Whether you are planning to sell your home in the next few months or just studying up for that eventuality, there is no time like now to prepare. If buying a house seems complicated, selling involves even more responsibilities and expenses. Having the right agents makes all the difference. Check out what our clients are saying about us on our home page by clicking here.

Here are some common steps to selling your home:

It is also a good idea to involve us at this stage in the sale. Let us advise you on what repairs will likely yield the most bang for your buck. It is our job to take as much guesswork out of your sales equation as possible.

2. Find a Real Estate Professional...That's were WE come in...

If you have been through the home-buying process, you already know how complicated the real estate business can be. While you can opt to sell your home yourself, it can be time-consuming and often not worth the money saved on commissions. In fact, statistics show that involving REALTORS® like us in the sale will get more for your house.

Fortunately, you have come to the right place. Feel free to call us anytime with any questions. We cannot wait to meet with you and discuss all of the things we can do to sell your home. We do everything to assure a stress free real estate transaction, including: finding a qualified buyer for the highest market price in the quickest, most convenient timeline.

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS® like us. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. We are strong believers in this designation and are proud to be members.  Here are a few of many reasons why it pays to work with us:       

1. CLIENT SERVICE.  As far as we are concerned, nothing is more important than client service. When working with our team, YOU are the top priority. We feel that you should not have to wait on us for anything--especially to return a phone call or email. We pride ourselves on making sure that you are comfortable with all phases of the transaction. This includes paperwork, processes, risks, as well as rewards. We are not comfortable unless you are and we will never pressure you to do something that you are not comfortable doing. Buying or selling a home can be very stressful. We like to take on the hard work and stress while you enjoy the rewards.
    

2. You will have an expert to guide you through the process. Buying or selling a home typically requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page settlement statements. As  knowledgeable experts, we will help you prepare the best deal and avoid delays or costly mistakes. Negotiating real estate deals can be very time consuming, complicated, as well as confusing. Having professionals like us on your side makes a tremendous difference and give you a competitive edge.
    

3. Get objective information and opinions. We can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. We will also be able to provide objective information about each property. As professionals, we will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?
    

4. Find the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by professionals like us to find it. We pride ourselves on giving 110% to our clients to help them find the best property for them. We use all of the latest tools and technology available to streamline the process and make it as stress-free as possible.
    

5. Benefit from our negotiating experience. There are many facets of a real estate transaction and almost everything is negotiable, including but not limited to; price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, we do our best to structure our deals so that we have plenty of time to complete the appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. We will also do our best to ensure that you get a comprehensive home warranty package.
    

6. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of REALTORS® like us, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. We will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
    

7. Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.
    

8. We have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you have done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS® like us, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.
    

9. Buying and selling is emotional. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you. We want the best for you and are here to help you get it.

10. Ethical treatment. Every member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® makes a commitment to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a client of a REALTOR® like us, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters. It is mandatory for REALTORS® to take the Code of Ethics orientation and we are also required to complete a refresher course every four years.

3. Get Your Paperwork Together

After you sign the Listing Agreement with us we will need a few documents from you to prepare your home for sale. Among the things we will likely need to see are:

• Pay-off Notice: A letter to the lender stating intention to payoff the mortgage (if applicable).
• Assessments or Easements: If there is a tax assessment or easement on the property, documents stating such will have to be included in the purchase contract.
• Property Taxes: Proof of property taxes paid. These can usually be obtained on-line.

You will want to make it clear now which items in the home you want to take with you – the heirloom chandelier in the dining room, the washer and dryer set you just bought last month – and which can stay behind as part of the home sale. W can help show you which items you should put away or replace before your house goes on the market.

4. Price Your Home

There are a number of factors that will affect the success of your home sale. They include: location of the home, interest rates, economic conditions, time of year, condition of the home, marketing the home, terms of the sale and accessibility to the home.

Some of these are not within our control, or yours. such as the location of the home, interest rates, economic conditions. The other factors are items that we will want to discuss with you to determine what would benefit the sale of this property most.

For example, marketing your property in more innovative ways, such as on an Internet site like this one, may broaden the pool of potential buyers. And pricing the home properly can make a huge difference in whether a house is snapped up within the first several weeks of listing or sits on the market for more than a year.

