer to a final walk-through inspection of the property, usually within 24 or 48 hours before closing.

Walk-through inspections are done to ensure that the Seller has vacated the property, (if keys are given at closing), and left the property in the condition specified in the agreement.

For example, Buyers may want to ensure that Sellers didn’t damage the property or remove items that were included in the agreement, or replace items with cheaper versions, including light fixtures, window treatments, appliances, etc.

Our Agents will communicate with the Sellers to ensure the house is ready for the final walk-through inspection. Our Agents will then coordinate with the Buyer’s Agent to schedule the final walk-through inspection and share the results with the Sellers.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH FINAL WALK-THROUGHS

The Buyer’s Agent usually contacts the Seller’s Agent to schedule a final walk-through of the property before closing.

We recommend the Seller leaves the house in broom swept condition, unless if the contract states otherwise. The Seller should be prepared to give the Buyer all of the keys, garage remote controls, manuals, warranties, instructions and any other pertinent information at closing.

If problems are discovered during the final walk-through, the Buyers may consult their Attorney and/or their Buyer’s Agent to discuss the options for remedying the situation.

Your Seller’s Agent will assist you with negotiating and carrying out any necessary agreements from the final walk-through. Any agreement should be in writing and signed by both parties.

Our Agents help SELLERS coordinate with others involved. Almost every transaction requires monitoring on a regular basis to make sure each side is following through with their obligations.

Believe it or not, people don’t always follow proper procedure, which can result in last-minute surprises and delays. Great closings don’t just happen by accident. Communication on a regular basis between the Agents, Title Companies, Lender and others involved, helps to keep everyone organized and focused.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH FOLLOW-UP

If you’ve read this far, you have some idea of what it takes to get to the closing with the least amount of hassle. But you may not appreciate all the work your Agent has been doing quietly, behind the scenes.

Chances are, your Agent was very much involved in every step, to ensure there are no problems, to help you solve whatever problems came up, and to ensure the best outcome for YOU!

Our Agent help SELLERS understand closing documents and procedures. Closing is the final step in executing a real estate transaction. At closing, the Buyer and/or his Lender makes the agreed payment, and the Seller executes a Deed, which is the legal document that transfers ownership to the Buyer.

In most cases, settlement or closing documents are prepared by a Title Company in compliance with applicable laws and based upon information received from Real Estate Broker(s) and Lender. Some information may come from municipalities, public records, lien-holders, homeowner’s associations and other sources.

HOW OUR SELLERS’S AGENTS HELP WITH CLOSING

Ideally, both Buyers and Sellers should review all the closing documents a few days in advance, and make sure you understand and agree with all the itemized fees.

Your Agent will answer most questions, but since the documents were probably prepared by a Title Company, some questions may also be directed to them.

Sellers should pay special attention to the ALTA Settlement Statement. This statement will provide a detailed list of adjustments, debits, credits, subtotals and disbursement amounts.

Both Sellers and Buyers should plan to arrive at the closing location on time, with a government issued photo ID, and other items noted in the instructions.

If you finds errors in the closing documents, or items you don’t understand, it’s best to speak up before closing, or even at the closing table. You have a right to know what you are signing. Most closings go smoothly, especially when the closing documents are reviewed in advance, and there are no surprises.

At closing, the Title Company usually collects payment from the Buyer by cashier’s check or wiring of funds directly to their account. When funds are received and papers are signed, the Title Company disburses all payments, including the payoff amounts to all the lien-holders, Seller’s proceeds, Broker commissions, and any third-party payments.

Our Agents help SELLERS with post-closing issues. The Title Company also often acts as escrow Agent when it’s necessary to hold funds in escrow for such items as the final water bill or occupancy by Seller after the closing date.

Funds held in escrow are disbursed after closing as provided in the Escrow Agreement. If you are due to receive a payment from an escrow fund, contact your Agent or the Escrow Agent directly.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: It’s best not to cancel your homeowner’s insurance for the home you sold until after closing, since closing dates can be delayed, you don’t want to risk being without insurance.

SELLERS – MAXIMUM EXPOSURE AND GUIDANCE FROM START TO FINISH IS PRICELESS.

If you’ve read all of the above, you can appreciate the value of our Seller’s Agent and how they are worth far more than the commission in many ways!

Even just one or two of these items could result in incredible savings to Sellers!

Having maximum exposure for your property can result in a much higher sale price which can more than pay for the commission!

Having one of our expert Agents negotiate and guide you every step of the way is invaluable.

Real estate transactions can be very complex and may require Sellers to navigate through a maze of documents and decisions.

Even one mistake, or one bad decision, can cost you many thousands of dollars!

There’s no need to take unnecessary risks or stress during the selling process. Our experienced Seller’s Agents know the road and the pitfalls.

Much of the work our REALTORS® do is behind the scenes, so they’re not always fully appreciated. But having one of our Seller’s Agent working for YOU can make the difference between night and day!

There’s a reason for that old saying, “A good Agent is worth their weight in gold”.

By seeing some of the work our Agents do, you may appreciate them a little more!

