How to Sell a Home

INTERVIEW AGENTS

Selling a home is a daunting process. The most important step you can take is to take the time to find a professional who can guide you through the process, from pre-listing to closing. You will be working closely with this person for at least a few weeks.

The best way to do this is to interview local agents from different offices. It’s always a good idea to use local Realtors as they will know the market intimately and will be able to offer advice that is well informed. Don’t worry, we know that most sellers will interview multiple agents to find the right fit.

PRE-LISITNG AND PRICING

Once you have selected a Realtor, the first step will be to talk about how to price your home. Sit down and talk about market conditions, recent sales, active listings and where you want to position your home in the market. Then do a walkthrough, make sure your boiler or furnace has been recently serviced and make any small fixes like leaking taps. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint can really brighten up a space.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Next, get ready your house ready for photography! Buyers want to see clean, light and bright homes with plenty of storage and room for them to imagine their own belongings in a home. Discuss whether staging or even virtual staging are good options, especially if a home is vacant. I cannot understate the importance of having a well-photographed listing. These images will populate to aggregate websites like Realtor, Zillow and Trulia. Many buyers enjoy scrolling through listings and we can gather useful analytics from these sites such as likes, shares and saves.

MARKETING

Expect your agent to have a cohesive marketing plan. Ideally you will want them to use the tried and tested methods of local advertising married with new technologies. Hosting an open house for other brokers is a great idea. They will be helping to sell your home as well, so it’s good to have the opportunity to educate them about the property. Public open houses are also a great tool for marketing in local papers and Facebook groups. Open houses are also advertised in MLS and the third party websites, so it will bump your listing to the top of the page. Your agent will be responsible for handling all marketing initiatives, so make sure you understand what they are doing and why they this it is advantageous.

ACCEPTED OFFER

Hopefully you receive and accept an offer! The buyer will then schedule a home inspection to confirm the house in in good shape. Sometimes we find issues the homeowner is unaware of, but don’t worry, your agent will help navigate this stage of the process. 

CONTRACT OF SALE

Contracts are usually sent out after the home inspection. Your agent will be able to recommend a number of attorneys who handle real estate transactions. Once the contracts are signed, both buyer and seller are legally bound to the terms of the contract.

CLOSING

The buyers will perform a title search and underwriting if the purchase is being financed. This can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks. Once they get the clear to close, a closing date will be scheduled and, Congratulations! You have sold your house.