Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does Selling Directly stay in business with such low fees?
Q. What is the difference between Selling Directly and other, more "traditional" real estate companies?
Q. How does Selling Directly differ from "discount" brokers?
Q. Do you work with Buyers too?

Buyer FAQ
Q. What should we do before we start looking for a home?
Q. Can you recommend a lender?
Q. How will Selling Directly find the home that's right for me?
Q. What happens when we find a home we like?
Q. What is an earnest money deposit?
Q. What should we do to make sure the house we are buying is in good condition?
Q. Why should I sign an agreement with a buyer's agent?

Seller FAQ
Q. What is the difference between the marketing packages?
Q. Why would I want to I opt for full-service?
Q. Why is the MLS so important?
Q. Why do I need to cooperate with Buyer’s Agents?
Q. Should I have my home inspected before I list?
Q. Should I provide a Home Warranty?
Q. What about having an Open House or advertising in the newspaper?
Q. Can I really handle all the paperwork involved in selling my home?
Q. How soon and for how long can my home be listed?
Q. I think I'm ready to list with Selling Directly. What now?

FSBO (with Selling Directly) FAQ
Q. What do I need to do before an offer is made?
Q. What happens when an offer is submitted?
Q. What are contingencies?
Q. What happens after an offer is accepted?

Q. How does Selling Directly stay in business with such low fees?
A. Simply: low overhead, increased volume, and straightforward service. Technology today makes real estate easier than it was a decade ago and traditional companies choose not to pass this savings on to their clients. We have streamlined our listing process and eliminated ineffective marketing so that we can help more clients sell their home. To make an analogy, shopping at an expensive department store makes some people feel like their getting more; however, many find more satisfaction with the great deals they find at a warehouse chain.

Q. What is the difference between Selling Directly and other, more "traditional" real estate companies?
A. There are two major differences. First, we believe quality real estate services should be available to everyone at the same rate. It's not right that traditional companies will charge someone with a more expensive home significantly more to list, especially when the agent's job is the same for listing a cheaper home. We also believe that people should be able to choose the real estate services they need. Therefore, we offer both full-service representation and for-sale-by-owner Plans at flat fees.

Q. How does Selling Directly differ from "discount" brokers?
A. Again, improved technology has made real estate more accessible and led to an increase in competition - a definite plus for consumers. Unfortunately, many national chains advertise a great deal but are evasive about what you get for the money. The fee may only cover being listed in their own publication, but additional charges apply for an MLS listing or sign and lockbox. Additionally, for full-service representation, these chains will revert back to traditional idealogy by charging a discounted percentage commission. Please visit one of their websites and you'll see how hard it is to even find how much they are asking for their services. Selling Directly, on the other hand, is honest and direct from the beginning.

Q. Do you work with Buyers too?
A. Absolutely! Our agents have helped hundreds of buyers find a place to call home. We strive to help you feel comfortable and informed while working with you to get the best price and terms for your perfect home. Learn more about how we assist Buyers.

Buyer FAQ

Q. What should we do before we start looking for a home?
A. Prior to looking for a home, you should seek pre-approval by a bank or mortgage broker. While this will help you determine what you can afford to purchase, a seller will also look more highly on an offer that comes with pre-approval.

Q. Can you recommend a lender?
A. Selling Directly gives you the freedom to choose your own mortgage lender. However, we do have a select list of highly qualified mortgage lenders that we are confident will provide great service and a wide range of financial programs for every kind of buyer.

Q. How will Selling Directly find the home that's right for me?
A. A Selling Directly Realtor®/Broker understands that your home is likely the largest investment you will make. He/she will listen carefully to your needs and work diligently to find your ideal home. Your agent will help you understand every aspect of the home-buying process and continue to serve your best interests until you have the keys to your new home. Read more about how a Selling Directly REALTOR®/Broker can help you find your ideal home.

