Sell My Home

With a multitute of real estate companies available, you are likely asking yourself what attributes make a brokerage stand out. At F.C. Tucker, we are definitely proud of our #1 market share and 100+ year history in our community, but we never stop building on that success to get better. This is a competitive industry and we are continually striving for new heights to give our best-in class agents the most tools necessary so that the choice is always obvious to you...a Tucker agent!

Size + Strength.

Our size and history gives us an advantage in that we can pour more resources into the best-of-the-best tools to create the best agents who in turn get their clients results.

Training.

Tucker agents have access to a fully staffed training department devoted to their ongoing learning. All new agents participate in a 10-week intensive training program, called LEAP. After LEAP, agents have access to more than xx hours EVERY YEAR of unique, specific training classes offered live and virtually.

Technology.

Tucker agents have access to the Tucker Platform, which contains a plethora of tools they need to assist their agents in all aspects of the transaction including secure, digital document processing.

Full Service Resources:

Agents are backed by fully-staffed professional departments like IT, relocation, marketing and more. Buyers and sellers have the full service experience they desire with in-house Tucker Mortgage, Title Services, HomeServices and TuckerPerks - everything you need before, during and after the sale.

There are many compelling reasons to use a licensed REALTOR® when you sell a home. Namely they have access to resources consumers don’t have on their own, extensive networks, training and expertise, and the experience and knowledge to help you get the best result. On top of that, they are skilled negotiators. Simply put, they save you time and money and give you peace of mind whether selling your first or fifth home.

Friends + Family.

Asking your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues which agents they have worked with is a great place to start. Your inner circle won’t lead you astray. If they were happy with their agent, chances are you will be too.

Look Around:

Which agents have “For Sale” signs in your preferred neighborhoods? Chances are, that is someone you should interview. Search brokerage websites and pay attention to ads. If you are seeing a name over and over, maybe check them out. You can research potential agents by typing their first and last name followed by “REALTOR®” into your browser. You should find profiles on several websites about that agent. Take a read and see what you think.

Training + Support.

When you begin to interview agents, make sure to look into the resources available to them from their brokerage. Are they getting the best training and support that will lead to a successful result for you?

Communication.

Be sure to discuss with potential agents how - and especially how often - they plan to communicate with you. It’s fair, and helpful, for you to let the agent know your expectations for preferred methods of communication. Your agent is your partner, but is working for you.

CMA + Process.

Don’t engage with an agent until you know how, and fully understand, what the process will be like. REALTORS® are wonderful teachers and counselors, your new agent should fully explain what the buying process will entail and how their services will help you through it all. Agents interested in representing you will provide you with a Comparitive Market Anaylysis (CMA) which will give you a feel for what similar homes in similar neighborhoods have recently sold for. This will be an important part of the pricing strategy developed between you and your agent.

Your agent will develop a pricing strategy for you, giving you the initial list price to consider before signing on with them. Many sellers will consider price only when deciding which agent to pick. As you can probably guess, it’s a lot more complicated than that. There are many of factors to consider when selecting your agent. See Finding a REALTOR® for more.

Picking a Price.

Price will be determined based on a few factors including recent sales activity in your area, condition of the home and comparable sales. As difficult as it may be, rely on your agent’s expertise and their data instead of emotional attachment or focusing on a specific number you want or need to achieve.

Price Reductions.

Consider to your agent’s advice if they suggest a price reduction. It’s not always easy to reduce the asking price, but sometimes it’s just the jumpstart needed to achieve your desired result - selling the home.

Did you know the average buyer makes up his or her mind to purchase a home within 8 seconds of their first visit? Time to get busy! We all know first impressions count so getting your home ready to knock the socks off potential buyers takes some energy. Your agent will have a plan for you to follow, but generally you want to make the space welcoming so buyers can picture themselves living there.

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, light fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.

Get replacement estimates.

Do you have big-ticket items that are worn out or will need to be replaced soon, such as 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 whether they can afford the home and will be handy when negotiations begin.

Staging.

Staging can mean making meaningful, thoughtful edits to the space yourself or it can mean hiring a professional. If going it alone, consider starting with curb appeal by sprucing up your yard, landscaping and entry.

