Seller Information

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Highly Ranked Internet Presence:  

You will have the power of the areas foremost real estate web-sites with maximum worldwide exposure twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Your home is now marketed to a much larger audience of buyers. Our web sites are actually an on-line relocation/information center. In this age of information, buyers are able to receive instant information on Knoxville and surrounding area, including maps, weather reports, vacation spots, schools, medical facilities, University of Tennessee and of course, homes for sale.

Buyers, at their leisure really enjoy being able to immediately see a photo of new homes on the market; traditional Marketing can’t match the nearly instantaneous gratification the Internet can offer.

My Domains:
SmokiesMLS.com, Bettina4Homes.com, BettinaSells.com, GatlinburgMLS.com, HouseButton.com, Push4Homes.com, SeeMoreCabins.com, SeymourMLS.com, SmokiesMLS.com, SmokyMLS.com, Surf4Cabins.com, Surf4Houses.com, Surf4Properties.com, TNCabinPro.com, TNHomepro.com, LakesRUs.com

Marketing:  

The Talking House
The talking house is a mini radio station that broadcasts a personalized pre-recorded message about your property. Prospects simply drive up, tune into AM 1610 and listen on the TALKING HOME, to learn about your property’s special features and benefits. 

Creating a “buyer event” such as an open house can stir interest in your property. We can schedule and advertise times when prospective buyers are able to view the property. 

Home Warranty means Peace-of-Mind
Ferguson Realtors is proud to offer to their clients the Hometrust Warranty protection plan. The seller’s coverage begins when the home is listed and is in effect until the property goes under contract, at no cost to the seller. The seller can choose to offer this warranty protection to the buyer for one full year from closing. By offering the warranty, the seller can gain a marketing  advantage over competing properties. In addition, the warranty helps eliminate post-sale disputes. The buyers will enjoy peace-of-mind from unexpected repair costs. One year’s repairs or replacement is just a phone call away and the policy is renewable.

Consistent Advertising of your property.
There are many ways that Ferguson Realtors can bring prospective buyers to your property. In addition to the real estate section of the news paper, we include property for sale in home magazines that are distributed free and include a picture  buyers. Most company wide ads include the quick-mls web address

Personalized Color Brochures
Brochures are designed exclusively for your property with multiple photographs and descriptions highlighting the best features.

Visual Tours
Increase Exposure. Technology is rapidly changing the way real estate is bought and sold. Virtually every listing is now available on the Internet, and many people start their home searches online. Today's buyers and sellers now expect the convenience and time savings that virtual tours provide. Virtual tours are online presentations that allow the potential buyer to view the property before doing an onsite visit. Qualified buyers can view the most important features of your property when deciding to buy.

RELO^® Universal Listing Exchange (R.U.L.E.) is a centralized database of RELO^® member listings. Through National Search buttons on participating RELO^® member Web sites, consumers can view properties in communities across the country! And, clients who list their homes with participating RELO^® members get the added benefit of having their home shown on leading Web sites nationwide. The RELO^® Universal Listing Exchange…just one more reason to select a RELO^® Broker for all of your real estate needs.

