personal picture of myself tammy pecht keller williams agent
I am totally focused on
my client's needs, and I
work to realize their
dreams as if they were
my own.
Tammy Pecht
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY
916-425-8305
clients1st@yahoo.com
CONTACT ME
realtor logo picture
keller willams realty logo picture
Custom Search
Home Seller Tips
Keller Williams Realty
3001 Lava Ridge Ct  suite 100
Roseville Ca 95661
Tammy Pecht Realtor
916-425-8305
link to free mls homes for sale listings search
link to free mortgage calculator
link to loan modification information
link to free home evaluation
link to my listings of real estate
link to my listings of real estate
Here are a few of the
highlights of each of my
other pages

Whats my home worth page:
Free home evaluation form
About me page:
short bio of myself
Buyers and Sellers page:
do i qualify for 1st time
home buyers tax credit?
home value estimator
current mortgage rates
mortgage IQ quiz
Loan calculator page:
loan calculator
Contact me page:
various ways to contact me
My listings page:
list of my current listings
Loan modification page:
information about home loan
modification
Request a listing page:
form to send me to request
a mls listing
Free home search page:
get your mls listings here
free!!
link to what is a short sale page
Home Sellers Information and tips

For most families, selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions they will ever make. The process can be daunting, with many important
questions that need to be answered. Choosing the best Realtor to market and sell your home can make all the difference, turning an otherwise
difficult, stressful process into a comfortable, informed experience that you are in control of. As a top area agent, I will make sure that you get the
best price for your home, in the least amount of time.

I analyze and determine home values in the market every day. As a top real estate expert in this market, I can help you determine exactly what your
home is worth in the current market. Then, as an experienced professional, I'll market your home and negotiate on your behalf to sell your home at
the best price possible.

I will aggressively market your home not just locally, but on a national basis. Through my professional contacts and affiliations, as well as my
advanced technology tools, I can instantly put your home listing in all of the places qualified buyers are looking. Within minutes, I can alert every
Realtor in the area, as well as national firms that specialize in helping people relocate to new areas.

I will come to your home and personally advise you of how to best prepare your home to get the highest price, in the shortest amount of time.

I will protect your best interests throughout the entire process. You can leverage my years of experience as a top real estate professional to answer
all of your questions about every aspect of the selling and closing process. You will be informed and in control, every step of the way. It's my job to
make sure your home selling experience is as comfortable and painless as possible!

Biggest Selling Myths Uncovered

Selling a house can be a bit like having a baby -- everyone gives you advice that you may or may not have asked for, in spite of the fact that the
experience is unique to each individual every time. And just like having a baby, there are many myths and "old wives' tales" to be de-bunked. Among
the truths are the following ten:

1. Myth: You should always price your home high and gradually correct the sales price downward.

Truth: Pricing too high can be as bad as pricing too low.

Your strategy in listing high may be that you will always have the chance to accept a lower offer. But the truth is that if the listing price is too high,
you'll miss out on a percentage of buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. Offers may not even come in, because the buyers
who would be most interested in your home are scared off by the price and won't even take the time to look. By the time the listing price is
corrected, you may have already lost exposure to a large group of potential buyers. Your real estate agent will be able to offer you a comparable
market analysis for your home. This is essentially a document that compares your home to other similar homes in your area, with the goal of helping
you to accurately assess your home's true market value.

2. Myth: Minor repairs can wait until later. There are more important things to be done.
Truth: Minor repairs make your house more marketable, allowing you to maximize your return (or minimize loss) on the sale.

By and large, buyers are looking for an inviting home in move-in condition. Buyers who are willing to tackle the repairs after moving in automatically
subtract the cost of needed fix-ups from the price they offer. You save nothing by putting off these items, and you may likely slow the sale of your
home.

3. Myth: Once potential buyers see the inside of your home, curb appeal won't matter.
Truth: Buyers probably won't make it to the inside of the home if the outside of your home does not appeal to them.

Many buyers today will drive by a home before deciding whether or not to look inside. Your home's exterior will have less than a minute to make a
good first impression. Spruce up the view of the house by keeping the lawn mowed, shrubs and trees trimmed, and gardens weeded and edged.
Clear the walkways and driveways of leaves and other debris. Repair gutters and eaves, touch up the exterior paint, and repair or resurface cracked
driveways and sidewalks. You can also add additional appeal by placing potted flowers out front, hanging a wreath on the outside of the door,
positioning new street numbers, and putting out a pleasing welcome mat.

