8 Steps to Selling Your Home in Ulster County, NY

I’ve been marketing and selling real estate in the Hudson Valley for the past 22 years. I’m a consistent top producer and work with an expert team of professionals for photography, staging your home, and marketing it to the right buyer. I will keep you well informed of every step in the selling process and work creatively to get you the best price and the best terms.

I know what buyers are looking for and what they are willing to pay for a home such as yours based on comparable sales that have sold and homes that are currently on the market. Often it’s not about comparables but a feeling that exudes from your home and property. How does the buyer feel in your home? Can they imagine the lifestyle they are dreaming of in your home? After all, that’s what it is all about. Dreaming of that lifestyle in the country.

I work well with other agents, they respect me and want to work with me. For you, I'm a tenacious negotiator, in both money and satisfactory terms. I'm an excellent communicator and will keep you informed every step of the way.

The end result for you is a seamless transaction with terms that are more than acceptable to you!

Step 1 — Deciding to Sell Your Home

So, you’ve decided to learn about the current local real estate market and what it means for you and your home. You call me and we set up a time to meet. I ask important questions. What is your motivation to sell? What are your top priorities in selling your home? What’s most important to you? Where is your home located? Before we meet I do research based on your home to be better informed when we meet of the comparables in the area. I say comparables, but remember there are no true comparables here in the Hudson Valley. We don’t live in an area with subdivisions where every house looks like the next.

Step 2 — Home Tour & Talk

We meet and you give me a tour. We talk about the upgrades you’ve made or the ones you planned on making but never got to (we all have those). We talk about what perhaps you could do to make the most of the showings. Sometimes sellers have some de-cluttering to do. Less is more. Curb appeal is so important in selling a home. Clean up the yard, depending on the time of year have flower pots on the front porch or back stairs. Charm. It’s all about charm. Let the potential buyers imagine what their lifestyle would be if they purchase your home. We’ll discuss all of this and more... I even have someone on my team that is helpful in styling a home to show it in the best possible light (if that’s what’s needed).

Step 3 — Pricing Strategy

We’ll discuss different pricing strategies to get more eyes on your home, more showings, and hopefully a multiple offer situation. My goal is to maximize your selling price by creating a buzz that creates a healthy competitive situation.

Step 4 — Professional Photography

To showcase your home in the best way possible, I work with a professional photographer who not only takes photos of each room but is a true artist. Over years of working together, he understands what’s important to a buyer and what they want to see. We’ll walk through the house together and move things if necessary for the perfect shot. Video and drone shots will be done as well. I can not stress enough how important professional photos are in marketing and selling a home. As the buyers are searching for homes online if the pictures don’t wow them, they’ll immediately move on to the next house.

Step 5 — Showings and Marketing

We’ll discuss showings and what’s most important to the buyer, their agent, and you. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for an agent to show your home. Once photos and paperwork are completed, the listing goes live. It’s immediately sent to my Instagram page as well as other social media sites. Once the listing is in the Multiple Listing System (MLS) it gets fed to numerous other real estate sites, including Zillow, Realtor.com, etc. I send the listing to brokers locally and to many contacts I’ve made over the years in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Step 6 — Open House

The first weekend on the market, we’ll schedule an Open House while it is fresh and new. Gone are the days when an open house only piqued the interest of nosy neighbors and Sunday drivers looking for a snack. In this market of low inventory, open houses have made a huge comeback. I like to list a home on a Wednesday, get it on as many social media platforms as possible and create a buzz. The buzz is what it’s all about — creating a sense of urgency for the buyer that has been searching and can not miss this opportunity. They are real buyers, with pre-qualification letters, proof of funds, and a strong desire to buy. They don’t have to make an appointment with their agent. Buyers' agents can send them along and know their agency relationship will be honored. It’s about efficiency. My promise to you — I’ll price your home well, splash it on social media, host an Open House, get as many eyes on it as possible, and create a sense of urgency for the buyer.

Step 7 — Accepting an Offer

The offers are in and we look at each one — offering price, terms, contingencies, and discussing each one and what it means to you.

Once we accept an offer, inspections are scheduled within 10 days of the accepted offer. After the inspection is done and satisfactory to the buyers, we go to contract. Closing generally takes place eight weeks after an offer is accepted but can change depending on the seller’s and buyer’s circumstances.

Step 8 — Sold!

Your attorney will reach out to schedule the closing. I'll remind you to cancel your utilities, have a fuel reading, and touch up anything you have agreed to do for your buyers. If you're planning to stay in the area, I'll be happy to help you find your new spot. Whatever plans you have for your next phase, I do hope we can stay in touch. Our relationship does not end at the closing table!