Learn More. Contact YOUR Agent at Market Max America Realty today! (248)680-1500

The week before closing can be hectic and stressful if you are not organized. As a reminder, to help relieve some of that stress, we’ve created a checklist of things to do the week before closing for SELLERS.

Every situation is different, so discuss and confirm all the items in this checklist with you Agent.

1. Closing Documents: Review all the closing documents to be sure they are accurate. It is important to understand all the charges and instructions, including what items to bring to closing. If you have questions or corrections, contact your Agent and/or the Title Company person who prepared the documents.

2. Water Escrow / Final Water Bill: In our area, water charges are not billed to a person, but to a property address. Thus, to ensure that a Buyer is not billed for the Seller’s unpaid final water bill, Title Companies usually withhold a few hundred dollars as “water escrow” from Seller at closing, from which they pay Seller’s final water bill.

Sellers who want to be sure they’ will only be liable for water charges to “on or about” the date of closing, should get a final water meter reading one or two days before closing, and request a final water bill from the water department showing paid in full, with a zero balance.

Seller should then give the Title Company the final water bill or receipt of the paid final water bill, so the Title Company knows exactly how much, if any, to withhold from Seller at closing for “water escrow”. The remainder of water escrow funds is usually returned to Seller at closing or mailed to a forwarding address.

3. Gas and Electric Utilities: Remind your Agent to inform the Buyer’s Agent that Buyers should transfer the gas and electric services into the Buyer’s name, effective on the date of closing.

IMPORTANT: Sellers can double check utility company policies, but when calling to transfer service out of Seller’s name, we think Sellers should not use the words like, “cancel service” or “shut off service”. If the service to that address is completely cancelled, the Buyers of your home will likely be charged extra fees to turn on service at that address.

A better way is to inform the utility companies that you sold your home, and you wish to transfer service out of your name, effective the date of closing.

4. Moving Company. If you are moving into your new home on the day of closing or shortly after, make sure you have made arrangements with the movers.

5. Get rid of belongings you don’t want. The weeks before closing is an ideal time to get rid of items that you don’t really want. Instead of paying someone to move it into your new home, where it will only collect more dust, this is the time to have a garage sale or donate belongings to charity or to a family in need. You save on moving costs, and you also help out a family! And if it’s really junk, this is the time to throw it out!

6. School Enrollment. Enroll kids in their new schools as needed. You may want to check in advance with the particular schools regarding the enrollment policies and forms.

7. Address Change. Inform the Post Office of your address change as soon as possible to avoid missing important mail. Create mailing labels with your new home address.

1. Deciding the asking price based on how much Seller needs to net at closing. This is a common mistake and an unscientific way to establish the asking price. Of course we want every Seller to net as much as possible, but in the real world, Buyers don’t care how much you owe, and it won’t affect how much they offer. You could be on the market a long time!

2. Deciding the asking price based on opinions from family, friends, neighbors, etc. This is also a common and unscientific way to establish the asking price. It’s fine to hear the opinions of others, but they are not experts in the field of real estate. A wrong opinion can cost you very dearly. Maybe even cost you tens of thousands of dollars!

3. Deciding the asking price based on public real estate websites. This is another common mistake that can cost you thousands of dollars. Public real estate websites are not always up-to-date or reliable and should not be your only source for deciding something this important. Plus, they don’t account for all the unique features your home offers.

Marketing Expense

• BY OWNER: Listing By Owner can mean spending hundreds, or maybe even thousands of dollars in advertising and marketing costs, all with no guarantee of success.
• WITH REALTOR®: One of our REALTORS® not only gets you much better marketing and exposure, but, in many cases, you pay nothing for that superior marketing if you don’t sell.

Exposure to Qualified Buyers

• BY OWNER: Only about 15% of Buyers search for a home without a REALTOR®, and they’re often tire kickers and bargain hunters who may try to squeeze the last dollar from you. They know you’re not paying a commission, and you have no one negotiating for you!
• WITH REALTOR®: About 85% of serious, qualified Home Buyers use a REALTOR®, since it often costs Buyers nothing to get access to the largest selection of properties, and to get a REALTOR’S® expert guidance with the home-buying process from start to finish.

Scheduling Showings

• BY OWNER: Are you able to show your house on a Buyer’s schedule, short notice, and from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, as many REALTORS® do? Sometimes it takes dozens of showings to sell a home, and the one you turn down may be your best Buyer!
• WITH REALTOR®: When you list with one of our REALTORS®, your home can be available for showings – or not available – any time you want! No need to stress about missing time from work, or from your other activities. If a Buyer is serious, one of our REALTORS® will make time for them.

Safety and Security

• BY OWNER: Are you willing to risk your family’s safety and security, by allowing complete strangers to wander around in your home?
• WITH REALTOR®: Our REALTORS® commonly interview potential Buyers first, to learn about their needs and qualifications, before wasting your valuable time showing them homes.

