The Selling Process

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1. Contact an experienced real estate professional to help you sell your property. Your real estate agent will analyze recent sales and market conditions in order to provide a realistic valuation of your property and make suggestions to improve the property’s sale ability (CMA).
2. Sign a listing agreement and other necessary forms. Your real estate agent should review all forms with you. Do not sign any document without reading and understand it. Ask your real estate agent any questions you have regarding the necessary paperwork. Be aware that some of the forms you will be signing are contracts and you will be obligated to comply with the terms of the contract. If you have any doubts about the forms you will be signing you have every right to consult with an attorney before signing the documents. Some of the forms are as follows:
   1. Agency Disclosure
   2. Listing Agreement/Contract
   3. Seller’s Disclosure
   4. Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
3. Complete all recommended repair items on the property & prepare the property for the public. Your real estate professional should have given you suggestions on making your property look it's best (ex. drywall repair, painting, de-clutter, landscaping, etc). If those items are not complete it is necessary to finish them as soon as possible. You will also need to make sure the property is clean, smelling great and ready for the general public to view.
4. Marketing your property. All of the documents are signed, the necessary repairs are made and your property is ready to go on the market. Your real estate agent will enter all of the information into the local MLS system, put a sign in the yard if allowed, install a key box on the door and begin the process of marketing.
5. Showing your property. The option of open houses will be decided between you and your real estate agent. Regardless of open houses you will need to make sure the property is clean, organized, smelling great and the exterior manicured at all times. You never know when your home will be shown so it is better to be prepared and ready for the unexpected call. Due to security issues, do not allow people to enter your home without an appointment and without their real estate professional. Be sure to remove or secure valuables and medications before an open house or showing.
6. The purchase agreement. After all of the hard work and effort made by you and your real estate agent, an offer is written for your property. Your real estate agent will review the offer with you pointing out the positives and negatives prepare a net proceeds sheet and discuss your options. After reviewing the offer you can either accept the offer as is or write a counteroffer. If a counteroffer is written and accepted, your real estate agent and the other agent will do many things behind the scenes such as ordering title work, coordinate with the lender and schedule inspections.
7. Coordinate the inspections. Most likely the purchaser will want a home inspection completed to confirm they are making the right decision on purchasing your property. Other inspections may include pest, radon, and lead, septic and well. Some of these are required by the lender. Your real estate professional will make you aware of the dates and times the inspections will occur. You have every right to be present during the inspections. If all of the inspections turn out positive your job is done until closing. If some items turn up on the inspections you will either have to repair the necessary items or negotiate with the purchaser the items that will and will not be completed.
8. Closing. Your real estate agent has been kept informed of the mortgage process and the closing date and time is scheduled. Typically the closing will take place at a title company. Your real estate agent typically receives final figures from the lender or title company 24 hours in advance. He/she will review the figures and determine if anything is incorrect. Once your agent has determined the final numbers are correct, he/she will review the numbers with you so there should not be any surprises at the closing. Make sure you contact the utility companies to schedule the final meter readings, the transfer of ownership and where to send the final bills. The closing agent will review all of the paperwork you will be signing before you sign. Your real estate agent will also be in the closing room to answer any questions you have and to verify the numbers have not changed. Make sure you bring your keys, garage door openers and anything else to closing you need to give to the purchasers. If the contract specifies you have so many days after closing to vacate the property, a day & time & location will be agreed upon between you and the purchaser to transfer keys and other items.

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