SELLER'S GUIDE

Everything you need to know about putting your home on the market, accepting an offer, and closing on your home.

A STEP-BY-STEP FIRST TIME SELLER'S GUIDE

Putting your home on the market can be a stressful process, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, with the help of an experienced agent  and this easy to follow  guide, you can smoothly complete the process. Following these steps  will help you prepare so you can get organized and sell your home for  the best price possible.​​​​​​​

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STEP 1: UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE SELLING

What do you want to accomplish with the sale of your home? Do you want to make a certain amount of money that you can put toward a larger or nicer home? Do you need to sell it as soon as possible to facilitate a move to a new city or area? Once you understand your needs, you can better craft your offer. For example, if you need to sell quickly, you might want to price your home lower than if your goal is to make a certain profit margin. Make sure you convey these needs to your realtor once you choose one so he or she can adjust your selling price accordingly.

STEP 2: DETERMINE SELLING PRICE

Knowing how to price your home is one of the most important parts of the selling process. When you set a fair price in the beginning, you’ll get the most interest from other real estate agents and prospective buyers. Overpricing your home could lead to reduced interest, and underpricing leads to receiving less than what your home is worth. Working with a real estate agent is the best way to determine the right selling price for your home. An agent with experience can determine what other comparable homes are selling for, evaluate the current market, and may even suggest a home appraisal.

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STEP 3: START PREPARATIONS

If you’ve kept your home in showroom condition since you’ve lived in it, you’re in the minority of homeowners. Once you price your home, it’s time to start getting it ready to be shown to potential buyers. This includes getting rid of clutter, depersonalizing the space so that buyers can envision themselves in the space, making any small repairs, and doing a deep clean to make sure your home is in pristine condition.

STEP 4: DEVELOP A MARKETING STRATEGY

I will develop a marketing strategy that is perfect for advertising your home. This involves listing the home and then driving the right people to that listing through social media campaigns, agent-to-agent referrals, traditional media, or SEO advertising. My team creates a marketing campaign that aims to get the most possible traffic to your listing in the first three weeks after becoming a client.

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STEP 5: EVALUATE OFFERS

Receiving an offer is an exciting part of the process, but it doesn’t mean the journey is over. We will evaluate each offer and make sure the party making the offer is prequalified or pre-approved by a mortgage lender and that their offer is acceptable to you. If the offer is too low, you can make a counter-offer or offer other ways to bridge the gap, such as covering some or all of the closing costs, making repairs, adjusting the move-in date, or leaving some appliances or fixtures for the new buyer.

STEP 6: ACCEPT AN OFFER

Once we deem the offer is acceptable, we will review the proposed contract to make sure it’s all in order and includes the necessary components such as deposit amount, down payment, financing, inspection rights and repair allowances, contingencies, settlement date, and a list of fees and who will pay them. When both parties have agreed to the term, a final contract will be prepared by your agent.

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STEP 7: GET READY TO CLOSE

You have accepted an offer and are now very close to the end of your selling journey. But first, you and the buyer must make a list of what needs to be done before closing. In some cases, your home may need to be formally inspected, surveyed, and appraised. In other cases, major or minor repairs will need to be made before the house can close. I will head up efforts to develop and execute this list, get each action item paid for by the correct party, and make sure everything is in order by the closing date. A few days before the closing date, we will call the company closing the transaction to make sure everything is ready to go. If you haven’t done so already, you also need to make arrangements to move out of the home so the new buyer can take possession.

STEP 8: CLOSE

You’ve reached the last step in the seller’s process. When you close on a home you are selling, you are legally transferring ownership of the property to the new buyer. We will meet with the company closing the transaction to sign the final paperwork and go over any issues that have not yet been taken care of. During this time, you can also make plans with your realtor to handle final details such as canceling utilities, cable, and lawn or trash services, changing the name on accounts that the new owner is retaining and ensuring the new owner has instructions for all appliances that will remain in the home.

