When it comes to selling your home, some people are under the impression that it is as easy as putting a sign on the lawn, and within weeks, they have a buyer and are heading to closing day. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as that. It's important to be realistic and understand that the selling process involves several different steps. Below is a list of chronological steps that are to be expected during the process of selling your home!
Step 1: PREPARE THE PROPERTY
Before we place your house on the market, we want to make sure your property has been completely prepped for the occasion (the occasion being selling your home). During our initial walkthrough of your home, we'll discuss any tasks that need to be done. These tasks can range from minor paint touch-ups to shifting objects around to show the space of the home.
Deep cleaning your property is essential. With pictures being taken, house tours being scheduled, your home should give off an inviting feel. Potential buyers should be able to see themselves in your home. Deep cleaning also extends to the exterior of your home as well. During meetings with your agent, a seller's disclosure will be prepared. In this disclosure, we will go over any issues within the home, upgrade/repairs that have been made, etc.
Step 2: PRICE YOUR HOME TO SELL
Before listing your home, we have to talk about the price. You may already have an idea of what your property is worth. As your Agent, we want you to walk away with a great deal. On the other hand, we have to be realistic. Pricing your home TOO HIGH or TOO LOW is not something we want. Before settling on a price, our team will present you with comparables. What are comparables? It's a list that details the recent sales in your area and what homes, like yours, sold for. After looking through the comparable list together, we will settle on the best price for your home.
Step 3: LISTING YOUR HOME
Finally, the time has come! The For Sale sign can now be added to your lawn! Your property will be listed on the MLS (multiple listing service), which is a powerful marketing tool. Along with that, our team has a marketing plan in place for you as well! This includes, but is not limited to, marketing on our social media platforms, sending your listing to our client database, and sharing your listing with other agents.
Step 4: SELECTING YOUR BUYER
Ideally, it would be great to have a buyer within a few days of placing your home on the market. But, we want to keep things realistic. Sometimes finding a buyer for your home takes no time at all. Other times, it's a bit of a waiting game. When the time does come for you to select a buyer, we will help guide you through the process. Ultimately, the decision is solely up to you. We're here to explain the pros and cons of each offer and to answer your questions so you can make an informed decision.
Step 5: NEGOTIATIONS, NEGOTIATIONS & MORE NEGOTIATIONS
In a perfect world, you'll have a buyer who is completely satisfied with the home. They are looking forward to closing as much as you are. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world and there are times where your buyer will request repairs to be made before closing. In this case, our job as your agent is to negotiate with the buyer's agent. While we want to make sure a transaction gets to the closing table, your best interests are top priority to us!
Step 6: CLOSING DAY
The day we've been waiting for is here, closing day! This day may seem like it got here fast or, it couldn't get here fast enough. Either way, closing day is a day we've been looking forward to. Things should go smoothly, with no obstacles in the way. However, if something unexpected occurs, we're here to help you navigate it.
After selling your house, you might be looking for a new place to call home. If so, Harkes Realty & Associates is here to help you find your new place. Check out our MLS search page to browse for currently available homes!
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