Seller's Guide
The Home Selling Process is actually quite simple, once you understand the major components of it. Understanding what is involved will help you make the right decision when choosing a Realtor to help you sell your home. There are six basic steps in the Home Selling Process.
- Pricing Your Home
Improper pricing is the most common mistake that costs home sellers thousands of dollars. It is best to access the knowledge of a professional - but don't spend money on a formal appraisal - I will provide a market analysis for you. I will then study your neighborhood to compare your home to others based on style, size, number of bedrooms, baths, garage, basement, view, and lot size. A complete in-depth study of the market conditions and sales data in your neighborhood will be covered when we sit down together. - Preparing Your Home for Sale
- Availability
Your house should always be available for showings even though it may sometimes be inconvenient for you. - Try not to be home
Prospective buyers will feel like intruders if you are at home when they visit and will have a difficult time visualizing themselves in it. - Fragrances
You want the house to smell pleasant, but your aim is not to hide the odors. Instead try a potpourri pot or something natural. Or place a small drop of vanilla extract on light bulbs before you turn them on. - Pet Control
Keep dogs in a penned area in the back yard or take them with you if possible. Cats should be kept in s specific room and the door should be labeled - Trash Disposal
Don't forget the kitchen trash. Empty it every time someone comes to look at your home. - Keep a tidy house
Don't leave anything out of place and vacuum and dust everyday.
- Availability
- Marketing
We will be handling all of the marketing, making sure to hit each of the three tiers, brokers, neighbors and buyers. - Qualifying the Buyer
Buyers need to be qualified in the following terms: financial ability, buyer wants and buyer needs. This is not something you will be responsible for - it will be up to the mortgage lenders and the buyer's REALTOR®. We, in the meantime, need to be on top of every detail for your sake. Anytime there is a call or contact, many details need to be discovered. Has their loan commitment come through? What conditions are on it? Has the appraisal been done? Are there any repairs needed, etc. - Negotiating
The key to remember here is not to get wrapped up in any games. If you keep your goals in focus at all times, you will be better able to respond to offers. You will have three choices when an offer comes in. You can accept the offer, reject the offer or make a counter offer. Although the price will be the main focal point of the offer, you need to review every detail closely. These details include down payment, earnest money deposit, possession date, interest rate, loan costs and inspections- what type and who pays, home warranty plan, personal property items included in the deal such as washer/dryer, refrigerator etc. - Closing & Moving
It is important to know the procedure including buyer and seller closing costs, so that you can stay on top of everything- especially your buyer's portion of the transaction since they may be asking you to share in some of their expenses. The total closing costs will vary depending on the type of loan the buyer has, the location of your home and the complexity of the transaction.
