Seller Services

Selling your home shouldn't be a stressful ordeal. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your investment in your home pays off. My services and experience allow you to focus on your move while I manage your home sale from our initial consultation to the closing deal, and beyond. I pride myself on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.

What I will do for you		Marketing Packages
Selling Your Home		Staging Your Home
Showing Information		Truth in Housing

As your Marketing Agent, I promise to:

Complete a comparative market analysis that will compare your home's value to that of your neighbors.

Compile a comprehensive plan detailing all the efforts I will employ to sell your home, including Internet and local media.

Present your home to as many qualified buyers as possible getting your home maximum exposure.

Help you stage your home and generate curb appeal to ensure you get the highest price.

Assist with obtaining offers and help you in negotiating the best deal as smoothly as possible.

Help you find your next home and answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.

Marketing Packages available through Jennifer Kirby

Jennifer has unique marketing packages available that no other Realtor in the Minneapolis area offers to clients of Luxury homes and Estates. View the options, then feel free to call Jennifer with any questions, or to arrange a confidential meeting to discuss the sale of your home.

Platinum Marketing Plan Options

Available to properties of exceptional distinction, including waterfront estates and historic homes in Minneapolis, St Paul, and surrounding areas. (Items vary according to each homes marketing plan)

Professional Photography - Jennifer hires only professional photographers to photograph her Fine Home listings. These homes not only deserve the best exposure when marketing, but well taken photos speak volumes and help attract high end buyers.

Property Brochure - Full color with multiple photographs and property description. Brochures are available in home for prospects and sales associates who tour your property. Jennifer also mails the brochures, with a cover letter, to target groups she has researched, including Fortune 500 top executives in state, multimillionaires in state, local business owners and professionals, and local architectural and interior design firms.

Advertising - Full color ad, one-third of page in each of the next two available issues of either Unique Homes or Dupont Registry magazines. These issues are distributed nationwide to over 71,000 individuals. Full color ads will also be placed in Homes by Design magazine that Jennifer sends out to distinctive clients, and also local real estate magazines like the Star Tribune.

Internet Exposure - your home will be featured on websites including www.FineHomesofMinneapolis.com, www.Realtor.com, www.LuxuryHomes.com, www.LuxuryRealEstate.com, and many more!

Platinum Website - your home will have its own Platinum Homesite on the web which will be advertised in all print ads and additional advertising.

Public Relations - A press release announcing the listing of the property will be sent to local real estate editors along with photos of the home. In the event the architect is well known, a special press release will also be sent to the architectural editors of local papers and other select magazines.

Promotional Events - A property tour by Exit Sales Associates will be arranged. Also a Special Event open house for sale associates that specialize in the upper tier market will be scheduled the same day. For prospective buyers (by invitation only) a Candlelight open house in the early evening will be arranged with a theme. Invitations will be mailed to those receiving property brochures from Jennifer and also your personal mailing list.

Tasteful Signage (when applicable and desired by home owner)

Selling Your Minnesota Home

To help you through the selling process, I've outlined most of the key steps to selling your home in Minnesota.

Step One: Prepare to Sell

As you get ready to sell your home there are usually some simple improvements that can help you get the most for your house and sell it quickly. As a professional, I will help you focus your effort on the things that will make a real difference to buyers. During our initial consultation, we will walk through the home and take notes on possible improvements, then discuss financially what will work with your budget.

Step Two: Learn its value before you list

Setting the right price before you list is critical to getting the most for your home and selling it quickly. Having a professional with experience prepare a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA) gives you the facts and insights to set the right price. Relatives and neighbors can be a good source of information, but only trust a Realtor that markets homes as a career, to be the best source of information.

Step Three: Choose a Professional

A great sales associate helps you better understand the selling process and gives you a number of advantages in selling your home. Their local knowledge of home values and their expertise in pricing and negotiation are important assets in getting the most for your house.

Step Four: Marketing and Networking

Getting the best price is about bringing you the right buyers for your house. This is a combination of a solid marketing plan, targeted media exposure, and taking advantage of our powerful network of local and out-of-town buyers. By using varying techniques, your home will sell faster and net you the most money.

