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Why Use a Realtor When Buying?
Looking for a home can be a daunting task. The purchase process is full of paperwork and pitfalls–hardly a place you want to be on your own when dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars. Using the services of a Realtor puts someone on your side who’s done it all before. A Realtor can help you find a home, navigate the purchasing process, and hook you up with industry professionals you’ll need. Best of all, you pay no more as a buyer for their representation!
Finding a Home
Where do you begin? With a Realtor, it starts by defining what you want in a home. After helping hundreds clients find their perfect home, Robyn and Scott know how to listen to your “dream house” description and translate it into a workable search criteria. With your standards set, we do the legwork looking for your home. Realtors have access to the MLS system–a huge database of available homes where brand new listings can show up even before a “For Sale” sign is placed in a yard. By networking with other Realtors, a good agent can learn of homes soon-to-be on the market and get you first look at these homes.
As SunCrest’s most experienced and knowledgeable Realtors, Robyn and Scott know the neighborhood’s every detail–each floor plan, each builder’s history, each street’s unique charm. We’ve helped hundred of families find the home in SunCrest that they were looking for.
Once you’ve settled on a few homes of interest, Robyn and Scott make all the arrangements to tour these homes at a time that fits your schedule. After touring literally thousands of homes in our careers, we know what to look for; things like the age of the furnace, possible code violations, quality of craftsmanship and hidden damage, to name a few. Having a Realtor on your side doesn’t just mean getting answers, it means knowing the right questions to ask.
Navigating the Purchase Process
Once you’ve found the home you want, buying it means much more than writing a check. Having a realtor means having a seasoned veteran on your side who’s been through the process hundreds of times before. What should you offer? What if they make a counter-offer? Can you structure the offer to make the seller pay closing costs?
What about your mortgage? With 30 years of experience, Robyn and Scott have rock-solid relationships with a variety of mortgage lenders and can recommend one that will give you star treatment. We can also recommend home inspectors, appraisers, or other services you need as you find the home you’ve been dreaming of.
As a Buyer You Pay Nothing
Realtors are paid on a commission already set by a home’s seller. That means you pay nothing extra for having a Realtor on your side.
Robyn and Scott bring almost three decades of experience, knowledge of the process, convenience, and a strong voice to your side of the table.
When buying a house, the question isn’t, “Why use a Realtor.” The real question is, “Why not?”
Steps To Selling Your Home
STEP 1 – Deciding to Sell
Thinking of selling your home? How do you decide if it’s the right time? Consider the following:
Timing Did your next-door neighbor’s house just go up for sale? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Is there a new development going up down the street? Is it winter and new construction has slowed?
Finances What kind of taxes will you have to pay? Do you have cash to pay closing costs?
The X Factor Are you being transferred? Can you postpone your transfer? Called up for military duty?
Consider these things and get a feel for the market. The best thing you could do would be to talk to professionals. Certainly a Realtor would be able to talk about the market, especially a Realtor with experience in your specific neighborhood. A good tax attorney or accountant may also prove to be valuable.
STEP 2 – Find a Realtor
Hiring an agent when you sell your home means you have experience on your side. You gain a more powerful position on your side of the negotiating table by having someone who’s done it all many times before. When selling, your agent should:
- Help you decide if it’s the right time to sell
- Determine the fair market value of your home
- Help you set a price for your home
- Advise when and if price reductions would be beneficial Advise how to prepare your home for the market
- Create a marketing plan unique to your home
- Enlist your home on the Multiple Listing Service
- Provide information (electronic and print) to potential home buyers
- Schedule open houses and tours of your home
- Provide references to needed services (appraisers, lenders, inspectors)
- Receive and explain offers
- Write counter-offers
- Help finalize closing plans
So how do you choose the right Realtor? The most important factor is experience. Find a real estate agent who has extensive experience in your neighborhood. Don’t just sign up with anyone, ask questions! A few questions to consider:
- Do you work full time or part time?
- How long have you been selling homes in this area?
- Are you familiar with the areas I’m considering?
- What type of homes do you usually handle?
- What percentage of your business comes from referrals and repeat clients?
- How many sales have you closed?
- How many homes did you sell last year?
- What percentage of your listings sold during the listing period?
- How close to the asking price do your homes sell?
- On average, how many days do homes stay on the market?
- Will you guide us as we prepare the house to be shown?
- Will we receive a copy of the marketing plan?
- How will you advertise our home?
- In what publications and when will ads run?
- Will you employ an Internet marketing program?
- When do you plan to hold open houses?
- How will you advertise an open house?
- Do you plan to do anything else to get the word out?
- How often can we expect to be updated, even if there’s nothing to report?
STEP 3 – Set a Price
Your agent will help you set a price for the home that fits your needs with the market demands. They will search for homes in the area comparable to yours that have recently sold to ascertain the fair market value of your home. From there, you can generate a game plan to set the price based on your needs. Setting the price high can prolong your sales time and limit the number of people through your home, but setting it too prevents you from getting paid what your house is worth.