As you move inside, declutter and edit your furniture selections, choosing furnishings and accessories that create focal points and emphasize space. Agents agree decluttering is the number one area upon which to focus. You’ll want to streamline every room to minimize the objects on display, paying special attention to packing away items that are personal. Decluttering allows potential buyers to see their own objects in your home and will truly showcase its potential. Consider renting a low-cost storage unit for your excess stuff.

If you hire a professional stager, you will have access to a trained expert who knows how to highlight your home’s strengths, downplay its weaknesses and tailor its décor to your neighborhood’s demographic. A professional will know whether you should rent furniture and accessories. If you decide to invest in a staging professional, remember that it’s a lot cheaper to spend your money on staging than it would be to take a loss on the lowered sale price of your home. Your agent will have a keen sense of whether or not professional staging services are needed.

One of the most critical components of marketing your home is professional, quality photography. Over 50% of today’s buyer goes online for their house hunt before they do anything else so what they see in that first look is critical. Virtual tours have gained incredible popularity as well so still photos and photos that are used as a basis for a video tour are needed.

Quality photos increase the likelihood that potential buyers searching online will want to visit your home or engage in a private virtual our. Your agent will work with you to select the perfect photos that showcase your home’s most appealing attributes. You’ll want to ensure your home is show-ready for the photoshoot by thoroughly cleaning it from top to bottom, decluttering, tastefully accessorizing, painting in neutral tones, depersonalizing and replacing anything that’s worn or broken.

If professional photos are not possible, there are some simple rules of thumb in real estate photography. Show off the most sought after rooms of the home and the unique features, pay attention to – and experiment with – lighting, don’t get too fancy with wide or unusual angles and use a tripod.

Your agent will fully prepare you for what to expect. In general, the process includes advertising your home, accepting showings, agent-hosted open houses. Your agent will evaluate all offers received and explain the pros and cons of each. Before that step, exploding your home to potential buyers is key.

Your Advertising Your Home.

Since 90 percent of buyers search for a home online, your agent will begin marketing and advertising your listing on multiple websites and across other mediums to bring the greatest exposure to your home. TalktoTucker.com receives over 3.3 million visits annually. Your agent will also place your listing to MIBOR.com and REALTOR.com and perhaps other sites your agent deems beneficial.

Appointment Scheduling For Showings.

F.C. Tucker agents use Centralized Showing Service (CSS) to set up appointments to show your property. CSS makes it easy and efficient for your agents to show your home and receive valuable feedback. With one phone number, any agent can request a time to show your property. CSS is available 33% longer than traditional real estate office hours making setting showing times easier. Thus making it easy for potential buyers to see your home.

Open Houses and Showings.

Your agent will host open houses without you present. This gives would-be buyers the comfort to make comments and tour. Showings will occur if an agent representing a buyer requests a private tour. Your and your agent will decide ahead of time how much notice you’ll need before you can leave the house. This a great time to take the dog for a walk or the family out to dinner. The entire time are on the market, make sure to keep your home clean and ready for potential buyers.

Staying Safe.

While open houses and showings are important parts of the sales proces, they also expose you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Stay safe by practicing these guidelines for open houses as well as scheduled showings.

•  Remove, or lock up, prescription drugs and jewelry.
•  Make sure computers in the home are locked and password protected.
•  Be sure bills, passports, etc. are secured.
•  Make sure small electronic devices like iPods and iPads are locked up or removed.

Receiving an offer is a critical step to selling, but the proces is far from over. Your agent will work alongside you on the these steps, making sure your interested are represented.

Offer.

You will receive an offer from a buyer’s agent. The purchase agreement will lay out the specific terms. You can negotiate price, possession date, closing date, which appliances stay with the home, taxes, inspection, and much more. Your agent will help you determine the best approach to negotiating each of the items. The seller can then accept, reject or counter your offer.

Paperless Documentation.

The home sale process can generate hundreds of pages of paperwork that must be exchanged, delivered and saved. F.C. Tucker uses a leading, secure paperless solution through DotLoop to securely manage your documents. This cloud-based program allows everyone involved in your transaction to securely manage, share and sign documents through mobile technology. It can even add your loan officer to the process.

Counteroffer.

The counteroffer is where you and the buyer work toward an agreement acceptable to both parties. There may be several counteroffers before you reach the final agreement.

Contingencies.