General Showing Information

Keep radios and televisions off or turned down during the showing of your home to eliminate distractions.

If you have pets, it is recommended that they be kept out of the way or out of the house. Some people are uneasy around animals and may be distracted by them.

Keep temperature comfortable, warm in the winter, and moderately cool in the summer.

Try not to be present during any showing. Buyers ask many questions during a showing and prefer to do this in privacy. If you must be home, please do not discuss terms, price, etc with the buyers or buyers agent. You do not want to hinder the sale of the home by unknowingly disclosing confidential information.

Always be prepared to show your property. If you delay a prospect, it may lose the sale!

Other Helpful Hints

Remove and replace any items that will not be included in the sale. If a buyer sees it , they might want it so much that you excluding kills the sale.

Always keep your Realtor informed of where you can be reached at all times, including vacations.

Always call your Realtor to let them know your home has been shown. It is important for your Realtor to get feedback from the other agents as soon as possible.

Staging your Home for Sale in Minneapolis

Now that you have made the decision to place your home on the market, I suggest these helpful hints to get your home sold for the most money possible!

The Exterior

Lawn - yard should be neatly manicured, mowed, and edged

Trees/Shrubs - should be pruned and shaped to compliment property

Flowers - Consider adding colorful, seasonal flowers to the landscape

Sidewalks/Driveways - should be powerwashed and swept to remove stains, dirt, and debris

Painting - check for any needed maintenance, just as a buyer would. Repaint or touch up as necessary. The exterior is the buyers first impression of the home!

Roof/Gutters - check for loose or missing shingles. Clean out gutters and down spouts. Touch up peeling paint if any.

Screens - Wash screens and replace any that are torn or missing.

The Interior

Atmosphere - Place yourself in the buyer's shoes. Keep color, lighting, and smell in mind throughout the home.

Smell - A clean smelling home creates a positive image in the mind of a buyer. Be aware of any odors from cooking, cigarettes, pets, etc that may have an adverse affect on the buyer.

Color - Be cautious when selecting colors for paint and carpet. Too bold might turn off buyers. Stay with neutral colors- let the new home owner choose their color scheme.

Lighting - Take advantage of natural light as much as possible by cleaning windows, opening shades and drapes, etc. Turn on lamps and lights where necessary to give the home the best showing possible. Be sure all fixtures are clean and have good bulbs.

Walls/Floors - clean any dirty walls, repaint if possible with neutral colors. Clean all carpet and area rugs, polish vinyl, tile and wooden floors, or consider refinishing wood floors if necessary.

Closets - empty closets of off-season clothing and pack for the move. Organize them to demonstrate the most efficient use of space. Leave as few items on the floor or shelves as possible. The goal is to make the closet appear as large as possible to the potential buyer.

Furniture - Arrange furniture to give the rooms a spacious feeling. Consider moving furniture from rooms that are too crowded and avoid clutter. Pack up knick-knacks to give a more spacious feel, but leave enough to give the home a personal touch.

Bedrooms - make sure beds are made, personal items are put away, and any children's toys are neating organized and out of the way.

Bathrooms - Cleanliness is key! Make sure all surfaces are spotless and remove non-skid decals in poor condition. Replace worn or dirty shower curtains with new. Clean and repair caulking, store all personal care products out of sight, repair leaking faucets or toilets. Add a plant for color and freshness!

Fireplace - Clean and sweep! Place a few logs on the grate to create an attractive appearance, or have a fire burning during a showing to create a great atmosphere.

Dining Room - Consider adding fresh flowers or an attractive arrangement to the table to brighten up the room.

Kitchen - One of the most important rooms, so avoid all clutter! Store small appliances to maximize the appearance of work space. Clean and organize all storage space. Make sure all sinks, cabinets, appliances, and countertops are clean and spotless.

Garage - Sweep and wash the floor to remove dirt and stains. Organize tools, garden equipment, bicycles, etc.