Seller's Guide

From determining your home's value to closing day, learn more about the home selling process.

SELLING YOUR HOME

The process of selling a home involves several stages, from initial preparation and pricing to closing the final deal. Whether you use a real estate agent or decide to sell by owner will determine some of the specific steps, but the overall journey is similar. Choose between hiring a licensed real estate agent for a traditional sale or going the "For Sale By Owner" (FSBO) route. FSBO allows you to save on agent commission, but it requires more time and effort to manage the process yourself.

Choose a Realtor 

The first thing you might notice while trying to find home-buying help is all the different titles: agent, broker, Realtor®, etc. Are they all the same thing? Not exactly.

A Realtor is either an agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® such as myself. Realtors adhere to a detailed code of ethics to treat their clients honestly and fairly. Consider it added insurance that they're committed to your cause.

A real estate agent is anyone who's earned a license to sell property, which typically entails taking 100+ hours of course work and then passing a state exam. A broker is someone who's continued his studies and can hire agents to work under him. 

A realtor's professionalism and ability to create a positive working relationship are just as important as their real estate expertise. Ask about their experience, local market knowledge, and marketing strategy. Research their past sales to ensure they have experience with marketing homes.

We shop online for everything these days, and finding a real estate agent is no different. To locate ones in your area, use our online tools here on our website which will give you useful info such as homes for sale and the price of homes typically dealt with. 

According to the NAR, more than half of first-time buyers found their Realtor through a friend—and two-thirds contacted only one agent before moving forward. That's kind of like having your friends set you up on a blind date, then marrying that person by Date No. 2. After all, how can you be sure you made the right choice without looking around? Simple: You can't.

“One of the things I always tell my prospects is, ‘I'm flattered if I'm the only Realtor you are speaking to, but I think it's best if you speak with two or more so you can draw comparisons and make a powerful decision.'" 

Trust us, there can be a huge difference between an agent who's “good enough" and one who's stellar—the difference between finding your dream home or not, and saving or wasting tens of thousands of dollars.

So the extra legwork you do now could really pay off in the (not so) long term. Be sure to explore at least a few options and grill them thoroughly before settling down with one.

Terrence D. Langford, Realtor

Prepare Your Home for Sale

To prepare your home for sale, you must declutter, depersonalize, and clean the entire house and its exterior, then make minor repairs and consider staging to highlight features. Enhancing curb appeal by landscaping and power washing, refreshing walls with a neutral paint, and ensuring good lighting will create a welcoming and move-in ready impression for potential buyers.

Consider a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.

Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and seasonal items. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.

Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that will need to be replaced soon? Find out how much it will cost to repair an older roof or replace worn carpeting, even if you don’t plan to do so. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and the estimates will be handy when negotiations begin.

Locate warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer/dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house. It may seem like this task can be left until closing, but you don’t want lost paperwork or last-minute scrambling to cause the deal to fall through.

Spruce up the curb appeal. Walk out to the front of your home, close your eyes, and pretend you’re a prospective buyer seeing the property for the first time. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? What do you see framing the entrance, if anything? Is the walkway free of cracks and impediments?

Marketing Your Home For Sale To Sold

A good realtor will arrange for professional photos and may offer staging services to make your home more appealing.Your home will be listed on major online real estate platforms like Zillow and Realtor.com to reach a wide audience. Reaching potential buyers on social media is an increasingly common and effective tactic. Traditional "For Sale" signs at the property can also attract local buyers. Open houses can allow potential buyers to visit and tour the home, and agents often host them to generate interest. There are many more ways a Realtor will market the home to get the best price the market will allow. Competitive and strategic pricing is a key component of a successful marketing plan, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. 

During the marketing of your home we will handle inquiries, schedule showings, and manage open houses. 

Negotiation For The Best Price and Conditions

A Realtor negotiates the sale of a home by understanding the local market, setting a realistic price, and presenting the home to attract offers. They will advise the seller on how to evaluate competing offers, focusing on the total price, contingencies, buyer's earnest money, and timing to get the best outcome for their client. The Realtor will then communicate with the buyer's agent, using their expertise to negotiate terms, repairs, and closing costs to reach a mutually acceptable agreement

Your Home Is Sold

After the home is sold by a realtor, the seller receives the sale proceeds (profit) after the sale price is used to pay off the outstanding mortgage, the realtor commissions, and other closing costs like attorney fees and taxes. The seller must vacate the home by the closing date, removing all personal belongings. They should also provide the new owner with keys, alarm codes, and any necessary information about the property. The realtor may contact the seller a few days or weeks later to see how they are settling into their new home. Sellers may be liable for certain issues with the home for a period of time after the sale, depending on state laws and any contractual agreements.