Selling a home and relocating to another affects all members of the family. Depending on individual circumstances, some or all of the following steps can help minimize the adverse impact of relocating.

• Communicate - Discussing with other members of the family, especially children, why moving to a new home is necessary and keeping them informed as the process unfolds may alleviate some of the uncertainty associated with having to leave their comfort zone, go to a new school, make new friends, leave old friends, and the like. If children are mature enough to be aware of what is taking place, allow them to participate in the discussion and decision making process. Accenting the positives in discussing the move to a new home, in many cases, will help over come resistance.

• Select a REALTOR® - After the decision to sell your home has been made, select a REALTOR®. As a trained professional, a REALTOR® can relieve you of having to deal with the complexities of selling your home, allowing you and your family to concentrate on the personal things that are involved in the transition from one home to another. Your REALTOR® can conduct a Comparative Market Analysis and assist you in setting a selling price that is consistent with that of similar properties in your area. This alone can make a significant difference in how long it takes to sell your home. Towne & Country Realty, Inc. can develop a marketing plan that will include listing on the Triangle Multiple Listing Service and our website to give your existing home maximum exposure to other REALTORS® and to prospective home buyers. Your REALTOR® can also screen prospective buyers in terms of mortgage qualification and relieve you of wasted time showing your home to buyers who do not qualify. Your REALTOR® will be familiar with and can lead you through the complexities of the selling process and help you avoid costly time consuming mistakes.

• Prepare Your Home For Sale - Your REALTOR® will be able to make suggestions on things you can do to increase the attractiveness of your home to potential buyers. Often times there are a number of relatively inexpensive cosmetic things your REALTOR® can suggest that will make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

• Be Flexible - If you are still living in your home while it is being marketed by your REALTOR®, be as flexible as possible with respect to the showing of your home to potential buyers.

• Be Patient - Depending on the general state of the economy, the national real estate market, the local real estate market, and perhaps dozens of other factors your REALTOR® cannot control, it may take an extended period of time to sell your home. We have seen homes sell in a few weeks, while other similar homes were on the market for several months.

• Communicate With Your REALTOR® - Let your REALTOR® know anytime a material fact changes. If you are looking for a home in another area, let the REALTOR® that is selling your home know of the progress you are making, when you make an offer, when an offer is accepted, moving plans, and the like.

• Develop A Contingency Plan - If you receive an acceptable offer on your home before you have found or closed on your new home, you need a plan in place for what happens during the interim. Often, time is of the essence for buyers. Try to avoid missing a great opportunity to sell your home due to the buyer needing immediate occupancy after closing and you having no where to go.

Towne & Country Realty, Inc. is in business to help sellers and buyers accomplish their real estate objectives. Our success depends on the extent to which our clients accomplish their objectives. Contact Towne & Country Realty, Inc. for information on how we can help you sell your home.