Powerful National Home Search ...Your property is on 700 company websites
Realty South , Russ Lyon Realty, Alain Pinel Realtors, Brudos Realty, Dickson Realtors, First Team, Karpe Real Estate, Lyon & Associates, Winkelmann Realty, Young Realtors, Prestige Real Estate Group, The Kentwood Company, Barbara Cleary's Realty, Beazley Company Realtors, Neumann Real Estate, Sparrow Hicks Real Estate, Weichert Realtors, William Orange Realty, Inc., William Pitt Real Estate, Long & Foster Realty, Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, Fannie Hillman & Associates, Michael Saunders & Company, Murphy-Matthews & Associates, Ochlockonee Bay Realty, Inc., Southern Realty Enterprises, Inc., The Keyes Company, Watson Realty Corp, Cora Bett Thomas Realty Company, Harry Norman Realtors, Jenny Pruitt and Associates, Inc.,  F. C. Pilgrim & Co., J.W. Reedy Realty Ltd , Schiller Real Estate, Glen Ellyn, Starck & Company Realtors, Lawrence Realty Associates, Inc. , Sibcy Cline Relocation, Latter & Blum, Inc. Realtors, At The Cape Properties, Inc. ,Christopher J. Barrett Reading, Chute & Payzant Real Estate, Inc. James J. Bremis Realty, Inc., Lillian Montalto Realtors ,. Mackintosh, Inc., Realtors Frederick, Randall H. Hagner Company, Inc. Weichert Realtors Greenridge Realty, Inc. Moline MI Real Estate One, Inc. Hills, Tomie Raines, Edina Realty,  Latter & Blum, Inc. Realtors Keesler, Allen Tate Company, Beverly-Hanks & Associates, Bissell-Hayes, Inc. Realtors, Burt Jordan Realtors, Craven & Company Realtors,  Dickens-Mitchener, Morisey Realty, Graham & Boles Properties, Crossroads Realty, Diane Turton, Realtors, Jordan Baris  Schweppe & Co., Woodward Realty Group Wyndemere Real Estate Co, Inc. The Vaughan Company Realtors, Kirkland Joyce Realty, Gale Real Estate Real Estate Inc., Manor Gate Realty Inc., National Homefinders, Signature Properties, Inc. , Nothnagle Realtors Realty, Seaville Realty, Shea & Sanders Real Estate Inc., Stiefvater Real Estate, The Halstead Property, Cam Taylor Co., Realtors, Realty One, Northwood Realty Services, Plumer & Associates, Inc., Realty 1, Residential Properties, Ltd., John Poston & Company, Inc, Rinehart Realty Corporation, Raben Real Estate, Crye-Leike Inc, Ferguson Realtors, Adleta & Poston, Amelia Bullock Realtors, Inc., Briggs-Freeman Real Estate Brokerage, Ebby Halliday Realtors, Forest Associates Realtors , Heritage Texas Properties, Martha Turner Properties, Sherry Browne, Realtors,Wayne Murray, Realtors, Williams Trew Real Estate Services, Dawson Ford Garbee & Co Inc., McEnearney Associates, Miller and Company, Randall H. Hagner Company, Inc., John L. Scott Real Estate, WI First Weber Group Inc, Shorewest Realtors

Multiple Listing Service,  makes it easier to reach a large number of prospective buyers through buyer’s agents. Quite simply, it’s a system under which participating MLS members agree to share information on the sale of houses listed and sold by participating brokers: More people have an interest in selling your property.

Fair Market Value:   

Properly priced homes will sell
It is important to keep in mind that in any market, homes sell based on three main factors: price, exposure and condition. The single most important ingredient in selling your house is pricing it correctly. You must start thinking about your house objectively, not emotionally, as a product which must compete against every similar products on the market.

Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), will give you the reliable information you need to price your property correctly. It essentially is an overview of a price range  much your property could sell for in our current real estate market. We will be comparing to houses currently on the market,  houses that failed to sell (for whatever reason), houses under contract (pending sale), and houses that have sold within the past year. While location is important, the neighborhood is critical to pricing. People frequently buy the neighborhood first, and the house second. The same home in a different neighborhood can have a dramatically different value. The number of similar unsold homes in the market area competing against your home is critically important. Your home must be positioned competitively against like kind homes in the market in order for it to sell. Remember that pricing your property is not a "bidding war" between Realtors, and that the Realtor is not the buyer! The best REALTORS don't play the game of trying to "buy" listings.

Proper Pricing:   

Next to selecting a Realtor, proper pricing is the most important decision to be made when selling a home.  It is the most important factor affecting the final sale price and the length of time required to expedite the sale.

A recent national marketing survey showed that the practice of pricing  high "just to test the water" is most likely an unfortunate waste of time.  Similarly detrimental is the practice of leaving an overly broad range for negotiation between the asking price and that which is actually acceptable as a final sales price.  An overpriced property is not seen by nearly as many prospective buyers , as one that is more realistically priced.  You must have a buyer with whom to negotiate before "room to negotiate" has any relevance. You will lose the excitement that a new listing generates.  Most activity on a listing comes within the first 30 days.

You will lose the most qualified prospects!  Buyers will not "just make an offer because they probably will never see your property.  They will view the properties that are priced within their purchase price range, knowing that they cannot afford anything above their price ceiling.

