Meet the Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .3
Why Chiarella?. . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . ............ . . . . . . . . 4
Establishing a Value for Your Property ...... . . . . . . . . . .4
Designing a Marketing Plan . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . . . 4
Preparing Your Property . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . 5, 6
Establishing an Open and Ongoing Dialogue . . . ....... . . 6
Reviewing Offers and Negotiating Sales . . . . . ....... . . . .6
The Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . 7
Tips for a Successful Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . 8
Meet the Chiarella Crew!
John Chiarella, Broker
John’s deep commitment to his clients is matched only by his great love of the Sunapee
region, where he has been a resident and community leader since 1957. With more than 25 years of
experience in the local real estate market, John’s expertise in waterfront property sales, his dynamic
network and his longstanding reputation as a community leader allow him to be responsive to his clients’
needs and, in many cases, to anticipate issues before they arise.
Over the years, John has served as consultant to several local banks, as a member of several hospital
boards and as a town Selectman. John has spent many years sailing the waters of beautiful Lake
Sunapee. He continues to be an avid sailor and currently serves as an officer of the International Star
Class.
john@chiarellarealty.com
(603) 763-5700
(603) 249-6478 (cell)
Bob Anthonyson, Associate Broker
Bob has over 20 years of professional experience in real estate. He has led projects in commercial
development, including Boston’s very successful Park and Garage at Post Office Square. He also has
extensive experience in retail property management, especially involving the creative use of high
technology. Bob has earned BS and MS (real estate) degrees from M.I.T. and an MBA from Stanford
Business School.
Bob is a former director of Sunapee Harbor-Riverway, Inc. and of the Lake Sunapee Protective
Association. He has owned a home on Lake Sunapee for over 25 years and his knowledge of waterfront
and residential real estate is beneficial to his clients.
bob@chiarellarealty.com
(603) 763-5700
(603) 249-6426 (cell)
Melissa Pollari, Licensed Realtor ®
Melissa is a licensed Realtor currently serving as our broker’s assistant. When not in the office, Melissa
devotes herself to spending time with her husband, Michael, and their two children, Abigail and Nicholas.
Melissa has lived in Sunapee her entire life and can therefore provide great help to people moving to the
area. And because Melissa also has experience working in the real estate law business, she is
extremely knowledgeable about the “technical aspects” of home buying and selling.
melissa@chiarellarealty.com
(603) 763-5700
Why Team Chiarella?
Here at The Chiarella Team, we are committed to providing honest, fair and professional services to our
clients. Each Realtor is a member of our local Sunapee Region Board of Realtors as
well as the New Hampshire and National Association of Realtors. We provide each client with personal
service and customize our marketing plan to meet your specific goals, needs and concerns. We never
use “canned marketing programs”, but treat each property as the unique property it is.
The Crew at Chiarella provides informed guidance and utilizes the most current area market
information. We work as a team and every agent and support staff member is devoted to providing you
with the highest quality service. Because we cooperate with each other and work together, we are able to
draw on a great wealth of combined experience and expertise, as well as historical and current area
information.
Establishing a Value for Your Property
In order to effectively market your property, the Realtors at The Chiarella Team draw on our combined
knowledge of the local real estate market. In order to establish the proper value for your home, we often
begin by preparing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) in which we compare your property to similar
properties that are currently for sale, under agreement, that have recently sold, or that have been on the
market but have failed to sell. In addition to the Comparative Market Analysis, we also take into account
the location of your property, its age and condition and any special features that it possesses.
We welcome your input in this and every other step in the sales process.
Designing a Marketing Plan Tailored to Your
Property
At Team Chiarella, each plan is customized to your particular property.
Chiarella Realty makes extensive use of the Internet as a marketing tool. Some recent studies have
estimated that more than 70% of home buyers utilize the Internet as they begin their property search. We
make extensive use of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and www.realtor.com which provides up to the
minute data on all our properties.
Your property will be publicized on our website (www.chiarellarealty.com, www.sunapeehouses.com,
and www.sunapeewaterfront.com); Chiarella maintains advertising on a number of search engines
which helps to direct buyers searching the Internet for properties to visit our website.
Chiarella Team also utilizes local advertising outlets such as newspapers, real estate guides, local
magazines, periodicals, and area guides. Our logo can also be seen on boats – both on and off the
water. And, of course, Captain John’s Lake Report has become a daily must for many area residents and
visitors!
Additionally, if agreeable to you as the property owner, we often conduct broker and public open
houses at times that are convenient for you. We also utilize direct mailings, distribute general and
specific property brochures, maintain display cases in a number of locations and place yard signs on your
property to generate interest.