Time On Market

• BY OWNER: Since your home is only exposed to a small percentage of Buyers, and many of those are not serious or financially qualified, your home is likely be on the market much longer.
• WITH REALTOR®: Our REALTORS® will expose your property to the MAXIMUM number of qualified Buyers in your area, which greatly increases the odds of selling faster!

Valuable Feedback

• BY OWNER: By Owner Sellers rarely get honest feedback to know what Buyers really think about their home. Without honest feedback, By Owner Sellers can lose a lot of time on the market, guessing what actions to take to make their home sell.
• WITH REALTOR®: Buyers are far more open and honest with REALTORS® when discussing a home, than with the Owner directly. Our REALTORS® will share valuable feedback and statistics with the Seller, so you know the best corrective actions to take.

Negotiating the Price and Terms

• BY OWNER: Without the latest tools and information, you will be on your own, and you could easily lose tens of thousands of dollars negotiating with savvy bargain-hunters.
• WITH REALTOR®: Our REALTORS® are not only armed with the best tools and latest market information, they’re also trained negotiators, who can save you thousands of dollars!!

Lower Sale Price

• BY OWNER: By Owner Sellers think they’re saving the commission, but studies show they often net less than Sellers with a REALTOR®. Some bargain-hunters deliberately target By Owners because they want to save the commission.
• WITH REALTOR®: Studies and statistics show that homes listed with a REALTOR® sell for substantially more than similar homes sold By Owner!

Negotiating Inspection-Related Issues

• BY OWNER: Home inspections often result in Buyers asking for price reductions, credits or repairs. Negotiations can be tricky, as you don’t want to lose the Buyers but you also don’t want to give up too much. When you sell By Owner you’re on your own!
• WITH REALTOR®: One of our REALTORS® will negotiate the home inspection issues, and will know how to keep the deal together, without you being taken advantage of. As with other areas of home-selling, our REALTORS® can save you thousands of dollars!

Contracts, Disclosures and Legal Documents

• BY OWNER: Are you prepared to fill out and navigate through tons of paperwork, disclosures and legal documents when selling your property? One single mistake could cost you many thousands of dollars and can expose you to untold thousands of dollars in liability.
• WITH REALTOR®: Our REALTORS® knows their way through the maze of documents and they can guide you every step along the way, including attending the closing with you. There is no need to stress yourself or to take unnecessary risks.

Peace of mind about one of life’s biggest financial investments

• BY OWNER: You could sell By Owner, just as you could defend yourself in a major lawsuit, but it’s not advisable! Because your home is so valuable, and selling involves so many documents and decisions, even small mistakes could have major consequences.
• WITH REALTOR®: Your home is one of life’s biggest financial investments. Why take unnecessary risks that can result in untold costs and headaches? You can relax and enjoy peace of mind when you let our professional REALTORS® do the job they do best!

Real estate transactions can be complicated, and bad decisions can be costly. After all, your home is one of your largest financial investments.

Now more than ever, you don’t need just another salesperson. You deserve a Broker who puts YOU first.

SELLERS should know:

• NOBODY will market and expose your home better.
• NOBODY will work harder to sell your home.
• NOBODY will help you negotiate better.
• NOBODY will work harder to earn your trust and future business.

BUYERS should know:

• NOBODY will show you more homes that meet your needs.
• NOBODY will work harder to find the right home for you.
• NOBODY will help you negotiate better.
• NOBODY will work harder to earn your trust and future business.

Yes, we have access to great technology and to some of the world’s best real estate databases.

But that’s not why so many people come back to us over and over again and refer their friends.

It’s because of our friendly and knowledgeable Associates, who’ve made us famous for outstanding personal service since 1992.

If you’re tired of being treated like a number, contact us and see the difference! (248)680-1500

Don’t believe their hype. It’s just the opposite.

The TRUTH is: When Real Estate Brokers have access to the same technology, Multiple Listing Services, and an actual commercial office location with staff, the small and medium-sized Brokers usually treat you better, and usually work harder to make you happy!

ASK YOURSELF THIS:
If your child was in school, would they get more personal attention in a classroom of 500, or in a classroom of 50? You know the answer!

So why would you think that your home would get more attention with a Broker that has 500 other listings, as opposed to a Broker that has 50 others?

The large Broker with 500 listings divides their time, effort and money between 500 listings, so there is:

1. LESS personal attention to each home and client,
2. LESS concern if some listings don’t sell, and,
3. LESS concern if you’re not happy.

After all, the large Broker has 499 others like you.

The Broker with only 50 listings divides their time, effort and money
between only 50 listings, so there is:

1. MORE personal attention to each home and client,
2. MORE concern if some listings don’t sell,
3. MORE concern if you’re not happy.

You see, small Brokers can’t afford to lose too many.

Market Max America Realty is BIG enough to give you world-class service like the largest Brokers, yet small enough to care about YOU.

You have a choice:
You can go to those other guys and be just another number, or come to us and be priority number one.

That’s why you should choose a MARKET MAX AMERICA REALTOR®!

Wishing You the Best,

George Zivan
MARKET MAX AMERICA REALTY
Founder and President