Contingencies are conditions that must be met for the purchase of the home to proceed. Common contingencies include financing, inspection, insurance and appraisal.

Earnest Money.

Earnest money allows the buyer the opportunity to show the seller that they are “earnest” about their offer. Earnest money is submitted with an offer and the check is deposited and held by the listing agent’s broker upon acceptance of the offer. Earnest money is held in a non-interest bearing account and is applied to the buyer’s down payment costs at closing.

Once an agreement is reached, there are a few additional steps to a successful closing.

Inspection.

You will have the home inspected and appraised. During the inspection, any items that may need to be repaired will be identified and the buyer’s agent will present an inspection response. You and your agent will respond, ultimately deciding which repairs to make. Once all parties have agreed, repairs should be made prior to the final walk through.

Appraisal.

Unless the buyer is paying cash, the mortgage lender will order a professional appraisal to ensure the value of the home. Appraisers are required to inspect attics and crawl spaces so make sure they have access to those areas.

Buyers Final Walk Through.

The final walk through can be performed anywhere from a few hours to a few days before closing. It is the buyer’s last chance to be certain that the property is in the condition they agreed to buy. The home should be “show ready.” Think of it like the first showing or the day you prepped your home for professional photos – the home should be just as it was then. The buyer and their agent will review the home to make sure all agreed-upon repairs have been made. Everything addressed in the inspection report should be taken care of and documented with receipts or invoices at this point.

Closing Day Expectations.

You’re in the homestretch! The marketing, negotiating and re-negotiating are complete, and now it’s time to close on the transaction you’ve worked so hard to complete. On closing day, your property will be transferred from you to the buyer – the new owner. The lion’s share of document signing will be up to the buyer, but as the seller you will sign the deed over to the buyer. This act officially transfers ownership to the buyer. The title company (or in some cases a lawyer or notary) will register the new deed with the appropriate government office. This record will show the buyer as the new homeowner. As the seller, you will receive any proceeds earned from the sale. This is a great time to communicate any pertinent information about the property. Most importantly to this meeting, you’ll be bringing the keys to the home, but also consider bringing or relaying information such as garage entry codes and manuals or warranty information for any appliances – either have them on hand or tell the buyer where to locate them in their new home.

Congratualtions!

Did you know the average buyer makes up his or her mind to purchase a home within 8 seconds of their first visit? Time to get busy! We all know first impressions count so getting your home ready to knock the socks off potential buyers takes some energy. Your agent will have a plan for you to follow, but generally you want to make the space welcoming so buyers can picture themselves living there.

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, light fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.

Get replacement estimates.

Do you have big-ticket items that are worn out or will need to be replaced soon, such as 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 whether they can afford the home and will be handy when negotiations begin.

Staging.

Staging can mean making meaningful, thoughtful edits to the space yourself or it can mean hiring a professional. If going it alone, consider starting with curb appeal by sprucing up your yard, landscaping and entry.

As you move inside, declutter and edit your furniture selections, choosing furnishings and accessories that create focal points and emphasize space. Agents agree decluttering is the number one area upon which to focus. You’ll want to streamline every room to minimize the objects on display, paying special attention to packing away items that are personal. Decluttering allows potential buyers to see their own objects in your home and will truly showcase its potential. Consider renting a low-cost storage unit for your excess stuff.

If you hire a professional stager, you will have access to a trained expert who knows how to highlight your home’s strengths, downplay its weaknesses and tailor its décor to your neighborhood’s demographic. A professional will know whether you should rent furniture and accessories. If you decide to invest in a staging professional, remember that it’s a lot cheaper to spend your money on staging than it would be to take a loss on the lowered sale price of your home. Your agent will have a keen sense of whether or not professional staging services are needed.

Size + Strength.

Our size and history gives us an advantage in that we can pour more resources into the best-of-the-best tools to create the best agents who in turn get their clients results.

Training.

Tucker agents have access to a fully staffed training department devoted to their ongoing learning. All new agents participate in a 10-week intensive training program, called LEAP. After LEAP, agents have access to more than xx hours EVERY YEAR of unique, specific training classes offered live and virtually.

Technology.

Tucker agents have access to the Tucker Platform, which contains a plethora of tools they need to assist their agents in all aspects of the transaction including secure, digital document processing.

