The Selling Process.
We will guide you every step of the way, helping to make the process as smooth and easy as possible.
Preparing to sell.
Congratulations, you are feeling ready to make the next move of selling your home, but now what?
What's it worth?
If you haven’t already received a professional opinion of what your home is currently worth – that’s a great place to start. Click the button below to receive a customized home value report.
Repairs
The best thing to do is to have a real estate professional (hi!) come to your home where they can review your home valuation report as well as advise you on how to prepare your home to show its best when you are ready to list. We usually suggest contacting us a few months before you are ready to hit the market so you have enough time to prepare.
Clean
The biggest thing to remember when preparing your home to sell is that a clean, clutter free home shows the best. The more “move in ready” it feels, the quicker you are likely to receive offers. Download our Seller’s Checklist as a guide to what to do to prepare your home.
Photography
Once your home is ready to list, we will schedule our professional photographer to come to your home to take pictures that will be used to showcase your home across multiple sites, social media and in print to potential buyers once it is listed on the MLS.
Showing your Home.
Your home is clean. Repairs are made. Photos have been taken. You are ready to list!
Showings
Once your home is listed, showings will begin, allowing potential buyers to tour your home. Buyers, accompanied by their agent, will schedule appointments to tour your home. It is always recommended that the seller (that’s you) leave the property during showings. This allows the buyer to move around freely to get a feel for the home as their own.
Open House
In some instances we may suggest doing an open house. On the scheduled day and time, potential buyers come and tour the property without a scheduled appointment. This allows for many buyers to view your home at at once.
Home Inspection.
As a seller, you are likely to receive an offer that has a Home Inspection as a contingency. So what exactly is a home inspection and why does it matter to you, the seller?
What is an inspection?
A home inspection allows the buyer to hire a professional inspector to go through your home, top to bottom to make sure everything is in working order. A home inspector will look at the homes appliances, major systems (heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical etc.) and structure.
Why does an Inspection matter?
Based on the findings of the home inspection, the buyer of your home could make a request for repairs, a credit or rescind their offer – so long as they are within the inspection period stated in the offer.
Preparing for the inspection
During the inspection, the buyer will spend time looking at your home from top to bottom. Keeping it clean and tidy is so important. There are some things a homeowner can do to prepare for a home inspection. Download our Seller’s Home Inspection Checklist Below.
Home Appraisal.
If you are at this point in the selling process – you are getting so close to the closing table! The final big step on the selling journey is the home appraisal.
What is an Appraisal?
If you are at this point in the selling process – you are getting so close to the closing table! The final big step on the selling journey is the home appraisal.
The appraisal provides the buyer and lender with an un-biased view of what your home is worth and will determine what the bank will lend the buyer for their mortgage.
Similar to the inspection, an appraiser will examine the condition of your home’s interior and exterior. Then they will look at homes recently sold within your area as comparables, to help determine current market value.
Why does it matter to the seller?
After the appraisal report is completed, they will provide an appraised value to the lender. If the appraised value of your home is at least that of the sales price, the process will continue to move forward to prepare for the closing. If the appraised value is below the sales price there will likely need to be renegotiations. Since the appraised value is the maximum amount the lender is willing to provide to the buyer for their mortgage, the buyer may not be able to make up the difference between the purchase price and the loan amount. Your realtor will work with you to determine the best strategy should this occur.
How to prepare
There are a few things you can do to help maximize your home’s value in the eye of the appraiser.
Curb Appeal. Make a great first impression by sprucing up your landscape. Trim greenery, clear debris, etc.
Clean and Tidy. Clean, clean clean! A clean home can help increase the perception of your home’s condition. It’s a simple way to help increase value in the mind of the appraiser.
List of improvements. Put together a list of improvements you’ve made to your home (new roof, paint etc.). Include any invoices for work or receipts if you have any. Pointing out any upgrades you made is a great way to show added value.
Quick Fixes. Small fixes can make a big impression. So repair that leaky faucet and oil those squeaky hinges!