THE SELLING PROCESS

What really matters in selling your home

Hiring- Now that you decided to sell your home, you need to find someone that can help you with that service. Finding the right agent to serve your best interests can be simple by asking for a referral or searching online. Find an agent that has a proven track record to make sure you get the best price for your home. Set listing appointments to who is the best match for you.

Pricing- Your listing agent is responsible for conducting a market analysis in order to recommend the best possible listing price to help your property sell within a reasonable amount of time. Agents review all the properties on the market that sold to give a fair market value. You want to make sure you don’t over list because your property can sit on the market for months.

Marketing- Your listing agent will have a set marketing strategy for your property that includes listing on the MLS, hosting open houses, and sending out targeted campaigns. Now a days the internet is a powerful tool and will help in finding a buyer so property pictures and description are very important. Make sure your agent doesn’t just a put sign on your lawn and disappear.

Staging- Although you may love your property the way it is, new buyers will be looking for a fresh face. We need to prepare for a deep cleaning and put all our valuables away. Vacant properties probably should be staged for top dollar. One important factor is presentation so sometimes a fresh coat of paint and landscaping can really bring in the best offer.

Showing- Most homes benefit from an open house that allows the agent to show your home to the public. Again, put your valuables because strangers will be walking around your house. Work with your listing agent to prepare your house.

Negotiating- Much like everything in life, negotiation is part of the process. Buyers and sellers need to work together to create a win-win situation and your real estate agent will help facilitate that discussion thru counter offers. If your property is in a desirable location and is priced well, then most likely you will have several competing offers.

Accepting: Once a seller and buyer have reached a purchase agreement, they will enter into a period called escrow. During this time, the buyer and seller will await the closing and move-out date, as well as addressing duties such as ordering a title report, scheduling an appraisal, and conducting a property inspection.

Appraising The buyer’s prospective lender will typically require a property appraisal, to make sure that the negotiated purchase price was fair and paralleled to the actual property value. Be sure to keep your property clean and organized prior to the appraisal appointment, and be sure to cooperate fully with the appraiser.

Disclosing: Sellers have first-hand knowledge of the house so you would provide a few disclosures about the fixtures and features of the house to the best of your knowledge. The buyer will probably conduct a physical inspection with an inspector or contractor. Inspections help buyers confirm that they are purchasing a home that is truly in the condition for which it appears. If the property inspector discovers a serious underlying issue, which can range from anything between cracks in the foundation to plumbing that needs replacement, the buyer reserves the right to back out of the deal if they are not comfortable with the results. Once all contingencies are met, be sure to ask the buyer to lift contingencies in writing.

Closing: Both home buyers and sellers can start breathing sighs of relief as they cross off their checklists and approach the closing date. Your listing agent should prepare you by walking you through all the documentation and paperwork you will be reading and signing during the closing meeting. Prepare yourself to read and sign a large stack of documents with fine print. Once everything is signed and verified by all parties, the property has officially been sold. Time to pass on the keys and move to your next home.