Sellers

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The Selling Process

While the home buying process can seem intimidating, once you know what to expect it is actually pretty simple. Knowing what to expect before you begin the process can lessen some of the anxiety associated with it for you, and can also educate you should any issues come up during the process.

Because we want to help you be successful in your home search, we’ve written this step-by-step guide to the home-buying process. Follow these steps to enter your home search prepared and ready to make an offer on your dream home.

Before You List

There are a ton of preparations to do before you even list your home for sale to make sure that the selling process goes well and your home doesn’t linger on the market for too long. A few months before listing, it is important to do your homework. Research your local market to get an idea of what you should be listing your home for and to gauge interest. This is also the time to gather all your important documents, such as those for mortgage and insurance, and to add up the costs associated with selling your home.

After you have done your research and gathered all the important documents you will need, it is time to get your home ready to sell. Make sure to look at your home like a buyer would, and make any repairs that you have been putting off. This can include small cosmetic repairs like a new paint job or replacing light fixtures but can expand to include new appliances. It is also important to make yourself aware of what you can’t fix, such as noise and traffic patterns, and be prepared to find a way to market your home around those problems.

After these steps have been handled, it is time to list your home. Now is the time to meet with an agent if you were planning on it because they can help you with the trickier details. You will need to know what you want your listing price to be, how to list your home online, and how to get professional photos taken. Then, you will work with the realtors to officially list your home and start scheduling open houses!

 After You List

Once your home is on the market, the next step for you will come once a buyer is ready to make an offer. An agent can also help you negotiate through this process, and help you figure out what to consider. The best thing to do is to aim for a win-win agreement between you and the buyer while keeping your bottom line in mind. There are also factors outside of just the numbers to consider, such as contingency and being able to set the closing date.

Once you have negotiated a deal that both you and the buyer are satisfied with, it will be time to close. There will be a list of things to do before the actual closing day, including:

  • Setting an inspection with the buyer’s home inspector
  • Working with the buyer’s appraiser
  • Provide documents to the buyer’s agent and lawyer
  • Contact your lender to start your own mortgage payoff process

After these steps are all finished, it will be time to meet for closing day. You will need to bring a variety of forms to the closing day, and it is a good idea to also have your agent or your lawyer there with you as well to make sure all the negotiating and signing goes smoothly. Once the closing is completed and the many forms are signed, you can relax knowing you have officially sold your home!

Listing Agent Services

 If you are embarking on a journey to sell your home, utilizing a listing agent will make the whole process a lot easier for you. It is important to understand exactly what a listing agent can do for you, and how they can improve your expectations and selling experience. If you know what to expect, you are likely to leave the home-selling process feeling like your agent did everything they could to get you the best deal. Curious yet? Here are the services you can expect from a listing agent when selling your home.

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A large brick house with a nice lawn.

What Role Do We Play?

A listing agent’s job is to help prepare the seller’s house for sale, market the property to buyers, and guide the seller through the offer and transaction process to help complete the sale. A good listing agent will help you wherever you need it, whether that be assisting you in pricing your home, recommending photographers and stagers, and putting your home on the MLS to open it up to more potential buyer’s agents. These agents will also advise you if they think your ideas will help your home sell because their income depends on it. So, if you want to advertise your home in the local paper but your listing agent disagrees because it is not a popular advertising method in your area, try not to take it to heart. They are just trying to give your home the best chance it has to be seen by qualified buyers.

 Set Expectations Early

The best thing to do to find out what services you will need from your listing agent is to have a meeting with them before the two of you reach any kind of agreement. Discuss your expectations with them upfront, especially with details like how and how often you will be communicating. Keep in mind that you won’t always see everything your agent does to help sell your house, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing anything. A lot of their job will end up being marketing to other agents, maintaining the listing, and sending out information that would be unknown to the client unless they specifically communicate that they want to know when it happens. So, if those are details that you want to know about, make sure to let your listing agent know.

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SELLER ADVICE

Fully preparing your home for sale can make a considerable difference in the time it takes to sell it. You can help eliminate buyer objections before they arise by making necessary repairs and improvements, some of which are suggested below.

Outdoors

  • Spruce up your garden and lawn; trim shrubbery and replace dead plants
  • Yard and patio should be neat; outdoor furniture should be clean and in good shape
  • Clean or paint your front door – remember first impressions last the longest!
  • Manicure your front yard; make sure your driveway and entryway are free of clutter

Exterior

  • Check that house numbers, mailbox, and exterior lighting are all in good condition
  • Touch up with fresh paint as needed
  • Inspect chimney for cracks or earthquake damage
  • Repair loose trim, drain pipes, and fencing
  • Clean stains and window screens

Living Areas

  • Apply fresh paint as needed… think about brightening your interiors with neutral-toned paint
  • Clean carpets
  • Replace burnt out light bulbs
  • Clean the fireplace and remove smoke stains from the wall and mantle
  • Clean window coverings
  • Replace damaged window blinds

Kitchen

  • Sinks, appliances, and countertops should sparkle; remove any clutter
  • Clean the oven, range, and other appliances
  • Clean tile and grout; replace if necessary

Bathrooms

  • Clean mirrors, glass, chrome, and porcelain surfaces
  • Replace shower curtain if necessary
  • Fix any faucet drips or leaks
  • Clean grout and caulking; replace if necessary

Closets

  • Doors and drawers should open and close easily
  • Remove clutter; tidy up shelves and racks
  • Shoes and clothes should be neatly arranged

Garage

  • Remove clutter and tidy up the shelves
  • Clean the floor

Overall

  • Check the basics around the house. It takes just a minute to check all doors, windows, and cabinets to make sure they don’t stick, squeak, or are too loose
  • Clean your furnace and water heater so buyers know they are looking at a house that has been well maintained

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