4. Myth: Once potential buyers fall in love with the exterior look of your home, you put interior improvements on the back burner.
Truth: Buyers have no qualms about walking right out the front door within 60 seconds if the house doesn't look like it could be theirs.

Remember that most buyers are looking for an inviting home in move-in condition. You might consider spending a few dollars on: painting, if the
existing paint is in bad shape or an unusual color; carpeting, if it shows excessive wear or an outdated color or style; refacing kitchen cabinets;
scrubbing bathrooms until they are sparkling clean; or several other key repairs or replacements. Although you may be uncomfortable with
spending a few thousand dollars on your home right before you sell it, it's not uncommon for the right work to more than pay for itself in a higher
selling price and shorter marketing time. Your real estate agent will consult with you about the repairs and replacements that will benefit you most.

5. Myth: Your home must be every home buyer's dream home.
Truth: If you get carried away with repairs and replacements to your home, you may end up over-improving the house.

At some point, improvements that you make to your home can rise far above and beyond what is customary for comparable homes in your area. For
instance, there may not be another swimming pool in your entire subdivision. After spending $20,000 to install an in-ground swimming pool that you
hope will lure buyers, you may find that it only raises the market value of your home by $10,000 because there are no other comparable properties to
support the market value of the pool. As a rule of thumb, if your improvements push your home's value higher than 20% above average neighboring
home values, don't expect to recoup the entire amount of improvements. Your real estate agent can advise you as to the scope of projects you might
consider in preparing your house for sale.

6. Myth: Buyers are un-swayed by sellers that offer creative financing options.
Truth: By offering flexibility in financing options, you may lure even more prospective buyers.

You might consider offering seller financing, paying some of the buyer's closing costs, including a one-year home warranty, or other buyer
incentives. Your real estate agent, who has professional knowledge of local market activity, can help you decide what incentives, if any, to offer.

7. Myth: You are better off selling your home on your own, thus saving the commission you would have paid to a real estate agent.
Truth: Statistically, many sellers who attempt to sell their homes on their own cannot consummate the sale without the service of a professional
real estate agent.

And those sellers who are successful in selling without a real estate agent often net less from the sale than sellers who use do a professional real
estate agent. You probably visit a doctor when you are in ill health. You also likely take your car to a mechanic for repair and maintenance. When you
require legal advice, chances are that you seek the services of an attorney. Doesn't it make sense that you should contact a real estate professional
when you are preparing to sell your biggest asset?

8. Myth: Good sellers are available to guide prospective buyers through the home, giving the whole process a more personal touch.
Truth: Prospective buyers will feel more that "this house could be" their home if the current owners are not there.

The presence of homeowners and/ or their family members in the home while it is being previewed can make buyers feel like they are intruding.
They really do need to be able to visualize this house as their home, which can be difficult to do when they are acutely aware that it is still your home.
Your real estate agent will be happy to look out for your home during open houses or showings.

9. Myth: Successful sellers insist that the terms of the sale happen their way or no way.
Truth: If you approach the sale of your home as an adversary of the buyer, you risk losing a perfectly solid buyer for no good reason.

Always remember that both you and the buyer have the same basic end goal: for you to sell your home and for the buyer to buy your home. Your real
estate agent will join you in approaching negotiations in a positive frame of mind, which often results in a win-win proposition for both you and the
buyer. And if both parties are satisfied with the outcome of negotiations, very few things will come between you and the closing table.

10. Myth: When you receive an offer, you should make the buyer wait. This gives you a better negotiating position.
Truth: You should reply immediately to an offer!

When a buyer makes an offer, that buyer is, at that moment in time, ready to buy your home. Moods can change, and you don't want to lose the sale
because you have stalled in replying.

Getting Your Home Ready To Sell

In preparing your house to sell, ask yourself over and over if your house looks like someone else's dream house. Houses in move-in condition tend
to be inviting to buyers; houses that are in like-new condition typically sell fastest and procures the best price because it outshine the competition.

