The Selling Process with a Real Estate Agent/Broker

Whether you’re upgrading, relocating, or just ready for a change in surroundings, selling a house is a big decision with lots of moving pieces. Fortunately, with the help of a local knowledgeable real estate agent, you can streamline the process and minimize the stress of selling. Here are some tips for selling your home quickly and smoothly.

Step 1: Find, Interview and Choose a listing agent 

Your listing agent will be your partner and advocate throughout the home selling process, and offer many valuable tips for selling your property. Since your listing agent will be responsible for marketing and showing your home, as well as protecting your interests throughout the transaction, choosing one that you can rely on is essential to your home sale.

Step 2: Determine the value of your home

Your listing agent will provide a competitive market analysis or reach out to an appraiser to help determine the best possible listing price. The biggest mistake you can make is to over price your property, which can cause the property to sit on the market for longer than expected.

Step 3: Prepare your home for sale

Before you start showing your home, prepare the property by cleaning the exterior and interior, touch up small areas with paint, decluttering closet and cabinets, and removing personal decorations, your agent will provide a list of recommendations and detail to help your property achieve a sellable look. During this time, your agent will be taking pictures of your property for marketing.

Step 4: Be patient while your agent markets and shows your home

Your listing agent will be hard at work advertising your property through a variety of channels, be it online, print advertising, or word of mouth. Your agent will also set up appointments for prospective buyers to tour your house and stay in communication with buyers’ agents to answer questions they may have. While the waiting is often the most difficult part, having an agent that you trust can make it easier.

Step 5: Negotiate offers

If you priced your house competitively, multiple offers should come your way. Which means, time to start reviewing the purchase offers and negotiate the sale price. Be prepared to entertain low-ball offers, make counter offers, and compromises. If offers are lower than your asking price, don’t hesitate to make a counteroffer or ask for full price. Buyers like to “test the waters” to see how you might respond, while still making room for negotiation. Also, pay close attention to any contingencies included in the purchased contract.

Step 6: Open Escrow

Once the purchase agreement is signed; your agent will open escrow and order a title report. You and the buyer will work together to pick a closing and move-out date.

Step 7: Have your home appraised and inspected

During this step, the buyer and their lender will have an appraiser and inspector look carefully at your home to ensure the pricing is fair and that everything is in working order. An appraisal will tell the buyer what the home is worth, while the inspection will tell them the condition of the home. The buyer will take the information into account as they make a final decision about what price they will pay for the home, and whether additional repairs are needed before they buy.

Step 8: Closing

Hooray! Closing day! It’s time to sign a stack of documents and officially transfer ownership of the property to the buyer. Gather together the deed to your home, if the home is paid off; your driver’s license or other photo identification; the keys (including mailbox keys) and security codes for the house as well as any items the new home owner will need to access or manage the home (i.e. remotes for AC); receipts for any agreed-upon repairs; and the warranty and instruction manuals for heating, cooling, and plumbing systems plus any appliances that stay with the house. Your real estate agent will guide you through the process and let you know what documents or information you should bring with you at closing. Don’t forget to do a final walkthrough to ensure you haven’t left any items behind, checking all drawers and closets.

Selling your home can be exhausting, but having a real estate agent to rely on can alleviate some of the stress. If you’re thinking about selling your house, contact Home 4 Good Belize to be connected to a local agent who can partner with you through the home selling process.