Prudential Real Estate in Valdosta Ga 31602 and Lake Park Ga 31636

FINDING AND BUYING A HOME
The homefinding process typically includes many of the following elements. We will be your resource and guide every step of the way.

Initial Consultation • Determine your priorities and needs • Review "agency" choices and select appropriate working relationship • Discuss financing options

Financing • Find a mortgage company • Consult with a loan officer • Pre-qualification • Complete loan application • Obtain loan pre-approval • Provide requested documentation • Property appraisal • Loan processing • Final loan approval

Finding the Right Home • Sales professional to show you properties based on your criteria • Evaluate each property with sales professional • Choose the right home

Preparing an Offer • Review comparable sales to determine offer price • Review progress of loan pre-approval • Decide on financing • Decide on other terms (inspections, possession date, personal property, etc.) • Prepare earnest money deposit

Reaching an Agreement with a Seller • Present your offer • Negotiation of terms and possible counteroffers • Agreed-upon sales contract with seller

Completing the Settlement Process • Deposit of earnest money • Review seller's property disclosures • Review preliminary title report • Roof, termite and other inspections • Remove any remaining contingencies • Arrange for homeowners insurance • Arrange for home warranty • Arrange for movers • Final walk-through of property with sales professional • Provide balance of down payment and closing costs • Sign documents • Loan funding • Recording of title • Receive keys from sales professional • MOVE IN!

HOMESELLING PROCESS
Selling a house typically includes many of the following elements. We will be your resource and guide every step of the way.

Initial Consultation Determine your needs and priorities Review "agency" choices and select appropriate working relationship Discuss Marketing Plan Establish Pricing Strategy

Design and Implement Marketing Plan Complete home enhancement recommendations Carry out scheduled marketing activities Show the property to brokers and prospective buyers Communicate with you on a regular basis Monitor results of marketing activities Modify Marketing Plan and Pricing Strategy as necessary

Review Offer and Reach Agreement with Buyer Buyer's Real Estate Professional presents offer Discuss and clarify proposed terms and conditions Negotiation; possible counteroffers Reach final agreement

Complete Settlement Process (per purchase contract) Deposit of buyer's earnest money Sign documents Title search; preliminary title report to buyer Inspections Removal of remaining contingencies Buyer's final walk-through of property Loan funding/balance of funds from buyer Recording of title Relocation of seller; possession of property by buyer

After-sale Service Help you find your next home, as needed Assist you with relocation, as needed Provide resources for other after-sale homeowner needs

HOW BUYERS FIND THE HOME THEY PURCHASE

Homebuyers may use several information sources in their search process, but they are most likely to
find the home they actually purchase through a real estate sales professional.

THE GOALS OF EFFECTIVE MARKETING

To successfully promote your property to the market, a comprehensive plan
of targeted activities is essential. Our marketing program has three aims:

Promote directly to prospective buyers

Print advertising
The Internet
Yard sign
Open houses
Other marketing activities

Enlist the efforts of other real estate professionals

The Prudential Real Estate Network
Referral and relocation resources
Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
Direct promotion to other real estate professionals

Maintain communication with you

Review the results of our marketing activities
Consult with you to fine-tune our marketing strategy, as needed

20 STEPS TO SELLING YOUR OWN HOME

The real estate commission earned by a real estate professional on the sale of your property can be a considerable sum of money. And we know that you’ll agree it’s tempting to try to save that commission by selling your property yourself.

So, if you do decide to market your own property, we invite you to consider the following steps that you must take in order to save the real estate commission.

STEP ONE

Conduct your own mini walk-through inspection. Make notes of all items that need repair or improvement. Your checklist might include:

Fresh, clean paint throughout.
Clean windows and window coverings throughout.
Well manicured lawn and yard.
Plumbing and all appliances in working order.
New or cleaned carpet.
All sealants (window, tub, shower, sink, etc.) in good condition.
Roof and gutters in good condition; no repair needed.