If you aren't ready to have one of our agents represent you, you may opt to sign up for our FREE automated home search. Our computers will check the MLS daily to find homes that match your criteria and send you an automated email to keep you ahead of the game with the latest listings.

Q. What happens when we find a home we like?
A. Your Selling Directly REALTOR®/Broker will research pertinent information about the property and guide you through the negotiation process. He/she will represent your interests all the way through closing. For more information of the offer and closing steps, visit our buyer services page.

Q. What is an earnest money deposit?
A. An "earnest" money deposit can be submitted with an offer to show the seller that you are serious about your offer and have the means to buy the property. While it is not required, an earnest money deposit can sometimes be the deciding factor for which offer a seller chooses to accept. Once your offer is accepted, the money will be deposited into a trust account and credited to you at closing.

Q. What should we do to make sure the house we are buying is in good condition?
A. We always recommend that a home be inspected prior to purchase. For around $350, a state-licensed inspector will examine the house for defects and advise if a specialist should be consulted for additional evaluation. The inspector will explain many of the homes features and provide a detailed report that can be used to negotiate repairs with the seller. It is also recommended, and sometimes required by a lender, that a buyer have additional inspections for wood-destroying insects, radon gas, or well water and septic system. As part of the offer, Selling Directly also recommends asking that the seller provide a one-year mechanical home warranty.

Q. Why should I sign an agreement with a buyer's agent?
A. Choosing a Selling Directly REALTOR®/Broker to be your exclusive representative will allow them to commit 100% of their efforts to you. A buyer's agent invests many hours into searching and viewing properties and deserves to understand a prospective buyer's intentions. While you are always free to withdraw this agreement, we are confident you will be happy with your agent's services. We have helped hundreds of clients find their ideal home; in fact, much of our business comes from direct referrals by happy clients. Feel free to read our buyer testimonials.

Seller FAQ

Q. What is the difference between the marketing packages?
A. To maximize your home's exposure and draw in as many buyers as possible, the Premium Marketing Plan offers 12 photos on the MLS and Realtor.com, which are extremely important to online buyers. You will also receive a professional yard sign, as well as unlimited custom flyers in a flyer box for drive-by prospects. We will provide a comparative market analysis to help you price your home competitively for your neighborhood, and can pre-qualify potential buyers who come to you without an agent. The Basic Marketing Plan is really designed for condominiums and townhouses where multiple photos are not beneficial and yard signs may be prohibited.

Q. Why would I want to I opt for full-service?
A. More people are opting for full-service representation because they either don’ t have the time or experience to handle negotiations.A lot of laws and rules have changed and it is nice to know your agent will be by your side from start to finish.We can offer advice and help at every step, from negotiations, to repairs, and closing.Full-service representation also comes with additional marketing of a posting of your property on Craigslist, Backpage, ByOwnerMLS, DotHomes, Google Base, HotPads, Locals.com, Lycos, Oodle, Properazzi, Trulia, Vast, and Zillow for 60 days.

Q. Why is the MLS so important?
A. A recent National Association of Realtors survey showed that 77 percent of home buyers use the internet to look for a home. By listing your home on the Mulitple Listing Service, it will be available on Realtor.com and hundreds of other real estate websites. The MLS is the key to maximizing your home's exposure. Only licensed real estate agents are authorized to list your home on the MLS, and most will charge you 6% of your home's price to do so.

Q. Why do I need to cooperate with Buyer’s Agents?
A. A majority of buyers will be working with real estate agents who need to be compensated for bringing a qualified buyer to your home. The typical payout for agents in the area is between 2.4% and 3% of the final sales price. Although commissions are not fixed by law, these are typical for the industry to attract agents to your home. Any commissions would be paid at closing or settlement of the sale.

Keep in mind that if you accept an offer from a buyer without an agent no commissions are paid at all! However, it is important to encourage agents to view your home since an overwhelming majority of all resale homes are found through buyer’s agents.

