5 Steps To Sell A Home

Selling a home is a process that involves five basic steps.  These steps are Preparing the Home for Sale, Finding a Buyer, Qualifying the Buyer, Negotiating the Terms, Handling all the Details needed to finalize the sale.  When you list your home your real estate agent takes responsibility for each step.  If you sell on your own, it is your responsibility to complete each step.

PREPARING TO SELL

Experienced agents know what puts prospective buyers off when they view a home.  For example, when buyers find dirty dishes in the sink, notice offensive pet odors or spot obvious stains suggesting a leaking roof they begin to devalue the property.  Some buyers may decide to pass on the house completely while others may think about making an offer way below the asking price.  So, a good agent’s first step is to help the homeowner see the house as others will see it and take care of problems.  When selling on your own, it is unlikely that prospective buyers will give you their honest reaction but buyers do tell their agent what they do not like.  That feedback is extremely helpful in selling a home for top dollar.

FINDING A BUYER

Once the home is ready to show, your agent will list the property in the MLS or Multiple listing Service. Most homes are sold as a direct result of their listing in the MLS, which today also means the home will get extensive Internet exposure. Other ways that your agent will use to find buyers include advertising in newspapers and magazines, holding open house and signage.  Statistics show that most homes in this country are sold as a direct result of being listed in the MLS.

QUALIFYING A BUYER

 Either you or your agent will want to weed out potential buyers who cannot afford to purchase your home.  Items to investigate include the buyer’s debt and credit history, current income and employment, the availability of cash for a down payment, the time the buyer needs before closing on the home and the buyer’s level of interest in your home as compared to other properties.  An experienced agent will not show property to an unqualified buyer but it is not so easy to pre-qualify prospects as a homeowner.

Jolie Powell Realty, Inc.
The Pride of the North Shore