A listing agent represents you and has a fiduciary responsibility to look out for your best interests. While you may choose to interview agents and meet more than one as you make a decision, try to hire based on experience. A large firm has several agents, but many or most of those agents are new or inexperienced.
Often, a seller’s greatest mistake is overpricing their home. Keep your price in line with sold homes that have been identified in a comparative market analysis report. Consider whether your market is hot, cold, or neutral and price the home accordingly. Sohn Real Estate will help you do just that.
Get Your Home Ready for Sale
Prepare your home for sale by cleaning and decluttering it and improving curb appeal. You might want to consider hiring a professional stager to stage your home for showings or we, as your real estate agent can help with this. You can often use your own furniture.
There are also ways to virtually stage your home. These allow you to stage a home digitally, then use the photos in your listings or other marketing material.
Make any necessary repairs and consider a pre-listing, seller’s inspection to identify any potential problem areas. Sohn Real Estate Corp. will arrange for this FREE and include this when you sign a listing for 6 months or more.
First impressions are the most important impressions. Remember, you only get one chance to make a great first impression. Make it count!
Market Your Home
We will identify the selling points of your home and choose the best advertising verbiage to convey them. We will launch a full marketing campaign and have our photographer take professional pictures of every angle of your home.
We will saturate the internet and social media with photographs and descriptions of your property. According to statistics from the National Association of Realtors, more than 50% of homebuyers find their homes online.
Show Your Home
You’ll get more showings if you let our agents use a lockbox to give access to your home. If you are opting for appointments, try to be flexible. Some buyers will want to see the home on weeknights (after work) and all across the weekend. Be as accommodating as possible. Our agents will also be fully available and as accommodating as possible.
Open houses will be conducted and we will provide you with the buyer feedback so we can make the decision whether or not to adjust your price, condition, or marketing campaign accordingly.
Receive Purchase Offers and Negotiate
Be prepared to receive multiple offers if your home is priced right. Don’t ignore any offer, even if it seems too low. Negotiate by making a counteroffer. Remember that your first offer is usually your best offer! Our agents will meet or call you to discuss all offers and all terms of the offer that are important in making your decision to accept or refuse the offer.
Accepting an Offer
Once you have accepted an offer, you will choose an attorney.
Cooperate With the Home Inspection
Now get ready for the home inspector. Prepare the attic and basement for inspection, too. Move stuff away from the walls in the garage, and make sure there’s a clear path for the inspector to get through. Make sure you have addressed any issues that arose during the pre-inspection or at least the major ones. Your agent can help you prioritize.
If your contract calls for a roof certification, hire a reputable company to conduct the inspection. Keep in mind that states that allow for termite or pest inspections often make these reports a matter of public record. The buyer may also request a sewer inspection if your home is older.
Prepare for the final walk-through inspection with the buyer as well. It usually takes place a few days before or even the morning of closing.
Negotiate Requests for Repair
You don’t have to accept a buyer’s request to make repairs, but they may back out of the deal if you don’t.
In some cases, a buyer might accept a closing cost credit instead of an actual repair. This essentially lowers the sales price, giving them cash to make the repairs on their own once they take ownership of the property.
You’re entitled to a copy of the home inspection report if the buyer requests repairs. Make sure to review the report carefully to see what issues were noted.
Once the Buyer has completed the inspection, and repairs or credit has been negotiated (if any), we will instruct your attorney to prepare and send Contracts.
After applying for a mortgage, the Buyer’s bank will order an appraisal to make sure your home is worth what they are lending.
Clean the house the day before the appraiser arrives. If you receive a low appraisal, your agent can review your options with you.
You’re typically not entitled to receive a copy of the appraisal because you didn’t pay for it. If the buyer decides to cancel the contract based on an appraisal, your agent or lawyer will inform you of your rights. The buyer will need an appraisal contingency in the contract in order to back out.
Seller Disclosures
If you’re aware of any other material facts or defects with your property, you must disclose them using a Seller’s Disclosure form.. If you are unaware of any issues, you may want to credit the Buyer $500 in lieu of filling out any disclosure paperwork. Your attorney will guide you to make the correct legal decision. Additionally, if your property is a condominium , your agent or attorney will need the Prospectus, Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions for your community, along with additional documentation that might be required if you belong to a homeowner’s association. All homes in the U.S. are subject to lead-based paint disclosures built after 1978.
Closing
Finally, attend your closing appointment, sign the final paperwork, and hand over your keys! Be sure to bring a valid Photo ID.
Per the buyer’s possession rights, you will usually be required to move on the day the home closes. Should you need to keep possession after the closing, our agents and your attorney can request and negotiate a possession agreement. This should be specified in the contract.
Once all is said and done, the sale proceeds will be wired to your bank account—minus agent commissions, repair credits, and other fees noted on your closing documents.