For most people, buying or selling a home is one of the most important financial decisions they will make. When you are ready to purchase or sell a home, you need a highly qualified and experienced Realtor to understand your needs, answer your questions and help guide you through this very important process.

 This marketing action plan is the result of several years of real estate experience. Over the years, I have learned what works. I constantly search for the most innovative techniques in marketing and promotion. And I have taken those winning strategies and developed a plan that will get you results.

  My determination and consistent follow-through, coupled with this dynamic marketing action plan, will provide you with a level of service that often exceeds expectations.

 My objectives are simple:

· To help you get the most money for your property in the least amount of time

 · To get your property fully exposed to the market as quickly as possible

 · To get as many qualified buyers as possible into your home until it is sold

 · To maintain good communication; always sharing the results of our activities with you


Thank you for taking the time to review my market action plan. I hope I can be of service to you.

Creative and innovative marketing is crucial to the sale of your home and The Houghton Group is on the cutting edge of real estate marketing. We do much more than just list your property, post a sign in your yard, and arrange open houses.

I have carefully designed strategies to successfully advertise and expedite the sale of your home. These strategies work.

 The section that follows will outline these strategies and the promotional materials I have developed to help you quickly sell your home. Samples of the promotional materials can be found in the appendix.

 MY ON-LINE NETWORKS REACH THOUSANDS OF POTENTIAL BUYERS

 When you list with the Houghton group your property can be viewed through, homesbyhoughon.com, northstarmls.com, realtor.com, mls.com, edinarealty.com, coldwellbanker.com, remax.com, homegain.com, cedarlakerealty.com, era.com, mineesota-homes-for-sale.com, house-real-estate.com, and many more.  Every Realtor and Brokerage firm in the metro area  will be marketed to, through realtor open houses, email campaigns, and direct mailings.

ADS AND FLYERS THAT CUT THE CLUTTER

I create a home profile flyer informing all sales associates in our office and surrounding offices that your home is on the market. These flyers include a picture of your property and highlight specific features and benefits or your home.

 I also prepare home profile booklets to be distributed to perspective buyers after they tour your home. These booklets help buyers remember your property and give them convenient access to your home´s best selling points in the days following their tour.

 And I reach thousands of potential buyers by listing your home in the Minneapolis Star Tribune classified ads and by placing advertisements in various other print media.

JUST LISTED MAILING CONNECTS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

I mail "Just Listed" cards to the people who live in and around your neighborhood. These cards stir up the interest of potential buyers already living in your area and also help generate word-of-mouth advertising for your property.  I also target two move up neighborhoods and mail them "just listed" cards.

KNOWING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

 Is there a park nearby? A shopping mall? Are there children in the neighborhood? What is the reputation of the school district?

 These are questions potential buyers always ask. I take the time to get to know your neighborhood and research the surrounding community so I can answer them.

In fact, I pull together an information packet that includes background on the school district, area parks and recreational activities, local shopping and entertainment areas, churches, neighborhood associations and any other resource material that may help market your home. I also sit down with you and your family to determine what you like best about your home and the neighborhood in which you live.

All this information is condensed into a neighborhood fact sheet that is included in the profile booklets distributed to potential buyers. I have found that some of the biggest selling points can be as simple as a reliable baby-sitter on your block or a local park down the street.

 KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP: FEEDBACK AND ACTIVITY REPORTS

Communication plays an important role in the successful sale of your home. You need certain information and so do I. Part of my commitment as your Realtor is to keep in touch with you throughout the process. I keep you informed of any important developments regarding:

 · Houses sold in your area

· New listings in your area

· Changes in the real estate market

· Feedback and results from showings of your home

· Financing and market information

· Marketing efforts and future activities

· Offers or interest expressed in your home

 You will need to contact me regarding:

· Any questions or concerns you may have

· Expressions of interest in your home

· Unscheduled showings of your home

· Out-of-town trips

· Household pets

· A need for more brochures

Always remember, the easier it is for buyers to see your house in move-in condition, the easier it is for them to choose it over other properties.

