SELLING YOUR HOME SELLING YOUR HOME
with the Market Leader
A SELLER’S GUIDE
For over 40 years, we’ve been helping people just like you.
T hank you for considering Prudential Carolina Real
Estate to market and sell your home. We know you have a lot invested, both financially and emotionally, and your decision about whom you choose to sell your home is the next critical step. You want your sales associate to listen to you, understand your goals, keep you informed and involved, and aggressively market your home as they guide you through the many complexities from pricing strategy and contract negotiations to inspection and closing. And that’s just the beginning. For over 40 years, we have worked together with sellers who have placed their trust and confidence in us. In 2005, we successfully helped over 12,000 clients and, while we’re proud of the results we’ve achieved for our clients, our success was built by satisfying the needs of each, one seller at a time. We direct all of our programs and efforts towards the ultimate goal of selling your home while making the process as safe and stress-free as possible. The pages ahead outline some of the important steps in the selling process and demonstrate the benefits that only Prudential Carolina Real Estate can provide. Good luck and please let us know if we can help.
Top 10 Residential Companies Closed Sales
All information provided from Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Prudential Carolina Real Estate is Ranked #37 in the nation out of more than 80,000 firms.
Michael O’Shaughnessy Patty Scarafile Grange Cuthbert
CORE VALUES
TRUTH
Commitment to honesty without compromise
“Thank you for your great service. Our contract was negotiated and closed without a hitch, and not for a lack of potential problems but for your positive energy and professionalism.”
EXCELLENCE
Extraordinary beyond expectations
RELATIONSHIPS
Connecting for a lifetime
FINANCIAL SUCCESS
Everyone wins
Ralph B. Jr.
Now that you’ve decided to sell your home, what’s important to you?
At Prudential Carolina Real Estate, we know that your home is more than just bricks and lumber… it’s rooted in laughter, memories, and dreams. We understand that your home is one of your most valued investments. We’re experienced with the steps and hurdles involved in selling your home and will guide you through every step of the process. We want to understand your reasons for moving, your time frame, and your future plans. Our efforts will be focused on selling your home for the best price and under the terms and conditions that work in your best interest. This begins by listening and understanding your goals. We want you to be informed, involved, and comfortable with the process.
“Before we even discussed price and marketing ideas, our Prudential Carolina Real Estate agent made sure she understood our goals.”
How do we begin?
Some of the most important work starts prior to putting your property on the market. We will… • Become familiar with your home and its advantages • Do complete market research and work together to determine the best pricing strategy • Identify a “target buyer” who will be attracted to your home’s unique features and the lifestyle it offers
Allison and Arthur M.
• Determine the smartest marketing strategy for you • Discuss staging techniques and advise about repairs
so that your home shows at its best • Understand the method and frequency of communication that works best for you • Inform you of the entire selling process and what to expect
successful, and stress-free experience.
We will work together to achieve a convenient,
Our Performance Guarantee:
If at any time you are not happy with our service… we will do what it takes to make you happy or you can cancel your agreement.
We will…
• • • • Listen to your goals and objectives Communicate with you on your terms Always keep your best interests at heart Keep you informed and involved in the process
Are all real estate companies the same or is there really a difference?
How do you choose?
At Prudential Carolina Real Estate, we understand that when you decide to sell your home, you want help from a partner you can trust - a trusted advisor who will give you valuable advice and insight into the market conditions and trends. We know that there is a lot more involved in a successful sale than simply listing your house in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), putting a sign in the yard, and placing an ad in the newspaper. While these steps are certainly important, they are only a small part of selling your home.
Throughout the process, we will be your... trusted advisor.
We know that it’s our responsibility to protect your confidentiality, your security, and ultimately your investment, so we take great care in how we manage your home’s exposure to the marketplace. In fact, we work with more homebuyers than any other real estate company in the area. Through our extensive marketing programs and services, we provide unparalleled support when it comes to exposing your home to potential buyers. Only Prudential Carolina Real Estate has the advantage of advertising your home in our popular and widely distributed “Real Estate Buyer’s Guide.”
Prudential Carolina Real Estate listings sell for an average of 98.7% of the list price.
We’ll show your home to more buyers
than any other real estate company; it’s our promise, and we’ll tell you exactly how we’re going to do it.
“Tireless efforts...multifaceted marketing campaign... always prepared to take care of last minute problems... highly recommend to everyone who is serious about selling their home.”
Wayne H. and Rebecca O.
What makes us so different? No one works harder to sell your home.