Overpricing helps sell other, more competitively price homes first.  Your home may be used to demonstrate the good value of other properties.  Your objective should be to enter the market in a position that will attract prospects, not drive them away.

Your home may become stale on the market.  Prospects may wonder why it has been on the market so long or if something is wrong with the property, even after you lower your initial price.  You may even have to settle for less than market value.  A house takes on a reputation surprisingly fast, so don't wear out your welcome on the market.

One of the risks of overpricing is that a contract may fall through because of appraisal problems.  The lender may not be able to justify the inflated price as it relates to loan value, considering it a high risk and ultimately refusing to lend the buyer mortgage funds.

You lose a strong negotiating position when your home is on the market a long time, both financially and mentally!  Prospects will not "rush" to make an offer on overpriced property, and you may feel compelled to accept less when they finally do.

The agent you list your home with cannot set the sales price of your home any more than your stock broker dictates the price of stock sale.  The selling price is simply a function of supply and  demand.  Never let an agent bid for your listing.  Most unsold listings that expire on the market are due to poor pricing, subjecting the owners to the risks discussed above.

My goal is for you to feel confident that you are being represented by an agent and organization that is second to none. Why settle for less?

Home Inspections:   

Homesellers can greatly benefit by having a professional home Inspection done before placing their home on the real estate market.

A home inspection performed by a competent inspector provides the home seller with useful information regarding the condition of their home.

The inspection is done by a  third party, qualified and often  is a bonded inspector. The evaluation can limit the seller’s liability, as it is a written document as to the property’s condition.

A seller can complete the residential property disclosure with more confidence with the assistance of a professional.

In addition, the seller will have an opportunity to make necessary repairs and improvements. This can be done on the seller’s timetable with ample time to get the work completed and at the best price.

Seller’s that have this information are less likely to be surprised later, after signing a contract, to discover that they have unexpected repair expenses.

The seller can expect to maximize their selling price with evidence of the condition of the property and the needed repairs completed. Oftentimes, buyers will deduct from their offer to purchase more than the actual cost of a repair simply because they may not know how to price the repairs. Buyers usually over estimate to protect themselves.

Home Condition:   

Look at your house, as if you were seeing it for the first time, and be as critical as buyers will. Open up space, closets, storage as much as possible because openness creates a positive impression with buyers.  Your ideal goal is to show the property in "move-in condition" without a thing to fix.

A first impression is crucial in selling a home. Remember that when a prospect comes to look at your home, the first impression (curb appeal) is vital. Your front lawn and other landscaping should be neatly trimmed and mowed. Make certain that your yard is clean of refuse and leaves. The walk should be swept and, in winter, remove ice and snow from walk and steps. The front door must be clean and fresh looking, the doorbell in working order. Seventy percent of the time a potential buyer will drive past your home to see the outside before they will make an appointment to see the inside.

Fix leaky faucets. Dripping water suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Discolored, rust-stained sinks should be thoroughly cleaned.

Decorating for a quicker sale. Faded walls and worn woodwork will reduce the appeal of your house. Why describe how your house could look... when you can show how it does look. A minor investment in paint could pay bigger dividends to you in the form of a better price and a quicker sale.

Let the sun shine in. Open the drapes and curtains. Clean the windows. Dark and dreary rooms do not appeal to most home-buying prospects. Make sure that the window treatments are freshly cleaned or laundered.

Little things mean a lot. Loose door knobs or cabinet pulls, sticking doors and drawers, wobbly hinges, stuck windows- all are negative factors. Check and repair all these seemingly minor flaws, since they do detract from the value of your house.

Safety first. Keep stair ways and corridors clear and clean of clutter. In addition to being unattractive, clutter causes accidents.

Top to bottom. Let prospects see the potential of your attic, basement, garage and other utility/storage spaces by removing junk and other articles. Neatly stack cartons, etc. If the storage spaces are dark, a coat of paint or extra lighting can do wonders.

Love big closets! We all love closets and you can make them look even bigger by having them clean, neat and well organized. Get rid of old clothes and cartons that take away from the spacious look.

Bathrooms sell homes. Make bathrooms sparkle. Clean stained sinks and bowls, repair any damaged or discolored caulking around bathtubs and showers, be sure towels and area rugs are bright, make certain all light fixtures and bulbs work.

