Selling a home is among the largest financial transactions most people make, so it pays to work with a licensed professional who knows the local market and can guide you and keep you informed throughout the process. It also pays to be selective about the agent you choose. When you work with an agent from a full-service brokerage like Windermere, you can count on them to provide the highest level of service and expertise to help you achieve your goals.
❱ I am a full-service licensed agent and hold myself to the highest standards of service, professionalism, and accountability. I am committed to Fair Housing practices for all people, as well as to Windermere’s Standards of Practice.
❱ I am an expert in our local market and will help you set the right price.
❱ I also know what buyers are looking for and the financial incentives that will encourage them to buy.
❱ I am a member of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which enables me to provide detailed information about your home to millions of other agents and potential buyers online.
❱ I interact with other local agents regularly. We trade information about new properties and strive to match eager buyers with the right homes.
❱ I am well-connected in our area and have a network of trusted professionals I can refer you to as needed.
❱ Windermere’s global referral system provides me access to the large number of people who relocate each year, increasing the pool of qualified buyers for your home.
❱ I can quickly separate the qualified buyers from the rest of the pack by talking with potential buyers and their agents to save you time and help you evaluate the pros and cons of competing offers.
❱ Achieving your goals is my highest priority. I will advocate and negotiate on your behalf, keeping you informed every step of the way.
❱ Comparable Sales Reviewed
❱ Market Analysis Presented
❱ Price Range Established
❱ Listing Agreement Signed
❱ List on MLS
❱ Open Houses (Brokers & Public)
❱ Showings by Appointment
❱ Advertising
❱ Provide Property Disclosures
❱ Facilitate Property Inspections
❱ Inspections & Conditions Removal
❱ Needs/Wants Discussed
❱ Buyer Agency Agreement Signed
❱ Financial Qualifications Determined
❱ Market Education
❱ View Property
❱ Write O er with Agent
Purchase O er Presented to Seller
Negotiation of Terms Seller Agent
Accepted Sales Contract
❱ Open Escrow
❱ Deposit Earnest Money
❱ Disclosure
❱ Inspection
❱ Title Search
❱ Preliminary Title Report
Additional Negotiation (if necessary) Seller Agent Buyer Agent
❱ Obtain Necessary Property Inspections ❱ Inspections & Conditions Removal
❱ Recieve Cash Proceeds
❱ Move Out
❱ Loan Funding
❱ Title Records at City Hall
❱ Utilities O /On
❱ Keys Received
❱ Move In
There are a lot of steps, forms, and considerations involved with a real estate transaction, and timely completion of each is critical. I’ll be your point person in the transaction and will guide you through the process and the contract. I’ll ensure you understand all options, documents, and fees, and will anticipate potential issues before they arise.
Selling your home begins with making it look its best inside and out. Even if your home’s systems are in great physical condition, things like dingy paint, clutter, and an overgrown yard can lower its value in the eyes of potential buyers. Time invested now will pay off later.
I’ll also walk through the property with you and recommend ways that you can enhance its value, such as staging, removing personal items, and adding curb appeal. Here’s a QR code with a checklist of tasks to get your home ready for photography and showings.
❱ Remove pets. Take them with you or keep them penned in the yard or garage.
❱ Open shades and curtains to let in light.
❱ Turn on enough lights so the home is well-lit.
❱ Remove clutter from tables and bookshelves. Neatness makes rooms seem larger.
❱ Put away items in the yard such as garden tools, bicycles, and toys.
❱ Turn on gas fireplaces to create a cozy atmosphere.
❱ Grind up part of a lemon in the disposal to add a fresh smell to the kitchen.
❱ Keep radios and TVs off or on low volume.
❱ Securely lock up money, other valuables, and prescription drugs
CAN CONTROL:
Price
Terms of Sale
Condition of Property
CANNOT CONTROL:
Location
Competition
Market Conditions
Pricing your home correctly from the start is one of the most critical ways to generate a lot of traffic and attract as many qualified buyers as possible. A property attracts the most attention when it’s first listed, so it doesn’t pay to start with a high price and reduce later if it doesn’t sell. The value of your home is what buyers are willing to pay for it in today’s market, so I stay informed about our local market and will do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help determine our pricing strategy. I’ll also show your home to other local real estate agents and solicit their input about its price and presentation, so we can discuss and address any important feedback they may provide.
Effective communication is imperative for ensuring a smooth and successful process from start to finish. From day one, we’ll establish a clear communication schedule that keeps you fully informed about every aspect of our work together, from major milestones to the smallest details. This structured approach ensures you’re never left wondering about progress, next steps, or important updates, allowing you to stay focused on achieving your goals with complete confidence and clarity.
The best way that you can help is to tell me any time you have questions or concerns, no matter how small. Informed clients make the best decisions, so I’m here to help you do just that. If your goals, needs, or timeline ever change, please let me know right away so we can pivot as needed.
