House Sellers
I will work for you every step of the way! My combination of skill, and technology ensures that I can sell your home
for the highest possible price and in the shortest period of time. I have the tools to meet the demands of a highly
competitive, modern market.
Traditional Marketing
As soon as you list your home with me, I will enter your home in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database. Other
agents can immediately access your property information by computer. Plus, your property will be included in any
printed MLS books. I also regularly publish in magazines and in the area and send out direct mail and email
pieces to potential buyers.
Pricing Your Home
When you think about it, there are several other homes for sale competing with your home. I will help you price your
home competitively to attract qualified buyers. The way I do this is by generating a Comparative Market Analysis
(CMA) report, which will show you a range of prices being paid for homes in your area. You can complete my}
online form to get a feel for your home's market value.
Every Step Of The Way...
Remember, I will be working for you every step of the way to make sure that you get the highest possible price for
your home in the shortest period of time. As a full time Realtor®, you can contact me at any time; Why?
Because my goal is to make your experience comfortable, guided, fast, efficient and successful.
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Real Living The Right Choice
5 Feng Shui Concepts to Help a Home Sell
To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow feng shui principles, keep these tips in mind.
1. Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the “mouth of chi” (chi is the “life force” of all things)
and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good
fortune enter through the front door. It’s also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken
care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and
clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to
create an inviting atmosphere.
2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in,
always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.
3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward
the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room
in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.
4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and
uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening
sharp corners.
5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make
the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.
Source: Sell Your Home Faster With Feng Shui by Holly Ziegler (Dragon Chi Publications, 2001)
5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market
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5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market
1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be
able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to
make repairs before open houses begin.
2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other
kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged
in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house
shine.
3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon,
such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do
it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations
begin.
4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and
dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house.
5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you’re a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front
door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address
clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?
5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market
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8 Reasons Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®
Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a
real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its
strict Code of Ethics. Here are five reasons why it pays to work with a REALTOR®.
1. Navigate a complicated process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports,
mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multipage settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will
help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.
2. Information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and
more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help
you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or
investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?
3. Help finding the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively
advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties.
4. Negotiating skills. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of
possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement
should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property
before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and
inspections are recommended or required.
5. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate
sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When
a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your
REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
6. Someone who speaks the language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important
to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.
7. Experience. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between
each purchase. Even if you have done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand,
handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.
8. Objective voice. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because
of this, homebuying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest
purchase they’ll every make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the
emotional and financial issues most important to you.
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Checklist: 17 Service Providers You’ll Need When You Sell
□ Real estate attorney
□ Appraiser
□ Home inspector
□ Mortgage loan officer
□ Environmental specialist
□ Lead paint inspector
□ Radon inspector
□ Tax adviser
□ Sanitary systems expert
□ Occupancy permit inspector
□ Zoning inspector
□ Survey company
□ Flood plain inspector
□ Termite inspector
□ Title company
□ Insurance consultant
□ Moving company
Used with permission from Kim Daugherty, Real Estate Checklists and Systems, www.realestatechecklists.com
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Forms You’ll Need to Sell Your Home
1. Property disclosure form. This form requires you to reveal all known defects to your property. Check with your
state government to see if there is a special form required in your state.
2. Purchasers access to premises agreement. This agreement sets conditions for permitting the buyer to enter
your home for activities such as measuring for draperies before you move.
3. Sales contract. The agreement between you and the seller on terms and conditions of sale. Again, check with
your state real estate department to see if there is a required form.
4. Sales contract contingency clauses. In addition to the contract, you may need to add one or more
attachments to the contract to address special contingencies — such as the buyer’s need to sell a home before
purchasing yours.
5. Pre- and post-occupancy agreements. Unless you’re planning on moving out and the buyer moving in on the
day of closing, you’ll need an agreement on the terms and costs of occupancy once the sale closes.
6. Lead-based paint disclosure pamphlet. If your home was built before 1978, you must provide the pamphlet
to all sellers. You must also have buyers sign a statement indicating they received the pamphlet.
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How to Get an Offer on Your Home
1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.