Here are some suggestions to get your property ready for the market:

 · Tour your home; pretend you´re the buyer and be critical

      -Start outside and work inside, covering  every inch

      -Make a list of items that need attention

 · Get the highest return from these improvements

      -Paint, carpet, and remove wallpaper

      -Refinish hardwood floors

      -Update bathrooms and kitchen

      -Yard, landscaping and deck improvements

                -Neutralize highly personal or unique decorating

 · Create more space by using light colors and removing some furniture

 

PICTURE PERFECT

 Buyers usually decide within two minutes whether or not your house appeals to them. The first impression is often the lasting one.  My job is to do everything possible to create a good first impression, so buyers can see the true value of your home.

 

Sugestions for a picture perfect home:

· Clean and trim yard hedges and garden

· Lights! Lights! Lights!

·    Turn off radio and T.V. or set to easy listening on low volume

· Put away everyday clutter, clear your kitchen countertop!

 · Lay rugs properly for safety reasons

 · Make beds and straighten closets

 · Clean kitchen until it sparkles, empty dishwasher, and wash dishtowels

 · Make sure stairways are properly lighted and free of clutter

 · Clean windows

 · Clean fireplace

 · Clean laundry area, garage and work areas

 · Clean furnace and water heater

 · Make sure all locks are in working order

 · Repair faucets, switches, door knobs and  handrails

 · Consider storing small items of value

 REMEMBER

· All prospective buyers must have an appointment.  Do not answer the door or let strangers in the home if they don´t have a scheduled showing appointment

· Leave the home during a showing: if you must be present, stay out of the way and trust the agent to show your home

 

PRICING GUIDELINES

 

Commonly, the most challenging aspect of selling a home is listing it at the correct price. When it comes time to price your home, using a skilled real estate agent can really pay off.

 

If the listing price is too high, you´ll miss out on many buyers who are searching in the price range where your home should be. You probably won´t receive as many offers because buyers who would have been interested in your house are scared off by the high price. By the time the price is corrected, you´ve already lost exposure to a large group of potential buyers.

 

The listing price becomes even trickier to set when prices are quickly rising and falling. An experienced agent will be aware of where and how fast the market is moving, both when setting the price and negotiating an offer.

The price of your home will be determined by:

·    Sold comparable properties

·    Current listed comparable properties

·    Market conditions

      Neighborhood analysis

·      OFFERS AND NEGOTIATIONS 

The fee you pay for my services is not just for the time, energy and materials I invest to market your property. Generating offers is only half my job.

The other part of my job is to negotiate offers on your property. Rarely will an offer on your home conform exactly to the terms specified in the listing agreement and MLS.

Once I get an offer, I help you dig through it and get to the bottom line. What does it mean to you financially? Is it a reasonable offer? Is it consistent with the market? There is more to a good offer than the offer price, and I´m here to analyze all your options including:

·    Buyer qualification

·    Offer price

·    Discount points

·    Special assessments

·    Contingencies

·    Reasonable concessions

·    Closing and possession dates

·    Negotiation strategies

·    Financing terms

·    Personal property

·    Real estate taxes

·    Contracts for deed

·    Counter offers

·    Earnest money

 

CLOSING THE DEAL

 

Once I have accepted an offer on your behalf, there is still work to do. My job is not finished until the deal is closed and you are moving into your new home.

 

I will need to complete a large volume of paperwork and manage numerous closing activities and procedures. I will guide you through the closing process, and together we handle the following details:

·   Conditional approval

·   Title preparation

·   Removal of contingencies

·   Final approval

·   Closing instructions

·   Escrows

·   Mortgage Closing

·   Settlement statement

·   Appraisal and inspections

·   Appraisal work orders

·   Financing

·   Closing schedule

·   Disbursements

·   Title closing