Thinking about selling your home?

Selling a home is a major milestone, but it can also be a stressful time. There’s so much to prepare for and so many decisions to make. What should your asking price be? When’s the right time to list? The first step in a stress-free home-selling process is understanding exactly what that process involves.

Finding a real estate agent

Finding a real estate agent who understands your needs will save you hours of labor and frustration (and, potentially, a lot of money). Many people think that selling their home on their own, without consulting an agent, will net them more money in the long run—after all, you pocket the commission.

What they don’t realize is that without an understanding of the selling process, the whole thing can become a big mess very quickly. Usually, they realize the mistake they’ve made when they’re already on the hook for thousands of dollars in repairs and fees.

In addition, a real estate agent will have deep knowledge of local market conditions and buying trends. They’ll know how to prepare and stage your home for buyers, and will help lock in the price you want. Your agent is a valuable resource when it comes to putting your best foot forward.

Marketing & Advertising

Selling your home is all about finding where the right buyers are looking. That requires expertise in marketing and advertising.

A skilled agent will combine hard-earned knowledge with a wealth of resources, including online listing services, print advertising, social media, and local agent networks to get the word out about your home. The right asking price, plus effective marketing, equals a quick and effortless sale.

Open House

Open houses and private showings are where you make a statement. Your home should be neat, clean, and properly staged for buyers.

This can sometimes be a difficult time for sellers, with strangers entering their home multiple times per day. Sellers should be prepared to clear out of the house during showings, and the home should be kept ready-to-show at all times.

Experienced real estate agents know how to balance the selling experience with everyday life to make the selling process as painless as possible.

Negotiate & Accept

Once an interested buyer is lined up, they’ll make a formal written offer. The offer letter will outline how much the buyer will pay, their mortgage amount, closing and occupancy dates, and any contingencies that may apply. You, as the seller, can either accept the offer or negotiate for better terms.

Negotiations can add or subtract contingencies from the original offer letter. Choosing which contingencies benefit you can be difficult — once again, it’s very important to have an experienced agent at your side during this process