With the experience gained from two decades in real estate, I bring an acute knowledge of the market and of the listing and selling process.

I believe the most important factors to obtaining the highest price for your home are:

1. Viewing your property through buyer’s eyes and forming a presentation that optimizes the appeal of the home.
2. Sensible and competitive pricing of your home derived from careful assessment of similar properties in your neighborhood that have recently sold.
3. Organized and aggressive marketing, taking particular advantage of internet resources, by far the most popular medium that buyers use today.

Homeowners wanting to sell in today's market who are reeling from the tumultous news of the real estate downturn need to take a deep breath and repeat the following mantra as they assess their situation: "ALL REAL ESTATE IS LOCAL."

The towns and cities in Massachusetts and the nation where many iffy sub-prime mortgages were written are surely in distress now. But those towns may not be your town.

Property values in many communities, particularly in and around Boston, remain strong. Brookline, Newton, and Needham are just a few of the "blue chip" communities in Greater Boston that have weathered the storm well. In 2007, single-family home prices in Newton acually showed modest appreciation over 2006. While sales volume is down in 2008- the selling prices of homes remain constant here. Some explanations: low inventory that has created pent up buyer demand, Newton's great reputation for quality services, highly ranked school systems, safety, and accessibility to downtown Boston.

Wherever you live, for a successful sale to take place in this buyer's market your property requires professional marketing on a wide scale, careful preparation and presentation to the public, and smart pricing. Now more than ever, a seller needs the skills and full time effort of an experienced Realtor, who can objectively interpret home sales data, make suggestions that makes the home more sellable, be available at all times for showings, hold Open Houses and conduct follow up calls for buyer feedback. With mortgage lending policy tightening, assessment of the financial qualifications of a buyer becomes critical as well as price, terms and conditions of an offer. Selling a home is an intensive, highly detailed transaction.

The following is a brief outline of the work that I and William Raveis Real Estate will perform for you when I am entrusted with the sale of your home:

Preparing the Home for Sale

In a market with increasing inventory, it is essential that we set your property apart from the competition. It is not necessary or even cost effective to do major renovations on a home just to get it sold. There are many low cost ways to optimize the appeal of a home which can add $1000’s to its value. These may include on the inside:

• remove some furnishings, de-clutter the home, rearrange paintings.
• touch up painting and repair work
• refinish floors, clean carpets
• readjust lighting

For the exterior:

• fine tuning the landscaping around the house
• clean gutters
• touch up paint where needed
• masonry work where required

I will make suggestions based on my knowledge of what buyers are looking for in a home so that your property is presented in its absolute best light. I also have a roster of qualified stagers, handymen, trades people and other service providers, should you feel the need.

Marketing

Home buyers use the internet as their primary research tool. The good real estate sites allow buyers access to a phenomenal amount of data, and this is what today’s buyers demand. In addition, photos and virtual tours give the prospective buyer a realistic impression of the interior of the home with the click of a mouse. Decisions to view property are made from these presentations.

Click here to download and view
a sample virtual tour.

William Raveis Real Estate is regarded as an innovator in internet real estate marketing. We are invested in providing enhanced internet features that will make your property stand out from the competition. It is a major component in our complete approach to giving your property full exposure to the public.

The marketing process:

• Gather Information
  • From you, public records, and other sources to obtain a complete picture of your home and neighborhood.
• List Property Information on These Major Real Estate Internet Sites
  • MLS (Multiple Listing Service.) This site contains all Realtor listed properties in Massachusetts for brokers and buyers.
  • LINK (Listing Information Network.) This site is an alternative broker listing service.
  • Boston.com. The on-line version of the Boston Globe offers tons more data than its print counterpart. William Raveis Real Estate subscribes to the premium information package service allowing for slide show and video presentations of property.
  • Craigslist. Independent internet bulletin board. I will update your listing twice weekly to keep it high on the hit-list.
  • Other Internet Sites:
    • Realtor.com
    • Raveis.com
    • Davidgoldhomes.com
    • Google.com
    • Yahoo.com
    • Homeseekers.com
    • Homebuyers.com
  • In some cases we will create a website exclusively for your property.
• Newspaper and Magazine Advertising
  • Sunday Boston Globe Ads
  • Local Neighborhood Newspapers: Newton-Brookline Tab, Bay Courant, Bay Window, and wherever else is appropriate.
• Mailings
  • Impact direct mail products to neighbors, targeted demographics such as hospitals, universities, HR offices.
• Signage in Front of Your Property
• Broker Open Houses
  • Previews your home especially for area brokers to get the word out to their buyers.
• Public Sunday Open Houses
  • Great source for buyers.
• Property Showings
  • Be available to present your home at any time that a customer wants a showing provided it is convenient to your schedule.
  • Cooperate with all brokers and their client/customers.
  • Solicit follow-up responses from brokers and prospective buyers.
  • Report to you on sales progress as frequently as you desire.

When an Offer is Made

I will review and advise you regarding all terms, conditions and qualifications presented in the offer so you will have all the information necessary to make the decisions that are right for you. I take pride in my ability to negotiate in a forthright and persuasive manner.

Once an Offer is Accepted

I will:

• Schedule and monitor home inspections and bank appraisal.
• Act as facilitator between buyer, seller, and attorneys
• Make sure all performance dates are met including home inspections, mortgage applications, and signing of purchase and sales agreement, receipt of commitment letter, and closing date.
• Arrange for smoke and CO inspection, water reading and heating fuel adjustments (for most single and multi-family sales).
• For Condo properties, I will distribute all condo documents to buyers, facilitate acquiring the 6D certificate, certificate of insurance, and other documents necessary for closing

After Closing

CELEBRATE!