Get the Straight Facts About What Can Make or Break the Sale of Your Home. Choose Top Real Estate Agents. 

Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. How much is it REALLY worth? How long will it take to sell? How do you handle buyers making undesirable offers? 

As top Johnston, Waukee, West Des Moines and Des Moines area real estate agents with years of experience and a proven track record, it is our job to guide you through this complicated process, from beginning to end. We want you to get the maximum value for your home, within YOUR time frame. Here are just some of the things that we will do to market and sell your home: 

- Buyers want to buy your home for as little as possible! Through detailed comparisons between your home and recently sold homes, and other properties currently on the Johnston, Waukee, West Des Moines and Des Moines market, together we can determine what your home is really worth in today's market. In the industry this is called a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA. We will do this for you, for free. 

- Buyers have their own timelines, which might not be yours! We make sure they don't waste your time by qualifying them as to their real ability to afford your home. 

- More buyers interested in your Johnston, Waukee, West Des Moines and Des Moines home means more money in your pocket when it is sold. Our extensive marketing of your home assures you of maximum value. For example, this web site will market your property all across the web. It will appear on Yahoo Real Estate, Microsoft MSN HomeAdvisor, and other top national sites. We can place your home on our web site within a few minutes time! 

- When we begin marketing your home, we will immediately notify all the buyers that we are helping find their ideal home. We'll also notify all the real estate agents in this area that we work with, who quickly tell their homebuyers. It is a powerful way to jump-start the sale of your home! 

- You and a member of my team or I will walk through your home together. We will advise you how to present your property to maximize its selling price. Some improvements are worth it, and some are not! Be careful. 

- Contracts are complicated, and intimidating. You don't want to go to a closing with some doubts. You will have the full benefit of our Johnston, Waukee, West Des Moines and Des Moines real estate experience and knowledge for a smooth and successful closing. We recommend that you do not sign on any dotted lines without asking us first. 

- We will make sure you conform to any and all Iowa statutory disclosure requirements. We will also inform you of any inspections that you should consider having done ahead of time to smooth the negotiating process with buyers, and to ensure a successful escrow and closing. 

You pay no up front costs for our services! So you can bet that we will work hard to get your home sold, for as much as this market will possibly bear. We will also work within your time frame and your needs. For example, sometimes it can be hard to sell and move out of your current home, and buy and move into a new home, all at the same time! We can help smooth this out. 

Call or email us. Ask for a free In-Home Presentation. We will come to your Johnston, Waukee, West Des Moines and Des Moines home or office, and present you a plan that details exactly how we will market your home. There is absolutely no obligation so don't let this opportunity pass. It is part of our job as top real estate agents to offer you this service. 

Awesome ideas to help sell your home!

A little effort can pay big returns.  The first impression prospective buyers have when they come into your home can make a huge difference.  If your home appears clean, tide and well maintained, they can begin imagining themselves living in it.  But if your home looks like it needs a lot of work, a prospective buyer may cross it off their list.  That is why American Home Shield has prepared this list of simple, effective ways to make your house look its best. 

All systems go.

·         Contract with a reputable company for a home warranty plan.  It may significantly increase the perceived value of your home, help your home sell faster, help protect your budget from unexpected expenses and limit potential after-sale problems.

·         Replace heating and air conditioning filters.

·         Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint deterioration.

·         Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs and railings for loose parts.

·         Check roof for loose or missing shingles, check ceiling and attic for water penetration.

·         Clean areas around indoor and outdoor heating/cooling equipment.

·         Inspect all faucets for corrosion or hard water deposits that slow water flow.

·         Have slow running drains cleaned.

·         Make sure all sinks and bathtub stoppers hold water.

·         Learn location of electrical panels and label each circuit.

·         Have air conditioning condensation lines cleaned.

Work out the bugs.

·         Ask a reputable pest control service company to inspect your home for pests and treat if necessary.  The sight of just one pest can dramatically affect the way a prospective buyer views your home.

·         Ask a reputable pest control service company to inspect your home for termites.  Many states require a clearance letter stating the home is free from any wood destroying organisms, so it’s a good idea to have the inspection before closing.

·         Seal cracks and holes in the exterior of the home to prevent ants and other pests from entering.

·         Remove any debris from around your home that might harbor pests.

·         Don’t leave food or dirty dishes out in the open – your and your pet’s – to attract pests.

Make your home shine.

·         Clean upholstery and polish wood surfaces.  Clean, neat, well-kept rooms make a good impression and show your home in a favorable light.

·         Clean carpets and remove spots.

·         Clean walls and wax woodwork.

·         Clean windows inside and out – glass, frames, and ledges.

·         Clean draperies and open to maximize natural light.

·         Clean bathrooms thoroughly – floors, walls, fixtures and tiles.

·         Clean kitchen ceiling, cabinets, appliances, and fixtures; wax and polish kitchen floor.

·         Clean attic, garage and other storage areas.

·         Clean closets and hang clothes neatly.  Store shoes, luggage and other articles neatly.

·         Clean your swimming pool until it sparkles.

Keep your home humming.

·         Use vinegar to clean mineral deposits off the heating element of your dishwasher.

·         Clean oven, store top and microwave.

·         Clean your disposal by pushing a full tray of ice cubes through it white running cold water.  Follow with a lemon for fresh scent.

·         Check your water heater and drain pan for leaks or corrosion.

·         Check heating/air conditioning filters every month.

·         Clean the dryer lint screen after each load of clothes has been dried and the unit is empty.

·         Once a year, clean the coils on the back or underneath refrigerator with a vacuum cleaner.

Increase your curb appeal.

·         Mow and edge your lawn regularly.

·         Prune and trim trees and shrubs.

·         Rake leaves and pick up fallen limbs.

·         Replace dead or diseased plants and shrubs.

·         Cover beds and gardens with 1-4 inches of mulch to conserve moisture, reduce weed growth and maintain uniform temperature.

·         Clean out flower beds and plant seasonal flowers to enhance the beauty of your yard.

·         Re-paint or re-stain lawn furniture.

·         Repair and re-pain fences, decks and screen doors.

·         Discard old or broken lawn furniture, flower pots and hanging baskets.

·         Sweep walkways, patio, decks, steps and porches.

·         Water your lawn, trees and shrubs regularly and consider fertilization.

Appearance is everything.

·         Use 75-watt light bulbs to brighten rooms.

·         Arrange furniture to make rooms appear larger and provide maximum walk space.

·         Restore or repair damaged furniture or upholstery.

·         Repair or refinish damaged doors, molding and paneling.

·         Remove ashes and soot from fireplace, clean smoke marks.

·         Reface or paint kitchen and bath cabinets at a fraction of the cost of new cabinets.

·         Polish and buff wood furniture to eliminate surface scratches and enhance the look of the room.

·         Sell or store extra furniture so that the house looks open and spacious.

·         Deodorize the entire house to remove unpleasant odors, such as mildew, smoke and cooking smells.

Ask us ANY question about selling your home or property. Or request our FREE in-home presentation of how we would market your property in Johnston, Waukee, West Des Moines and Des Moines! There's no obligation, and we promise to get back to you quickly...