Seller's Guide

1. Interview one to three Realtors. Ask for qualifications and how well they know the neighborhood. Show the agent the house. Not all agents are worth the same commission. Some are truly worth more than others. It’s a small price to pay to get the best real estate agent you can find, not the cheapest.

2. Allow the agent to come back after data has been analyzed. Be very wary of agents who bring pricing at the first visit. They have not analyzed the data and may give you a price that you want to hear just to obtain your listing. Do not overprice your house. The agent has done extensive work to show you the accurate data. Don’t try for a higher price assuming buyers will make a lower offer or because the house down the street sold for more money. Price your home within the range the agent recommends.

5. Receiving an offer is an exciting part of the process, but it doesn’t mean the journey is over. I will evaluate each offer and make sure the party making the offer is prequalified or pre-approved by a mortgage lender and that their offer is acceptable to you. If the offer is too low, you can make a counter-offer or offer other ways to bridge the gap, such as covering some or all of the closing costs, making repairs, adjusting the move-in date, or leaving some appliances or fixtures for the new buyer.

6. Once I deem the offer is acceptable, we will review the proposed contract to make sure it’s all in order and includes the necessary components such as deposit amount, down payment, financing, inspection rights and repair allowances, contingencies, settlement date, and a list of fees and who will pay them. When both parties have agreed to the term, a final contract will be prepared by your agent.

9. The contact with the title company may come much earlier in the transaction and be directly with the seller. The mortgage, if any, will be paid out of the closing proceeds. Make sure you are complete moved out, all materials and paint cans the buyer didn’t want are removed, and have the house professionally cleaned. Utilities are usually transferred a week before closing.

10. The agent signs nothing at closing. If the sellers can attend, they will sign a few documents. If the sellers cannot attend the closing, arrangements with the title company should be made in advance.