We know that more and more homebuyers are beginning their search on the Internet. Prudential Carolina Real Estate’s website, www.prudentialcarolina.com, averages more than 50,000 unique visitors every month. The site offers advanced features for buyers, such as “Personal Shopper,” which automatically emails them the newest properties that match their needs. Prudential Carolina Real Estate will also advertise your home on many national websites, including realtor.com and prudential.com. And our exclusive agreement with Yahoo Real Estate means that we are the only real estate company in the area whose homes will be included in the Yahoo Real Estate homefinder database. In addition, we also offer a variety of supporting marketing tools to help sell your home, such as 360° virtual tours, open houses, direct mail campaigns, our television Home Show, and more. Among our distinct advantages are our office caravans, designed to expose your home to other Prudential Carolina Real Estate sales associates. In fact, it’s our internal communication that results in so many in-house sales by our associates. We are one of only a few companies whose sales offices are open 7 days a week and staffed by trained professionals there to arrange showings and service potential buyers for your home.
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We hire the best people. What makes our sales associates different?
• A multi-tiered education program • Access to the latest technology • A professional work environment with 15 • • • •
neighborhood offices and 3 under construction In-house legal counsel to assist in complex negotiations Full-time agents: it’s their career not a hobby Recognition and strength of the Prudential name Non-selling office managers there to guide and help
6 out of 10 of Prudential Carolina
Real Estate’s listings are sold in-house.
You will have the full support of more than 900 Prudential Carolina Real Estate sales associates to sell your home.
We will…
• Provide you with current market conditions and trends • Protect your confidentiality and security • Provide you with unparalleled exposure
“Considering the unusual and complicated nature of this sale, I’m so grateful to have people like you to work with...The care and attention to every detail was more than I expected.”
Anne and James D.
We found a qualified buyer for your home. What happens next?
Our job goes far beyond marketing your home and finding a buyer. Once we receive an offer from a buyer, there are lots of important questions …
Understanding the offer.
• Who are the buyers and do they have a home to sell? • Are they financially qualified to buy your home? • Does the closing date on the contract coordinate with
when you need to move?
• Is there enough earnest money? • Are there any contingencies? • Are the removals of these contingencies clear and
time limited? • If there are multiple offers, how do they compare? Is the one with the highest price always the best offer? • What are your responsibilities? • How much will you receive at closing? Getting the answers, doing research to be sure we’re current on market information and pricing, checking to be sure the buyer is qualified, explaining the details of the offer, answering all of your questions, and making sure the technical language protects you, this is all a part of what we do. Negotiating in your best interest with the buyer and his agent is always a delicate and practiced skill.
We want a win-win situation where everyone feels good about the sale, but we always keep your interests primary in our negotiations.
Technical expertise...we’ll make sure the contract protects you and we’ll negotiate the offer on your behalf.
“After trying to sell our home ourselves to avoid paying a commission, we became fed up with the hassle. Our agent always operated with our best interest at heart...made us more money than if we had gotten our F.S.B.O. asking price, even after paying his commission.” Joby and Evelyn R. “Experience... this is what we do.”
Another Prudential Carolina advantage... the added value of a smooth closing.
After we find the buyer and negotiate the contract, we will assure a smooth closing by guiding you through...
It’s true that some of the biggest hurdles in the sale of your home occur between the signing of a contract and a successful closing. The process of getting to the closing table often starts with the buyer’s inspection report. Differentiating between the serious problems that require repair and cosmetic issues that are considered normal wear and tear can often be tricky, but we’re there to protect your position and to negotiate on your behalf. And of course, it all must be in writing. Whether it’s the termite and moisture report, the appraisal and survey, contingencies that have to be removed within the timeframe agreed in the contract, or repairs that must be completed prior to closing, we’re right there to help and guide you. The buyer’s loan approval, the walk through inspection, making sure all the paperwork is coordinated with the closing attorney to insure the closing takes place as scheduled, or something unpredictable, it’s just part of the service and commitment we provide to be there every step of the way until your closing is complete and you’re on your way to your new home.
• • • • • •
Contingencies Inspections Appraisal and survey Repairs Buyer’s financial approval Coordinating all the details of the closing
Our in-office loan originators can answer questions concerning a buyer’s loan qualification status.
A Successful Sale...
the Results You Want.
“Selling our home was a bittersweet experience... we loved our home. We sensed you would look out for us. Thank you for being there for us until the very end.”
Tim and Beth H.
There’s a Prudential Carolina Real Estate office close to your neighborhood.
Carolina Real Estate
www.prudentialcarolina.com