Full Service Resources:

Agents are backed by fully-staffed professional departments like IT, relocation, marketing and more. Buyers and sellers have the full service experience they desire with in-house Tucker Mortgage, Title Services, HomeServices and TuckerPerks - everything you need before, during and after the sale.

You’ll want to do everything you can to make a good first impression, because the average home buyer makes up his or her mind within seconds of walking through the door. Because the first impression is a key factor in selling your home, you’ll want to make your living and outdoor spaces comfortable, clean and inviting.

Staging can mean making meaningful, thoughtful edits to the space yourself or it can mean hiring a professional. If going it alone, consider starting with curb appeal by sprucing up your yard, landscaping and entry.

As you move inside, declutter and edit your furniture selections, choosing furnishings and accessories that create focal points and emphasize space. Agents agree decluttering is the number one area upon which to focus. You’ll want to streamline every room to minimize the objects on display, paying special attention to packing away items that are personal. Decluttering allows potential buyers to see their own objects in your home and will truly showcase its potential. Consider renting a low-cost storage unit for your excess stuff. Also, clear off your countertops to remove coffeemakers and other appliances, and be sure any prescriptions and other medications are put away out-of-sight. Depersonalize the space by removing some family photos and items that depict very specific decorating tastes.

If you hire a professional stager, you will have access to a trained expert who knows how to highlight your home’s strengths, downplay its weaknesses and tailor its décor to your neighborhood’s demographic. A professional will know whether you should rent furniture and accessories. If you decide to invest in a staging professional, remember that it’s a lot cheaper to spend your money on staging than it would be to take a loss on the lowered sale price of your home.

Photography Matters

If staging is a job interview, then consider that photos of your home online are a virtual showing. For the would-be buyer, photos are the first and lasting impression of your home. High quality photography– whether taken by a professional or your agent– is definitely recommended. One bad photo can take your home off the list for potential buyers

Quality photos increase the likelihood that potential buyers searching online will want to visit your home. Your agent will work with you to select the perfect photos that showcase your home’s most appealing attributes. You’ll want to ensure your home is show-ready for the photoshoot by thoroughly cleaning it from top to bottom, decluttering, tastefully accessorizing, painting in neutral tones, depersonalizing and replacing anything that’s worn or broken.

If professional photos are not possible, there are some simple rules of thumb in real estate photography. Show off the most sought after rooms of the home and the unique features, pay attention to – and experiment with – lighting, don’t get too fancy with wide or unusual angles and use a tripod.

1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.
2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.
3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.
4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.
5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.
6. Don’t disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.
7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.
8. Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and re-apply sealant, if applicable.
9. Add a touch of color in the living room. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.
10. Add centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.
11. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight. Put the toilet seat down.
12. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.

Your agent will develop a pricing strategy for you, giving you the initial list price to consider before signing on with them. Many sellers will consider price only when deciding which agent to pick. As you can probably guess, it’s a lot more complicated than that. There are many of factors to consider when selecting your agent. See Finding a REALTOR® for more.

Picking a Price.

Price will be determined based on a few factors including recent sales activity in your area, condition of the home and comparable sales. As difficult as it may be, rely on your agent’s expertise and their data instead of emotional attachment or focusing on a specific number you want or need to achieve.

Price Reductions.

Consider to your agent’s advice if they suggest a price reduction. It’s not always easy to reduce the asking price, but sometimes it’s just the jumpstart needed to achieve your desired result - selling the home.

Your agent will fully prepare you for what to expect. In general, the process includes advertising your home, accepting showings, agent-hosted open houses. Your agent will evaluate all offers received and explain the pros and cons of each. Before that step, exploding your home to potential buyers is key.

Your Advertising Your Home.

Since 90 percent of buyers search for a home online, your agent will begin marketing and advertising your listing on multiple websites and across other mediums to bring the greatest exposure to your home. TalktoTucker.com receives over 3.3 million visits annually. Your agent will also place your listing to MIBOR.com and REALTOR.com and perhaps other sites your agent deems beneficial.

Appointment Scheduling For Showings.

F.C. Tucker agents use Centralized Showing Service (CSS) to set up appointments to show your property. CSS makes it easy and efficient for your agents to show your home and receive valuable feedback. With one phone number, any agent can request a time to show your property. CSS is available 33% longer than traditional real estate office hours making setting showing times easier. Thus making it easy for potential buyers to see your home.

