FAQ sell your house
How will you actively market my property? What specific things will you do?
First and foremost your listing would be entered into the vineyard multiple listing service which is called LINK.That way your property is exposed to every LINK office and agent who’s actively working with buyers. Your property will also appear on our Viewpoints website. On our blog we will highlight your property once it’s listed.
We will also leverage our Viewpoints Face book page, and the Viewpoints YouTube channel to showcase your property. During our high season we will be advertising in print media including the Vineyard Gazette and the Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate Guide.
What do I need to do to my house in preparation for sale? Should I remove my furnishings during the listing period, or keep the house furnished?
In preparation for sale, we will go through the house with you and make any recommendations for repairs, painting, organizing, and removing clutter/furniture. Generally, the house should remain furnished if possible.
What can I do to make my house show better?
If necessary, we will consult with an interior decorator who can help “stage” the house by rearranging and sorting through furniture and accessories.
How will you determine the listing price for my property? And is it reasonable to expect I will sell it for that price?
We will prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) which will show both comparable properties which have sold in your neighborhood and properties which are currently on the market as your competition.
From that CMA we will determine the appropriate asking price taking into consideration urgency to sell, time of year, and the market conditions. Generally it’s expected there will be a margin built in for negotiations, and every transaction has its own unique dynamics.
Can I list my house with several agencies or do I have to list exclusively with your firm? What are the advantages?
On Martha’s Vineyard up to 3 companies can list the same property. A duplication of efforts generally does not increase exposure to the market. Most companies choose to focus their advertising dollar and efforts on properties that are listed exclusively.
If they sell the property, a commission is guaranteed. In some cases if more than one listing office is involved , offices may have agreements to share commissions. Also, non selling offices may request reimbursement for advertising dollars spent. Our agency’s resources are weighted in priority towards our exclusive listings and some avenues of exposure are limited to properties that are listed exclusively..
What is your commission; is it negotiable? Do you charge the same fee as other firms?
Viewpoints has a commission rate which is discussed with the client at the listing meeting.Commission rates are not fixed and may vary from office to office.The Sherman Antitrust Act prohibits sharing and discussing commission rates between offices.
Have you or your firm sold properties like mine? How many?
Our 100 collective years of experience in selling all types of properties in all six Vineyard towns includes: luxury waterfront homes, antique farm houses, cozy beach cottages, pond front contemporaries, historic captain’s homes, and more.
What if my friend or a family member decides they want to buy my house during the time of the listing agreement?
Sellers are encouraged to review any concerns about potential friend or family interest in purchasing their property prior to signing a listing contract. The listing agreement is a legally binding contract.
Will you handle all of the showings? Do you use lock boxes?
Our policy is that all of our agents will be well versed in all of our listings, but in most cases the listing agent will show your house. We don’t use lock boxes because we feel the house is best presented with the Viewpoints sales agent present.
How long can I expect my house to be on the market?
There is no way to predict when your house will sell. If the house is priced properly it will sell sooner than if it’s priced too high. If the seller and the listing agent are concerned that the property hasn’t sold in the expected timeframe, a price adjustment may be warranted.
To help adjust the price we review changes in market conditions, time of year, and showing feedback.
What amount of time does the listing agreement with your firm encompass?
Due to the Island’s seasonal market, and in consideration that buyers are often long distance, we strongly encourage listings for one year duration to capture the full market cycle and to allow us to develop the listing presence and marketing.
How will you let me know what is happening with my property listing and what activity there is?
Depending on your preference your listing agent will call or email you after every showing with feedback from the buyer or buyer’s agent. We will also discuss inquiries from the advertising venues.