To price a home properly we will study the local market, research comparable properties and consider current market conditions. This is where the “comparative marketing analysis” will come in handy as a place to start. Other things that we will consider are:

• Your competition: Are there many properties just like yours for sale in your area right now?
• Listing prices: What are other properties like yours listing for?
• Selling prices: What are other properties like yours selling for?

Based on these findings, we have the experience to help you price your property at the right price for a sale that benefits you.

5. Market Your Home

Products that sell well usually have a good marketing strategy. The same can be said for your home. We have a proven market strategy that outperforms our competition. Yard signs and print and newspaper ads are typical marketing strategies, but we go way beyond those. We employ customized marketing plans for all of our sales that achieve truly outstanding results. This is one of many things that separate us from other agents.

6. Prepare Your Home for Showing

Now that we have decided on the market price and how to market your home now there is little time left to get your house ready for visitors. Now is the time to put on the finishing touches, just like that quick housecleaning you do before company comes over for dinner.

Outside: Keep your lawn trimmed, the rose bushes pruned, the weeds tamed. Put away the garden hose and the tools. Make sure the bulbs in your home’s exterior lighting fixtures are all in working order. Be vigilant about removing flyers, handouts and newspapers left on your front doorstep or driveway.

Inside: Brighten the rooms by opening the drapes, turning on the lights, cleaning the windows. Clear the clutter on the kitchen counter, bathroom sink, coffee table and couches. Make all the beds. Clean all your bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Do a quick vacuuming of the entire house, being sure to catch any cobwebs in the corners along the ceiling. Ensure that the bathrooms smell fresh and clean and take out the garbage.

If you have pets, find a safe place to keep them during a house showing: in the garage, in the basement or better yet, at a friend’s house.

Now leave the work to us. Try to be away from home during a showing, but if you happen to be home when the potential buyers arrive, greet them at the door then politely excuse yourself. Make yourself scarce or go take a walk. It is MUCH easier for a buyer to picture himself or herself living in the house when you are not there. This is your home’s time to shine.

7. Respond to an Offer

Depending on market conditions, we may receive one or more offers for your property from interested buyers. Each offer will include the proposed offer price, proposed closing date, proposed move-in date, financing, and contingencies that may include an appraisal or sale of the buyers’ current home. Let us help you sort through the variables to determine whether you should accept, counter-offer or reject the offer.

If there are multiple offers, each offer will be presented to you in the order registered. You do not need to decide anything until after you have seen all the offers. If you do accept or counter more than one offer, you are required to establish an order of precedence noting which is the primary offer, followed by the backups in order. This will help you avoid selling the house to more than one buyer.

8. Start shopping for you new home

Now that an offer has been accepted and a deal is pending, you should be working with us to find your next property, if you have not already done so.

9. Complete Escrow and Close

Once you have accepted an offer to buy your house, expect to make your house available to a housing inspector, a termite inspector, an appraiser and other inspectors. After seeing the results of the inspections, the buyer may request additional work to be completed before purchase, such as repairing a damaged roof or fixing a leaky faucet. We will work together to determine whether to comply with the buyer’s request or risk losing the offer.

During this flurry of activity, try to keep your home in show condition. The deal has not closed and still may fall through, which may mean showing your home to more potential buyers. In the meantime, the buyer will work with a lender to secure a loan for the purchase, unless it is a cash offer. When the buyer has written loan approval, a closing date can be set. We will continue to market your home even after you have accepted an offer. Backup offers are important in case the buyer is unable to obtain a loan, etc.

There will be a final walk-through before all signatures are collected and the deal considered done. The buyer will go room by room to check that everything is in working condition and, if you had agreed to do so, any additional work requested after inspection has been completed.

Now you can prepare for your own move, notify your utility companies of the date to transfer your account to a new address and start packing. Congratulations, we have sold your home!

Ready to put your home on the market? Call us at 818.LVTMGRN (818.588.6476) or click here to contact us. Having the right agents makes all the difference. Check out what our clients are saying about us on our home page by clicking here.

We ALWAYS return phone calls and emails promptly!