Contact Us Seller Representation & MLS Listing Services
Selling Humboldt County Real Estate Since 1985
Seller Listing Package Details Below - Ready to List? Call 707-677-1600
The Seller Listing Package & Marketing Strategy
Presented by Forbes & Associates - Sarah Corliss
We use effective and aggressive marketing strategies that will ensure that your property receives maximum exposure and attracts all the ready, willing and qualified buyers looking for homes in your area. This will get your property sold as quickly as possible with the maximum possible return on investment.
The key to selling your property quickly and for the highest return on investment, is having a knowledgeable, qualified listing specialist represent your property. They must have an active, professional, and thorough marketing program in place. Additionally, your home must be priced correctly for the current local real estate market conditions. This is critical to maximize the selling price, but still selling your home in a short period of time.
There is no guarantee that the first potential buyer, or even the next 10, will to walk through the front door of your home and present you with a full price offer, nor is it guaranteed that any of the next 10 qualified buyers will. As your Listing Agents, our job is to ensure that qualified buyers continue to walk through your door until it does happen. Our job is also to be aware of broader real estate and economic market conditions, while monitoring developing local trends. We are ready to react quickly, making appropriate adjustments to your listing if necessary, before drastic market swings occur. We have our finger on the pulse!
We are Humboldt County natives with 60+ years of combined real estate experience, we monitor the broader real estate market, watch local trends and price fluctuations as they develop. We have traditional and digital marketing plans already in place. We own our job. It's up to you to make the right choices when it comes to selling your home and selecting the right representation. So what are you waiting for? Call us at 707-677-1600 to setup an initial meeting to discuss your property and selling options.
Established Marketing Plan in Place
We already have a robust digital marketing plan targeting internet users searching for homes and real estate online, as well as traditional marketing methods. We invest in carefully selected paid advertising for our sellers and have secured some of the most coveted spots in the most popular in-print real estate publications, such as the front cover ad on the The North Coast Real Estate Guide, the #1 real estate publication in Humboldt County. NCREG publishes 16,000 - 18,000 copies a month. We are featured on the front cover approximately 25% of the time with a full color ad for one of our clients, and we run a full page advertisement on the inside of the magazine to feature all of our other properties. Advertising buys are selected with extreme care and we only select the most popular and widely circulated publications with excellent reach. All to assist in the sale of our clients homes and properties quickly, efficiently and with minimal effort from you.
We Represent Sellers in or near these Towns:
We serve buyers from all around Humboldt County. However our policy is to serve sellers in close proximity to the towns listed here to ensure that the homes we are contracted to sell get the attention they deserve. We focus on selling properties in the North Coast region of Humboldt County. Major towns we sell property are as far north as Orick, Trinidad, McKinleyville, Blue Lake, Arcata, , Eureka, Fortuna and east to Willow Creek. If your are near any of those towns, we've got you covered.
Seller Onboarding Process & Preparing Property for MLS
Most of this list is work we handle and requires no effort on your part, but some items do need you attention and availability. Here is a separate checklist of owner / seller responsibilities, including items you may want to prepare. Please look at it so you know what you'll be responsible for before getting started.
- Meet with Client to Answer any Questions or Concerns
- Pre-Listing Analysis, Site Visit and Suggestions
- Custom CMA for your property
- Determine Fair Market Value for property in the CMA
- Review and Sign Listing Agreement & Seller Representation Contract
- Set Final Listing Price for MLS
- Owner to Start working on House Disclosure Forms
- Order & Schedule photography, drone videos, and 3D Tour photo shoots
- We Research for Specific Legal Data required to Enter Property into MLS
- Create a professional listing for the MLS
- Add as a featured property on HumboldtCountyRealEstate.com
- Add to social media platforms
- Create ads for in-print publications
- Research & assemble Natural Hazards and other required statutory disclosures or documents
- Order necessary inspections and jobs (septic pump, etc.)
- Hopefully, with owner permission, pre-emptively order a home inspection
- Work on fixing problems in the inspection that can be budgeted
Key Functions When Listing a New Home or Property
Below is a detailed description of all the things mentioned in the above list that you can expect from our group. Things that don't have links are not mentioned here are primarily handled by us internally. One thing that is no on the list that is very important is our Seller Representation. While most of this article is taken up by marketing talk, and preparing your house, Seller Representation is an important part of our agreement. Click Seller Representation to read more about what that covers and how it helps you.
