Selling

Get the Straight Facts About What Can Make or Break the Sale of Your Home.

Choose an Experienced, Professional Realtor!

Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Your home is likely your largest asset - this may be the biggest financial move you've ever made, one that requires significant thought and strategy.

Countless questions are unearthed during the process. How much is it really worth? How long will it take to sell in the current Vancouver real estate market? How do you handle buyers making undesirable offers?

As an experienced North Shore Realtor since 1987 with a proven track record, it is my job to guide you through this complicated process, from beginning to end. I want you to get the maximum value for your home, within your own time frame.

Here are some tips to help you begin

For most families, their home is their largest financial asset, and deciding to sell it is a big decision that involves a lot of preparation and work. When you're ready to sell it's important to have an experienced real estate professional handle the details involved in the successful sale of a home for top dollar.

As an experienced professional who has helped many area residents sell their homes, I know how to handle every aspect of the sales process - from strategically marketing and showcasing your home to making sure everything's signed, sealed and delivered by the closing date.

Providing you with comprehensive, high-quality listing service is my top priority.

With my experience in all aspects of real estate management, I have developed an approach and marketing program which ensures top results for my clients.

All Realtors are not alike - There is a DIFFERENCE!

It’s a fact that it does matter which Realtor you choose to list your home. It’s important to have a Realtor with the education and experience to anticipate problems, avoid them or be able to handle them quickly in a professional manner should they occur – and to possess exceptional negotiating skills which can convert a prospect into a buyer while obtaining the highest price and best terms for you.

You should select a Realtor based on their credentials and past track record. A realtor with whom you feel comfortable with and trust.

A Realtor with the knowledge to best serve your interests will have a supportable performance record for you to review.

There’s more to selling a home than putting an ad in the newspaper and putting a sign in the yard.

Most qualified buyers are generated by Realtors through referrals, past clients and various proactive marketing initiatives. In other words, most buyers are generated from a pool of buyers who have been nurtured and developed over time.

The Julie Urquhart Advantage

I am a specialist who works on every aspect of the home buying and selling process from advertising to closing and even after closing.

You can always reach me when you need to. I continuously strive to deliver excellence in everything I do for my clients.

I am dedicated to delivering excellence in every aspect of my business. It is my mandate to receive the trust, satisfaction and highest confidence from my clients while delivering the results they want. 

Pricing Strategies

Pricing is the most crucial component of selling your home. The competitive nature of the current Vancouver real estate market means that over-pricing by a few thousand dollars could make the difference between your home selling quickly or not selling at all.

Overpricing your home might mean minimized offers, fewer showings, fewer agent responses, limited financing, limited buyers qualified for your type of home, or a smaller net price. Avoid these outcomes by setting the price of your home at its market value when you first list on the Vancouver market.

Contact me I'll help you price your home competitively to attract qualified buyers. The first step I'll take is to generate a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report, which will show you a range of prices being paid for homes in your area.

Visit my short online Home Evaluation form that will give you an initial idea of your home's market value.

Make Your House More "Sellable"

While we all believe that our home is our castle, our personal tastes may not appeal to everyone. I will work with you to provide you with an impartial analysis of your home - how it relates to other "competing" homes on the Vancouver real estate market and how your home reflects current design and style trends. I'll also closely evaluate the general condition and upkeep of your property.

Get Your House Ready to Show to Buyers

A house that "sparkles" on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well maintained.

From experience, REALTORS® also know that a "well-polished" house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is well maintained, they assume that what they can't see has probably also been well maintained. In readying your house for sale, consider:

• how much should you spend to prepare your house for sale?

• exterior and curb appeal

• interior appeal

How Much Should You Spend to Prepare Your House for Sale?

In preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive polishes and touch-ups to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen.

I am familiar with buyers' expectations in your neighborhood and can advise you specifically on what improvements need to be made and which improvements are most effective. Don't hesitate to ask for advice.

Maximizing Exterior and Curb Appeal

When preparing to put your home up for sale, your first concern is the home's exterior. If the outside, or "curb appeal" looks good, people will more than likely want to see what's on the inside.

Here are some tips to enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal to buyers:

• Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered.

• Regularly trim hedges and weed lawns and flowerbeds.

• Be sure your front door area has a "Welcome" feeling.

• Paint the front door.

• In spring and summer, add a couple of pots of showy annuals near
your front entrance.
• In snowy areas, keep walks neatly cleared of snow and ice.

• Check foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and
deterioration, and fix any problem areas.
• Remove and repaint any peeling paint on doors and windows.

• Clean and align gutters.

• Inspect and clean the chimney.

• Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles.

• Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking.

• Reseal old asphalt.

• Keep the garage door closed.

• Store RVs and old cars elsewhere while the house is on the market.

Maximizing Interior Appeal

You want your home to look as spacious, bright and clean as possible. Also the home should look neutral – without a lot of your personal and sentimental objects - so buyers can begin to imagine living there.

Here are some tips to enhance your home’s interior appeal to buyers:

Give every room in the house a thorough cleaning and remove all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms actually rent storage garages and move half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.

Use a professional cleaning service every few weeks while the house is on the market.

Remove the less frequently used, and even daily-used items from kitchen counters, closets, basement and attic to make these areas more inviting.

Make sure that table tops, dressers and closets are free of clutter.

Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms: they should look as modern, bright and fresh as possible. It is essential for them to be clean and odor free.

Repair dripping faucets and showerheads.

Buy showy new towels for the bathroom, and put them out only for showings.

Spruce up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by installing new curtains and cabinet knobs, or applying a fresh coat of neutral paint.

Clean walls and doors of smudges and scuff marks.

If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled or strongly-colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.

Check for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement, and fix any problem areas.

Seal basement walls if there are any signs of dampness or leakage.

Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint and tiles.

Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings and other woodwork.

Inspect and repair the plumbing, heating, cooling and alarm systems.

Through my Personal Home Search, your listing will be sent to every prospective buyer in my database, where your home meets their personal criteria. I will continue to e-mail it to prospective buyers as long as your home is on the market.

As soon as you list your home with me, I will enter your listing in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database. Other agents can immediately access your property information by computer.

I regularly publish in North Shore area newspapers and send out email pieces to potential buyers.

Remember, I will be working with you to ensure you get the highest possible price for your home in the shortest period of time.