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The Selling Process, Step By Step

1. Make a solid decision to sell.

Unmotivated sellers harm the marketability of their property. If you decide to sell, know your motives and make a solid commitment. Experience shows that most unmotivated sellers tend to overprice their property and therefore harm the marketability. Listing high and then reducing price is a bad approach. When you decide to sell, make sure you price your home correctly.

2. Prepare your home to sell.

To maximize value, make your home look like you want to buy it again.Make sure your home is clean, freshly painted,no clutter, organized. Make sure everything is in working order, if you have a yard make sure it is organized and clean.

3. Find an agent.

Make sure you hire a professional active agent, someone you like and trust, eager to work hard, with good communication skills, positive energy, someone who understand your needs and work to protect your interest, someone who spend time prospecting daily (agents who prospect are not intimidated by buyers and will make excellent negotiators), good track record. The best way to learn about the agent is to observe the presentation skills. If the agent is a good presenter, rest assure they can sell your home!

4. Understand pricing and value.

Your agent must be an expert on pricing. Since price is the MOST important factor in the marketability of your home, make sure you understand it and price it to sell. In addition, make sure your agent understands the competition and the other homes listed for sell in your area as this can help you sell or harm your home sale. Use the competition wisely to help you sell your home.

5. List your home on the multiple listing service (MLS).

The MLS is an updated pool of all the homes available for sale. One your property goes on the MLS, immediately all the agents who represent buyers in your area and price range will be notified. Being listed on the MLS for the right price can be the reason that your property will sell very quickly.

6. Be Flexible on showing times and make sure the home is presentable.

The more flexible you are with the showing times, the more buyers can look at it. In addition, you need to make sure your property is neat and ready to be shown. Cluttered and unorganized homes are very hard to sell since most buyers use
emotions when they buy a home. If they don’t feel comfortable in your home, they will not buy it.

7. Negotiate with a buyer (never say never).

Many sellers lose valuable time and money when they refuse to negotiate and take a firm position. A rule of thumb in negotiating, be flexible, never say never, always give something to create a win win. Experience shows that when you price your home correctly, you will not need to negotiate too much and hopefully you will create a multiple offer situation and have a few buyers fight for your home.

8. Get a solid contract.

When you receive an offer, have your attorney work fast to get you out of attorney review. As long as attorney review is not finalized, you will not have a solid contract.

9. Understand contingencies.

Almost every contract will have contingencies. Typical contingencies include:

  • An inspection contingency and a mortgage contingency.
  • During the contingency time, the buyers can back out of the contract if the contingency items are not resolved. For example: if an inspection report shows a major defect, the buyers attorney can request that the seller will correct it or cancel the contract.
  • In addition, if a mortgage contingency is not cleared and for some reason the buyer is no longer qualified or the property does not appraise for the contract price, the buyer can cancel the contract.

10. Schedule closing and start packing.

When all contingencies are cleared and title is ready, your attorney will schedule a closing time. This will be a good time for you to schedule your move out.

11. Move out.

Make sure you clean the property and leave it in good condition. Before closing, normally the day of closing, the buyer will have a walk through. The walk through is a final inspection the buyer will do before they go to the closing table.
If you leave any furniture behind, garbage or have any damage like a broken door etc., the buyer can cancel the closing until these items are removed and fixed. Make sure the movers don’t damage the walls while moving large furniture etc.

12. Close.

At the closing you will sign some documents, hand over the property keys and walk away with a check. Remember your closing statement will always reflect some expenses: attorney fees, brokers commission, mortgage balance payment, liens if any, owed taxes etc.

Its time for a new beginning. Congratulations!