Homeowner’s Guide to Selling

Getting ready to move is a big undertaking, but it's a lot easier with us on your side.

Real Estate Agents

The first thing to decide is whether you want to sell your house through a real estate agent. While an agent's sales commission is usually the single largest expenditure involved in selling a home, the expertise and experience it buys can be invaluable.

An agent will draft a listing agreement detailing the terms of the sale of your home and stipulating the obligations of both parties. As part of the listing agreement, you will need to come up with a listing price. This is largely determined by the size of your home, its condition and location, as well as the current state of the economy. A good agent will be of tremendous help in determining a fair listing price.

Preparing and Showing Your Home

Before showing your home to prospective buyers, you should do everything you can to make it presentable. Make any necessary repairs and thoroughly clean the entire home and property. Try to remember the things that attracted you to the home in the first place. Whatever it was that you loved when you bought the home might be what turns a prospective buyer into a future owner.

Negotiating and Accepting the Offer

A formal offer is a written bid for your property that includes any other conditions the buyer would like included in the sale. Upon receipt of an offer, you'll have to decide whether or not to accept it, or make a counter-offer to the buyer. Be aware that if you accept an offer you are legally bound to meet the terms.

When selling a home, it's best not to be in a hurry, otherwise you may find yourself accepting an offer for significantly less than your asking price. While the timing of the sale may be important, more important is that your decision will meet the financial needs of you and your family in the years to come.