Selling a home is a large undertaking and can be one of the biggest sales transactions of your life. This should not be taken lightly and you should do your research to find the best Realtor® who can meet your needs. My article 5 Reasons Why It Pays to Use A Realtor® goes through different sales options out there and why a Realtor® is a great option. These are brief steps I have broken out to give you an idea of what to expect when working with me to sell your home.
Step 1 – Introductions. I work to understand what is important to you about the sale of your home (i.e. price, timing, ease of the process, cost, etc.). This is best done by sitting down and having an open discussion. However, if you are busy, we can do an initial consultation over the phone.
Step 2 – Explanation of the process. This is done with a quick visit to your home. The process is completely laid out with a step by step approach in a customized binder for you to keep so you understand how everything works and what to expect. My marketing plan along with a thorough analysis of your home and the market is done to give you guidance on a pricing strategy. This is done on a very casual basis and allows you to decide if I am the best person to work with on this very important time of your life.
Step 3 – Moving forward. You are not expected to commit or sign anything on our first visit. If my plan, personality, and analysis meet or exceed your expectations we set the price, go over and sign required disclosures/documents , and set a date to put your home on the market. If you are in a time crunch to put your home on the market we can schedule photos immediately and implement the marketing plan right away.
Step 4 – Marketing plan implementation. The most important part of the plan is the execution. My plan includes 14 steps that are customized to your needs and start with professional pictures and video of your home. Do you feel that your home is not ready for photographs or are you too busy? Staging and other resources are available, and will be discussed during step 2.
Step 5 – On the market. This is where we are live and the marketing plan is in full swing. We will work together on showing schedules and any special needs you may have (kids, pets, etc.). You will receive consistent feedback on showings and market shifts so you are never left in the dark. I feel that sometimes I am more excited than my clients about putting their home on the market to attracting buyers! My competitive nature ensures that we attract as many buyers as possible. In fact, I prospect for home buyers on a consistent basis so there may be someone I am communicating with that has your specific home in mind!
Step 6 – The offer. At this stage I will present any offers that come to me and give you a thorough analysis of what it entails. There are three options here, one is to accept, two is to counter offer, or the third is to reject the offer. This is where a strategic negotiator is important to look out for your best interest and provide guidance if a counter offer is sent.
Step 7 – Under Contract. This is crucial to ensure that the property goes to closing. Monitoring paperwork and deadlines is key to ensure a smooth closing. There is also opportunity to market for back up offers for peace of mind. There are inspections and an appraisal conducted by the buyers and it is important to have a knowledgeable and attentive Realtor® by your side. I will be there every step of the way.
Step 8 – Closing. This is the exciting day that the deed transfers from you to the new buyers and the proceeds are given to you! I will be with you from beginning to end and review necessary paperwork to ensure that it matches the contract.
Clients for life – If you are moving across town or out of state, I can provide real estate services to assist you in buying your next home. I also have vendors that I work with that I can recommend for all of your projects.
This is not meant to be a complete guide due to the personal nature of selling your home and having a personalized experience to ensure the proper marketing plan is implemented. I would be honored to go into more detail on each step and listen to your needs and expectations throughout the process. Let the Real Experts customize our 14 step marketing plan to meet your specific needs.