This Seller’s Guide is meant to give you an idea of how the selling process works, and how we will work with you each step of the way. At the end of the day, our job is to make sure things go seamlessly and you get the best price possible for your home.

Seller’s guide Steps

1. Preparing your home so it’s attractive to buyers

2. Strategically setting an asking price

3. Effectively marketing your home

4. setting the stage to sell

5. Negotiating the best possible deal

Step 1

Preparing your home so it’s attractive to buyers

Buyers begin judging your home the moment they see it and unless they’re looking for a deal on a fixer-upper, they prefer homes that are well-maintained, clean and clutter-free. Small upgrades and repairs can also make a big difference. We have listed my top 5 recommendations for both interior and exterior sale prep. But each home is different, so before you list, we will walk through your home, provide you with a streamlined checklist. We’ll also give recommendations and suggestions to put your home in the best light with buyers.

Step 2

Strategically setting an asking price

Your home’s value is not determined by you, but by what the market is willing to pay for it at a given time. These days, the market increasingly includes home buyers who have researched property values over the internet for months, have already viewed at least 10 homes, and are not under any pressure to buy. Indeed, they may be quite hesitant in hopes of missing out on one of those unbelievable deals that continue to pop up.

Get a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
Ideally, a real estate professional should visit your home to get a feel for its condition, size and any upgrades or extra amenities. Then, they should perform a comparative market analysis (or CMA)—wherein they look at similar homes in your area that are either on the market or have recently sold—to see how your home stacks up. The CMA will include the price or price range that I think you should list your home for.

If you are interested in getting a CMA started, fill out my simple form by clicking here and we will pull comps, then contact you to schedule a visit to adjust based on your home amenities and share our recommendation.

Step 3

Effectively marketing your home

The successful marketing your home is a multi-faceted process that includes: home preparation, pricing, presentation, strategic advertising and networking. All these have one aim: to maximize your home’s market exposure, and with it the number of showings and offers you get so that you ultimately sell for top market value.

So, lets start with where buyers find out about homes for sale
Currently, the internet (websites, social media, blogs, etc.) and direct contact with real estate professionals are by far the main sources of home info for buyers (roughly 90%). Other sources are yard signs, open houses, newspaper and real estate magazine ads, home builders and TV.

A comprehensive approach to showcasing your home
Since the internet is now the real estate info source of choice, if you want to maximize the number of serious buyers, showings and offers you get it is necessary to employ a broad spectrum of advertising in a coordinated manner. We have a wide range of options for maximizing your property’s exposure to the marketplace, including:

Step 4

Setting the stage to sell

Making sure your property looks its very best can give you that little extra competitive edge that will help get it sold and for top market value. We have helped sell many homes and through experience, honed the art of home staging. Our job' is to help you create that “buying feeling” in your home.

12 Of Our Highly Regarded Tips For Showing Your Home
Here are a few ideas that will help you maximize your home’s attractiveness to buyers:

1. (This is a must!) You should be absent so buyers feel comfortable touring your home

2. Make sure your home highlight sheets are easily visible

3. Remove all clutter: Pick up toys, make beds, put away clothes

4. Open all drapes/shades during daylight hours, but screen out unappealing views

5. Light the whole house and fireplace (even during the day), especially dark areas

6. Open all doors between rooms to give an inviting feeling

7. Turn off the television and play quiet background music

8. Place fresh flowers or cook cookies for a pleasant aroma

9. Vacuum all carpets/rugs and remove all trash from trashcans

10. The kitchen & bathrooms should be wiped down and cleaned that day

11. Ideally, remove all pets from the property and clean pet areas (not everyone loves animals)

12. Lock away and hide all cash, jewelry and small valuables

Step 5

Negotiating the best possible deal

When a buyer makes an offer on your home, this enables them to set a sale price, and also include many clauses for specifying various terms of purchase, such as the closing and possession dates, the deposit amount, and a variety of other conditions. We will closely review every detail of the offer and, we’ll address all your questions and the process itself. We can then accept the offer, reject it, or counter it, until a mutually-satisfactory pending agreement is reached.

That said, here are a few basic principles of successful negotiation to consider if you’re committed to completing your sale:

• Remember your priorities and respect the buyer’s. Don’t let small things get in the way of your better judgment.

• Disclose everything. Smart sellers proactively go above and beyond legal necessity to disclose all known defects to their buyers. We will supply you with a property disclosure form that you can complete.

• Ask questions. Offers may contain complicated terminology, sometimes multiple addenda. We can help clarify everything for you.

• Respond quickly. When buyers make an offer, they are in the mood to buy. But moods change, and buyers are known to get buyers’ remorse. Don’t delay if you want the sale.

• Stay calm and be patient. At all times keep communication civil and agreeable, even if the buyer gets tense, or you might loose your sale.

• If necessary, defer until later. If small issues get in the way of big ones, focus on and consolidate your agreement on the big issues and come back to the small ones later.

• Meet halfway. At the end of the day, if there are disagreements about relative small expenses, split the difference and smile.

• Take care with contingencies. When you’ve landed your buyer, your signed acceptance of a written offer becomes your sales contract. Except for removing any contingencies, this document is the binding basis for the sale.

• Rely on us. It’s our responsibility to represent your best interests every step of the way.

This might seem like a lot, but our job is to make this process as easy and painless as possible—the info above is just so you understand all that goes into your home’s sale.