Sellers Guide and Tips

TPR is a registered member of The Turks & Caicos Real Estate Association (TCREA) and is governed by a Code of Ethics that regulates business practices and assures the buying and selling public the highest level of professionalism and integrity. TCREA helps achieve this by:

• Consolidating listing information into a database accessible by its Members and their clients (Multiple Listing System - MLS). The MLS ensures that anyone interested in buying your property can view the relevant information privately through the TCREA website ( www.tcrea.com ) or through any Sales Agent.
• Making it possible to purchase a property through any registered Sales Agent in the TCI.
• Implementing standard forms, fees, and purchase procedures.
• Regulating and monitoring commission rates. (Currently 6% of the sales price on developed properties and 10% on undeveloped land) Commission is generally paid by the seller. Listings information will normally include the commission in the price.
• Ensuring standards of competence within the Industry.

Tips

Decorating a house to suit your own tastes and preparing a house to sell in the least amount of time are two entirely different things.

1. The key ingredient in preparing a house for sale is to ensure that you have removed as many of the distractions as possible, which will assist prospective buyers to see their own possibilities and visualize what they can do with the property
2. Cluttering a house with personal items of sentimental significance may cost you a sale
3. Look at your house and the items in it impartially. If you're not sure about a particular item, err on the side of caution
4. Common items which can distract a potential buyer's attention and which should be kept to a minimum including: family photographs, paintings (particularly if they have been used to cover much of the available space), liquor bottles, favorite/comfortable pieces of furniture that do not match the general scheme, art-work and collectibles. When in doubt - take it out!
5. A fresh paint job is often a good investment and will go a long way to freshening up your home. Choose a bright, conservative color scheme that will give the house a clean, fresh feeling and enhance the feeling of space
6. If you are not inclined to repaint the entire house consider brightening up any darker rooms with an emphasis on the kitchen and bedrooms (consider light colored linens, curtains, etc.)
7. Pay special attention to landscaping - it is the first impression a prospective buyer will have.

Advertising

TPR will take all the necessary steps to fully advertise your property. Typically this would include:

• Registering the property on the Multiple Listing System (with TCREA)
• Installing signs
• Registering the property on the TPR website and that of the TCREA
• Informing TPRs private client database
• Organizing an open house to get the 'right' people through the door (in the right circumstances).
• Taking high quality pictures and advertising in local and international publications.