SELLER'S PROPERTY DISCLOSURE IN MAINE

If you have decided to sell a home in Maine,

what are you required to disclose to the buyer? 

As a buyer, what disclosures should you expect from a seller?



Photo by Cambodia4kidsorg



First and foremost, you want to be honest about any information you are giving a potential buyer.  If they buy your house, they will most likely discover things you did not disclose once they move in.  If you did not disclose something you were aware of, or were not honest about something...you are opening yourself up for potential liability.  Yes, even after closing!




Make sure the property disclosure you get is filled out completely.  If something is not answered or if you have questions about something you see, ask your agent to find out more information. Keep in mind, the seller may not know the answers to some of your questions...that's where a good inspector comes into play!

In the State of Maine the following items are required to be disclosed on the Seller's Property Disclosure Form:

1.  Information on Private Water Supply
2.  Information on Heating System(s)
3.  Information on Waste Water Disposal System
4.  Information on any Known Hazardous Materials
5.  Information on any Known Material Defects

Information should also be provided about Lead-Based Paint, Arsenic in Water and Arsenic in Wood.

For details on any of these items or information on how to protect yourself as a Seller or Buyer, call Fontaine Family - The Real Estate Leader anytime at (207)784-3800 or

WE SURE DO HAVE FUN!

We recently got together to celebrate our success in 2011...
and we sure did have fun! 

Clayton Larochelle, Bill Bergeron,

Beth Favreau, Deb Morin and

Pat Long-Cressey were recognized

 for ranking in the top 1%

of real estate agents worldwide!

Nick Trider and Harriet Cummings were recognized for having over 2 million dollars in sales!

We had great food, some drinks and a lot of fun! 

Chad and Bill serenaded Harriet

Beth impersonated Brenda

Check us out on...

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YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION!

Why is curb appeal so important when selling your home?

Have you ever heard the expression...

"You only have one chance to make a first impression"?

The same is true of real estate.  Potential buyers make up their mind about a house very quickly. 

That  first impression may determine whether they even want to schedule a showing for your home...and you can't sell your property if you don't have showings! 

Watch our short video for more information on the importance of curb appeal.

If you would like tips about how to spruce up your curb appeal

to improve your chances of selling for top dollar faster. 

or call (207)784-3800.

WHO DECIDES THE LISTING PRICE?

When you are ready to sell...who decides the listing price? 

So how do you decide the right price to get your property sold

for top dollar and in a timely manner in today's market?

This is where a skilled, experienced real estate agent is a must...

an expert real estate agent will help you gather the information you need

to make an informed decision about how to price your property. 

Are you in a hurry to sell or do you have a year to move?

Are you behind on your mortgage payments?

Is your mortgage paid off?

Do you need to find another home to purchase?

Each situation is unique and so pricing your property

 is a personal decision that is specific to your situation. 

Before you price your home, there are a few things you must do...

1.  Know your options  - in today's market you may think selling is not an option because of the amout you owe.  Are you a candidate for a short-sale?  Do you even know what your home is worth?  You may be in better shape than you expected.

2.  Know how to prepare your home for showings.  Believe it or not, the way your home shows makes a difference in the price buyers are willing to pay.

3.  Know how to beat out your competition.  In order to beat the competition, you have to know who you are competing against, what is the condition of their property, what is their price, how long have they been on the market...

4.  Discover market trends.  The real estate market is different from area to area.  What is happening in Lewiston/Auburn is different from what is happening in Portland or in Lisbon.  

5.  Know what an absorbtion rate is and why it is important to you.  An absorbtion rate will tell you how saturated the market is in your area at the current time.  If the market is more saturated, you have more competition.

6.  Know how many properties in your area that are similar to yours have sold recently.   What price did they sell for?  How long were they on the market? 

Once you and your chosen real estate agent have explored all these areas,

you are ready to make an informed decision about what is the best price for your property

to sell it for top dollar in the timeframe that is right for you.