Open Houses and Showings.

Your agent will host open houses without you present. This gives would-be buyers the comfort to make comments and tour. Showings will occur if an agent representing a buyer requests a private tour. Your and your agent will decide ahead of time how much notice you’ll need before you can leave the house. This a great time to take the dog for a walk or the family out to dinner. The entire time are on the market, make sure to keep your home clean and ready for potential buyers.

Staying Safe.

While open houses and showings are important parts of the sales proces, they also expose you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Stay safe by practicing these guidelines for open houses as well as scheduled showings.

•  Remove, or lock up, prescription drugs and jewelry.
•  Make sure computers in the home are locked and password protected.
•  Be sure bills, passports, etc. are secured.
•  Make sure small electronic devices like iPods and iPads are locked up or removed.

Receiving an offer is a critical step to selling, but the proces is far from over. Your agent will work alongside you on the these steps, making sure your interested are represented.

Offer.

You will receive an offer from a buyer’s agent. The purchase agreement will lay out the specific terms. You can negotiate price, possession date, closing date, which appliances stay with the home, taxes, inspection, and much more. Your agent will help you determine the best approach to negotiating each of the items. The seller can then accept, reject or counter your offer.

Paperless Documentation.

The home sale process can generate hundreds of pages of paperwork that must be exchanged, delivered and saved. F.C. Tucker uses a leading, secure paperless solution through DotLoop to securely manage your documents. This cloud-based program allows everyone involved in your transaction to securely manage, share and sign documents through mobile technology. It can even add your loan officer to the process.

Counteroffer.

The counteroffer is where you and the buyer work toward an agreement acceptable to both parties. There may be several counteroffers before you reach the final agreement.

Contingencies.

Contingencies are conditions that must be met for the purchase of the home to proceed. Common contingencies include financing, inspection, insurance and appraisal.

Earnest Money.

Earnest money allows the buyer the opportunity to show the seller that they are “earnest” about their offer. Earnest money is submitted with an offer and the check is deposited and held by the listing agent’s broker upon acceptance of the offer. Earnest money is held in a non-interest bearing account and is applied to the buyer’s down payment costs at closing.

Once an agreement is reached, there are a few additional steps to a successful closing.

Inspection.

You will have the home inspected and appraised. During the inspection, any items that may need to be repaired will be identified and the buyer’s agent will present an inspection response. You and your agent will respond, ultimately deciding which repairs to make. Once all parties have agreed, repairs should be made prior to the final walk through.

Appraisal.

Unless the buyer is paying cash, the mortgage lender will order a professional appraisal to ensure the value of the home. Appraisers are required to inspect attics and crawl spaces so make sure they have access to those areas.

Buyers Final Walk Through.

The final walk through can be performed anywhere from a few hours to a few days before closing. It is the buyer’s last chance to be certain that the property is in the condition they agreed to buy. The home should be “show ready.” Think of it like the first showing or the day you prepped your home for professional photos – the home should be just as it was then. The buyer and their agent will review the home to make sure all agreed-upon repairs have been made. Everything addressed in the inspection report should be taken care of and documented with receipts or invoices at this point.

Closing Day Expectations.

You’re in the homestretch! The marketing, negotiating and re-negotiating are complete, and now it’s time to close on the transaction you’ve worked so hard to complete. On closing day, your property will be transferred from you to the buyer – the new owner. The lion’s share of document signing will be up to the buyer, but as the seller you will sign the deed over to the buyer. This act officially transfers ownership to the buyer. The title company (or in some cases a lawyer or notary) will register the new deed with the appropriate government office. This record will show the buyer as the new homeowner. As the seller, you will receive any proceeds earned from the sale. This is a great time to communicate any pertinent information about the property. Most importantly to this meeting, you’ll be bringing the keys to the home, but also consider bringing or relaying information such as garage entry codes and manuals or warranty information for any appliances – either have them on hand or tell the buyer where to locate them in their new home.

Congratualtions!

The pinnacle of the process is here, moving day. Keep these steps in mind:

•  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.
•  Consider special car needs for pets when traveling.
•  Empty your safety deposit box.
•  Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you’re moving in cold weather.