Seller’s Guide: Steps to Listing Your Home

Below are the steps in the process to list your property. After you have signed the listing documentation required by our real estate brokerage. We will begin to proceed with listing your property.

Note: Please keep this link to reference to any questions during the process

There are 3 essential components to successfully listing a house.

1) Preparation

2) Promoting (Marketing)

3) Pricing (Most Important)

Planning & Preparation

  1. Property Analysis: review together with seller and agent

  2. Pricing Strategy: determine best strategy to price property

  3. Sign Documents for Listing: secure a signed listing agreement to move forward

  4. Communication Schedule: set a weekly check-in schedule with agent for updates and buyer feedback

  5. Property Scorecard: setup to monitor listing performance metrics

  6. Marketing Strategy: plan strategy for listing

  7. Pre-Inspection: decide if a pre-inspection adds value; schedule if needed

  8. Repairs or Updates: identify any repairs needed or updates that can add value to property (Schedule if Necessary)

  9. Declutter & Clean Property: schedule company or Owner deep clean and declutter items)

  10. Features of Property: determine the property's best selling points for promotion like why seller fell in love with house and area

  11. Included in Sale of Property: decide what’s included in the sale (appliances, fixtures, etc.)

  12. Install a lockbox: secure agent access during showings

  13. Professional Media: schedule for professional photos and/or videos to be taken

  14. Listing Description: craft a compelling narrative that resonates emotionally with buyers

  15. Pre-Marketing Launch (“Coming Soon”): Build buzz via

    1. Email Buyers

    2. Social Media Posts

    3. Install Digital yard Sign

Activate Listing

  1. MLS Activation: Publish listing by upload docs, photos & description

    • marketing goes across all platforms including over 300 websites like Zillow

  2. Showing Schedule: set and add seller info to get notifications

  3. Marketing Strategies: continue engagement strategies post-launch.

  4. Weekly Scheduled Call: to review interest, showing feedback, and next steps if need to make adjustments

    Note: If property is prepped and marketed well price adjustment is needed according to current buyers market

  5. Field Offers: Agent will communicate any offers to seller with 24 hours to review and respond (9-6pm weekdays) all offers over weekend to review and respond my Monday.

Under Contract (Accepted Offer)

  1. Final Signatures: collected from buyers initial offer agreement

  2. Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) received and deposited at brokerage or title company. (Secures Purchase Agreement)

  3. Open Escrow: Opening escrow occurs after the appraisal or EMD has been submitted

  4. Inspection Period: The buyer has the opportunity to conduct various inspections on the property to assess its condition. The purpose is to uncover any issues that could impact the sale or require repairs. (Buyer pays for own inspection)

  5. Post-Inspection Negotiations: Once the inspection period concludes, the buyer may request repairs, a price reduction, or other concessions based on the inspection report or choose to move forward or release contract based on inspection results.

Pending

  1. Appraisal Ordered: An appraisal is an assessment conducted by a licensed appraiser to determine the fair market value of the property. This is typically required by the buyer's lender to ensure the property's value is sufficient to support the loan amount. None required if a cash offer was accepted.

  2. Final Underwriting Review: Loan approval is only needed if the buyer is using some type of lending to purchase the property. This indicates that the buyer qualifies for the loan pending the satisfaction of certain conditions, such as providing additional documents or explanations.

  3. Title Search & Insurance: The title search ensures there are no legal issues or liens on the property that could affect ownership. Title insurance protects both parties from financial loss due to unforeseen title defects.

  4. Clear to Close (Schedule Closing Date): The title company will determine what opens they have and schedule to close for both parties.

  5. Final Water Reading: A final water reading will be ordered by the title company or listing agent. $300 will be help by title company to cover any unpaid water bills, in which the title company will mail you the remaining amount owed in a form of a check after closing.

Closing

  1. Final Walkthrough: Before closing, the buyer and their agent typically walk through the property to ensure it's in the agreed-upon condition and any negotiated terms, such as leaving items behind, are met. This ensures there are no unexpected damages and that everything is as expected for the final transfer of ownership.

  2. Review Seller Settlement Statements: Outlines the financial details of your home sale, including the sales price, deductions for commissions, closing fees, prorated taxes, and mortgage payoffs. It shows your final net proceeds and is provided a few days before closing.

  3. Meet at Title Company: Buyers and sellers will meet with their agents at the title company to sign closing documents and exchange keys.

🥳 We celebrate once it’s officially SOLD!