Finding a Real Estate Professional
Selling a home can be extremely overwhelming, and a real estate professional can offer a great amount of guidance and support. It is important to seek a real estate professional that has a reputation for honesty and integrity and operates with professional standards. A professional helps to simplify and to guide you through the real estate process while paying close attention to details and deadlines. With over 75% of people shopping for their home online, it is also imperative to find an agency that has a comprehensive marketing plan with a focus on targeting internet consumers.

Valuing your Home
A true professional is aware of current market trends and can perform a Comparative Market Analysis to assess your home value. Ultimately, you must decide the asking price for your home, but a thorough Comparative Market Analysis based on recent market activity can offer important insight into what buyers are willing to pay for your home. Through looking at sales closed within the past 12 months as well as active, pending, withdrawn and expired listings, a market analysis will compare similar properties to your home and give you an assessment of your home’s current market value.

Preparing your Home
Once you have decided on a listing price for your home, it is time to prepare it for potential buyers. It is important to showcase your home in the most positive manner possible. A professional will be able to offer you many helpful tips to get your home ready like brightening interiors with a fresh coat of neutral paint and packing away any unnecessary items.

Considering an Offer
Offers will be submitted through your listing agent, and are usually made in writing. Offers generally include the price the buyer is willing to pay, a suggest date for closing, a deposit amount to be held in escrow, and any contingencies like home inspections, financing, or sale of an existing home. After an offer is received, your listing agent will present it to you, and you will then have the opportunity to accept it, reject it, or counter offer and negotiate a new contract. While considering your local market trends, all aspects should be considered including the asking price and any contingencies.

Closing on Your Home
After all negotiations are completed and all contingencies are met, it is time to close on your home. A closing is usually scheduled 30 to 45 days from the time a final contract is signed, and all parties must be present or represented for the final review and signing of papers, which after recorded in the registry of deeds, transfer ownership to the buyers. Meeting contingencies and completing paperwork in a timely manner are imperative to the success of your transaction, and therefore a seasoned agent can considerably improve your closing experience.