Q. Should I have my home inspected before I list?
A. The primary reason transactions fall through is because a home inspection is not performed until after the home is under contract. This leads to unforeseen repairs that must be renegotiated, often scaring a buyer away or financial loss for the seller. Selling Directly can recommend a state-licensed home inspector to preinspect your home prior to offering it for sale. Repairs can be addressed ahead of time or disclosed to buyers with price adjustments made accordingly. This will lead to a much smoother selling process.

Q. Should I provide a Home Warranty?
A. Many sellers today offer to purchase a home warranty to ease the mind of prospective buyers. Ranging from $350 to $450, a home protection plan will provide coverage on the main mechanical components of a home (i.e. hvac, plumbing, built-in appliances, roof) for one year.

Q. What about having an Open House or advertising in the newspaper?
A. While you are more than welcome to participate in additional marketing, there is little research to support that newspaper advertising or open houses are effective marketing tools. While some traditional companies sell themselves on "premiere marketing," these strategies are actually used for agents to prospect and find buyers ($$) rather than sell your home.

Q. Can I really handle all the paperwork involved in selling my home?
A. While many people find selling by owner an overwhelming and even frustrating experience, if you have the time and energy to learn about the process and negotiate offers, selling your home by owner can be rewarding. Our FSBO FAQs will help you understand some of the steps involved in the transaction. We also provide a checklist with both of our marketing packages to help you through. However, we would also be happy to represent your interests completely as a full-service REALTOR®/Broker, still at a low flat fee.

Q. How soon and for how long can my home be listed?
A.  Once we coordinate a time to meet, your home will be listed within 48 hours. Our agent can email the listing agreement and property information sheet in advance so you can review it on your own time and think of any further questions you may have.  Your home will be listed for up to eighteen months to allow more than enough time for your home to sell.

Q. I think I'm ready to list with Selling Directly. What now?
A. Fill out the Order Now page and a REALTOR®/Broker with experience in your area will contact you soon

FSBO(with Selling Directly) FAQ

Q. What do I need to do before an offer is made?
A. Complete the NC Property Disclosure Statement (two pages) and provide it to serious buyers; this can be left in the home if you are away. Prepare your property for showings by reviewing our "Dress Your House for Success" checklist and take advantage of the Centralized Showing Serivce (CSS). The Offer to Purchase form and any addendums are completed by the buyer or buyer’s agent and submitted to you for your review.

Q. What happens when an offer is submitted?
A. Review the price and terms of the offer. If it's acceptable, sign it and return to the buyer or buyer’s agent. If you feel the offer is not satisfactory you may reject the offer and counteroffer: cross out what you would like to change, initial and date next to it, and return it to the buyer or buyer’s agent (this constitutes a "new" offer). If the buyer agrees to the new terms, they will sign it and give you a copy of the final contract; a buyer's agent may rewrite the contract to reflect all changes. Keep in mind that your counteroffer voids the original offer; therefore, if a buyer rejects your counteroffer, there is nothing left on the table.

Q. What are contingencies?
A. Every offer contains items which must be resolved before closing in order for the sale to be completed. For example, the home may need to pass inspections like termites, home inspection, or radon gas. Other contingencies may include loan approval for the buyer, the house appraising for the contract price, or the buyers current home selling first. The buyer has the option of walking away (with earnest money deposit returned) if these contingencies of the contract are not met.

Q. What happens after an offer is accepted?
A. Cooperate with the buyer or buyer’s agent as they schedule and pay for home or other inspections. While most buyers are already pre-qualified prior to seeing your home, the contract may be contingent on loan approval. The closing/settlement at an attorney’s office is also scheduled and paid for by the buyer or buyer’s agent.
You will be amazed at how much money you can save by completing the transaction on your own. However, if you do not feel like dealing with the responsibility of negotiating, scheduling inspections, or handling the paperwork until closing, we will be happy to handle everything for you for an additional flat fee to be paid only when your home sells. You will still be saving a significant amount of money, depending on the value of your home, compared to traditional commission-based companies. Read more about our full-service option.