I will communicate promptly and regularly about what’s happening with your listing, including showing feedback, market activity updates, and strategic guidance on next steps, and my communication methods will be tailored to your preferences. My goal is to provide updates and explanations before you have to ask.
Showing your home to potential buyers begins with hiring media professionals with the lighting, equipment, and know-how to showcase your home’s most flattering aspects. From photography to video, floor plan, virtual tours, and more, I have access to an array of resources to help online viewers visualize your home, which is critical for attracting buyers.
Open houses are another powerful way to generate interest in your home. Being face-to-face with potential buyers not only allows me to answer their questions and gather feedback, but it also allows potential buyers to visualize themselves in the home. Neighbors also love to attend open houses, which can lead to increased word of mouth and viewings.
I recommend that you leave the home when potential buyers are there for open houses and private showings, so visitors feel comfortable taking their time, making candid comments, and asking questions. I will, of course, discuss any insights with you afterwards.
One thing to consider is whether you want to offer buyer agent compensation on your home (or make known to buyers that you will consider offers requesting such compensation). It is not required and cannot be included in MLS listings in most areas. Offering buyer agent compensation may increase your pool of interested buyers because it saves the buyer an upfront cost that may otherwise make your home unaffordable to them. You should also be aware that unrepresented buyers may make offers on your home, and we should discuss how that might impact the selling process and whether you might want to offer seller concessions. I am happy to discuss your options on this, but it is ultimately your decision.
Effective marketing is another critical aspect of getting your home sold quickly and at the best price. I will create a customized marketing plan to get maximum local and global exposure for your home quickly, including digital exposure via the Multiple Listing Service and the most popular real estate sites like Realtor.com, Zillow, and Trulia, to name a few. I also use targeted and professionally designed digital and print marketing that reflects the high quality of your home, Windermere’s signature yard signs to attract local attention and inquiries, and digital tools that allow me to track and follow up with potential buyers and optimize the performance of our marketing.
When we receive an offer (or offers!) on your home, I’ll review each one with you and help you decide whether to accept, reject, or counteroffer. I’ll also negotiate with buyers’ agents on your behalf to get you the best price and terms to meet your goals.
Earnest money is a “good faith” deposit that potential buyers are required to submit when they make an offer on a home to show that they are seriously interested. Although there’s no rule specifying how much earnest money should be put down, the amount can sometimes make a difference in the negotiation process.
Earnest money eventually goes toward the buyer’s down payment or closing costs, or it gets returned to the buyer if, for instance, contractual contingencies are not met.
A contingency is a condition that must be removed before a contract can be enforced. Common contingencies include:
❱ Appraisal contingency: the buyer can back out if the property is appraised at an amount lower than they’ve specified.
❱ Inspection contingency: the buyer is allowed to get a professional inspection of the property, and if problems are found that the seller is unwilling to repair or negotiate about, the buyer can walk away.
❱ Financing/Mortgage contingency: gives the buyer the right to back out of the deal if they are unable after reasonable efforts to secure a mortgage on the property within a specified timeframe.
Once we’ve found a buyer for your home, I will guide you through the purchase and sale agreement, which is a contract outlining the proposed timing and details of the transaction. After both parties have signed the agreement, I’ll provide you with a detailed summary of the agreed-upon timing, tasks, and deadlines to be met by each party. Then I’ll coordinate with you through each step to make sure all goes smoothly and on time.
During the mortgage approval process, the lender will require the buyer to obtain a title report on the property. This is an examination of public records to confirm the title is clear, you are the legal owner, and there are no legal disputes or restrictions. The lender will also require title insurance to protect against any legal disputes and liens that the title search may not have found or resolved. I can recommend a reputable title company to handle this process.
When a buyer makes an offer on a home, it’s usually contingent upon a professional inspection to assess the home’s health, safety, and major mechanical systems. In addition to educating the buyer about the home’s systems and maintenance needs, the inspection report will detail any repairs that are needed, which may lead to further negotiations with the buyer before the sale goes through.
As the seller, you can also have a pre-listing (or sellerprocured) inspection to evaluate your home prior to putting it on the market, to check for issues that you may be unaware of that may affect its value. I can recommend a reputable home inspector in our area that I trust to do a thorough job. No home is perfect, but if any major problems are found during inspection, I will help you address or negotiate about them.
The closing process finalizes the terms of the agreement, leading to the transfer of the property’s title. I can help you understand what closing costs each party will pay and receive, and your escrow agent will coordinate with you to sign the final documents and collect your closing fees. They will then submit those to the lender, disburse the net proceeds to you when the lender releases them, and then transfer the home’s title and keys to the buyer.