Wake up your bedrooms. Keep bedrooms bright. After the prospects are gone you can close the drapes. Remove excess furniture to avoid a crowded look, use attractive and colorful bed linens and spreads.

Can you see the light? Illumination in your home can be the "welcome sign" for every prospect. Turn on all of the exterior and interior lights--including the accent and picture lights--when your home is shown at night.

Avoid crowds. Potential buyers will feel like intruders and want to hurry through your house if there are people around.

Silence is golden. When showing your house, turn down, or off, radios or television sets. Let the salesperson and buyers talk freely without having the noise of a radio.

Put the pets out. Keep all pets out of the way and not underfoot.

Be it ever so humble there's no place like home. Don't apologize for the appearance of the house. If something out of the ordinary should happen to mess-up the appearance, inform the salesperson when you are first called for the showing.

This is not a garage sale. Don't try to sell the potential buyers any of the furniture or furnishings that you don't want to take with you. These are details that can be discussed afterwards.

Terminology:   

ADJUSTMENTS: Money that both buyer and seller credit to each other at closing, including taxes and down payment.
APPRAISAL: Unbiased, professional opinion of a property's value based on its style and appearance, construction quality, usefulness, and the value of comparable properties.
APPRAISAL REPORT: A written report by an appraiser containing their opinion as to value of a property and the reasoning leading to their opinion. The factual data supporting the opinion, such as compatibles, appraisal formulas, and qualifications of the appraiser, will also be set forth.
ASKING PRICE (Listing Price): Price at  which the owner wishes to sell a property.
BONA FIDE PURCHASER: A purchaser in good faith, for valuable consideration, without notice or knowledge of adverse claims of others.
BUYDOWN: An interest subsidy, paid at closing which either temporarily lowers monthly payments for the first few years of the loan, or permanently lowers the payment for the entire term.
BUYERS MARKET: A market condition favoring the buyer. In real estate , when more homes are for sale than there are interested buyers.
CLOSING COSTS: These are costs related to the loan, paid in addition to the down payment on the closing day. May include Abstract of Title Search, Title Examination, Document Preparation, Notary Fee, Attorney's Fee, Title Insurance.
COUNTER OFFER: An offer (instead of acceptance) in response to an offer.
DEED: Actually, any one of many conveyancing or financing instruments, but generally a conveyancing instrument, giving to pass fee title to property upon sale.
DEPOSIT or EARNEST MONEY: Money given by the buyer with an offer to purchase. Shows good faith. Also called earned money.
DISCOUNT POINTS: A one time charge paid at closing used to adjust the yield on the loan to what market conditions demand.
EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT: Federal law granting women certain independent status, and preventing lenders from considering such negative credit aspects as the possibility of a woman having children and dropping out of the labor market.
FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT: A federal law giving a person the right to see his or her credit report so that errors may be corrected.
MARKET VALUE: The highest price a willing buyer would pay and a willing seller will sell.
MORTGAGE: The instrument by which real estate is hypothecated as security for repayment of a loan. An instrument that pledges real estate as collateral for a loan.
MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE: A networking computer system in which real estate firms share information about their clients' homes that are for sale.
OFFER TO PURCHASE, PURCHASE OFFER, EARNEST MONEY AGREEMENT PURCHASE AGREEMENT, DEPOSIT RECEIPT: A document that lists the price, conditions, and terms under which the buyer is willing to purchase a property.
PRE-APPROVED: A formal determination by a mortgage company of how large a mortgage a buyer can afford.
PRE-QUALIFY: Informal determination by a mortgage company of how large a mortgage a buyer can afford.
SALES PRICE MAXIMUM: Maximum sales price for the different type of mortgages.
SELLER CONTRIBUTIONS: The allowable amount a sell can contribute toward a buyers closing costs prepaid discount points. All mortgages have limits.
SETTLEMENT OR CLOSING: The meeting between seller and buyer when the property legally changes hands.
TITLE:  A recognized right of property ownership. Title is evidence by a written deed. A loan will not close until the title company has assured the lender there are no hidden problems with a title to a piece of property. Title companies trace all claims, lawsuits, easements and liens which may encumber or cloud the title to a property.