Selling a home is not a difficult process as long as you realize that each and every home is different and may require a unique marketing approach. As a result, discussing your options with a listing specialist is the best way of ensuring that you are given the best chance to properly market your property.

The start of the process is marked by your signing of a listing agreement, which describes the real estate company’s promise to properly present your home to interested buyers. This means making viable selling offers that will entice all those interested in the purchase and outline the commission agreements associated with your home sale.

Preparing to Sell Your Home

The first step for preparing for the journey of selling your home is to talk to your agent about the various details of what current buyers may be looking for. You will have to determine whether or not you’re going to need any repairs, changes, refurbishing or any other work done to make your home more presentable.

All these details are crucial when other agents start showing up with offers, and, in such cases, your listing specialist will keep closely in touch to make sure you know how to respond and to provide you with any feedback necessary for improving the marketing process.

Since the first impression is extremely important, marketing preparations need to be taken very seriously after all the changes and renovation work is completed. Taking the right photographs, putting together and installing catchy signs and delivering brochures is all part of the process.

Open House Offers

A great way to try and obtain a good offer from buyers is to have an open house. This can enable potential buyers to explore every part of the home. What is even better is that one of our representatives will help you determine the right time for holding an open house and will be there to present the property in a favorable light. Most importantly, we will set the buyers’ minds at ease about any queries or concerns they may have.

Dealing with a Sale Offer

When a buyer presents an offer, it often happens that negotiations and renegotiations are in order, not only when it comes to the price, but also concerning various other terms, such as contingencies, the buyer’s financial possibilities or even the settlement date.

You will be able to either accept, counter or reject the offer based on your interest and any advice your agent may provide you with. When you’re ready to come to an agreement, you will be advised by your agent to read and understand every term of the contract and be clear on any of the specific conditions you need to know about.

After all the negotiations, and after the results of an appraisal and home inspection yield satisfactory results, it will finally be time for the last preparations before the settlement.

Generally, as a seller, you will not be present during this time, as the buyer will go through a final tour of the house to ensure that everything is in proper order and no additional modifications are necessary. If, however, you have further concerns and questions to pose, your agent will keep in touch until the end.

Inspections and Appraisals

Home inspections and appraisals are conducted by professionals in order to determine the overall state, level of quality and value of your home.

A professional home inspector will be appointed by your buyer to assess the condition of your home and determine what repairs and other issues need to be taken into account. For instance, we could mention evaluating the quality of the electrical, plumbing, heating or air conditioning systems. Then, he will establish which of the repairs are completely necessary.

Special inspections may also be required, and your agent will discuss the terms and whether or not you may need to pay for any of them. If applicable, these can include septic and termite inspections, as well as other necessary evaluations.

While inspections are usually arranged by the buyer, home appraisals are handled by the lender for the purpose of determining the value of the property.

The lender will appoint a professional appraiser whose role is to evaluate the size, condition and proper functioning of the home, while also comparing it with similar properties. The appraisal will then create a report where an estimation of the home’s value will be provided based on all these details.

The purpose of all this is for the lender to have a general idea of what your property is worth, in order to know how much they can lend the buyer and what the specific terms of the loan should be.

You will be discussing the appraisal process quite thoroughly with your agent, as there are specific considerations you’ll need to take into account about presenting accurate information for the process to go smoothly.

Closing the Sale

Before the settlement, there are a number of aspects that need to be cleared. You should provide the title company with information on your current financial situation, including any current funds and loans. You also need to make sure you have your forwarding address, as well as your ID and all the keys you own – including house, garage and mailbox keys.

Buyers, title company representatives, the seller and all the agents who were involved in the sale – including the listing agent – will be required to attend the settlement. The date, time and location will be outlined in the contract.

A settlement agent will be appointed to take care of all the paperwork, and you will be required to sign the ownership transfer agreement made between you and the buyer.

You will be provided with a copy of all the documents, including the closing statements, and the last few considerations will be addressed during the settlement. All that remains is for the buyer to present the payment and for you, as the seller, to give up your old home and move towards a new future.