With that in mind, here are a few things to consider as you look over your house when getting ready to sell:

Exterior

Remember the sixty-second rule: that's all the time you have to create a good first impression! Mow the lawn, rake leaves, trim trees and shrubs
that keep light out of the house, and remove dead plants. It will probably be easier to sell your house if the buyer can see it, outside and in. Pick up
tools, garbage cans, hoses, toys, and building materials and store them neatly in a storage area. Replace broken or missing roof shingles, and
straighten and clean the gutters and downspouts. Clean all windows and mend torn screens. Paint your house, if necessary. This can probably help
improve curb appeal more than any other fix-up! If you decide against painting the entire house, at least consider painting the front door, window
frames, and shutters. Seal or resurface the driveway and repair broken steps and walkways. Paint or replace your mailbox and post. Dress up the
front yard with some simple landscaping.

Clean, Clean, Clean

Step back for a moment and look at your home as if you were seeing it for the first time. Every room should be neat, spotlessly clean, dusted, and
uncluttered. Steam clean the carpets and wax the floors. Wash the walls, windows, and light fixtures. Tighten loose stair railings and clean all
woodwork. In the event that you feel a project of this magnitude is better left to a professional, ask your real estate agent to recommend a
professional cleaning service.

Entryway

Use bright light bulbs in the foyer and throughout the house. Fill the house with a pleasant aroma, such as berries in the summer or cinnamon in the
winter, or some other fresh scent.

Living Room

Replace the carpet if it's old or worn. It costs money, but you may find that you will more than recoup that cost when the home sells. Patch cracks
and nail holes in the walls, and repaint walls in neutral colors, such as white or ivory. Nail down creaking boards and stair treads. Lubricate any
sticking or squeaking doors. Open all curtains, and replace them if they are getting old. Add lamps and lighting if the house is dark. Set out fresh
flowers.

Furniture

Rearrange or move furniture to make your rooms look more spacious. Discard worn furniture and move extra furniture to a storage unit. Remember,
too much furniture and too many knick-knacks make rooms look cluttered and small. One or two decorative items per surface is plenty, so pack the
rest away. Visit model homes for decorating ideas.

Kitchen and Baths

These rooms should sparkle! Clear off counters, and clean all appliances and fixtures. Scrub the floors and walls. Re-caulk tubs and showers. Clean
these rooms thoroughly, and be sure they smell fresh!

Closets

Take those things to Goodwill that you'll have to discard anyway when you move. Organize shelves and straighten shoes. Be sure that sliding doors
operate smoothly on their tracks and knobs on drawers are secure.

Utility Room

Dust and wash off lint from the washer and dryer. Dust and wash off the water heater.

Light and Bright

Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace wallpaper with white or off-white paint, and repaint shabby or dark walls. Open the blinds, and
replace broken windows and window seals. Always maintain a comfortable temperature inside the house, even if you are away for an extended
period of time.

10 Steps to Selling Your Home

Sellers - STEP 1 - DEFINE NEEDS
It is important to set out in writing the reasons that are motivating you to sell your current home. You might ask yourself, "Why am I selling my home
and what do I expect to accomplish?" If you have a growing family and you need more space you may be under less pressure to get your house
ready to sell than if you were, let's say, moving to a new city due to career opportunity.

Explore your short and long term goals and decide how selling your house fits into those goals. Your agent will identify all of the variables within your
individual goals and how best to achieve them in your local real estate market. Your real estate agent will apply his or her expert knowledge to your
particular needs and set a realistic time frame for the process to proceed. This will help you to establish a time management path for selling your
home.

Sellers - STEP 2 - PRICING STRATEGY
Your next objective is to consult with your real estate agent to determine the best possible selling price of your home. You will need to take into
account the state of the local market, the condition of your home, and sales of comparable homes in your neighborhood. He or she will create a
comparative market analysis by taking into consideration the type of market you are in and recent sales of comparable properties. Your agent will
then guide you to the best fair market price that will help sell your home within your desired time frame. Usually, real estate agents have a clearer
and more objective sense of market value than anyone else- including appraisers!

Often, it can be hard for you, as a seller, to also maintain objectivity, so remember to be reasonable about the price you set. You will always be better
off setting a fair market value price than setting your price high expecting that someone will come along and be willing to pay it. If your home stays
on the market too long because it is overpriced, potential buyers may think that something is wrong with it and you may end up selling it for less than
what you could have gotten if you had started out with a realistic asking price.