Furthermore, the Realtors at Chiarella Realty maintain an extensive network of potential buyers and
will contact them directly.
Preparing Your Property for Sale
It is our job to help you maximize the value of your home. Again, The Chiarella Team’s approach is a
very personalized one; however, the following are some general recommendations to help you in the
process.
Get Some Feedback –
Ask your agent and perhaps other agents in the office, as well as family and friends, to inspect your
home, viewing it through the eyes of a potential buyer. Often, we are not able to view our own homes
objectively, so this process can provide an enormous benefit. It is imperative that the feedback be
open and honest. Even though it is often difficult to hear “criticism” of your property, remember that it
is in your best interest so it is important that you maintain an open mind.
Curb Appeal –
Make the yard and exterior of your home inviting to prospective buyers.
Keep the lawn mowed, hedges trimmed, trees pruned and the gardens weeded. If necessary, add
some fertilizer to the lawn and the plantings and keep them well-watered and green. Lay fresh
mulch in the garden beds.
In warm weather, add some flower pots with some brightly colored plants such as yellow and red
flowering plants.
Perhaps add an inviting a bench to the front yard or porch.
Address any necessary repairs
Are there cracks in the foundation, walkways or steps?
Does the paved driveway need to be re-sealed?
Inspect the fences and railings for damages. Does anything need repairing or replacing?
Inspect the paint on the house, windows, the entries and doors. Does it needs touching up? A
fresh coat of paint particularly at the entry / front door can add a great deal of “curb appeal”.
Replace burned-out light bulbs, cracked window panes and damaged trim.
Repair broken door bells and light fixtures.
Be sure that the siding is clean and that the windows sparkle.
Polish metal items such as door knobs, door knockers and mailboxes.
Check your garage door – if it is not in good condition, it may be worth replacing it. It is very
typically very visible and should be attractive, inviting and in working order.
Consider replacing loose or damaged roof shingles.
Clean and align gutters and make any necessary repairs.
Have the chimney inspected and cleaned if necessary.
Don’t forget the garage and out-buildings.
Make sure they are clean, neat and de-cluttered.
Interior Appeal
Give your home a thorough cleaning.
Have your carpets cleaned; wash the windows; clean the counters and fixtures.
Clean-out and organize closets, cabinets, the basement and the attic.
Be sure that the house smells clean, particularly if you have pets. Those of us with animals don’t
realize that our homes may have distinct pet odors.
Keep cat litter boxes clean! Air out your home, if necessary; disguise the odor with a more pleasant
one such as potpourri or fresh-baked cookies!
As on the outside of your home, make any necessary repairs inside as well.
Replace burned-out or dim light bulbs.
Repair broken or damaged window panes, wood work, tiles, plaster and wallboard.
Inspect the plumbing, heating and alarm systems to ensure that they are in working order.
If necessary, consider touching up or re-painting dingy or soiled walls.
It may be worth re-painting a room if the wall color is very strong. Usually, soft, neutral shades are
more appealing to buyers.
Repair damaged flooring, and in some cases it may even be worth replacing damaged, dull or
dated flooring.
Pay special attention to the kitchen and baths.
Thoroughly clean counters, sinks, cabinets, closets and appliances.
Remove all unnecessary and personal items from countertops such as small appliances and
personal grooming items.
Remove all pictures and papers from the outside of your refrigerator door.
Be certain that appliances are in working order and check for leaks in faucets, shower heads and
plumbing fixtures.
Repair any damaged caulking.
Consider replacing your shower curtain and guest towels with new ones.
Evaluate the lighting in the kitchen and the baths and update if necessary.
Consider painting to give the space a clean and bright appearance.
Instead of replacing old and worn out cabinets, maybe painting the doors and or replacing the
hardware will accomplish the desired effect.
A live plant or fresh flowers are an early and inexpensive way to add color and texture to the bath
and kitchen.
Be sure to check for leaks in the basement and attic.
Checking for water leaks is your best defense against developing a mold problem.
If you do find mold, sometimes a de-humidifier or air-conditioner is enough to rectify the situation.
If you suspect that you may have a more serious mold issue, it is best to have a professional
inspect your home and advise you on a course of action.
De-clutter and de-personalize your home.
Buyers want to see spacious and neutral surroundings.
Consider having a yard sale for those items that you don’t plan to keep.
Pack away personal items such as family photos and keepsakes.
Remove excess furniture to open up the rooms.
You might even consider renting a storage space if necessary.
Also, be sure to keep hallways, stairs and other pathways clear of debris.
Pay extra attention before open houses and scheduled showings.
