Every other Realtor is going to come to your home and brag about himself or herself and his/her company. My job isn’t to convince you why you need to list your house with me. My job is to educate you on the market and what to expect. Then you can make the decision that’s best for you and your family.

First, we need to identify your needs. Most sellers will say they:

• want the house sold
• want to get the most money
• want to spend the least amount of time
• want the least amount of hassles
• want help with relocation

Now, we need to determine what your thoughts are on how to best meet those needs.

For example, some sellers might say they:

• need qualified buyers
• need an agent who knows how to negotiate
• need an agent who knows how to market the house properly

Sure, you need all of those things, but what you need most is a knowledgeable agent. Someone who understands today’s market and what’s actually happening in today’s market.

I will share my market knowledge with you, from what’s happening throughout Naples to what’s happening in your neighborhood, through spreadsheets and graphs. I want to give you as much information about the current market so you can make the best decision for yourself.

Once you feel comfortable with what’s happening in your area and in your back yard, then I’ll share with you my resources that make me different.

One to the tax assessor, one to the appraiser, and another one to you.

It also has different values to prospective buyers depending on their needs, wants and financial resources.

However, in the end, what determines the selling price of your home isn’t necessarily any of these things, nor is it what you paid, nor the proceeds you might need from the sale. What determines the selling price of your home is the market.

One of an agent’s most important jobs is to set a listing price that creates a market — the best possible market — for your property. In order to do that, your agent will perform a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA. A CMA compares your home to similar properties — both currently on the market and recently sold. It takes into account factors such as location, price, features and property condition.

But a good agent will probe beyond the information a computer spits out. They will look inside the numbers for events like price reductions and re-listings. They will rely upon first-hand experience in determining how the presence or absence of unique features impact the value to potential buyers. And they will conduct their own, independent analysis to gauge market forces such as supply and demand and consumer confidence — on a macro and micro level.

Just how important is exposure when it comes to selling your home? Well, how important is breathing? Exposure is everything. And if the agent you hire isn’t equipped to maximize your home’s exposure to the marketplace, then, quite simply, they’re not equipped to sell your home.

John R. Wood’s marketing program is built around exposure. Exposure through:

• Trademarked publications → Homelook, Homelook Weekly, Estate Lifestyles, Estate Galleria
• Extensive social media & mobile marketing
• Over 1,500 websites
• Global and local print marketing
• International markets via Leading Real Estate Companies of the World
• Superior quality professional photography
• Direct mail materials & custom property brochures
• A sales force of several hundred agents
• The Naples area Multiple Listing Service with more than 4,000 Realtor members

Putting a deal together is half the battle. Keeping it together is the other half, and it can be every bit as challenging.

In the world of real estate, the time from contract to closing is loaded with loose ends and potential pitfalls. Your Realtor needs to be just as diligent in the post-contract stage as he or she is during the marketing and sales.

Your Realtor’s follow-through, organization and attention to detail ensures that deadlines are met, documents are distributed, and every item is in place to make your transaction efficient, convenient and trouble-free.

As your Realtor, I will:

• Distribute contracts to all relevant parties
• Provide information to lenders
• Coordinate a home inspection
• Collect all earnest money
• Distribute required disclosure forms
• Collect important documents such as condominium packages
• Coordinate an appraisal
• Update you when contingencies have been satisfied
• Coordinate your closing
• Review settlement figures for accuracy
• Help you find a new home
• Follow-up to make sure you are happy with the service you received