Seller's Guide

Not every seller uses an agent to sell their home. But many sellers, including agents themselves, find having an agent beneficial for their expertise and professional networks. Of course, all agents bring different levels of experience and commitment. If you decide that you want to work with us, it is important that you feel comfortable with whom you choose to hire.

Getting your home ready to list is the most demanding step in the selling process and is one of the most important factors in whether your home will sell and how much it will sell for. Doing it well can increase the value of the home and bring in larger offers. Doing it poorly can turn off potential buyers and lead to low-ball offers.

• De-clutter, clean, and repair. Close to everything must go. All personal items like photographs, toys, knick-knacks, doodads, and more should be put away or boxed up out of sight. Pieces of furniture that are overly worn or too specific to your design taste should be removed. Then, it’s time to do a deep clean. Every inch of your home should be scrubbed, wiped down, and polished. Hiring a professional cleaning crew is a worthwhile investment. Lastly, make sure all your appliances, faucets, heating and cooling systems, and anything else that can be turned on is in good working order. There are few bigger turn-offs for a buyer than finding out the hot water doesn’t work or that one of the stove burners won’t light.
  
  
• Get ready for your cover shot. Buyers like walking into almost blank-slates. A fresh coat of paint can transform the look and feel of a home, and having just enough furniture to give buyers a sense of space goes a long way. Professional stagers can transform each room of your home into magazine-ready portraits. If you don’t want to spend as much, virtual staging is also an option. Your agent should be able to handle all your staging questions and will likely have several stagers they can refer you to.

While receiving your first offer is one of the most exciting aspects of selling your home, it’s important to remember to stay levelheaded and know that one offer doesn’t necessarily mean that future offers are going to be higher or lower. Every buyer is different. 

• Under-asking. Receiving an offer under your asking price is disappointing, but it’s not the end of the world. Buyers are always looking to get the best deal they can. Discuss these offers with your agent and decide whether you want to make a counter-offer and at what price. 
  
  
• At- and Over-asking. Receiving an offer at your asking price can mean many things. You might assume that more offers will come in and that having competing offers will drive up the price. You may receive more offers at-asking, but it’s also possible that you may not. Think about some of the goals you had when you first decided to sell your home. If you get an offer that’s over your asking price, it’s likely because you’ve already received multiple offers and we are making new buyers aware of this. This is where our experience and market knowledge can help you get more than you initially thought you would. 
  
  
• All-cash vs. financing. All-cash offers mean that a buyer is making their offer with assets they already have. A financing offer means that a buyer is making their offer through a bank. An all-cash offer means that, as a seller, you don’t have to worry about a buyer potentially getting denied a mortgage by their bank. Therefore, all-cash offers are almost always better.

Once you’ve accepted an offer, the process of sending out a contract and negotiating the finer points of the sale begins. Everything from the move-in date and ownership of specific appliances and furniture pieces to who pays for flip taxes and closing fees gets ironed out until both parties are satisfied. Real estate lawyers are necessary for this step in the process, and if you don’t have one, your agent should be able to recommend one to you.

• Appraisal. A crucial step during the contractual process is when a licensed appraiser assesses your home on behalf of the buyer or lender. An appraiser will inspect your home and determine its actual value. An appraisal can change the negotiation dynamics and even lead to a buyer backing out of an offer.
  
  
• Closing. With contracts signed and everything in order, closing is the final step in the selling process. It is when you will transfer legal ownership of your home to the buyer and when you will receive your funds from escrow. We can walk you through the specifics of what will happen, but most often, you will need to be prepared to sign closing documents and pay closing costs. Buyers are allowed final walkthroughs of the property to ensure that negotiated items like repairs and furniture have been honored.