Advice for Sonoma County Real Estate Sellers

Homes in Sonoma County have the charm, character and the glamour people come here to experience. We are so privileged to own property in what has become known as "The Wine Country", a very sought after location which offers a very diverse selection of real estate ranging from the charming cabins of the Russian River all the way up the scale to opulent, sophisticated residences on acreage including vineyards.

We are presuming that you are reading this column because you are entertaining the idea of selling your property, so we will give you an overview of critical steps to consider in the process. The most important initial step in launching the sale of your property is to choose an agency whose reputation, image and know-how will showcase your home. It has been proven that a strong brand name is of paramount importance. A customized marketing plan will need to be implemented which could include print media, extensive internet presence and open houses as examples. Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty professionals understand that a home, regardless of its price, holds and reflects the value of their client’s life’s investment. We sell lifestyles and are enthusiastic about the unique lifestyle each property we represent offers.

The agent you choose will prove to be a serious source of advice, representing you from the preparation stages of getting your house on the market, through the offer acceptance and disclosure process and on to closing. It is imperative that this agent know the market your property is being sold in to advise you what price will attract buyers.  Testing the top of the market often loses valuable time during the selling seasons and it is known that asking more than the market has shown it can bear will very probably fetch you less than if you had priced the property correctly to begin with. 

Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty holds high standards in the selection of their agents and in their words, “It takes extraordinary Sales Associates to maintain our brand vision of artfully uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary lives.” 

We are known for our sensitivity to our clients - big or small, local or long distance. We are great listeners and excellent negotiators on our clients' behalf. We make the time to take care of the smallest issues you might have and back it up with Blue ribbon technical credentials, an accomplished track record and... more important to you - Action!

Let’s address Short Sales…

A short sale is a transaction in which lender, or lenders, agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the current homeowner. 

A short sale may be the best option for  homeowners who are “upside down” on mortgages because a short sale may not hurt their credit history as much as a foreclosure. As a result, homeowners may qualify for another mortgage sooner once they get back on their feet financially.

Before deciding if this is the best choice for you, it is important for you to contact your trusted advisors; that is, your attorney and CPA. Once you have been assured that this is the solution for you, we are qualified to help you in the short sale process.