2. Prepare for visitors. Get your house market ready at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show at the spur of the moment. But the
more amenable you can be about letting people see your home, the sooner you’ll find a buyer.
4. Anticipate the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.
5. Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, you
should be prepared to at least consider lowering your asking price.
Moving Checklist for Sellers
□ Provide the post office with your forwarding address two to four weeks ahead of the move.
□ Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of your change of address.
□ Create a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified about your move.
□ Arrange to disconnect utilities and have them connected at your new home.
□ Cancel the newspaper, or change the address so it will arrive at your new home.
□ Check insurance coverage for the items you’re moving. Usually movers only cover what they pack.
□ Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.
□ Note the weight of the goods you’ll have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to
weight. Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.
□ Check with your condo or co-op about any restrictions on using the elevator or particular exits for moving.
□ Have a “first open” box with the things you’ll need most, such as toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors,
hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.
Plus, if you’re moving out of town, be sure to:
□ Get copies of medical and dental records and prescriptions for your family and your pets.
□ Get copies of children’s school records for transfer.
□ Ask friends for introductions to anyone they know in your new neighborhood.
□ Consider special car needs for pets when traveling.
□ Let a friend or relative know your route.
□ Empty your safety deposit box.
□ Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you’re moving in cold weather.
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Low-Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home’s Exterior
Make your home more appealing for yourself and potential buyers with these quick and easy tips:
1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows or architectural details.
2. Mow your lawn, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before the showing to make the lawn sparkle.
3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.
4. Install new doorknobs on your front door.
5. Repair any cracks in the driveway.
6. Edge the grass around walkways and trees.
7. Keep your garden tools and hoses out of sight.
8. Clear toys from the lawn.
9. Buy a new mailbox.
10. Upgrade your outside lighting.
11. Buy a new doormat for the outside of your front door.
12. Clean your windows, inside and outside.
13. Polish or replace your house numbers.
14. Place a seasonal wreath on your door.
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Capital Gains in Real Estate
When you sell a stock, you owe taxes on your gain — the difference between what you paid for the stock and what
you sold it for. The same holds true when selling a home (or a second home), but there are some special
considerations.
How to Calculate Gain
In real estate, capital gains are based not on what you paid for the home, but on its adjusted cost basis. To
calculate, follow these steps:
1. Purchase price: _______________________
The purchase price of the home is the sale price, not the amount of money you actually contributed at closing.
2. Total adjustments: _______________________
To calculate this, add the following:
• Cost of the purchase — including transfer fees, attorney fees, and inspections, but not points you paid on
your mortgage.
• Cost of sale — including inspections, attorney fees, real estate commission, and money you spent to fix up
your home just prior to sale.
• Cost of improvements — including room additions, deck, etc. Note here that improvements do not include
repairing or replacing something already there, such as putting on a new roof or buying a new furnace.
3. Your home’s adjusted cost basis: _______________________
The total of your purchase price and adjustments is the adjusted cost basis of your home.
4. Your capital gain: _______________________
Subtract the adjusted cost basis from the amount your home sells for to get your capital gain.
A Special Real Estate Exemption for Capital Gains
Since 1997, up to $250,000 in capital gains ($500,000 for a married couple) on the sale of a home is exempt from
taxation if you meet the following criteria:
• You have lived in the home as your principal residence for two out of the last five years.
• You have not sold or exchanged another home during the two years preceding the sale.
• You meet what the IRS calls “unforeseen circumstances,” such as job loss, divorce, or family medical
emergency.
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What to Have on Hand for the New Owners
• Owner’s manuals and warranties for appliances left in the house.
• Garage door opener.
• Extra sets of house keys.
• A list of local service providers — the best dry cleaner, yard service, plumber, etc.
• Code to the security alarm and phone number of the monitoring service if not discontinued.
• As a courtesy, you could provide numbers to the local utility companies.
• If it’s a condo, leave information on how to contact the condo board.


The information provided herein is supplied by several sources and is subject to change without notice. Niza Rodriguez does not guarantee or is any way responsible for its accuracy, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. 2009 Niza Rodriguez All Rights Reserved.
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