You’ve Listed Your Home, Now What?

Most of what happens after you’ve put your home on the market is a waiting game, but once the offers start rolling in, make sure you’re ready. Luckily, our Associates have compiled this handy list to help guide you through the sale process.

Signage and marketing

Let your block know that your home is for sale. If you’re working with a real estate representative, they should provide you with “For Sale” and “Open House” signage for your front yard. Agents will also list your house on MLS, a platform that feeds the listing to popular real estate websites for maximum exposure. Visible marketing and signage could draw in on-the-spot inquiries from passersby. Be ready to answer questions at a moment’s notice from potential buyers.

Hold open houses

Open houses are a great source of information for both home buyers and sellers. Don’t forget to invite the neighbors! As real estate is still a word-of-mouth business, you may benefit from showing your home to those nearest to you. In turn, your neighbors could spread the word to their friends, families, and others looking to purchase a home.

Keep a clean home

With open houses perhaps now a regular part of your weekly routine, make sure regularly-used spaces in your home like the kitchen, living, and dining rooms are tidy. If you’ve already done a deep clean of your home before listing, upkeep shouldn’t be too hard. To avoid having to clean up before each open house, make it a habit to pick up after yourself at the end of each day.

Evaluate offers

Depending on the number of offers, work with your agent to create a list of reasonable criteria each proposal should have and remove those that do not meet these standards. This process will help you identify strong offers when you see them. Be on the lookout for a buyer’s financial strength, concession, and flexibility. These are indicators of whether or not a deal will move through successfully.

Negotiate and accept an offer

Based on your criteria, select the best offer and begin negotiations. Working with an agent will make this process easier. As real estate experts, we know the right questions to ask to find the offer with the most potential. Keep negotiations civil and timely to ensure a smooth sale. After discussing contingencies and other closing terms, if you feel you’ve found a qualified buyer, accept the offer.

Connect with an attorney

Your agent can provide you with a list of recommended closing attorneys. Your lawyer will review the sales agreement, communicate your terms, and work with the buyer’s attorney to draft the remaining agreements and documents. It will be important to select a responsive representative. As you did when searching for a real estate agent, be sure to interview each candidate thoroughly.

Justify your home’s price

After an offer is accepted, the closing process begins. The buyer’s lender will send an appraiser to assess the home’s condition and justify the buyer’s loan amount. Their main job is to make sure the buyer isn’t paying above fair market value for your home. If needed, your agent will provide the appraiser with similar comparable sales in the neighborhood.

Schedule a final walkthrough

A final walkthrough is meant to show the property is in the same condition—or better—when the buyers first saw it. Usually scheduled the day before closing, the buyer and their agent will attend the walkthrough alone. The new owner should use this time to inspect the home at their pace and document any concerns they may have. As the seller and per negotiations, it’s your responsibility to ensure that all repairs are made and buyer expectations are met.

Close the deal

After the appraisal and final walkthrough, a third-party professional, usually a lawyer, will step in to conduct the final proceedings. During this time, they’ll perform essential duties crucial to the sale of your home. This party will review the sales agreement and verify the final amount owed to the seller. They also witness the title transfer to the new owner and ensure the transaction is properly recorded. After it’s all said and done, congratulations, you’ve sold your home!

Whether you’re a first-time home seller or not, we’ve simplified the process for you. Use this Post-Listing Checklist to get started. Our Associates will work with you to establish clear and defined objectives for your home selling process. We place a high value on communication and use our collaborative approach to meet your goals. If you are interested in selling your home, give me a call at 857.327.5902 or an email to [email protected] to learn more about services and how I can help you.