Sellers - STEP 3 - PREPARE YOUR PROPERTY
It's time to get your home in "showing and selling" condition. Most of us don't keep our homes in the condition it would need to be in to sell. Over the
years those boxes in the corner of the garage just seem to multiply on their own. Things have broken that we just never get around to fixing and
some things have just worn out. We just accept the fact that they will always be this way. It is this frame of mind that you have to break out of in
order to get your house ready to show. How your home looks will have an immense impact on how quickly it sells and whether or not you get full
market value for it.

First impressions are very important and you only get to make one. Your real estate agent, who is interacting in the marketplace every day, can
assist you in approaching your home from the buyer's standpoint. What needs to be changed to make a good first impression? This may mean that
all you do is prune the trees and shrubs. On the other hand, it may mean that you completely repaint the house, inside and out. Do a "curb to door"
check. Give the potential buyers a clear path to enter the home. The fewer obstacles between the buyer and the true appeal of your home the better.
Keep in mind that over time we become accustomed to our surroundings. What's normal for you may be detrimental to the buyer.

Make your home look as spacious as possible. Organize your closets and kitchen cabinets, and if you have things stored in the attic or basement,
make sure they are presentable. If you are showing during the day, pull back your curtains and drapes to show how bright and cheery your home is.
If you are showing at night, turn on all of the lights to create a warm and welcoming environment for the prospective buyers. A home that is marked
with your personality and style may be harder to sell. You might even consider such things as removing obvious clues to your political affiliation and
tucking away any biased literature that may be visible. This will reduce distractions and help the buyers to visualize the home as their own.

Sellers - STEP 4 - MARKETING STRATEGY
Now that your home is ready, it's time to put it up for sale and market it. Establishing a marketing strategy with your real estate agent is a must. Your
agent will expose your home to the most potential buyers possible using a marketing plan that will have the highest possibility of bringing not only
the most buyers, but also the most qualified buyers, to your doorstep.

There are many different ways to get the word out there that your home is for sale. A yard sign, flyers, and direct marketing are just a few of the
many options available. If you are in a buyer's market you will have to be extra careful when choosing a plan. You don't want your home to sit with no
one showing interest. You and your agent should structure your marketing strategy so that the first 3-6 weeks that your house is on the market will
be the busiest.

Sellers - STEP 5 - RECEIVE AN OFFER
When a buyer decides to buy your home, an offer will be presented. Your real estate agent will advise you as to whether or not the prospective buyer
is qualified to purchase your home. After all, there is no reason to review an offer if the person(s) making it will not be able to actually buy your home.

You and your real estate agent will then review the written document, taking care to note what is required of both parties to execute the transaction.
The contract should protect the best interests of all parties involved and should be comprehensive in nature.

Once you accept the contract, it may be too late to make any changes. The contract, though not limited to this list, should include the following A
legal description of the property
The offering price
The down payment
Financing arrangements
A list of fees and who will pay them
Amount of the deposit
Inspection rights and possible repair allowances
The method of conveying the title and who will handle the closing
A list of appliances and furnishings which will stay with the home
The settlement date
Any relevant contingencies

Remember that the legalities of this phase are very important. If you have any questions or concerns, be certain to address them with your real
estate agent right away.

Sellers - STEP 6 - NEGOTIATING TO SELL
Most offers to purchase your home will require some level of negotiation to come to a win-win agreement. Your real estate agent is well versed on
the legalities of the real estate contract used in your area and will handle the responsibility of protecting your best interest throughout these
negotiations. In addition, your agent has a thorough understanding of the contract itself, including what each contract clause means to you and your
buyer, what you will net from the sale of your home, and what areas in the contract lend themselves easiest to negotiation. Your agent will review
the written offer with you to make sure that you thoroughly understand what the buyers are offering and what they are asking in return.

Some of the items that you may have to negotiate are:
The price
Financing
Closing costs
Repairs that need to be done
Appliances and fixtures
Landscaping
Painting
Occupancy time frame

To really gain some insight into why potential buyers are pursuing the purchase of your home and how they might proceed in the negotiations, it is
also important to know as much about the buyer as possible, especially their motivation for buying. Once both parties have reached a point where
the deal is acceptable, your agent will be certain that you have a legally executable contract.

