Sellers

Adding Value to Your Home

Setting the Price & Negotiating

Moving Tips & Checklist

Adding Value to Your Home

Successful brokers and agents use a variety of methods to attract and qualify prospects.

Create a Marketing Plan

A marketing plan will help sell a home at the best price possible in the shortest amount of time. Our CENTURY 21^® Agents are poised to help you get the best price possible.

Much of an agent’s work is quiet, behind the scenes – and important. Promoting your home involves several outreach efforts, including scheduling, marketing and hosting open houses, following up with open house visitors, having conversations with ad respondents, and posting photos and virtual tours on the web. Being your guide and confidant is part of the process as well.

Your agent will develop a marketing plan tailored to your home to help set it apart in your local marketplace and attract buyers. Once listed, it’s likely that the home will be quickly entered into the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), displayed on century21.com and distributed to over 500 national and local real estate websites, where most buyers begin their search for a new home.

Add Value to Your Home

There are many simple ways you can add value to your home like updating kitchen appliances, light outside or organizing spaces. Consider a home warranty, such as a Century 21 Home Protection Plan, issued by American Home Shield, to help distinguish your listing from others on the market and boost buyer confidence.

The CENTURY 21 Home Protection Plan®, issued by American Home Shield®, is a one-year service agreement that covers the repair or replacement of many major home system components and appliances that break down over time due to normal wear and tear. Whether you are buying or selling a house, a home protection plan specifically designed for residential real estate transactions can give you one less thing to worry about.

Why Do You Need a Home Protection Plan?

Unexpected repairs can be costly, and a home protection plan can help guard against some of the unexpected costs that come with repairing or replacing covered home system components and appliances. The question isn’t whether or not a breakdown will happen; it’s when.

Why Choose the CENTURY 21 Home Protection Plan?

With a CENTURY 21 Home Protection Plan, you have access to over 40 years of American Home Shield’s industry leading expertise, and the commitment to customer service is top priority.

Benefits of a Home Protection Plan

For Home Sellers

Distinguish listings from others on the market.
Mitigate unexpected issues associated with covered items.
Boost buyer confidence.
Reduce worry about costly, covered repairs.

For Home Buyers

Gain confidence knowing their investment is better protected.
Maintain their budget by managing potentially costly situations.
Gives access to the American Home Shield network of qualified service contractors.
Makes requesting service easy, online or over the phone – 24/7/365

SEE WHAT A CENTURY 21 HOME PROTECTION PLAN CAN DO FOR YOU.

Call 866-797-4802 or visit ahshome.com/c21.

Setting the Price & Negotiating

Setting the right price for your home is the most important decision you will make. Learn how to study market trends and set the optimal price for your home.

Setting the Right Price for Your Home

A key part of your marketing plan is setting the list price. CENTURY 21® Sales Professionals have ready access to information like prices of recently sold, comparable homes in the area; evaluate the competition, and study marketplace trends, that can provide the big picture to help you determine the right asking price.

It is also helpful to discuss with your agent other terms and conditions that can be included in the sale of the home to make it more attractive to potential buyers. For example, an owner can offer to pay points or complete a major repair – such as a new roof – to make the deal more appealing to a qualified buyer. A home warranty such as the Century 21 Home Protection Plan is another useful marketing tool, providing protection if an appliance or other covered item fails after closing. Home warranties are a relatively inexpensive way for a seller to add value to a property.

Other factors to consider:

With a CENTURY 21 Home Protection Plan, you have access to over 40 years of American Home Shield’s industry leading expertise, and the commitment to customer service is top priority.

The local market – your CENTURY 21® Agent can explain current market factors in your community, including what’s selling, what isn’t selling, and why. This information is critical to setting an optimal price and terms.
Location – the more desirable the area, the higher price.
Amenities – the more popular, the higher price.
Maintenance – property that “shows” better will always sell for more.
Functioning – buyers expect everything to work, it’s an important trust factor.
Markets – differ by location and time. When interest rates are low and the local job base is growing, it’s great to be a seller.

TIP: A formal written appraisal can be useful if your property is unique, or there hasn’t been much activity in your area recently. It’s also helpful when co-owners disagree about price, or there is any other circumstance that makes it difficult to put a market value on your home.

Your CENTURY 21® Real Estate Agent can give you all sorts of tips to help boost your home’s curb appeal and impress potential buyers once they’re inside.

Moving Tips & Checklist

Our home moving checklist can help you make your move much easier.

6 to 8 weeks prior:

Purchase or rent moving supplies: tape, markers, scissors, pocketknife, newspaper, blankets, moving pads, plastic storage bins, rope and a hand truck. Free boxes can usually be obtained at a local supermarket, but consider purchasing wardrobe boxes for clothes.
Have a garage sale to clear out unwanted items and plan accordingly. Consider donating unwanted items.
Keep a detailed record of all moving expenses. Your costs (and donations) may be tax deductible depending on the reasons for your move.

2 weeks prior:

Hire a reputable mover or rent a moving truck. Be sure to get referrals or references, check with the Better Business Bureau, get estimates and purchase moving insurance.
Two weeks before moving day, contact your telephone, electric, gas, cable/satellite, refuse and water companies to set a specific date when service will be discontinued. Contact utilities companies in your new town about service start dates, including Internet and telephone services.
Notify healthcare professionals (doctors, dentists, veterinarians) of your move and ask for referrals and record transfers.
Register children for school and ask for school records to be transferred.
Notify lawn service, cleaning and security companies when service should be terminated.
Advise the post office, publications and correspondents of change of address and date of move.
Check your homeowners’ insurance and make arrangements for new coverage.

Moving day:

Have tools handy for breaking down beds and appliances.
Give every room a final once over. Don’t forget to check the basement, yards, attic, garage and closets.
Have the final payment for the movers and money for a tip.
Don’t forget to check in with your local CENTURY 21® Agent – he or she may be able to provide useful local advice and/or referrals.

TIP: Move valuables (jewelry, legal documents, family photos and collections) yourself – don’t send them with the moving company. Make sure you have a complete home inventory of all your possessions.