Selling Your Home
You're ready to sell your property. And, while you're looking forward to seeing the word "SOLD" posted from the curb, you know there's a lot to consider along the way. One of your first decisions is to select a real estate company and real estate agent who'll join you in the process.
01
Find A Real Estate Agent
Meet with a knowledgeable real estate Agent and discuss your needs, examine your agent-prepared Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), identify your selling goals, know your costs and responsibilities, set a listing price, and sign a listing agreement.
02
Prepare Your Home
As experienced listing agents, our team is a great source of advice on specifics for your home preparations so that your house is positioned competitively in the market.
Before photos and the first showing, you should: • Clean deeply. • Paint some or all of your house. • Do minor repairs such as caulking tubs and windows. • Make major repairs – if needed and in your budget, such as replacing your counters or appliances. • Stage your furniture to showcase your home’s best features. • Remove personal items such as family photos. • Declutter every surface and storage space. • Reorganize your closets and pack excess items. • Eliminate odors by cleaning the fireplace or pulling out musty rugs. • Add a color scheme with rugs or pillows if needed to warm up your home. • Upgrade your lighting or light bulbs to make your rooms brighter. • Spruce up the landscaping. • Power-wash your decks and sidewalks if needed.
03
Market Your Home
We provide each home with a custom, comprehensive marketing plan for maximum exposure and a faster sale. Our pre-listing marketing strategy includes - high quality real estate photography, video walkthroughs, and social media blasts. Signage and flyers needed to promote your listing will also be prepared.
04
Showing Your Home
Three important things you can do to help get your house sold are:
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Leave when your house is being shown. Buyers prefer to look at homes when they can move around freely and the owners aren’t there.
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Make your house as available as possible. While it may be inconvenient to show your home at dinnertime or on weekends, buyers who can’t see a property when they’re eager may cross it off their list.
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Listen to any feedback from buyers or agents about ways you can make your home more appealing.
05
Review Offers
Congratulations! You received a message from your KW agent that you have an offer (or multiple) on your home. Your agent will present any offers and help you understand the terms of each offer. Together, you will evaluate and discuss how to move forward on each offer received. Depending on the offers you receive, you may want to negotiate an aspect of the contract. Your real estate agent will work to negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal possible.
06
Prepare for Inspections
Most buyers request a home inspection as a condition of their offer. While a home inspector will dig more deeply into your home than a buyer, the preparation you made before your first showing should help you get ready for the inspection. Your agent may give you personalized advice as needed, too.
What is looked at during a home inspection? The inspector will check: • Structural conditions such as the foundation, beams and floors. • Roof condition. • Mechanical systems such as heat and air conditioning. • Appliances – to make sure they’re working, although some inspectors skip appliances that are not built-in. • Plumbing – for leaks, rust and water pressure. • Electrical systems such as grounded outlets and code violations. • Safety issues such as stairs, handrails, mold or chimney maintenance.
How should I prepare for an inspection? Before the home inspector arrives, you should: • Clean your house. • Remove or crate your pets. • Make sure all your light bulbs work. • Empty your washing machine, dryer, oven, and dishwasher – in case they are inspected. • Make sure everything is accessible, including your attic, a crawlspace, your garage and any sheds. • Leave a note if anything doesn’t work and explain that you’re getting it fixed. • Provide documents about maintenance and repairs. • Leave your cell phone number for the inspector. • Leave the house.
07
Prepare for Appraisal
As you near the end of your home sale journey, the buyer's lender will conduct an appraisal to verify that the market value of the home supports the contract price. Appraisers include research about other properties and neighborhood values, as well as an in-person visit for their evaluation of your home.
How should I prepare for an appraisal? Preparing for an appraisal is similar to prepping for an inspection. You should: • Provide a list of all major improvements to the home and the age and condition of your roof, heating and air conditioning system, and appliances. • Provide any permits required for home improvements. • Clean your house. • Provide full access to all rooms and spaces, including the garage, sheds, attic and crawlspace. • Remove or crate your pets. • Leave the house, or at least stay out of the appraiser’s way.
08
Close
The buyers will do a walk-through of your home within 24 hours before the closing to check that the property is in good condition. If the buyers find something that needs to be fixed, your agent can help you decide how to handle it. Whether or not you attend the closing, you’ll need to provide house keys to your buyers, along with all alarm codes, remote controls for the garage, and mailbox or gate keys.
What should I do before the closing? Before the closing day, you’ll need to: • Take care of repairs required by the contract. • Keep all receipts and invoices and before-and-after photos of repairs. • Gather all appliance manuals and warranties for your buyers. • Hire a mover. • Cancel all utilities for the day after you move. • Cancel all utilities for the day after you move. • Change your address. • Review all settlement documents, especially the settlement statement. • Check the property survey to be sure it’s correct. • Clean the house. • Prepare for the buyers’ final walk-through.
What’s next? After the closing, you’ll: • Receive the proceeds from the sale, usually by wire transfer. • Cancel your homeowner’s insurance “post-close” – to make sure you’re covered on that day. • Save your closing documents and home improvement records for taxes.
Congratulations!
You’ve successfully sold your home. Time to celebrate.