When you are prepared to sell your property, working with a CHIODO Team real estate specialist can make the process that much easier. We offer a wide range of services and the support you need to get your property listed and in front of the most viable markets. Our team of dedicated professionals has years of experience working in different markets around the country, and we use several tools to help attract the right buyer.
Basics of the Selling Process
The selling process is comprised of the following steps:
- Defining your needs. Identify the key reasons for selling your home and write down what you hope to accomplish with the sale. Set some goals as far as your acceptable price range, and contact a CHIODO Team specialist to help you map out the best path to achieve your objectives.
- Name your price. Decide what the “ideal” price for selling your home may be. You will need to consider the condition of your home, comparable homes in the neighborhood and the average time the home will be on the market. The CHIODO Team specialist can help you with this stage of the selling process as well.
- Prepare the property for showing. When you are selling the home, you will need to prepare it for prospective buyers by removing items such as family photos, mementos and other personal items from view. You want the prospective buyer to visualize the property as their own.
- Prepare to market the home. Your real estate agent can help you advertise and promote the home to the right markets using the Internet, yard signs, direct mail marketing campaigns and setting up an open house. All of these strategies are designed to attract only the most qualified buyers.
- Receive your offer. When a potential buyer has been prequalified and preapproved to buy your home and they are interested in making an offer, you will need to review a legal contract that lists the description of the property, the offer price, the deposit amount and the down payment. At this stage, you have three options: accept the contract as is, accept it with changes (make a counteroffer), or reject it.
- Start negotiating. In order to reach a win-win agreement, you will need to negotiate with the seller for the best price. You can negotiate on items such as the price, closing costs, appliances and fixtures, landscaping, painting and the move-in date. Your CHIODO Team specialist can prepare the contract after you have set your terms and conditions.
- Prepare for the closing. Once you have accepted the offer, it’s time to prepare the property for the closing. The property will need to undergo a formal home inspection, be appraised, and may even need to be repaired. Your CHIODO Team specialist can spearhead this effort and will serve as your advocate when dealing with the buyer’s agent and service providers.
- Complete the closing process. The official closing date is when the ownership of the property is legally transferred to the buyer. You will need to attend the closing to resolve any last-minute issues related to the contract. Your real estate agent will be there with you to handle any questions or concerns that may arise. After the closing, you will need to cancel the electricity, gas, lawn care, cable and other routine services.
- Don’t do major remodeling on your home just to prepare it for a sale.
- Check the exterior of your home for signs of wear and damage and fix what is needed
- Provide plenty of light in each room for the showing
- Avoid being present during the showing so that the buyers can feel more comfortable
- Find the true value of your home by comparing it to similar homes recently sold in your neighborhood
- Set up an open house and invite the neighbors so that they can help promote your property
- Consider helping the buyer pay for closing costs
- Offer a home warranty or mortgage protection
- Offer a counteroffer for even the lowest offers
More Information About Selling Your Property
Some other tips for selling your home with success: