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sales representative
NICK
MARANDO
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 and obtain the best price.
STEP-BY-STEP SELLER'S GUIDE
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 home? Do you need to sell it as soon as possible to move to a new city or area? Once you understand your needs, you will know what offers you're willing to accept. 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. Make sure you convey these needs to your agent so he or she can adjust your selling price accordingly.
DETERMINE WHY YOU'RE SELLING
STEP 1:
Knowing how to price your home is 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 like me who understands the market 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.
DETERMINE LISTING PRICE
STEP 2:
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. An experienced agent will walk the home and identify quick win items to prepare the home to obtain maximum value. This includes getting rid of clutter, minor landscaping, depersonalizing the space, making any small repairs, and doing a deep clean to make sure your home is in pristine condition.
START PREPARATIONS
STEP 3:
Selling your home involves getting high traffic, but high quality prospective buyers seeing your property and ultimately, making an offer. Every property is different, so unique marketing strategies are required. An experienced agent like me can help to create this strategy. This involves listing the home on the public MLS immediately and then driving the right people to that listing through channels like social media, agent-to-agent referrals, my own buyer's network, traditional media, and search engine (i.e., Google) advertising.
BUILD A MARKETING STRATEGY
STEP 4:
Receiving an offer is an exciting part of the process, but it doesn’t mean the journey is over. An experienced agent will review each offer together with you and make sure your best interest is protected. For example, I will ensure the party making the offer is prequalified or pre-approved by a mortgage lender and I will review and explain any terms of the offer to you in simple language. If the offer is too low or you do not agree with the terms, 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.
REVIEW OFFERS
STEP 5:
Once you deem the offer is acceptable, you and your agent 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.
ACCEPT AN OFFER
STEP 6:
You have accepted an offer and are now close to the end of your selling journey. But first, you and the buyer must complete any terms of the contract 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. Your agent should compile a list and lead the execution by getting each action item paid for by the correct party and making sure everything is in order by the closing date. A few days before the closing date, your agent and lawyer will connect 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.
GET READY TO CLOSE
STEP 7:
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. You and your agent will meet with the lawyer 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 agent 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.
CLOSE
STEP 8:
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.
CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR HOME IS SOLD!
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