Pre-listing Property Visit & Analysis
This is an important visit, typically before signing a listing agreement, it will double as a moment to come to an understanding and get vital feedback from both parties in a general sense, about our mutual goals. When we visit, we'll compile a list of suggestions for increasing your properties chances of a quick and profitable sale. We do this prior to listing your house on the MLS. As real estate agents with over 60 years combined experience, we have seen what works and what doesn't. We know about little things that you can do that end up going a long way, and we have connections and the know-how to get them done before going live with your listing. This can not only speed up the sale of your house, but also increase your final closing price.
Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
The CMA we prepare for you will help you determine you FMV and ultimately it will be up to you to decide on a final list price for the MLS. If your asking price is too high, often your realtor will try to get you to lower it before submitting it to the MLS, and in some cases may refuse to list your property all together, as it can affect the average DOM of the realtor, reflecting poorly on them as a seller agent.
Your CMA is where you'll find your Realtor's assessment of your property's FMV. We spend a lot of time on these to make sure we come to an accurate conclusion. The report will show your neighborhood or community's recently sold homes that are similar in square footage, bedrooms and bathrooms, land, amenities and condition of the home. Algorithmic property valuation tools, like the one below, are good for a quick check, but definitely should not be relied on for a selling price. To determine FMV (fair market value), one has to consider things that are not determined by straight metrics and comps sold in your area.
Do you need a general idea of your home's value? Using automated tools can produce a number, but its not always accurate. Using it to set your final price is not wise. The algorithmic tools used to determine property values, such as the "Zestimate," on Zillow, etc. are good for a general idea only. If you'd like, you can try our price valuation tool, its about half way down on the home sellers guide. The tool is useful to alleviate curiosity, but a bit of a double edge sword in that it shows clients a price that might not be entirely accurate. Some clients will try to justify an inflated price by pointing to this information.
Accurate Pricing & Fair Market Value (FMV)
Correctly pricing real estate when listing it on the MLS is essential for success. If you're selling in a down market, don't expect to get what you wanted or thought. FMV is the key to a fast sale and will help you obtain the maximum number of buyers in your market area. Pricing fairly lets people know that you are serious about selling your home right now. Real estate priced correctly for the market, sells quickly, and can sometimes fetch more than the asking price, as people will bid higher to make sure the listing doesn't "get away."
Starting overpriced and slowly lowering the asking price signals weakness to the buyer and their agent. It may give the appearance of desperation - not a good start on your negotiations. A house that sits too many days on the market (DOM) will give prospective buyers something to use to their advantage in negotiations. There is already a pool of ready and willing buyers monitoring their desired area(s) for new listings as new properties show up on the MLS. Accurate pricing and staging of your home from the start is critical for quick and painless sales. To find your FMV, refer to the CMA that your real estate professional prepared for you.
Setting the Final MLS Listing Price of your Property
As you know, by this point you've received your CMA with a FMV that has been derived from our research, house condition, location, and comparable sales in the area. Now we must finalize a listing price. It is your home, so within reason, you'll we make the decision. We say "within reason" - we mean that, because if you want to list a $200,000 home for $1,000,000, we just are not going to do that, a it will wreck our average DOM, and never sell anyway.
MLS Listing Creation
Preparing for property being listed on the MLS is the most intensive part, as it concerns a number of different but connected duties. Don't be concerned though, we are with you during all phases of the process and do the heavy lifting for you: we schedule photographers, 3D Tour and Drone Video creation if we are using it. We will order any necessary inspections, and get you the required documents that you will need to fill out, such as property disclosure forms. Once the listing completed and entered into the system, including videos, photography, research and content creation we will start advertising you in the real estate publications.
We Provide Complete Seller Representation
We take pride in providing our clients with excellent Seller Representation. While it can get lost in all the marketing talk, the Seller Listing Package includes Full Seller Representation, which is equally important and in some cases more important, than the marketing. Most transactions are relatively uneventful, but you need agents who are on their toes, not only in terms of unethical people, but even people just making simple mistakes on contracts, or trying to slide and not honor contracts. Your agent will also incorporate their wider sense of the market, the economy to alert you if we need to make price changes, or even pull your listing from the market under certain conditions.
Seller Representation means your agent will be handling all contracts, purchases-offers, counter-offers, interactions with buyers or buyer agents, negotiations, property research, communications and work with the title company, escrow accounts, and making sure earnest money is deposited at by the proper time. They also will be organizing and scheduling any necessary inspections and allowing entrance, and locking up afterwards if you are unable to be there. Full Seller Representation means all showings and tours will be personally attended and handled by us, using any special parameters that you set: no shoes inside, don't park on the grass, you name it. We also keep our clients fully informed and updated about showings, feedback from buyers agents and anything significant that we learn along the way. We are generally available anytime for your questions or concerns. Ultimately we will be sitting with you on closing day while you sign your final paperwork.
