1. Get your home ready

Before everything else, it’s important to get your home ready for every step in the process that comes afterward. Real estate is about selling lifestyles and the closer your home is to the kind of lifestyle potential buyers want--and real estate agents can sell, the better your sale price will be. This means fixing any obvious issues with your home like:

• Leaks

• Stains 

• Cracks 

• Broken or damaged utilities

Anything you can reasonably address to make your old home look like someone else’s dream home will go a long way to making that sale easier and more profitable. Clean up any mess, perhaps add a fresh coat of paint, and bring out your best decorations to really show off your home. As well as inside the house, it might be worthwhile to have a look at your outdoor areas; lovely greenery for ‘curbside appeal’ can work wonders for first impressions when buyers see that sale sign.

2. Select your real estate agent

This is arguably the most important step, as your real estate agent can make the whole process or break it. When choosing an agent, trust is crucial, so consider things like the real estate agency’s closeness to you, knowledge of the local market, and track record of closing great property sales. Take a quick step to make sure you have a licensed real estate agent too, as statistics show the vast majority of sellers don’t even check this important detail. Not just anyone is able to do this job, it takes a licensed real estate agent to do it professionally.

Real Estate agents who really have a solid command of their advertising are also using social media to further enhance their Real Estate marketing efforts. Nearly everyone owns a smart phone today. An exponential amount of these people are using one of the major social media channels including Facebook, Google, NYSMLS, Linkedin and Twitter. If they are looking for a home and you have an agent marketing in these channels you could see an increase in showing activity.

3. Set the Right Price- 

This is a critical first step – the right price brings you maximum buyers and top dollar. Encore will execute a marketing analysis, review comparable properties and market conditions to provide an objective and strategic market price. Once established, a listing agreement and disclosure forms are signed. Let’s get started!

4. Prepare Home for Showing- 

Make any necessary repairs, replacements or adjustments to ensure your home is at its best. From staggers to electricians, Encore has a proven team of experts she can utilize to ensure your home is at its best. When your home s ready, it will be put on the open market.

5. Market & Show Your Home-

Through online, offline and social platform vehicles, Encore has a Marketing Plan to provide your home maximum market exposure. This is when it’s critical for your home to be “show ready” for all potential buyers.

6. Review Offers, Negotiation & Acceptance- 

Offers are presented and reviewed by you and Helen. Differences and counter offers are negotiated. When you and the buyer have agreed to all offer terms and both parties have signed the agreement, you are considered officially “under contract.”

7. Conduct Review, Inspection & Appraisal- 

You and your buyer have 5 business days from contract acceptance for attorney review. Also during that time, the buyer will schedule a home inspection and work with their mortgage provider to secure their loan, which will include an appraisal of the property.

8. Walk Through & Closing- 

Your buyer will do a “final walk through” prior to closing to ensure the home is in agreed upon condition. Closing documents and title transfer will be completed with your lawyer – typically through a title company.

9. Sale Complete!- 

Sellers receive funds from the sale of your home and ensure home is in “move-in” condition for buyers. Agent delivers keys to buyer.