Once you’ve made the choice to put your property on the market, the first step is to clearly understand why you’re selling and what kind of timeline works best for you. This helps set the tone for the entire selling process.
Are you planning to upgrade to a larger home? Thinking about relocating to another neighborhood, school district, or city? Although your reasons may seem straightforward, each option can affect your lifestyle, long term plans, and finances in different ways. Defining your goals helps us recommend the best selling strategy for your personal, financial, and real estate objectives.
Determining your ideal timeframe is essential.
If you need to sell quickly, we can put together a detailed market assessment and a targeted action plan to help you reach your goals efficiently.
If timing is flexible, one of our experienced agents can review current market trends with you and identify the most advantageous moment to list your property.
Knowing how to price your home is one of the most important parts of the selling process.
While you can choose to sell your home on your own, partnering with us provides significant advantages. Our goal is to help you make the most of current market conditions and maximize your results.
Through our extensive network of local, national, and international connections—built from years of experience, partnerships, and past clients—we can create a targeted marketing plan that gets your property in front of the right buyers. From expert advertising to managing every piece of paperwork, we’re here to guide you from the first agreement all the way through closing.
When choosing the right professional to represent your home, consider these key factors:
Education
A strong educational background in real estate is essential. Our agents have completed advanced training and earned respected designations, placing them among top professionals in the industry.
Experience and Market Knowledge
Your agent should be a full-time professional who understands your neighborhood and the type of property you’re selling. Consider whether they use a variety of marketing tools, understand current technology, and have a proven track record of selling homes similar to yours.
Availability and Dedication
A dependable agent responds quickly, stays in regular communication, and is available during evenings or weekends when many buyers are active. They should be ready to act decisively when opportunities arise.
Personal Connection
Your agent should listen closely, understand your goals, and genuinely care about the outcome. Because your listing agent becomes your partner throughout the selling journey, finding someone you trust and feel comfortable with is essential.
Homeowners who sell without an agent often misjudge their property’s value. Working with an experienced listing professional helps you avoid overpricing—or underpricing—your home. A skilled agent will provide a detailed market evaluation so you can confidently set a price that attracts buyers while protecting your financial goals.
There are several steps you can take to make your home more appealing and leave a strong impression on potential buyers. Here are some key areas to focus on when getting your property ready for the market:
First impressions matter. A well-kept yard, neatly trimmed landscaping, and a pop of color from seasonal flowers can instantly attract interest from people passing by and prospective buyers arriving for showings.
A clean, welcoming home helps buyers envision themselves living there. Keep rooms tidy, bright, and odor-free. Little details can elevate the atmosphere—fresh flowers by the entryway, clean carpets, natural lighting, or even pleasant scents from baked goods. Before listing, your agent will walk through the property with you and suggest helpful staging improvements.
We understand the legal requirements surrounding disclosures and can help you prepare a thorough, accurate statement for buyers. We may also recommend completing certain inspections—such as pest or termite checks—before listing, which can prevent surprises later and make your home more marketable.
Allowing your agent to handle showings helps buyers feel relaxed and open when viewing the home. They’re more comfortable asking questions and sharing feedback when the owner isn’t present. Your agent will highlight the property’s best features and represent your interests professionally during every showing.
Receiving an offer is an exciting milestone, but it’s only one step in the selling process. We will review every offer carefully, confirm that the buyer is pre-qualified or pre-approved, and help you determine whether the terms align with your goals.
It’s easy to assume the highest offer is always the best one—but that’s not necessarily true. The first offer is often a starting point rather than the final number, and many other terms—such as financing, contingencies, timelines, and closing costs—can significantly impact the deal. Our team will help you evaluate each offer thoroughly so you can make the smartest decision without jeopardizing your negotiating position.
We take our responsibility to negotiate fairly and ethically very seriously. Our goal is to help all parties reach an agreement that works for everyone while protecting your best interests. In some cases, you may receive several offers at once. If that happens, we will provide a clear, objective comparison of each one to help you choose the offer that best fits your needs.
A binding purchase agreement is a legal contract between you and the buyer. Requirements vary by state, but most agreements include consideration—often an earnest money deposit—that is held in escrow by the closing agent until all contract conditions are met.
To keep the process moving smoothly, keep these tips in mind:
Document Everything
Convert all verbal discussions—including changes, counteroffers, or additions—into written, signed agreements. We will handle the preparation of all documents and make sure you receive copies for your records.
Follow the Timeline
Once an offer has been accepted, both you and the buyer will follow a schedule outlining each step of the closing process. Staying on top of deadlines helps prevent delays, keeps negotiations on track, and ensures neither party is in violation of the contract. We will update you throughout the process so you always know what comes next.
Most buyers will schedule a professional inspection of the property within the period outlined in the purchase agreement. This step helps them understand the condition of the home before moving forward.
Buyers typically hire a licensed inspector to examine the home during the agreed-upon inspection window. Some may bring in multiple specialists—such as HVAC, roofing, structural, or electrical inspectors—to get deeper insight into specific areas of the property.
If the offer is dependent on financing, the lender will order an appraisal through a licensed third-party appraiser. The appraisal determines the property’s value to ensure the lender is making a sound investment. For commercial transactions, buyers may also be required to complete environmental assessments, soil tests, or other specialized reports depending on lending policies.
A title company or real estate attorney will be chosen to act as the closing agent. Their role is to examine the property’s recorded history and confirm that the title is clean and transferable. Before closing, they will verify:
There are no outstanding liens, claims, leases, or restrictions that would prevent a clear transfer of ownership.
Any new encumbrances or agreements related to the sale are properly recorded.
A contingency is a condition that must be met for the contract to remain valid. One of the most common examples is a home inspection contingency, which allows the buyer to back out—or renegotiate—if the inspection reveals issues.
Before finalizing the purchase, buyers usually complete several steps, such as:
Securing financing and home insurance
Reviewing important documents like disclosures and preliminary title reports
Conducting various inspections—roof, pest, chimney, boundary surveys, pool/spa, septic systems, HVAC, mold, lead-based paint, and more
Depending on the results:
If everything is satisfactory, the buyer removes contingencies and the transaction moves forward, or
The buyer may request changes, often in the form of a price adjustment or repair credit.
When renegotiation is needed, having an experienced listing agent is essential. We will guide you through the process objectively and advocate for your best interests while helping maintain a fair, professional transaction.
For a smoother sale, it’s wise to consider buyers who have a strong financial position—such as a pre-approval letter or formal loan commitment from a lender. This carries more weight than a basic pre-qualification.
During the loan process, the lender’s appraiser will visit your property to confirm that the agreed-upon purchase price is in line with the home’s market value.
Once you’ve accepted an offer, you’re nearing the finish line. Before the sale becomes official, both you and the buyer will have a final checklist of tasks to complete to ensure a smooth closing.
You’re almost ready to celebrate—but there are still a few final details to address. Completing these last steps ensures everything closes correctly and on schedule.
Typically held the day before closing—or on the closing day itself—the final walk-through is an opportunity for the buyer to confirm the property is in the same condition as when they last saw it. They’ll also check that all systems are functioning and that no unwanted items were left behind.
After the sale is complete, you’ll need to contact your service providers to discontinue utilities and other home services. We will supply a list of helpful contacts to make this process simple.
Occasionally, unexpected situations arise right before closing—such as a minor repair issue or a buyer’s financing delay. There’s no need to panic. We’re experienced in navigating these challenges and can help resolve them quickly and calmly, ensuring your transaction stays on track.
