A home warranty will pay for repairs or replacement in the case of an unexpected breakdown of a major appliance or mechanical system for one year after the sale.

As a seller, a home warranty can help you:

• Sell your home faster by giving you an edge over similar properties
• Instill confidence in your buyer by adding credibility to the value of your home
• Sell for a higher price
• Avoid future hassles. If a problem comes up, the buyer will call the warranty service provider rather than you!

A North Carolina General Statute requires you to fill out a property disclosure statement when you sell your property. You can get this statement form at any Re/MAX UNITED office or from Linda Trevor. You must provide a disclosure statement to all potential purchasers in connection with the sale (unless the tenant is already occupying or intends to occupy the dwelling), even if you are selling your home on your own. Exceptions are:

• Newly constructed never occupied homes
• Transfers from one co-owner to another
• Transfers to a spouse or persons in the lineal line
• Transfers between spouses as a result of a divorce
• Transfers pursuant to a court order, foreclosures, bankruptcy, or by trustees or estate administrators
• Lease with option to purchase contract where the lessee occupies or intends to occupy the dwelling
• Transfers between parties when both parties agree in advance not to complete a residential property disclosure statement.

Linda Trevor will quickly show you every offer you receive on your house as soon as she receives them. You are not bound by a "first come, first served" rule. That is, you can accept any offer, regardless of when you receive it. You may choose to negotiate with any prospective buyer as long as the choice is not made for a reason that would violate Fair Housing laws.

Linda Trevor will notify the Buyers' Agents that you have received more than one offer, but she will not disclose the terms of the competing offers. This would be called "shopping" offers to purchase. The law requires that real estate agents treat prospective buyers honestly and fairly.

Once you've received all the offers, Linda Trevor will help you determine which is best and whether you should accept it.

If none of the offers are acceptable, you can reject all of them. Linda Trevor would then suggest the Buyers' Agents to make new, better offers. Linda Trevor might, at that point, verbally suggest the minimum price and terms you would consider.

Or, you could make a counter offer to one of the prospective buyers -- negotiating until both parties come to terms and a contract is in place.

Linda will help you objectively evaluate each offer. Throughout the process (from appraisal to inspection to financing) Linda will have one purpose: negotiating the best possible deal for you. This includes the best:

• Price
• Terms
• Date of possession
• Repair responsibility
• Included furnishings and appliances
• Inspection approvals

Q: I'm selling my house. I'd rather not pay a high commission.
A: Lower commissions are attractive, for sure. However, those Agents who offer lower commissions may not provide you the wealth of resources you'll get from Linda Trevor. Things like advertising and networking. Things Linda Trevor pays for upfront. Things that will get you a faster, higher offer for your house. So before going with the lowest commission Agent, compare the services. Usually, you get what you pay for.

Q: I've only lived here for two years. Can I sell after such a short time?
A: You can sell whenever you want unless there's a prepayment penalty on your mortgage or your loan is from SONYMA (where some restrictions apply).

Q: Can you explain the typical real estate transaction process?

1. Negotiations
   • The buyer and seller agree on the terms of the purchase contract.
   • Offer and counter offers go back and forth between the seller's agent and the buyer's agent.  
2. Final Agreement
   The buyer, the buyer's agent, the seller, and the seller's agent sign final agreement. This establishes a closing date or estimated closing period. The closing date is usually two-to-four weeks from the contract date.  
3. Legal Documents
   • The buyer's agent sends a copy of the contract to the buyer's attorney.
   • The attorney conducts a title search, prepares the closing paperwork, and works with the buyer's mortgage lender to make sure all the documents are ready for closing.  
4. Schedule Closing
   The buyer's agent:
   • Schedules the closing date and time with the buyer's attorney, the seller, and the seller's agent
   • Coordinates the building inspection, termite inspection, and delivery of loan documents with the attorney.  
5. Settlement Statement
   • Before closing, the attorney completes a Settlement Statement and provides a copy to each party.
   • The buyer, the buyer's agent, the seller, and the seller's agent review the paperwork.  
6. Closing
   • The actual document signing takes place at the buyer's attorney's office.  
7. Funds Disbursed
   After the papers are signed at the closing, the attorney:
   • Disburses the purchase funds to the seller
   • Records the deed (and any deed of trust)
   • Deliver all signed lending documents to the lender.