For Sellers
So, let’s talk about selling! You know how to purchase a home, you’ve done that, but what about selling? The process is the same, but different, as you want to make (and keep) as much money as possible on your biggest investment – your home.
Choosing the right agent and team is the most important thing you can do in this entire process. There are so many to choose from. It’s true, not all agents and teams are created equal.
We specialize in NELA residential home and income property sales. Our business model is a bit different in that we do not go after the flippers and developers, we like to work with folks that need our guidance in making the best choices before listing their home, from ideas on paint choices, yard, and staging.
Our goal is to create a bidding war with 3-5 offers, not 20-25, netting the same results with much less drama! Our goal is for homeowners to make the most money, in a fun (yes fun!), stress-free and easy process!
Here is a synopsis of the selling process:
From list to closing, we’ll walk you through the most important steps and terminology.
Representation
The job of a full-service real estate agent is to represent your best interests through every step of the sales process. Your agent should listen to your needs and understand the market in which you are selling a home. Your agent should KNOW who the buyers are in your area, where they come from and how to market with them in mind...that may mean staging differently for Eagle Rock than say, Beverly Hills. They should be experts in marketing, negotiation, transaction forms, and finance options, as well as have an understanding of technology and how it can enhance the marketing of your home.
Price
Determining the right price is hands-down the most important part of achieving the highest return in the least amount of time. There are a lot of factors that go into determining a home’s market value, such as the sales price of nearby homes that have recently sold, the listing price of similar homes that are currently on the market, as well as the condition and location of a home. With that said, we end up setting the newest high-comparable property in the neighborhood time and time again...there are tricks for achieving this and keeping it in escrow that we can share.
Prep Work
First impressions are key when selling a home, so before the for sale sign goes up, put in the time to make sure it’s in ship shape. We can help you with this! We will walk you through step-by-step, offer guidance, and project-manage, if you’d like, at no extra cost!
Marketing Your Home
Creating a plan to market your home will help attract the interest of the right buyer. Today, the vast majority of homebuyers use the internet in their home search, so your marketing plan should include focused online activities, in addition to print advertising and open houses.
Home Showings
Showings are an inconvenient-yet-necessary part of the home selling process. We try to take the hassle out of it for you, so it is as least disruptive as possible. It’s important to maintain a certain level of cleanliness; clear dishes from the sink, make beds, put away laundry, and vacuum and dust regularly. It's also a good idea to clear out; it makes buyers uncomfortable to tour a home when the owners are in the next room, so for the sake of your sale, vacate your home for showings. We communicate, every time your home is shown, whether it's an open house, or a single showing, with a recap of all comments.
Purchase & Sale Agreement
Once an offer on a property has been made by a buyer and accepted by the seller, they enter into a legal contract known as a Purchase and Sale Agreement. This document outlines the specific terms and conditions of the transaction and is acknowledged by both parties by the signing of the document. We will walk you through this, and guide you through how to choose the VERY best buyer for your property. We rarely have buyers fall out of escrow due to the upfront, transparent nature of how we conduct the sale of your home.
Inspection
Once a buyer and seller reach mutual acceptance on a property, a home inspector is hired to investigate every nook and cranny to determine if the home is in need of any repairs. An inspector will check items such as the roof, basement, heating system, water heater, air-conditioning system, structure, plumbing, and electrical. Afterwards, buyers will have a chance to negotiate with the sellers to cover the costs of certain repairs or to ask for concessions. We take the fear of the unknown out of this; we’ll show you how!
Negotiation
Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, negotiation is the key to getting the best deal. Negotiations can involve everything from settling on a sales price, concessions and financing, to lease backs for sellers (who need to stay in their property a while longer). With 20+ years of real estate experience, Deirdre is an expert negotiator whose job it is to represent YOUR interests during the transaction.
Escrow
Once the offer is accepted and a closing date agreed upon, escrow allows the buyer and the seller to have an outside party ensure all parts of the contract are complete. Our team helps coordinate the completion of all necessary forms to the escrow company and monitors the escrow process until the transaction is complete.
Closing
At closing, all the paperwork is signed by the buyer and seller, both parties pay any settlement fees, and the documents are officially recorded. Prior to closing, you'll receive a settlement statement outlining any fees which may apply to you.
Our Seller's Guide is packed with even more information!
Download our 14-Point Seller’s Guide
