Palm Springs Desert Area Sellers Marketing and Action Plan

The actual extent of our agency will be determined by our Agreement. However, by California Law, whatever we do on your behalf, we owe you, the Seller:

A fiduciary duty of utmost care, integrity, honesty, and loyalty.

The diligent exercise of reasonable skill and care in the performance of our duties.

A duty of honest and fair dealing and good faith.

A duty to disclose all facts known to the agent materially affecting the value or desirability of the property that are not known to, or within the diligent attention and observation of the parties.

While we are here to support your By Owner efforts, we want you to have a full understanding of all the service activities that could be involved in the sale of your property. We have set them out in the table below. We are in a position to undertake all of these service activities, in accordance with our fee schedule. However, it is up to you to decide which of these service activities:

You have the capability, time and desire to do yourself.

You want to be performed by a professional.

You can do without.

We have marked * those activities that are essential, regardless of who is responsible for them. Remember that it is in these activities that you will benefit most from the skill, knowledge and training of an experienced RealtorÒ. These are the Level 2 fiduciary activities discussed here: Understanding Real Estate Fees.

Use this table to understand the home selling process and analyze your service requirements.

Print this page out and study it. Mark it up. Call us with your questions.

Pre-Marketing Phase

Activity	I have the capability, time and desire to do this myself	I want your professional help with this	I can do without this	I need more information
1. Research comparable active, pending, and sold properties in order to obtain an accurate market value for your property. Analyze current market conditions and provide advice on how to best position your home for sale. Obtain Property Profile. Research tax assessor records. Prepare CMA.
2. *Establish price.			N/A
3. Advise you of the various methods of financing currently available to a buyer and explain the relative impact on marketability and price between requiring "all cash" and offering seller-financing terms. Explain the hazards of owner financing and the merits of the PACTrust.
4. Estimate your selling costs.
5. Advise you on changes or improvements you might make to your property to make it more marketable. Assist you in the selection of appropriate vendors.

Active Marketing Phase

Activity	I have the capability, time and desire to do this myself	I want professional help with this	I can do without this	I need more information
6. Submit your property to the MLS for viewing by more than 1,000 agents and also buyers on the Internet. The price to be determined by you based upon our CMA and your own knowledge.	N/A
7. Gather Data: Take and edit digital photographs of your property. Take room measurements, prepare a floor plan, and determine square footage. Gather city/neighborhood information for prospective buyers.
8. Prepare & Disseminate Marketing Material: Write advertising copy and place advertisements in the Desert Sun and elsewhere. Prepare and post pictures and descriptions of your home for online posting. Prepare and post a Virtual Tour of your home for online posting. Send physical copies of your listing to local realtor offices. Produce a flyer (feature sheet) listing your property's most attractive features and selling points Make copies of flyer for the cooperating agents to use when showing your property to their buyers. Make copies of flyer to supply the sign brochure holder. Distribute the flyer at other real estate offices and the Board of Realtors.
9. Provide Equipment: Install a LISTED BY OWNER sign in your front yard of your property or on the garage door, depending on Homeowner Association Rules. Provide a brochure holder to hang on the sign. Install an electronic lock box for easy access by agents. This lock box records the identity of agents using it for access.	N/A
10. Activity: Hold your property open to the public. Put your property on the Caravan Tour of the local Board of Realtors, so that agents will remember it for their buyers. Schedule agent showings of the home, if it is not on a lock box. Send you copies of all printed materials, so you can follow our progress. Request that you save all business cards of agents left at your property for follow-up by us. Obtain helpful feed-back from agents who have shown your property to their buyers. Schedule and conduct showings for buyers without agents. Make follow up calls to agents and buyers without agents for feedback on showings. Keep you updated on progress and on any changes in market conditions that may impact the value of your property. Re-evaluate the marketing program in light of progress and these changes. Spread the word among your neighbors, so that they know your property is for sale. They will tell their friends. Make a continual effort to keep your property in front of motivated buyers and motivated sales people until it is sold
11. Pre-qualify all prospective buyers so that your time is not wasted with offers that will not close. Assist buyers to obtain financing if necessary.

Contract Phase

Activity

I have the capability, time and desire to do this myself

I want your professional help with this

I can do without this

I need more information

12. Present and explain all written offers. Represent and protect your interests during the presentation of all offers by other agents and help you negotiate the highest possible price.

13. *Ensure that all disclosures are properly made.
N/A

14. Ensure that the buyer has a loan commitment from the lender.

15. *Negotiate offers. Bring to bear knowledge of terms, price, the timing of elements of the transaction, and the buyer’s loan commitment.
N/A

16. *Finalize the terms and conditions and submit the Purchase Contract to escrow.
N/A

Post Contract Phase

Activity

I have the capability, time and desire to do this myself

I want your professional help with this

I can do without this

I need more information

17. Assist you with escrow instructions, any agreed amendments and other documentation.

18. Coordinate and assist with appraisals, property inspections, pest control and other inspections during escrow.

19. Keep in contact with the lender and loan processor on the buyer's financing arrangements.

20. Keep in contact with the title company and buyer’s agent.

21. Ensure the timely removal of contingencies.

22. *Troubleshoot and coordinate all steps necessary for a successful closing.
N/A

23. Keep you informed on all progress during escrow and follow through on all procedures from title work to financing to the final "walk-through" by the buyer.

24. Confirm the closing of escrow and ensure that the sales proceeds are delivered to you.

25. Retain a file record of the entire transaction.

26. Be available to help you find a new home or assist in your relocation out of the desert area by placing you in personal contact with a qualified relocation expert in your new location.

Caution: Of all the "action items" listed above, it is in the following areas that Sellers are strongly advised to obtain professional advice:

2. *Establish price.

13. *Ensure that all disclosures are properly made.

15. *Negotiate offers. Bring to bear knowledge of terms, price, the timing of elements of the transaction, and the buyer’s loan commitment.

16. *Finalize the terms and conditions and submit the Purchase Contract to escrow.

22. *Troubleshoot and coordinate all steps necessary for a successful closing.

It is in these areas that the seller stands the most to lose because of his/her unfamiliarity with real estate transactions.

Top of Page

This Is Coachella Valley's Unique Real Estate Web Site

Palm Springs Desert Area Homes, Condos & Real Estate are to be found in the Coachella Valley cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, La Quinta, Desert Hot Springs, Thousand Palms and Indio. These are the cities that form the Greater Palm Springs Desert Area and are home to some of the finest living and the best resort real estate in the world. If you want to sell homes, condos, or real estate anywhere in the Coachella Valley, this site will provide the little known information you need and the solutions you seek.

Palm Springs Desert Area Homes & Condos - Choices for Sellers & Rebates for Buyers