Our entire team and your specific Listing Agent are highly informed and talk frequently in and out of the office about the real estate market, the economy and what is on the horizon in the foreseeable future. This knowledge can have an effect on when you list your house, price-changes while its still on sale, or if the market really took a huge dive, they would advise you to pull it and wait rather than taking less than your property is worth. Market conditions can also have a positive effect on prices changes while your property is still listed, and you may need to increase your price to adjust for the market effect.
Mortgage interest rates are a great example of why you need knowledgeable representation. How many readers wish they had sold their properties in 2022 when inventory was flying off the shelf at unprecedented prices and speed? Properties would get listed and sold on the same day for full price or even more than the listing price. In early-mid 2022 for three months, the median sold price was higher than the median list price.
The "Seller Listing Package" is a complete deal, its not just marketing and necessary ancillary work; its also making sure contracts work out and people are held to the agreements they make. It's having an representative that is informed, monitors the market, and advises and protects you with this knowledge; all of which can save you time, hassle and money. Our agents are here to protect you and your real estate from whatever comes our way. We look forward to working with you! If you are ready, please contact us and lets setup the initial meeting to discuss your property.
We use Traditional Marketing to Power our Brand
Traditional Marketing of our Real Estate firm: We are members of the Chamber of Commerce in many local areas which help promote our real estate firm in general. We sponsor and participate in local and county events, in-particular and especially popular is Trinidad Arts Night, where we feature local artists in our offices and stay open late serving snacks and wine, talking up real estate, while live-music is happening outside. It's popular with the local residents on the coast and the tourists who are in Trinidad, many trying to figure out how to stay.
Our in-town office location is the only real estate office in Trinidad and it's exceptional location and visibility is of special importance if you are listing and selling property in or around Trinidad, Patrick's Point, Westhaven, Moonstone or Big Lagoon areas. We are also members of the local Chamber of Commerce which continually promotes its members.
Are You Ready to Sell your Home? Setup a Meeting
When you have made up your mind that you are ready, or if you need help making the decision, simply call us at 707-677-1600. Any of our agents will be able to get the process started, however you're welcome to ask for anyone of us if you have a preference. Alternatively you can reach out to us using our contact form. Just state that you are interested in our Seller Listing Pacakge, and someone will get right back to you. Include the address of the property you are selling and any questions you might have.
Things to Consider When Selling Your Home
Once we’ve determined the price, I can give you advice about the little things that you can do to stage your home to get you the highest possible price! You’d be surprised by the simple measures you can take to dress up your home to attract more qualified buyers.
I have a marketing plan that is designed to get maximum exposure to the buyers that are currently looking, and all agents that have buyers. Through pricing, staging, agent accessibility, and visibility, both on and offline, I can successfully sell your home to help you achieve your goals.
Curious about what’s happening in your neighborhood? You can create a custom market report to see what’s active, under contract, and sold in your neighborhood!
Traditional & Digital Marketing Strategies
List of Real Estate Publications We Advertise In
We Create Professional MLS Listings using Top Tier Tools and Services
Our Digital Strategy and Traditional Marketing
We take a multiplatform approach. Everyone knows by now that the vast majority of home buyers start their home search online. Internet marketing has long been an integral part of our marketing strategy and we work hard to ensure that your property will be visible on the most-visited websites. While true, we don't ignore other forms of marketing either and we also make sure to get the word out to our large network of professional associates and former clients.
We advertise in North Coast Real Estate Guide every month with a premium "Inside Full Page" advertisement for all of our client listings. Additionally, we have secured the actual cover-page advertisement at least four times a year, effectively landing our ads on the cover of the publication 25% of the time. North Coast Real Estate Guide is by far the most popular local real estate magazine. This is in addition to our full page inside ads in the magazine. North Coast Real Estate Guide prints 16,000 – 18,000 copies per month and distributes them in over 460 locations from Sausalito to Crescent City and from the Pacific Coast east to Napa, Calistoga, Red Bluff and Redding.
We advertise in Humboldt North Coast Homes a bi-weekly publication distributed as an insert (twice a month) in the Times Standard print edition of the newspaper. It has a good circulation and reach in our local area.