In particular, be sure that the baths and kitchen are clean, including the bathtub, shower, sinks,
toilets and mirrors.
Be sure that there are no dirty dishes in the sink or food on the counter and that no dirty laundry is
visible.
Put out your new clean and fresh towels. Open drapes and blinds to let the light in.
An Open and On-Going Dialogue
The Chiarella Team as a firm, and in particular your selling agent, will keep you informed throughout the
process of marketing and selling your home. It is important to continually review and re-evaluate the
marketing of your home to ensure that we are doing all that we can to maximize your home’s value.
Selling your home is often an emotionally difficult process and can easily feel overwhelming. We are
here to guide you through the many facets of the process and to make it as easy for you as possible.
Reviewing Offers and Negotiating Sales
Your listing agent will present all offers to you. Numerous factors come into play in determining how
many offers are received, as well as the amounts of the offers. Some factors are uncontrollable (i.e. the
economy and current market conditions) and others are adjustable (i.e. marketing strategies, pricing and
condition of the property). It is important to take these factors into account during the process of
considering offers. We will help you through the process of deciding whether to accept an offer, make a
counter-offer or reject the offer. The decision is always yours to make; we are here to provide our advice
and lend you our expertise and knowledge in order assist you in the ongoing negotiations.
The Closing
The following list is intended to give you an overview of your responsibilities. If you have any questions or
concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your selling agent or your attorney.
DEED - Arrange to have your attorney draw a new deed or you can request that the closing attorney
prepare a new deed for you. Once the buyer’s financing is in place, they will indicate to the closing
attorney how they wish to hold title.
MORTGAGE PAYOFF - Your mortgage company will need to be contacted to obtain the exact mortgage
payoff amount for closing. This is usually done by the closing attorney.
MUNICIPAL LIEN - There must be a Municipal Lien Waiver at closing. This is usually obtained by the
closing attorney.
CLOSING COSTS - A few days prior to closing you or your agent should contact the closing attorney
regarding your closing costs. These will be itemized on the Settlement Statement and you will be required
to bring a certified check to closing. (Note: In New Hampshire both the buyer and the seller are
responsible for paying a deed transfer tax at closing in the amount of $1.50 / 1,000 on the sale price
which is typically split between the parties).
TAXES - Unpaid taxes will be adjusted at the closing on a per diem basis and will be included on the
Settlement Statement.
INSURANCE - Notify your insurance company of the impending sale. Leave yourself a week or two
leeway for policy cancellation in case of a delay in the closing date.
ELECTRIC COMPANY - Arrange to have the electric company take a final reading about a week before
closing. Provide the electric company with the name of the buyer and indicate that the buyer will call to
make arrangements for continued service.
GAS OR OIL COMPANY - If you have automatic delivery, you will want to cancel your service. Final
readings will arranged by your agent and you will be reimbursed at the closing for remaining fuel.
TELEPHONE/CABLE TV - About two weeks prior to closing, make arrangements to discontinue service
or transfer to your new address.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Provide new address for the following:
Drivers License Bank Accounts Subscriptions
Dogs License Post Office Credit Cards
Place of Employment Doctors Creditors
Insurance Companies (life, health, car and home)
SCHOOL RECORDS - If applicable, arrange for student’s records to be forwarded to new schools.
BRING TO CLOSING
Photo ID (driver’s license or passport) Checkbook
All keys to the property Garage door openers
Other pertinent household information
Tips For A Successful Move
If You Plan to hire Movers, remember that they usually need plenty of notice. Call at least six weeks in
advance if you can.
Build In a Time Overlap:
• Make sure you have some time between the closing date of your new home and the last day you
can leave your present home. Remember:
o Moving always take longer than you plan.
o If you want to make any changes to the house you bought, it is much easier to accomplish
before you move in
Pare It Down:
• Get rid of things you don’t need or want.
o Have a yard sale or give it charity rather than move things you won’t use in your new home.
Take Some Notes:
• Take notes on your new house (room measurements, window measurements, locations of
electric/cable/phone outlets, etc.).
o You can have a plan as to where things go when you move in. Have the movers place them
for you. Also if you buy new items, you can be sure they’ll fit in your new home.
Phone and Utilities:
• Some companies need at least a week to get everything connected.
Essentials:
• Pack a box of essentials (a telephone, clothes, toiletries, medication, etc.) to get you through a
couple of days.
Clean Items As You Pack Them:
• Unpacking is hard enough without added effort.
Clean Before You Unpack:
• Get a clean start by wiping our drawers and cupboards, sweeping floors and vacuuming carpets.
• Make up the beds and put out towels.
Find More Area Information, including restaurant, shopping
and other service information on our website.
