Selling Your Home
Selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make — and it deserves the same care and strategy as any major transaction. My job as your agent is to help you sell at or above fair market value while protecting your interests every step of the way. Here's a broad look at the steps we'll walk through together.
Find an Agent — I tried to sell my own home before I became a realtor, and I failed, miserably. I had no idea how to market it strategically, or how much was actually involved in the transaction. Hire someone you know, like, and trust, establish clear expectations up front, and be prepared to pay for the service — in the long run, it's well worth the money.
Gather Your Home Documents — Receipts for repairs made in the last 12 months, records of new appliances or renovations, a year of utility bills, appliance manuals, HOA newsletters, and even photos of the garden in peak season. These details help tell your home's story and can answer buyer questions before they're asked.
Prepare Your Home for the Market — Living in a home and selling a home are two completely different things. There may be repairs, cosmetic updates, or curb appeal improvements that will help it sell faster. I'll guide you — or bring in a specialist — to get your home ready for photos and showings, inside and out.
Deep Clean — Buyers open every door, look in every corner and crevice, and expect everything to be spotless. A truly clean home signals that it's been well cared for.
Stage Your Home — Whether with rented furniture or your own belongings, staging presents your home in its best light and helps buyers picture themselves living there.
Professional Photography — Home shopping starts online, so photos are what draw buyers in the door. High-quality images are one of the best investments you can make in the sale of your home.
Market Your Home — Through Compass, I have access to highly effective tools and technology to get your home in front of the right buyers, for the most money, in the least amount of time. The Compass Agent Network, Buyer Demand Tools and Three Phased Marketing provide excellent results for my clients.
Showings — Buyers, along with their agents, will schedule appointments to see the home in person before making an offer.
Negotiate an Offer — Once an offer comes in, I'll advise you on price as well as other negotiable terms — like closing date, contingencies, and included items — so you know exactly what you're agreeing to.
Inspection — Buyers will inspect the home's major systems as part of their due diligence. Every inspection turns up items to address — I'll help you decide which repairs are worth making and which aren't.
Appraisal — This is arguably the most important showing of the entire process. The appraiser's opinion of value can make or break the loan, so you want the home to impress the appraiser more than anyone else who walks through it.
Hire Movers and Start Packing — Your home is getting new owners soon! Booking movers early and starting to pack ahead of time makes the final stretch far less stressful.
Loan Approval — If the buyer is financing the purchase, their lender will issue a "clear to close" once underwriting has approved the loan and prepared the funds for closing.
Schedule Utilities to End — Set your utilities to shut off the day after closing, so you're covered through the final walk-through without paying for service you no longer need.
Handle Your Home Insurance — Schedule your policy to be canceled the day after closing, or transferred to your new home, so there's no lapse in coverage.
The Final Walk-Through — Buyers will return to confirm that any agreed-upon repairs are complete, the major systems are working, and the home is in the same condition it was in at inspection.
Closing — The title company collects and transfers the funds, and you'll sign the paperwork transferring the deed to the new owners.
If you're ready to talk about listing your home — or just want to know what step one looks like for your situation — I'd love to walk you through it