Make sure your agent knows your neighborhood. Often neighborhoods have “micro-trends” that aren’t prevalent in the overall market. One neighborhood might be “hot” and outside agents know nothing about it. Select the right agent for your neighborhood, and they’ll help you select the right price for your home.
STEP 4 – Make a Plan
You’ve got a great home with the right price. How are you going to get the word out? Your agent should create a custom plan for your home. In Robyn Foulger’s and Scott Steadman’s case, they prepare a tailor-made, proprietary 25-Point Marketing Plan for each home they list.
Your marketing plan should identify the agents’ responsibilities and commitments. How many open houses will they hold? How will they market online? How will they market in print?
And what will you do? What home repairs will you undertake? What needs to be replaced?
Working together with your agent you should find a plan that fits your needs and lifestyle, and one that will get your home’s information to the best buyers. Then it’s time to put it to work.
STEP 5 – The Offer
This is it! It’s time to receive offers. Together with your agent, you’ll review offers sent in by real estate agents. If there are multiple offers, you’ll have to decide which to accept. Do you take the high offer with several conditions, or the lower one with no conditions? Talk to your agent to determine what’s best for you.
Some things to consider when looking at offers:
Take Your Time
Don’t get in such a rush or panic that you settle for getting the offer terms by fax or phone. Make sure you sit down with your agent so that you understand the terms and what the offer really says.
Bottom Dollar
Determine what your bottom dollar is and never share it with any one. Compare each offer to that amount and realize that your bottom price may change as you become more familiar with the market.
Don’t take any offer personally
Your house is just one house that is on the market. Buyers scour the market for great deals and sometimes present intentionally low offers. Do not take any offer as a personal insult.
Don’t hesitate to counter-offer
Even when you get a low offer or one that you are unwilling to accept, don’t hesitate to counter. Sometimes buyers will respond positively to a counter because they are encouraged you are willing to negotiate.
STEP 6 – Closing
There’s a lot to do between the time you accept an offer and the time the house is actually sold. The buyer will do inspections, you may have to meet some conditions delineated in the offer, and the title to your home must be proven to be free and clear (free from judgments, liens, other claims, etc.).
It is your responsibility to maintain your home in the same condition it was in when the buyers made their offer. If window treatments were included, don’t pack up the curtain rods. If you included the refrigerator in the sale and it breaks, you’re still responsible for it. Many real estate complaints and lawsuits result from sellers delivering a home decidedly different from the one the buyers believed they were getting.
Once all has been done, you’re ready for closing. This is the meeting where the buyer signs final documents for transfer of title. Usually the buyer will take possession of the home the day after closing, when their mortgage loan has funded and been recorded in the local government.
Congratulations! You’ve sold your home.
Why Use A Realtor When Selling?
Selling your home can be a difficult task. With competition from neighbors and new construction, how can you get your home sold in a reasonable time for a fair price? Why pay a realtor? The benefits to using a realtor when selling your home are many. They can help you determine the best time to sell, advise you on how to prepare your home to enter the market, determine the best price, market your home to the widest and best audience, and guide you through the selling process. Their experience can make your selling experience nearly carefree.
Determining the Best Time to Sell
While employee transfers or other situations may not have the freedom to decide when to sell, the decision about when to sell is important. Do you have a deadline to sell? Can you wait a bit longer for a specific buyer? Do you have children in school? In all cases, but especially in SunCrest, the season and weather can have an effect on the market to sell your home.
Listing at the wrong time can adversely affect your bottom line. With three decades of experience and residents of SunCrest, Robyn and Scott can help marry your home-selling needs with the condition of the market to get you in the market at the right time and get top dollar for your home.
Preparing Your Home
Many sellers unwittingly spin their wheels trying to get their home ready for the market. On a limited budget, which will make the most difference: painting the walls or re-carpeting? Landscaping or finishing a bedroom?
In addition to upgrades and fixes, how should you present your home to be sold? Did you know that removing appliances from the kitchen counter makes your kitchen look bigger to buyers?
Why stab in the dark at what you think might make a difference, when an experienced Realtor can help you prioritize projects that amplify your bottom line?
Determining a Price
The price of your home is a huge factor in determining how to sell your home. While it may be tempting to set a high price in hopes of luring still-generous offers, research shows this can actually drive away potential buyers, steer them towards your competition, delay the time it takes to sell your home, and result in a lower than fair final purchase price.
A Realtor has powerful tools at their disposal to determine “fair market value.” Once this value is determined, you and your Realtor can decide where to set the price of your home– 5-10% above, 5-10% below, or right at the value–depending on your situation.
Marketing Your Home
There’s much more to marketing than a “For Sale” sign in the yard. Open houses, magazine listings, flyers, websites; there are many methods to choose from. When Robyn and Scott sell your home, they prepare a custom “25 Point Marketing Plan.” This plan goes through 25 exhaustive points to find the right tactics that will attract the right buyers at the right time, to get you a great price for your home. It’s a system they’ve developed over nearly 30 years in the industry and has proven results: in SunCrest it’s sold hundreds of homes since the community was built.
