What to expect when you're expecting (to sell your home)

What to expect when you're expecting to sell your home


 You need to sell your home. You're moving to another area, you've outgrown your current home, kids have grown up & moved away so it's time to downsize, something in your life brings you to a point where you need to sell your home. But you have no idea what to expect when you sell your home. Let's review some of the things that happen when you list and sell your home.

 * You contact your Realtor®. They will come over to see your home and property. You will discuss pricing, review neighborhood comparables, and talk about specific things about your home that may either bring the sales price up or down. You will also discuss what you need to make on your home. If you have lived in your home for a long time you shouldn't have any trouble making quite a bit of money on the sale of your home, but if you've only lived in your home for a couple of years the main goal may just be not to lose any money when it is time to close.

* Your Realtor® may give you some homework. Cleaning and decluttering will be at the top of the list. If it's been a while since the interior has been painted a new coat of paint can go a long way towards freshening up the look of your home. 


* Your Realtor® will schedule pictures that will put your listing in the most attractive light. It's especially important to have your home looking it's best for these photos as they will be the first impression buyers have of your home. They are what will get the next owner in the door. You will also verify all information that will be included in the listing; items that will convey, seller's disclosure, age of the home, HOA information, showing instructions, etc. 

* Your Realtor® will list your home on the MLS and thus the other listing services (Zillow, Realtor, etc.) that subscribe to the local MLS. A sign will be put in the yard and the lock box will be put at the door. Showings will begin! With appropriate marketing and pricing strategies there can be a rapid influx of people interested in seeing your home. 


     ~ The seller is not usually present for showings
     ~ The seller will want to allow themselves enough time to tidy up and get out of the house before the potential buyer arrives
     ~ Showings can last 10 minutes & I have had some last close to an hour. It is ok to ask to be notified when the showing is complete
     ~ The potential buyer will be accompanied by their Realtor® whose job it is to keep your home & belongings secure
     ~ Your Realtor® will ask for feedback on the showings and communicate the information to you so you can decide if additional upgrades, repairs or pricing adjustments need to occur.

* You receive an offer (or maybe multiple offers)! Your Realtor® will present the offer to you and go over any and all requests, explain which party will be responsible for paying for each cost associated with selling a home and give advice to you can make an educated decision about the offer(s). Your Realtor® will negotiate any needed changes and forward to you to sign. You will then have a contract. 

* This does NOT mean the home is sold yet. The buyer's agent will schedule inspections (which could mean more negotiations), there may be people coming through to get information for bids on repairs if needed. The buyer's lender will be working on making sure the home is actually worth what the buyer has offered to pay. There will be a survey and an appraisal. All of this can take a month or more to complete. 

* In order to continue to gain access to the home as needed the lockbox will remain at the front door. The sign will stay in the yard until closing - just in case.

* As you get closer to closing on the home it will be time to start packing. All personal items will need to be removed from the home and all installed items (fixtures) should remain in the home. For example, if you have a chandelier that you love and would like to take with you to your next home you need to be sure to either change it before you list your home or to make note of it as an exception that does not convey with the home in both the listing and contract. The condition of the home upon closing should be negotiated as well, some buyers will want the home cleaned, but regardless you should remove ALL personal items (including trash) before you leave. 



* Prior to closing your should receive a net sheet that will let you know how much you will either receive or need to pay at the closing table so that you will be prepared. Once all parties have closed (signed) on the home and the buyer's bank has issued funds to purchase the home that property will officially belong to the buyer. All keys need to be given to the buyer and the seller should be completely out of the home. The buyer is allowed to move in the day their bank funds unless a lease back agreement has been reached.  

There are so many other things that go into and can happen while selling your home. I would love to be a resource for you in this process. Give me a call ~ I would love to help!



Michelle Peacock, Realtor®
TM5 Properties
michelle@tm5properties.com 

Location: College Station, TX, USA

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