Escrow is a legal arrangement for temporarily holding the funds in a real estate transaction and making sure they are distributed properly when the deal goes through. The funds, property, and documents are held by a neutral third party “in escrow” until the terms of the agreement have been filled.
❱ Utility deposits held by gas, electric, cable, telephone, and other companies
❱ Prorated portion of pre-paid property taxes
❱ Prorated mortgage interest from payments made during the current month
❱ Fuel rebate for oil or propane remaining in storage tank
❱ Net proceeds after seller’s share of expenses is paid
❱ Brokerage commission (the sum or percentage of the sale price previously agreed upon by the seller and real estate agent)
❱ One-half of escrow or legal fees paid to the attorney or escrow company for preparing the closing (In California, the party paying escrow fees varies from county to county)
❱ Document preparation fees, if applicable
❱ Recording and notary fees, if applicable
❱ Title search and title insurance (paid by either the seller or the buyer)
❱ Local transfer taxes, if applicable
❱ State taxes, if any
❱ Repairs or inspections, if any, seller has agreed to pay for
To find out more, see 10 Costs Associated with Selling Your Home
Your net proceeds equal the sale price of your home minus any expenses you incur during the closing process. I can help you determine the following costs:
Existing home loans $
Other liens + $
Standard title insurance1 + $
State excise tax + $
Loan discount + $
Escrow + $
Brokerage/service fees + $
Proration of interest + $
Recording + $
Inspections + $
Miscellaneous + $
TOTAL ESTIMATED DISBURSEMENTS = $
Sale price of home $
Est. disbursements – $
ESTIMATED
NET PROCEEDS2 = $
1 Many title companies will offer a discount to sellers who have a copy of the title report received when purchasing or refinancing a property. Let me know if you have a copy at the time of the listing, and I will request a discount.
2 This figure is an estimate based on my experience and reflects current rates and charges. Actual proceeds will be calculated by the escrow officer and will vary according to the specifics of the final sales transaction.
My service doesn’t end when your home is sold. I can connect you with local service providers, community resources, and more. I will also stay in touch in the years to come to provide helpful home information and be of service anytime you or someone you know has questions or needs about real estate or our area. And when you’re ready to buy or sell your next home, I’ll be ready to help.
Use up things that may be difficult to move, such as frozen food.
Get estimates from professional movers or truck rental companies if you’re moving yourself.
Once you’ve selected a mover, discuss insurance, packing, loading and delivery, and the claims procedure.
Sort through your possessions. Decide what you want to keep, sell, and donate to charity.
Record serial numbers on electronic equipment, take photos (or video) of all your belongings and create an inventory list.
Change your utilities, including phone, power, and water, from your old address to your new address.
Fill out a change-of-address form with the postal service and update your address with creditors and other relevant parties.
Discuss tax-deductible moving expenses with your accountant and begin keeping accurate records.
Make reservations with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies, if needed.
If you are moving yourself, use your inventory list to determine how many boxes you’ll need.
Begin packing nonessential items.
Arrange for storage, if needed.
If you have items you don’t want to pack and move, hold a yard sale.
Get car license, registration, and insurance in order.
Transfer your bank accounts to new branch locations. Cancel any direct deposit or automatic payments from your accounts if changing banks.
Make special arrangements to move pets, and consult your veterinarian about ways to make travel comfortable for them.
Have your car checked and serviced for the trip.
Collect items from safedeposit box if changing banks.
Defrost your refrigerator and freezer.
Have movers pack your belongings.
Label each box with the contents and the room where you want it to be delivered.
Arrange to have payment ready for the moving company.
Set aside legal documents and valuables that you do not want packed.
Pack clothing and toiletries, along with extra clothes in case the moving company is delayed.
Sign up for trash and recycling service at the new address
Arrange to pick up the keys to your new home!
The process of packing and moving can be daunting, but creating a plan and being organized will help make it easier. Here are some tips and recommended timeframes to help you stay on track and minimize stress.
furniture pads
handtruck or dolly
packing tape
bubble wrap
packing paper
scissors
utility knife
labels
felt-tip markers
cornstarch packing “peanuts”
plenty of boxes
Pick up the truck as early as possible if you are moving yourself.
Make a list of every item and box loaded on the truck.
Let the mover know how to reach you.
Double-check closets, cupboards, attic, basement, and garage for any left-behind items.
Be on hand at the new home to answer questions and give instructions to the mover.
Check off boxes and items as they come off the truck.
Install new locks.
FIRST DAY BOX
scissors
utility knife
coffee cups
teakettle
instant coffee or tea, soft drinks
pencil and paper
soap
bath towels
trash bags
shelf liner paper plates
snacks
toilet paper
Confirm that the utilities have been turned on and are ready for use. Unpack your “first day” box (see list for suggested contents).
Examine your goods for damage.
