4 steps to selling your home in Sonoma or Marin County
Are you considering selling your home? Are you wondering what the process looks like and what you need to do to prepare? Take a look at my 4 Step Home Selling Guide. Contact me if you would like a physical copy and I’ll send it to you.
Step 1: Pricing
Even in today’s hot market, there are still homes that sit, waiting for an offer for months. This time spent on the MLS means that you’re still making your mortgage payments and you’re still not getting equity out of your home. Even worse is what buyers and buyers' agents think about homes that have been on the market for too long. Remember how important first impressions are?
The first impression a buyer gets about a home that has been on the market longer than average is:
“Something must be wrong with that home."
But why are those homes still on the market in the first place? It’s because they are often priced too high. We will look at recent sales of similar properties in your vicinity. We will then work together to price your home to bring you the highest offers.
Step 2: Preparing
First Impressions
Just as first impressions are important when meeting people, they can also make or break a home sale. When potential buyers walk into your house, they will start to evaluate everything they see. Their impression will ultimately determine how much they’re willing to offer on the property, or even if they’ll be interested in buying it at all.
Repairs
There are several reasons to complete repairs on your home before you put it on the market. Ultimately, buyers will pay more for a home to avoid the work of fixing it. Moreover, any money you invest into repairs before you list — when you have time to price-shop and to use a little bit of elbow grease — will be far less than the quote from the home inspector or the concessions the buyers will want.
Cleaned and Decluttered
Buyers are easily distracted and they will tend to focus on the negatives instead of the positives of each home they tour. Each dish left in the sink or dust bunny in the corner is going to detract from the perceived value of your home, which means a lower offer amount and more time on the market for you.
I advise we declutter and put away all personal items. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the home and it is easier to do that in a neutral space. Store any unnecessary pieces of furniture to allow for easy movement around the room and throughout the house. A decluttered home looks more spacious and appealing.
Professional Photography
Over 95% of home buyers start their search online, so professional photography is imperative to selling a home! I hire a professional to come to take the best photographs to make sure your home is shown perfectly!
Staging Your Home
Staging accentuates your home's best features. Simplifying, rearranging furniture, adding decorative elements, and depersonalizing a home will maximize its appeal to buyers. Staging your house will make it easy for prospective home buyers to envision themselves living in your home.
Step 3: Marketing
Online Marketing
Your home will be featured online through:
a single property website, social media posts, Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Redfin.com, Trulia.com, Homefinder.com, Homes.com, and many more!
Open Houses
A lot of buyers like to look at a home without any pressure. Most of the time, they start the process by going to the open house first, then follow up with a tour by their real estate agent.
How I Prepare
I post on all major websites including Zillow, Redfin, and the local MLS.
I place several signs around your neighborhood.
I post on my social media accounts.
Showing your Home
Step 1: A showing has been requested
Step 2: You approve or disapprove
Step 3: Home is prepared for the showing
Step 4: You leave and the showing is completed
Step 5: Feedback is received
Step 6: Review feedback
Showing Checklist
Secure valuables, bills, spare keys to the house, and prescription drugs.
Clean all countertops. Remove countertop appliances such as toasters or coffee makers.
Keys and personal items should be stored away.
Put away everyday items: dishes, mail, shoes, coats, kids' toys, sporting equipment, etc.
Take 15 minutes and organize / purge your fridge because a buyer will look!
Turn on all of the lights.
Organize toys or store them while your home is on the market.
Walkways to and from the home should be clean and clear.
Make all of the beds.
Hide feeding bowls, litter boxes, dog beds, etc.
Make sure the thermostat is set appropriately for the weather and make the home comfortable for showings.
Take the trash out and consider hiding the garbage cans.
Do a thorough cleaning - even if you have to hire a cleaning service.
Improve curb appeal: Mow the lawn and trim back overgrown shrubbery.
Make the bathrooms shine: Toilet seats down, clean mirrors and other glass surfaces.
Take all the magnets and pictures off the refrigerator.
Replace light bulbs that are burnt out. The better the lighting, the better the results.
Do a final dusting, sweeping and vacuuming just before the open house or showing.
Step 4: Closing
The Offer Process
After You Receive an Offer
We will meet and review the offer together. Once the details are thoroughly reviewed and understood, you will have three options:
1. Accept the Offer - Congratulations!
2. Counter the Offer
If you agree to most of the offer but want to change a few details, we can counter the buyer with the new terms. You can negotiate back and forth as many times as needed until you reach an agreement or someone chooses to walk away.
3. Decline the Offer
If you feel as though the offer isn’t close enough to your expectations to further negotiate this offer.
Once all parties agree on all the terms, you are officially under contract!
Inspections
It is important to understand the contingencies in the offer that you have accepted. If the offer contains an inspection contingency, the home inspection that the buyer completes may reveal problems with your home. You may decide to complete a home inspection before you put your house on the market so that potential buyers have all of the information that they need to make an informed decision. If your offer does have an inspection contingency, you should be prepared to negotiate.
Financing
It is possible that your buyers' financing could fall through during the underwriting process. Changes in employment, new debt, or steep interest rate increases can all prevent a loan from closing.
Appraisals
If your buyer is financing the home with a loan, the lender will order an appraisal. The lender wants to make sure that the home is worth the amount that the buyer is willing to pay for it. If the home appraisal comes in lower than the agreed purchase price, the buyer will have to come up with the difference. If there is an appraisal contingency in the contract, the buyer may cancel the contract if the house appraises low.
Closing
You can start breathing sighs of relief as you approach the closing date. I will prepare you by walking you through all the documentation and paperwork you will read and sign during the closing meeting. Prepare yourself to read and sign a large stack of documents with fine print. Once everything is signed and verified by all parties, the property has officially been sold.
Congratulations!
You made it through the home selling process. You can now move on to whatever lies next. Whether you are relocating to a new town, or just moving across town, please keep in touch. I'm always here to help and would love to know how you are doing in your next chapter.
