HOME SELLER SERVICES Important Information For The Sale Of You Home   If you are planning to sell your home, make a small investment in a professional appraisal.  When selling your home you need to know a true opinion of value specific to your home and not generalized based on area alone. Unless you study real estate values on a day to day basis, like a professional appraiser does, it's difficult for you to get a handle on real estate values.    No matter if using a Real Estate agent or planning on selling on your own It is hard to be objective about your own home because of your emotional attachment.   A professional appraiser is objective and will tell you what you need to know, not just what you want to hear.   Consider a Pre- Listing Appraisal If you’re working with a real estate agent they will provide a Comparative Market Analysis that shows selected sales and depending on that professional they may be providing information either to broad or to simplified a range of sales for your individual home. This is a vital step to maximize your profit and minimize the home’s time on the market and time is money so it is well worth the small investment in a professional appraiser’s opinion of your home’s value as well.. Even if your agent is the most experienced agent it is probably still in your best interest to have an objective third-party's opinion of value prior to signing a Listing Agreement. An Appraisal provided to you by De Graff Associates will give both you and your agent have an accurate description of the homes features and a detailed analysis of the recent and similar comparable sales.  This can give you realistic selling price for your home which can help attract more buyers. It can also be a negotiating tool for your potential buyer. It will Impress buyers with proof of your home inside and out and that you have taken the steps you to understand the marketplace and values.   Things you can do before selling your home to make it more appealing to buyers: Cleaned the carpets Straightened out the closets Paint any needed trim or walls Get rid of unneeded clutter or furniture to make the home show larger spruce up the landscaping. Have the home clean and presentable for each showing. Neutralize, neutralize, neutralize Do not overprice Be sure to listen carefully to all the buyer's terms, not just the price. Remember time is money and an overpriced home many times does not get offers or gets very low offers you may find insulting. Be careful when selling and ask a lot of questions of your professional. When your agent suggests a listing price review the information provided and remember to look and see if the homes are similar, how far away they are, how long it took them to sell and how many times did they reduce the price and from what before selling. Many agents show you the homes which are currently on the market, so remember to ask the same questions because if you are basing your price on another home which is significantly over priced it can mean nothing but wasted time and money for you. Many real estate agents are not as strict in the criteria they use when suggesting a list price as an appraiser is at determining an opinion of value. We rarely use something which has not sold as a comparable to a home other than to show market stability, decline, increase, support of values or for forecasting trends. We provide an accurate of opinion based on market statistics, closed sales and immediate trends as well as a ton of state federal and suggested guidelines to arrive at our opinions of value. There is only one truly unbiased person, qualified to advise you with regard to the fair market value, a state certified real estate appraiser. At De Graff Associates we will discretely provide you with a completely unbiased estimate of the fair market value of your home. What you can expect when you decide to hire us . . . . Prompt response to your inquiry: with personalized information for your appraisal needs. Quick response to scheduling an appointment to perform the appraisal You will go thru a brief interview so we can make sure we are addressing all of your concerns. We will make suggestions and we have a variety of report types to fit your needs.  When you order and appraisal you will get quick turnaround times. You will receive a copy of your appraisal via email   After you receive your report you will also receive quick response to any follow up questions. The reports are clearly written, understandable, and meet or exceed the USPAP standards. You will have a certified appraiser’s opinion of fair market value at the time you place your home available for sale and for negotiations when you do get a contract. It can be a valuable tool and a great peace of mind.