Selling a Home

Selling your home is a big decision and it's important to consider your reasons for selling and your goals for the future. You may want to move to a bigger or smaller home, or you may be relocating for a new job. It's also important to understand the current market conditions and how they may affect the sale of your home.

Now that you've decided to sell, it's time to choose your agent! A good realtor will have a proven track record of successful sales, be knowledgeable about your local market, and have excellent communication skills. It's also important to choose an agent you feel comfortable working with and trust to handle the sale of your biggest asset. Your agent can also advise you on repairs or renovations that can improve the marketability of your home.

Make sure that while you are interviewing potential agents that you communicate your reasons for selling. This is critical to making sure your real estate sales team accomplishes your goals!

Once you've chosen your agent, you'll want to set a timeline for the sale of your home. This will depend on a number of factors, such as the current market conditions, how quickly you need to move, and how much time you have to prepare your home for sale.

Whether you need to sell your current home in order to buy a new one is also an important factor to consider. If you're selling an estate, there may be additional steps to take such as probate, estate distribution, and dealing with personal property that is left behind.

Your agent can provide valuable guidance on all the various types of selling situations and help you create a timeline that works for you.

Now it's time to put your home on the market! Your agent will handle the listing process, including taking professional photos, creating a virtual tour, and writing a detailed listing description. They will also handle the marketing of your home and schedule showings. However, it's important to also assist your realtor by cleaning and doing any recommended repairs before listing your home to sale.

Staging or redesigning a space with existing furnishings can also make a big impact on the marketability of your home. According to the National Association of Realtors, homes that are staged before listing sell for, on average, 17% higher than homes that are not staged.

With the help of a professional stager or redesigner, you can showcase your home's best features and make it more appealing to potential buyers.

Once your home is listed, it will be available for showings. Your realtor will schedule the showings and inform you in advance. As a seller, it's important to be prepared for these showings. This means keeping your home clean and tidy at all times, ensuring that your home is well-lit, and being willing to accommodate last-minute showing requests.

During the showings, it's best to be absent or minimize your presence to avoid making potential buyers feel uncomfortable. If you are present, you should be polite and courteous, but let the realtor handle all the conversations and negotiations.

Once your home is on the market, you'll likely receive multiple offers. Your agent will help you evaluate each offer, taking into account factors such as price, contingencies, and the buyer's qualifications.

It's important to keep in mind that price may not always be the deciding factor in choosing an offer. Other parts of a buyer's offer, such as closing date or contingencies, may be more important to you.

Item descriOnce you've chosen an offer, your home is officially under contract! This is the time to conduct inspections, review the title, and make sure everything is in order. Your agent will handle the details and negotiations, and be available to answer any questions you may have. You should also order the payoff for your mortgage, negotiate any repairs, and schedule buyer walkthroughs of the property during this step.

As the seller you should also be aware of the contingencies that the buyer may have, which should be outlined in the contract. Some examples of contingencies include appraisal, mortgage financing, home inspection, and sale of their current home.

Keep in mind that contingencies give the buyer an opportunity to cancel the contract if certain conditions are not met or if they change their mind.

Closing day is the day when the sale of your home is finalized and the keys are handed over to the new owner. Your agent will be there to guide you through the process, answer any last-minute questions and ensure everything runs smoothly. Beyond closing, your agent will be available to you for any future questions or needs. Before the closing day, it's important to prepare your house for the buyer's final walkthrough, such as cleaning and leaving the keys.

Here's a final seller to-do checklist ahead of closing day:

• Review and sign the final closing documents

• Pack and prepare or your move

• Coordinate the transfer of utilities and other services

• Leave keys and garage openers with your realtor or the buyer

• Clean the house and remove all personal items

• Do a final walkthrough with your Realtor to ensure that the house is in the same condition as when you first went under contract and that any agreed-upon repairs were completed by the buyer or other parties

• Sign final documents ahead of closing OR Attend the closing and sign the final documents

It's important to keep in mind that during this process, your Realtor will be there to guide you and help you navigate all these steps, as well as answering any questions you may have. With a good Realtor and this checklist, you'll make it through the closing day process with ease.

Time to get your housewarming party ready! But don't forget, owning a home comes with added responsibilities and costs, such as regular maintenance and repairs, property taxes, and insurance. But it's all worth it to have a place to call your own! Your Realtor will help you by providing you with a list of reliable service providers, such as handymen, cleaners and more, and will be available to you for any future questions or needs.