Why the Clark Group and Surterre Properties? Marketing and experience: Surterre Properties has experienced very strong growth, and is #1 in representing buyers and sellers of luxury homes in Orange County. Fact is, being #1 doesn't just happen by accident: Surterre Properties' marketing is legendary! We spend money marketing your home for sale, not just hoping it will sell. (The Clark Group has been recognized for it's outstanding marketing by the #1 Internet real estate site, Realtor.com, with the Real Estate Online Marketing Award of Excellence".) The Clark Groups "buyer delivery system" is structured to deliver the maximum marketing exposure, which in 2011, resulted in non-short sale homes sold by the Clark Group going into escrow in an average of 22 days at over 99% of the Original Listing Price (based on information obtained from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service). We look forward to working with you on the sale of your Orange County home and welcome any questions you have about working with the Clark Group and Surterre Properties.

Below are the key steps to selecting and agent and selling a home. Don't rush into something you don't feel comfortable with: though time is of the essence, it is never good to be rushed into making such an important decision as you are about to make with what is, to many, their most valuable financial asset.

1. Prepare Your Home For Sale:

Now that you've made the decision to sell your home, there is much that needs to be done. One is preparing your home to sell. (We live in our homes, so getting a home in 'selling condition' involves making some changes.) Here is excellent information on what needs to be done before putting your home on the market.

2. Research Whom To Market Your Home:

Don't hesitate to contact more than one agent and company before putting your home on the market. This is not a time to rush into anything: ask questions about them, their company and how they plan to market your home. Make sure to ask for a written marketing plan that details how they will market your home on both the Internet and in print. (Click here for basic information on the Clark Groups seller marketing plan.) To schedule a private meeting with us regarding the sale of your home click here.

3. Schedule Meetings With The Agents:

Called a listing presentation, the agent will discuss with your their marketing plan and how they plan to implement it. This is a great time to ask as many questions as necessary to either accept or reject the agent. Don't hesitate to ask tough questions - it's your home and your money. And don't forget to ask for referrals if that helps you more comfortable.

Caution: some agents will 'buy' a listing for the sole purpose of having what is called 'signage'. (This means they want to get neighborhood exposure by having their name on a 'For Sale' sign and will supply an inflated listing price.) Don't list with an agent simply because they give you the highest estimated sales price. Fact is, the only 2 people who truly know the value of your home is you, the seller, and the buyer. Agents don't price houses, the market prices houses.) Our primary responsibility is to maximimize the exposure of your home so that more potential buyers see your home, negotiate the best sales price and terms, and marshall the sale through to completion. Click here for tips on pricing your home for sale. To schedule a private meeting with us regarding the sale of your home click here.

4. List Your Home For Sale:

Now comes the hard part! Open houses, keeping the house extra clean, agents that don't show up at all after making an appointment - or show up early or late. Dealing with intrusions by strangers. Yes, selling a home is not much fun. But with the right agent and proper marketing, we can help make it less stressful.

5. Dealing With Offers:

This is where a good agent is worth their proverbial weight in gold. There is more to selling a home than just the price: what are the terms of the offer? Is there a small downpayment and low credit scores but a higher offering price? Or is the buyer strong financially, but the offer leaves a little to be desired from a price perspective? There are many, many things to consider when an offer to purchase your home comes in. Again, a good agent with strong negotiating skills is very important. (This is why taking your time during the agent interview process is so important.)

6. The Closing Process:

So, you've accepted their offer and opened escrow. Congratulations! There are still many things to be done: for the buyer, the clock for discovery and removal of contingencies is running. The appraisal and inspections must be ordered and a request for repairs submitted to the sellers' agent. (The # of days before the buyer must remove contingencies is negotiable but, generally, all contingencies must be removed in 17 days.) For the seller, it is time to disclose specifics about the home on a couple of forms: one is the Seller Questionnaire and the other is the Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS). If you have questions about what must be disclosed be certain to ask your agent: this is not a time to hide anything as not disclosing pertinent issues and facts could potentially delay the close of the sale, but could also result in a lawsuit. Also, HOA documents must be ordered and any negotiated repairs made.

7. After The Close Of Escrow:

Now it's time to move! The date of possession is set forth in the purchase agreement and is negotiable, so make certain that you are out of the property in the prescribed time. Escrow should have contacted you regarding the last couple of items that need to be settled - and that's pretty much it.

We hope that this page was informative; we look forward to answering any questions you have about our Home Sellers Marketing System and how we continue selling more homes in Orange County year after year than any other broker. To schedule a private meeting with us regarding the sale of your home click here.