STEP TWO

Make all necessary repairs and improvements before you begin to advertise your property.

STEP THREE

Carefully research information regarding the prices and terms of sales in today’s real estate market. Investigate recent sale prices for properties similar to yours in your immediate area. Then establish a realistic price for your property based on that information.

STEP FOUR

Meet with local lenders and determine financing alternatives for your prospective buyers.

STEP FIVE

Determine which Internet sites, newspapers, and home magazines, etc., will best advertise your property. Call them for rates and deadlines.

STEP SIX

Establish an advertising budget. Prepare a contingency advertising budget in case your home does not sell as quickly as you anticipate.

STEP SEVEN

Prepare a professional, attention-getting advertisement that will attract the right buyers to your property. Place your ad in the newspaper(s). Upload your information and photos to the Internet.

STEP EIGHT

Prepare a plan to reach those out-of-town buyers who account for a major portion of today’s home purchasers.

STEP NINE

Purchase an eye-catching and weatherproof yard sign; install it in the front of your property.

STEP TEN

Purchase special “open house” signs and position them in paths that lead from main roads or thoroughfares, through the neighborhoods and to the property. Put these signs out each time you hold an open house (and be sure to take them down after each open house).

STEP ELEVEN

Prepare a “feature/benefit” fact sheet outlining specific features of your home and the corresponding benefits to prospective purchasers.

STEP TWELVE

Schedule and conduct open house “weekdays” as well as open house weekends. Make your property more inviting by placing freshly cut flowers in several rooms. You might burn scented candles in the living room, kitchen, and baths. The aroma of freshly baked bread or cookies adds to the ambiance of your property.

STEP THIRTEEN

Be available at all times so that you can walk through the property with prospective buyers to answer their questions and offer information about local schools, parks, transportation, shopping, places of worship, etc.

STEP FOURTEEN

Respond to telephone and email requests for information in a timely manner. Learn how to separate the “lookers” from qualified buyers. Ask for names and phone numbers and be sure to follow up with telephone calls.

STEP FIFTEEN

Be prepared to negotiate with the buyer(s) as though you are an impartial third party. Remain calm and refrain from any emotional outburst that might spoil a sale.

STEP SIXTEEN

Obtain all forms necessary for the legal sale of real property such as:

Deposit Receipt & Offer to Purchase
Buyer’s Cost Sheet
Seller’s Disclosure Form. In our increasingly litigious society, it is imperative that all known defects be disclosed to the buyer(s).

STEP SEVENTEEN

Determine the type(s) of financing that you are willing to consider, such as:

FHA
VA
Seller Carryback First Loan
Conventional Loan with Seller Carryback Second Loan
“Wrap Around” Loan

STEP EIGHTEEN

Negotiate with the buyer(s) all final terms of the sale including price, financing, inspections, date of closing, date of possession and other pertinent considerations.

STEP NINETEEN

Plan a final walk-through with the buyer(s) before the settlement process is complete in order to resolve any disputes. Have a witness present.

STEP TWENTY

While you are marketing your current property, locate and negotiate to purchase your next home. Attempt to schedule both transactions so that they close simultaneously. In this way, you and the buyer are able to move at the same time.

Why Use a REALTOR®?

All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.

Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®.

But if you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are a dozen more reasons to use one:

1. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power -- that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. If you give a REALTOR® some basic information about your available savings, income and current debt, he or she can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. Most lenders -- banks and mortgage companies -- offer limited choices.

2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available properties.

3. Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. Agents who are REALTORS® have access to a variety of informational resources. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning. schools, etc. There are two things you'll want to know. First, will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

4. Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate. There are myriad negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. Your REALTOR® can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property. Title indicates ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access. The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. Your REALTOR®, title company or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.

6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.

7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.

8. When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.

9. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your REALTOR® acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.

10. Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is marketed with the help of your REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

11. Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.

12. Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your REALTOR® is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).

Copyright National Association of REALTORS®, Reprinted with permission.