The Selling Process
Offers. Counter-offers. Contingency offers. Seller concessions. On your own the selling process can be overwhelming. Having an experienced realtor to filter out offers and advise on the best offers will ultimately help you get the best price for your home. Price, however, is only one facet of an offer. What about timeframe? Concessions? Who pays closing costs. Many times there is a better way to structure an offer that benefits you without affecting the buyer. Having a Realtor means knowing what options are available to you and having a smooth, easy transaction.
Experience
It boils down to this: Realtors have done this time and time again. Experience is invaluable, and with three decades under our belt, Robyn and Scott have sold hundreds of homes. Buyers will almost certainly have an experienced Realtor in their corner. It pays to level the playing field and put one in yours.
April SunCrest Market Update
Hidden Canyon Estates, Mercer Mountain Estates and Lakeview Heights
There’s more development in motion in SunCrest! Recently, Draper City Council approved a master development agreement regarding the properties known as Hidden Canyon Estates, Mercer Mountain Estates and Lakeview Heights.
Map of Hidden Canyon, Mercer Mountain, & Lakeview Heights
Click to open larger view
Hidden Canyon Estates
Located adjacent to the Stoneleigh Heights Townhomes and the future Edelweiss development, the agreement allows up to 300 single-family homes with a minimum lot requirement of 7,500 sq. ft. The developer will contribute $500,0000 towards the construction of trails/trailhead in either the first or second phase.
Mercer Mountain Estates
This 20-acre parcel, acquired in the Zion’s Bank acquisition, will be limited to 50 single-family homes with a minimum lot requirement of 12,000 sq. ft. The agreement will allow for a gated community if desired and all roads within MME will be private streets.
Lakeview Heights
This 20-acre parcel, commonly referred to as the “concrete jungle,” was also acquired in the Zion’s Bank acquisition. This parcel will allow townhomes or condos and be limited to 160 units and all roads within LH will be private streets.
March Active Listings
March Pending Listings
March Sold Listings
Our Take
Demand has been heavy for new construction throughout the valley and we expect SunCrest to be no different. With over 500 units slated above, we expect to see varieties in sizes, floor plans, and the latest trends that will appeal to a wide range of homebuyers bringing in more competition if you’re in the market to sell.
Hidden Canyon Estates, Mercer Mountain Estates, and Lakeview Heights
There’s more development in motion in SunCrest! Recently, Draper City Council approved a master development agreement regarding the properties known as Hidden Canyon Estates, Mercer Mountain Estates and Lakeview Heights.
Hidden Canyon Estates
Located adjacent to the Stoneleigh Heights Townhomes and the future Edelweiss development, the agreement allows up to 300 single-family homes with a minimum lot requirement of 7,500 sq. ft. The developer will contribute $500,0000 towards the construction of trails/trailhead in either the first or second phase.
Mercer Mountain Estates
This 20-acre parcel, acquired in the Zion’s Bank acquisition, will be limited to 50 single-family homes with a minimum lot requirement of 12,000 sq. ft. The agreement will allow for a gated community if desired and all roads within MME will be private streets.
Lakeview Heights
This 20-acre parcel, commonly referred to as the “concrete jungle,” was also acquired in the Zion’s Bank acquisition. This parcel will allow townhomes or condos and be limited to 160 units and all roads within LH will be private streets.
Future SunCrest Development
Future SunCrest Development
Edelweiss
Located north and east of the existing Stoneleigh Heights townhomes, this appears to be the next addition to SunCrest. Edelweiss was recently granted a zoning change to allow their proposed development of 181 townhomes, cottages and single-family estate on 61 acres. Access to this parcel is through Stoneleigh Heights Drive, Haddington Drive and an emergency access off Deer Park Lane.Hidden Canyon Estates (DJM Investments LLC)
Located east of the Edelweiss development and Stoneleigh Heights III, it’s believed that this development is seeking about 300-350 homes on approximately 135 acres. This development will likely connect to Edelweiss, as well as a new road from SunCrest Drive.
Michel Land LLC
Known as the “shoe box” property, this 83-acre development has recently been discussed to include residential homes and possibly a storage facility and/or a charter school. Recent tractors and machinery in the area suggest geotechnical studies and soil analysis may have begun.Draper City Surplus Parcels
The 20-acre parcel located near Maple Hollow has been an eyesore for many and commonly referred to as the “concrete jungle.” This parcel, when developed, is likely to include higher density units. Draper City declared this and an additional 100-acre parcel near Highland as surplus earlier this year. Declaring property as surplus is the city’s formal declaration of their intent to sell. Requests for proposals were sent out by the city but at this time, it’s still owned by the city Deer Ridge III
Originally planned for 30-40 custom homes, it’s unlikely this area will remain undeveloped; much of the infrastructure is already in place. This area does, however, present a challenge to future developers due to only having a single access point in the event of an emergency.