Sellers - STEP 7 - SELLING VENDORS
Once you have accepted an offer to sell your home, your real estate agent will inform you of all the procedures involved in order to proceed
successfully to closing, as well as the parties responsible for completing those procedures and estimates of completion. For instance, the property
may need to be formally appraised, surveyed, inspected or repaired. Depending on the specifics reached during the negotiations, you may pay for all,
some, or none of these items.

Your agent will then coordinate with all the parties and keep you informed as to the results of the various procedures. If each procedure returns
acceptable results as defined by the contract, then the sale may continue. If there are problems with the property the terms set forth in the contract
will dictate your next step. Depending on the contract, you or the buyer may decide to walk away, open a new round of negotiations, or close. Your
agent will advise you throughout this process and will help you coordinate any actions you must take to keep the sale moving forward.

There are some sales that go smoothly and some that require a lot of work to get to the closing table. Until you get into it, you won't know which one
you have on your hands. Either way, your agent will be there with you every step of the way.

Sellers - STEP 8 - PRE-CLOSE PREPARATION
A few days before the closing, your real estate agent will contact the entity closing the transaction. He or she will make sure that all of the
necessary forms and documents have been prepared and are going to be available for you to sign on the appropriate date. Your agent will also
contact each party to the transaction to be certain that they have taken all actions necessary for closing, so the entire closing can proceed on the
date and time planned.

Your agent will also prepare you in advance for the process of the closing, advising you of any documents you must bring to the closing, how much
time to block off for the closing, and any other information that is pertinent to the closing meeting itself.

Sellers - STEP 9 - CLOSING ON A HOME
"Closing" refers to the meeting where ownership of the property is legally transferred to the buyer. Your real estate agent will be present during the
closing to help explain the process and forms to you and make sure everything goes as planned. By being present during the closing, he or she can
mediate any last minute issues that may arise.

As the seller, you will need to be prepared to give over any necessary documentation regarding the property and, depending on the arrangements
made during negotiations, you may be required to have done something specific in order to close.

Be sure to read all the documents and ask any questions you may have. It is important that you understand every document you are signing.

Sellers - STEP 10 - POST-CLOSE ACTIVITY
Congratulations on the successful sale of your home!

Hopefully, everything went smoothly and you will be vacating your house in the time frame that you had anticipated. Your real estate agent will help
you create a checklist of all the things you will need to do to turn the property over to the new owners. You will need to make sure that all of the local
services (i.e. electricity, gas, lawn care, cable, etc.) have been cancelled or, if the new owner is going to retain some of the services, the name for
the account should be changed. The property and anything assigned to the buyer according to the contract should be prepared appropriately for the
new owners. This will make the transition as smooth and effortless as possible.
How do I know who is on my website
http://www.clientsr1st.com/
http://www.clientsr1st.com/credit_help.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/9630swanlake.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/auto_insurance.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/gemoftheweek.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/6877cherrywood.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/5214windham.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/health_insurance.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/2817market.html  
http://www.clientsr1st.com/1768greengate.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/4231pineforestdr.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/morelinks.php
http://www.clientsr1st.com/buying_vs_renting.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/customer_testimonials.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/deeplinks.php
http://www.clientsr1st.com/movingtips.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/fsbo.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/buyer_tips.html  
http://www.clientsr1st.com/Seller_tips.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/hunting_fishing.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/cgi-bin/addlink.pl
http://www.clientsr1st.com/home_insurance.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/linksindexguy.php
http://www.clientsr1st.com/linkpro.php
http://www.clientsr1st.com/moving_companies_relocation
.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/real_estate.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/finance.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/world.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/society.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/sports.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/Kids_Teens.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/news.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/shopping.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/arts.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/Business.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/recreation.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/reference.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/science.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/computers.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/Games.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/health.html  
http://www.clientsr1st.com/home_improvement.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/short_sale.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/Foreclosed_Homes.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/related_services.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/neighborhoods.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/about_me.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/directory.php
http://www.clientsr1st.com/Free_Home_search.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/index.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/whats_my_house_worth.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/links.php
http://www.clientsr1st.com/request_listing.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/links2.php
http://www.clientsr1st.com/buyer_seller.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/my_listings.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/Loan_modification.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/calculator.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/contact_us.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/mylistings1.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/mylistings2.html
http://www.clientsr1st.com/granitebaysearchforhomes.ht
ml