Advertising space in HAVEN Lifestyles magazine, is great for upscale real-estate, we advertise any of our Luxury, High-end and Ocean Properties here, or if it's requested by the seller of the property. It is printed in various editions in the U.S. markets. We advertise in the "Northern California" print edition with statewide circulation. Our advertisements here are located inside the magazine, not the cover
Traditional Marketing and Advertising in Printed Publications
North Coast Real Estate Guide is the most widely read and circulated real estate magazine available for Humboldt County and the North Coast. We get the Full Front Cover, in full color 4 times a year, out of 12 issues (so we're on the cover 25% of the year) Will you be the next showcase ad?
We take nearly a full page ad out in "Humboldt North Coast Homes," which is a bi-weekly insert located in the Times Standard Newspaper. It is highly circulated and distributed. Times Standard is the only printed newspaper left in the North Coast.
We advertise our luxury real estate in HAVEN Lifestyles Magazine.
Humboldt North Coast Homes & Haven Lifestyles Magazine
The Digital Marketing Strategy takes a LOT of words and energy to describe to non-technical people, the full details will be here on our Digital Marketing Plan details page. So a limited explanation is given for now:
NATIONAL BRANDS: You will be listed on all and more of the following National Brands, the number is quite like in the hundreds, but the ones you've probably heard of are: Zillow, Realtor.com Redfin, Trulia, Homes.com to name off a few.
THIS WEBSITE: Your property listing will be featured prominently on our websites home page, county page, newest listings, city page, and our niche category pages that our property falls into, for example "Oceanfront Properties" is a page only containing properties that are adjacent to an ocean. Your property can fit into more than one category.
LOCAL HUMBOLDT WEBSITES: Any local website that uses IDX technology to display listings of properties from the MLS, will almost certainly be displaying your property, too which is great news. That means you will likely find your property on the local REMAX, Coldwell Banker, Ming Tree, Corcoran and many other individual agent websites and smaller real estate companies websites.
Professional Photography, 3D Tours and Drone Videos
We use professionally developed marketing materials. and take utmost care with every MLS listing we prepare.
Photography: We only use professional photographers to capture properties for our clients listings. More often than not, clear and well-lit professional photographs will already make your property stand out from other listings. In real estate, a picture really does paint a thousand words. We also take time to ensure that all the relevant details about your property are present and correct.
Drones & Video: Drone Videos are utilized by our FAA compliant drone pilot. We use drones for larger properties or even to show proximity to the ocean or other special feature.
3D Tours: Nearly all of our listings will get a 3D Tours. We purchased the equipment that creates virtual tours like this one. Having our own in-house Matterport camera system and equipment has been priceless.
List with Forbes & Associates - Sarah Corliss
Our Real Estate Office has 60+ Years Experience
List with Forbes & Associates - Sarah Corliss
Consider all the facts when selecting a qualified broker: sales history, reputation, expertise, experience, community standing, integrity and success. Consider my qualification to represent you:
- Member of MLS, Humboldt Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors
- Top selling broker and listing specialist
- Represents high end, custom properties
- Consistently in the upper 5% of sales for Humboldt County
Listing Your House For Sale on the MLS
We Specialize in Professional Listing Services & Seller Representation
Call us today at 707-677-1600 or read more: Seller Listing Package
Decision Time: Are You Really Ready to Sell?
Still Making Up Your Mind? Review the Sellers Checklist
Use our Home Valuation Tool and Sellers Help Page. Feel free to call: 707-677-1600
The Owner's Checklist and Guide to Selling Humboldt County Homes & Real Estate. The checklist provides an outline of things for you to consider and start preparing for ahead of time. The guide touches on a lot of the different elements involved in selling your property, it explains your obligations when selling a house, and gives you tips on things you can do that will streamline the process and increase your bottom line. It teaches you how to read the market statistics and charts on our website and turn the data into actionable knowledge. There is an algorithmic home valuation tool, that you can check to get a ballpark value of your home, before you get your custom CMA from us. It's a ballpark figure, but it might be enough for you to commit to the sale, or wait for a better market. If you signup for our listing services the professional CMA will be created by use personally. The tool is just for curiosity and ROI generalization. The CMA will suggest a FMV of your house.
Beyond a guide and checklist, just reading over some of this intel will often clear your mind and help you decide whether or not you are ready to commit to this next phase and sell your house. The price tool can help you understand what type of equity you've built and will be getting back. We watch the market conditions closely and this page even explains how to read some of the market stats and graphs that we created.