A 10-step crash course for selling your home

Created by: 

Cole Decker

Real Estate Consultant

RE/MAX Affiliates

Don't just hire an agent, partner with a consultant. 

Choosing a consultant should be based on expertise and trust, but finding the right fit can be as challenging as finding a needle in a haystack. Given the significant investment involved, it's crucial to work with a consultant who is strategic, experienced, and highly trustworthy. At the end of the day, you're selecting this individual to join your team and represent you in one of the largest transactions of your life. It's an important step you simply can't afford to skip. 

Before making any decisions about listing your home, it’s important to identify your requirements for the sale of your home. What are your needs? For example, is there a certain amount of profit you require (sale price minus existing loans)? Is there a specific date you need to retain possession until? Are there features of the house that you want to take with you, like an heirloom chandelier? These outcomes will help us decide how, when, and at what price to market your home. 

After we determine your desired outcomes, we'll work together to determine a sale strategy, including our initial list price, requirements to achieve that price (updates, cleaning, staging, etc.), and a few pre-determined strategies for navigating the market.

Now that you've created your strategy, it's time to get your home in shape to sell! Some sellers choose to perform functional or cosmetic updates in order to achieve a higher desired price, while others may decide to keep the property as-is. All sellers, however, should declutter, clean, and style the home to help potential buyers see themselves making memories in the space. Preparing your home is all about identifying and removing any potential reasons for a prospective buyer to say "no" - an experienced real estate consultant can help you identify where to focus your efforts. 

Marketing your home is about highlighting its best features and making it stand out to potential buyers. Your consultant will work with you to produce a variety of materials to market your home, but you’ll need to review for accuracy!

Highlight your home's best features! Make a list of the unique features and benefits of your home, and use them in the marketing materials.

Write a compelling description! Your listing description should be engaging and descriptive. Use descriptive language and paint a picture of what it is like to live in your home.

You'll also be required to fill out a property disclosure form. This is a legally-binding document that outlines any patent (readily-visible) or latent (not readily visible, but known) defects with the property. A buyer will acknowledge this document upon making an offer for your property. 

Congratulations on listing your home!

Your real estate consultant will list your home on the Multiple Listing Service, which will feed popular consumer sites like realtor.com and zillow.com. They will also utilize their network to increase visibility and reach the appropriate audience. Additionally, we will provide a yard sign to inform the community of your intention to sell, and help prospective buyers find the home for their showing appointments. If you’d like to have an open house, we’d love to host it on your behalf!

Potential buyers will want to see your home, so it's important to prepare for showings. Creating a positive and welcoming atmosphere is key to a successful home showing!

The first impression is crucial. Make sure the exterior of your home looks inviting and well-maintained. This includes trimming the lawn, removing any clutter, and making sure the front door looks clean and welcoming.

A clean home is essential. Make sure your home is spotless, from the floors to the bathrooms. Clean up any clutter or personal items to make your home look more spacious. 

To ensure that potential buyers feel at ease during showings, it's a good idea to have your pets stay with a friend or family member, or take them for a walk during the showing. This will help create a welcoming environment and make it easier for buyers to focus on the features of your home.

You should also be prepared to be flexible with your schedule to accommodate showings. During the showing period, it’s important that you keep your home tidy and ready to show within about thirty minutes. This means leaving the house showing-ready whenever you're not home! 

Once potential buyers start showing interest in your home, you may start receiving offers. It's important to carefully review each offer and consider factors such as the buyer's financing, contingencies, and proposed closing date. It’s a licensed agent’s duty to deliver ALL offers (even the low ones!) to the seller. While a low offer can feel offensive, the most important thing is how we respond. I’ll help you decide how to respond to even the wildest offers in a way that is professional, yet firm.

It's common for buyers to negotiate on price or other terms of the sale. I will help you navigate negotiations and ensure that you're getting the best possible outcome given your strategy and goals.

Congrats, you're under contract for the sale of your home!

Being "under contract" means that you and a buyer and have entered into a legally binding agreement to sell your property under the terms described in the contract. During this time, the buyer completes inspections and secures financing. You're typically responsible for maintaining the property and resolving any issues that may arise, but you should always refer to the signed contract for specifics.

During this step, the seller and buyer will work together to complete any remaining paperwork and ensure that all contingencies are met.

After an offer is accepted, the buyer will typically have a specified period in which they can schedule a home inspection. It's important to prepare for the inspection by ensuring that your home is in good condition and any known issues have been disclosed or addressed. If the inspection uncovers any defects, we will refer to the signed contract to determine how to proceed with the transaction. 

During this period, it's important for both parties to communicate openly through their respective agents/consultants, and work together to resolve any outstanding issues. Once all contingencies are met, you'll move to the closing phase and transfer ownership to the buyer.

That's it - you've sold your home! Congratulations! 

Your closing will likely take place at the office of your title agent, where the buyer or mortgage lender will provide payment to the title agent. The title agent will then perform the transaction, ensuring all funds are accounted for and routed to the correct parties. This is when you'll be paid for the sale of your home, less the outstanding balance of any loans. Next, you'll sign the ownership of the property to the new buyer. That's it! 

Possession of the home may be negotiated during the offer phase. Although the sale has closed and ownership has transferred, the seller may retain possession of the home (as a tenant) for the period of time outlined in the contract.