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CONGRATULATIONS!

Once you have sold your home, you’re free to take the next step on your journey. Whether this is relocating to a new city, moving into a larger home, or downsizing and enjoying your life as empty-nesters, knowing all your selling responsibilities have been taken care of will help you achieve peace of mind for your new path.

Craig F.

"Clara sold our home of 30 years, and also found our new, perfect forever home. Clara is an amazing real estate agent and did an incredible job for us. She has a vast knowledge of the real estate business, great patience, and laid out the entire process for us so there were no surprises. Her industry contacts with inspectors, repair contractors and staging companies enabled us to quickly prepare our home to sell. She also referred us to a mortgage broker who was incredible. She made herself available to us anytime we needed her, day, night, and on weekends. Clara was extremely professional and kept our best interests at the forefront. Her advice on preparing our house to sell was spot on and it sold in 3 days. We received 11 offers that were at, or above the asking price thanks to Clara. Our home set a new level for comps in the area. Regarding the purchase of our new home, Clara hit it out of the park. We had a very specific shopping list about the location, # of bedrooms, single-story, shop space, acreage, etc. She was so efficient and in tune with our needs in recommending homes to view. Most every home we toured was a close fit and for those that weren't, Clara did not try to sell us on them and we quickly moved on. In fact, when she discovered our dream home she knew it was the perfect fit for us as soon as she saw the listing. Her interpersonal and negotiating skills are awesome, as she closed the deal for us even though our offer was not the highest. It was an absolute pleasure working with Clara, we could not be happier."

Buyer

"As first-time home buyers, my wife and I were feeling intimidated by the daunting process of not only searching for homes but then once we found the house we wanted, the phone-book-sized packet of paperwork that came next. Clara never hesitated when we had questions or wanted a second, third or seventh look at a house. She helped us take a strategic approach to our search, identifying the areas we were interested in and working within those or when the selection was light, staying close. When we knew we were closing in on the house we wanted, Clara made sure we knew everything to expect and understood what we would be signing on for. She was directly responsible for our ability to relax and yes, even enjoy the process of buying our first house. And throughout, we could feel how much she was rooting for us to get the house we wanted. I can only hope for anyone that they get to have as great an experience as we did buy their home. Contacting Clara would be a great place to start."

David G.

"Clara helped us sell our old home and then buy our new one. Her knowledge, expertise, and professionalism far surpassed our expectations and made the entire selling and then buying process A lot less stressful and worrisome than it would otherwise have been. When we had questions she was prompt and explained things in a way we could understand and left the technical real estate jargon at the door. Her connections in the industry and the resources she brought with her helped with our staging, open house, and inspection process, as well as getting other agent’s clients in to look. She even rolled up her sleeves and helped us clean when it came time for the open house (who does that?!) If we ever need an agent for another real estate venture, Clara is the person we will call. I recommend her wholeheartedly and you will not be sorry if you choose her to help sell or buy your home or property."

Valerie L.

"Clara was phenomenal to work with! She helped my husband and me find a home in our dream neighborhood. We bought our home in a very competitive market during a pandemic. That did not stop Clara from going above and beyond to make the process as smooth as possible. She is very knowledgeable, experienced, and professional. Clara not only worked diligently to find us a home; she also paid close attention to details on what we desired in-home and location. Clara was there every step of the way, she helped to alleviate our stress and keep us encouraged. She didn't skip a beat when it came to writing a solid offer that sealed the deal. Buying a home should be a positive experience and Clara did everything in her power to bring our fruition. We love our cottage by the park and pinch ourselves that we get to call this sweet place home. Clara is an amazing agent and a joy to work with!"

WORK WITH US

Whether you're a first-time home buyer in search of your dream home, a seller looking to downsize or an investor looking for a great opportunity, working with a dedicated real estate professionals can make all the difference. If you're looking for a positive, helpful partner who is ready to provide you with exceptional service, let's talk today!