+385 52 501 333
info@maris.hr
Brokerage
If you’re selling a property, have no idea what to do next, and want a personalised service, you need a broker.
A broker is basically your Personal Estate Agent, and it’s their job to make sure you not only sell your property for the highest amount possible, but also make sure the process is painless for you, the seller.
That means doing all the market research, working unsociable hours dealing with potential buyers, and making sure the bureaucrats have no reason to slow down the sales process.
The broker’s role is to:
- Determine the Market Value of your property.
- List & show your property.
- Inform you of any offers, and handle the paperwork on your behalf.
If you’re nodding along, thinking “I like the sound of an easy sale for the most money I could possibly get”, then here’s how our Brokerage Process looks in action.
Consultation
The first thing you need to do is book in a fact-finding call with our Brokerage Team, either on Zoom or by phone, where we will work with you to identify the specific problems you are dealing with, and provide you with everything you need to figure out what specific services would benefit you the most.
Remember to be prepared, the more information you can share now, the faster we can get the ball rolling. That means get as much information about your property together as possible, in a format you can quickly share with our team.
Include anything you think is relevant - from documents of ownership and up-to-date utility bills, through to images of the property itself. We’d rather deal with a pile of paperwork and dig out what matters, than have to chase you to find something you’ve overlooked that holds up the rest of the process.
To be clear, at this point you won’t get a valuation on your property, it wouldn’t be accurate, and we don’t deal in uncertainties. A true property valuation comes later.
First, we need to know where the property is, make sure you are the legal owner, and go through every piece of information we can find about your property with a fine-tooth comb, before we even think about giving you an estimated price.
Real Estate Analysis
At this point, we’ve been through all the documents you’ve provided, and it's time for us to visit the property in person, making notes on the condition, and identifying anything that may affect the price or the sales process.
Once that’s done, it's back to the office where we take everything you have given us, our own notes from the visit, and all the information publicly available about the local housing market, planned developments, etc., and find your property's true value.
This process is both time and labour intensive, taking up to 15 days from start to finish, but once it’s done, we will let you know what your property is worth, and what documents you need to obtain to ensure it goes for the highest price possible.
At this point, if you’re happy with our valuation, and trust that we are the right people to represent you, the next step is signing an Intermediary Contract where we determine exactly what our role will be, and finalise the obligations of each party going forwards.
On the other hand, if you want to walk away, now is the time to do so, as from this point onwards, we will be legally bound together until the sale is finalised.
Marketing
Good Marketing is the difference between a quick painless sale at a high price, and months of waiting around for someone to end your misery, so you can finally move out.
When a property doesn’t attract the right attention, you suffer from low-ball offers or even worse, struggle to get people through the door who want to view your property.
Fortunately for you, we’re veterans of the Istrian Real Estate Market, and know exactly what it takes to make your property as desirable as possible.
With the right photos, videography and strategy, getting to people who are ready to buy is worth all the time & effort it takes to do it right.
Here’s how we help:
- Use Professional Photography to individually frame each part of the property & highlight all the best features.
- Produce a behind the scenes Video that provides an online look at your property and its location, using a combination of traditional cinematography & drones to immerse potential buyers. Keep in mind that one in five buyers requests videos when searching for properties.
- Work with you to prepare a detailed Ad for your property. It’s designed to specifically engage with your ideal buyer, using language & imagery tailored to get them emotionally engaged.
- Use the combination of our Social Media Platforms & Website to tell your property’s story, and portray its unique part in the Istrian dream.
- Reach out to Prospects who have asked us to keep an eye out for upcoming properties with a description that matches yours.
Showtime
Now you can start getting excited, as the Marketing Plan has worked out, and you have qualified buyers flooding in to see your property. All you need is for someone to fall in love, and make you an offer.
But to turn those lookers into buyers you need to follow this advice:
- Don’t be there: Buyers want to feel free to look around & talk about your property without you breathing down their necks, or having to carefully choose their words for fear of upsetting someone. Research shows it’s better for an Agent to guide them around than you, the owner. So go for a walk, grab a lunch, do anything - just make sure that when the buyers are in, you are out.
- Be flexible: Restricting your viewing to weekdays 9-5 is only going to lose you interest. Yes, showings are a pain, but you risk losing a life-changing offer. So be flexible, let your Agent schedule as many viewings as possible, and be ready to leave your property at short notice. After all, those who want to “see it now” are the ones most eager to buy.
- Make your property inviting: Keep your property neat and tidy, and never have closed doors. You want your property to feel open & inviting, as that will increase the chances of you getting the offer you want. It doesn’t take much - just make sure the property is clean, put away personal items such as pictures (the buyers want to see themselves, not you), leave the lights on, curtains open, and keep the garden in check.
- Have helpful information available: Work with your agent to put together an information pack that includes floorplans, pictures from different times of the year, contact information, etc.
In the unlikely circumstance that the property has been on the market for 3 months and no one has made an offer yet, we will provide you with a full analysis of what’s going wrong, and make recommendations on what needs to be done to fix it.
In the worst-case scenario where 6 months has gone by, we will repeat the analysis again, and let you know exactly why this is happening, and personally discuss the next steps to take with you.
Offers & Negotiations
If you see us calling at an unreasonable hour, or leaving more voicemails than an angry ex, it’s safe to assume that you have an offer on the table.
It’s now time to let the negotiations begin!
Remember - negotiation is a difficult skill to master, but your Agent is an adept negotiator whose sole job is to ensure that you end up with the highest possible price, with terms & conditions weighed in your favour.
Now is when we really earn our keep and leave you smiling all the way to the bank, as it’s the Agent’s job to fight your corner whilst you sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy a nice glass of wine.
The first offer may be above, or below the asking price, and if it’s the former - don’t be offended. It’s normal for someone to open with a lowball. After all, the buyer wants the best deal too!
But they are up against a seasoned negotiator who knows how to keep the buyer’s interest, whilst guiding the conversation towards the outcome you want.
When the offer is on the table keep the following in mind:
- Things happen fast. You need to keep the momentum going, and keep the other party interested. This is why you need a good Agent, so no one gets irritable by being kept waiting.
- Price isn’t the only thing on the table. The back & forth includes conditions, closing dates, additional assets included with the property, etc. Don’t let one thing hold you up, and remember a little compromise will ultimately work in your favour.
When both parties agree on the terms, everyone signs a Real Estate Reservation Offer, then the buyers have put down their deposit. Now is the time to pop open the champagne, as you have successfully sold your property.
Moving
The contracts are signed, everything has been paid for, and now it's just a case of going through any outstanding documents, having a final inspection of the property to ensure everything is in order, and ticking the remaining boxes required legally to complete the deal.
Sure, it takes a couple of months for the utilities to be re-registered in the buyer’s name, but that’s bureaucracy for you. All you need to do is listen to your Agent, and be ready to hand over the keys.
Your main concern now is moving out of the property in as comfortable a way as possible, and the sooner you start the less stressful your move will be.
As long as you leave the property in the condition agreed in the contract, for when the buyer and estate Agent visit before signing everything off, you have nothing to worry about, and are free to move on with the next chapter of your life.