Sellers Must Help Get Their Home Sold

You have hired a REALTOR to sell your home so you are on the right track but she can't do it without your help and cooperation. Your REALTOR is there to advise you on how to make your home desirable to a buyer, on pricing, on negotiating an offer, to market your home and represent you but there are things you must do for the success of a sale.

Please listen to your REALTORS advice on repairs and staging your home. A home that is clean, repaired, clutter-free and well arranged sells much faster than one that is not. There are many cost free or inexpensive things you can do to make your home more appealing if you don't have the budget for needed repairs.

And provide your REALTOR with the documentation they request such as the disclosure, a survey, perhaps builder plans or utility charges. These are things that enhance the value and/or provide needed information for the buyer to make a decision to make an offer.

And, I want to be your REALTOR®! If there is any information you would like regarding relocating to the Austin area, let me know. You can contact me at robin@robinscottrealtor.com, 512.589.7988 or just comment on this blog entry.

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Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

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EXPLAINING MLS

MLS or Multiple Listing Service is much more than a database of homes for sale through real estate brokers.

MLS is an organization managed by an association of REALTORS® and paid for by dues from member REALTORS®. It's purpose is for REALTORS® to cooperate and share information for the benefit of home buyers and sellers. Some of the information is proprietary and not intended to be available to the general public. Because of all the research and input from local REALTOR® the MLS is the most accurate and complete information on the local real estate market.

Often people ask why the public isn't allowed access to MLS. First, REALTORS® swear to a higher code of ethics by which they are held accountable.For any unethical conduct, including that related to MLS, they may be penalized or even loose their license.Those rules are in place to protect the public and if MLS was available to the general public it would be accessed by those accountable to no one and fraught with fraud contaminating all information which REALTORS® use to benefit their clients. Second, REALTORS® pay membership fees to support the system. It's not a free public service through which REALTORS® have harnessed exclusivity. Third, there is proprietary information that is not public information which REALTORS® are allowed access to for the beneit of their clients based on agreements of accountability. You may want access to that information but do you want everyone to have access to your information?

When you sign a listing agreement with a REALTOR® you may agree to allow the REALTOR® to post your listing on MLS. There is a standard format that all REALTORS® use. Then buyer's agents will access MLS to search for appropriate properties for their buyers or gain information to assist their sellers. Not all real estate agents have access to MLS. Only those agents who have become REALTORS® because a REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), has sworn to that higher code of ethics and pays membership fees to the association.

In Austin, the MLS also posts a home search Web site http:www.austinhomesearch.com for the consumer. It's a great tool for buyers to begin their search and familiarize themselves with nieghborhoods and prcing. The proprietary information is not included. Nationally, http://www.realtor.com serves the same purpose. It's sponsored by NAR and contains useful information for buyers and sellers.

Research shows that sellers who list with a REALTOR® and are posted on MLS achieve a 20% higher valuation on their home.

In Texas, real estate agents are required to provide a minimum level of service to clients so they may not just post your listing on MLS for a minimal fee and leave the rest to you. If a REALTOR® lists your home on MLS, they must also help you evaluate and negotiate offers you receive. There are huge benefits to using a full-service agent because their education a nd experience is working for you and they are working in your best interests.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a house, I want to be your REALTOR®. To find out more about how I can help you as a full-service agent, call me at 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com and to search for properties visit http://www.robinscottrealtor.com

Search for homes through Austin MLS
Find your home's value
Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

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Austin Smart Consumer

If you are relocating to the Austin area or are a current resident but need resources for doctors, dentists, accountants, painters and more, visit Austin Smart Consumer which is a great resource for services and I'm a featured business this week. Look for my photo on the left side. Click and read my advice column and view video interviews. I have one for real estate in general, home buying and home selling.

REALTORS ARE GREAT RESOURCES

Yesterday a past client called to ask for two things. First a comparative market analysis (CMA) of his home and second a referral to a tile installer.

It was easy to generate at CMA and usually I do this once a year for my clients without being asked but this homeowner hadn't been in his home a full year. The good news was that the value of his home had not declined since purchase. Your REALTOR® is the best resource for finding the market value of your home and neighborhood because they are familiar with your property and have a better understanding of the area where Web sites are generic and lifting flyers in your area only gives you an idea of asking price not selling price.

A tile installer was not on my list of vendors but I was easily able to get 10 referrals from REALTORS® in my network. For my clients, I compile a list of all kinds of vendors or can get names for whatever my clients need from lawn service to job inquires.

When you are looking for someone in an industry, be sure to remember your REALTOR® has vast resources.

If you know anyone interested in buying or selling a home in the Austin area, I want to be your REALTOR®. Visit my Web site for more information on how I can help you or to search for properties http://www.robinscottrealtor.com Please call or email 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com. If you know someone who is looking for a REALTOR® outside the Austin area I can referr them to a reputable agent in their area.

Search for homes through Austin MLS
Find your home's value
Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

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SELLER'S REPRESENTATIVE SPECIALIST (SRS)

This week, I completed a course for the Seller's Representative Specialist designation. In our ever changing market it's great to have a resource specifically designed to aide agents with sellers.

If you are interested in selling a house in the greater Austin area, I want to be your REALTOR®. I'm a Seller's Representative Specialist, an Accredited Buyer's Representative and a Certified Residential Specialist. Visit my Web site at http://www.robinscottrealtor.com or contact me at robin@robinscottrealtor.com or 512.589.7988. If you are outside the Austin area, I can refer you to qualified REALTORS® through my REALTOR® network.

Search for homes through Austin MLS
Find your home's value
Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

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AFTER CLOSING - WHAT TO KEEP

Often when I meet with a home seller and ask for specific documents, I find they threw some or all out after closing. I personally have kept the paperwork on every house I've purchased even if I don't own it anymore. Below is a list of what the home buyer should keep after closing:

1. HUD-1 also called the settlement statement. It's the balance sheet that itemizes what the buyer pays for and what the seller pays for. Some of the buyers costs may be deductible from your income tax. Check with a tax specialist or consult the IRS Web site - http://www.irs.gov

2. Truth in Lending Statement. This comes from your lender and includes the terms of your loan.

3. Note. This is the mortgage obligation and terms for repayment.

4. Deed. This is the instrument that transfers the title (ownership) to you.

5. Riders. Amendments to the sales contract. These may effect your rights.

6. Title Insurance Policy. This is the document that insures the title to the property is free and clear. An attorney told me this is the document you should keep even after you sell a home in case there is a dispute about ownership at some point after you sell.

7. Survey. This is the certified line drawing of the property from bird's-eye view showing where the property lines are, where the home is on the property, easements, building setbacks, fences, etc. In Texas buyers are allowed to reuse a survey if nothing has been changed that would effect the survey and pending approval from the title company.

Search for homes through Austin MLS
Find your home's value
Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

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AGENT EDUCATION

Continuing education is a requirement for being an agent and I go the extra mile by taking more classes then are required. Today, I'm attending a seminar on real estate investing and Monday and Tuesday I'll be in classes to acquire a designation for Seller Representation Specialist. Advanced education enables me to better serve the community. I'm looking forward to sharing the information I learn with you.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in the greater Austin area, I want to be your REALTOR®. If you are buying or selling out of the area, I can connect you with a reputable agent in your area through my real estate connections.Call or email me at 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com and for more information on how I can help you or to search for properties visit my Web site at http://www.robinscottrealtor.com

Search for homes through Austin MLS
Find your home's value
Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

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What Is the Survey for a House?

The survey is the document that defines the property and shows the parameters of the lot, where the house sits on the lot, where the building setback lines are, the utility easements and fences. A survey is created by a licensed surveyor and is very precise. The title company uses it to determine if there are any encroachments.

At one time, Texas law didn't allow surveys to be reused but that has changed. Since it's usually a buyers expense and it costs about $450, the buyer will probably ask the seller to provide the existing survey for title company review. If there have not been changes like adding a pool or moving the fence line, the title company will usually accept it but requires the seller to sign an affidavit that there have not been changes to the property that would effect the survey.

In short, if you are selling your house, locate the survey. The buyer will want it. If you can't find it you may contact the title company where you closed and ask them for a copy. If you are the buyer, be sure to ask the seller for the survey because it can save you some money.

Search for homes through Austin MLS
Find your home's value
Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

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WHAT'S IN A HITS REPORT

On Tuesdays the photography company. I use to photography my listings sends me and my sellers a report on the number of hits their online advertising has received. It's a great measuring tool that helps me keep informed of market conditions of a property and keeps the seller up to date on what's going on too. The report pulls the numbers from MLS, my site, company site, realtor.com, trula, zillow, google,austinhomesearch.com and 12 misc. sites to which I post. It shows how many hits a day, a week and which photos are being viewed.

When you use my services, I use a professional photography company to photograph your house, I post your ad where the buyers are looking - online and you get a weekly activity report emailed to you.

LOOKING FOR HOME SELLERS

I have many buyers but a shortage of sellers. I have signs and lockboxes with no home. If you are considering selling your home, call me. I can show you what I can do to sell your home and provide you with a free market analysis. I want to be your Realtor. Robin at 589-7988.

Search for homes through Austin MLS
Find your home's value
Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

Like us on facebook!