A Step-by-Step Guide to Selling your Property
Putting your property on the market can be a stressful process, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, with the help of an experienced agent and this easy to follow guide, you can smoothly complete the process. Following these steps will help you prepare so you can get organized and sell your property for the best price possible.
What do you want to accomplish with the sale of your property? Do you want to make a certain amount of money that you can put toward a larger or nicer property? Do you need to sell it as soon as possible to facilitate a move to a new city or area? Once you understand your needs, you can better craft your offer. For example, if you need to sell quickly, you might want to price your property lower than if your goal is to make a certain profit margin. Make sure you convey these needs to your real estate agent once you choose one so he or she can adjust your selling price accordingly.
Knowing how to price your property is one of the most important parts of the selling process. When you set a fair price in the beginning, you’ll get the most interest from other real estate agents and prospective buyers. Overpricing your property could lead to reduced interest, and underpricing leads to receiving less than what your property is worth. Working with a real estate agent is the best way to determine the right selling price for your property. An agent with experience can determine what other comparable properties are selling for, evaluate the current market, and may even suggest a property appraisal.
If you’ve kept your property in showroom condition since you’ve lived in it, you’re in the minority of property owners. Once you price your property, it’s time to start getting it ready to be shown to potential buyers. This includes getting rid of clutter, depersonalizing the space so that buyers can envision themselves in the space, making any small repairs, and doing a deep clean to make sure your property is in pristine condition.
I will develop a marketing strategy that is perfect for advertising your property. This involves listing the property and then driving the right people to that listing through social media campaigns, agent-to-agent referrals, traditional media, or SEO advertising. My team creates a marketing campaign that aims to get the most possible traffic to your listing in the first three weeks after becoming a client.
Receiving an offer is an exciting part of the process, but it doesn’t mean the journey is over. I will evaluate each offer and make sure the party making the offer is prequalified or pre-approved by a mortgage lender and that their offer is acceptable to you. If the offer is too low, you can make a counter-offer or offer other ways to bridge the gap, such as covering some or all of the closing costs, making repairs, adjusting the move-in date, or leaving some appliances or fixtures for the new buyer.
Once I deem the offer is acceptable, I will review the proposed contract to make sure it’s all in order and includes the necessary components such as deposit amount, down payment, financing, inspection rights and repair allowances, contingencies, settlement date, and a list of fees and who will pay them. When both parties have agreed to the term, a final contract will be prepared by your agent.
You have accepted an offer and are now very close to the end of your selling journey. But first, you and the buyer must make a list of what needs to be done before closing. In some cases, your property may need to be formally inspected, surveyed, and appraised. In other cases, major or minor repairs will need to be made before the house can close. I will head up efforts to develop and execute this list, get each action item paid for by the correct party, and make sure everything is in order by the closing date. A few days before the closing date, we will call the company closing the transaction to make sure everything is ready to go. If you haven’t done so already, you also need to make arrangements to move out of the property so the new buyer can take possession.
You’ve reached the last step in the seller’s process. When you close on a property you are selling, you are legally transferring ownership of the property to the new buyer. I will meet with the company closing the transaction to sign the final paperwork and go over any issues that have not yet been taken care of. During this time, you can also make plans with your real estate agent to handle final details such as canceling utilities, cable, and lawn or trash services, changing the name on accounts that the new owner is retaining and ensuring the new owner has instructions for all appliances that will remain in the property.
Once you have sold your property, you’re free to take the next step on your journey. Whether this is relocating to a new city, moving into a larger property, or downsizing and enjoying your life as empty-nesters, knowing all your selling responsibilities have been taken care of will help you achieve peace of mind for your new path.
Real Estate Expertise
Revue these curated resources for selling your Montana property from the team at Modern Montana Real Estate.
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Montana Real Estate Sales
If you are interested in listing your Montana property for sale, just fill in the form below. We will analyze the data you provide and get back to you with comparable sale information for your neighborhood and a range of approximate values for your property. All information you provide will be kept strictly confidential.
Modern Montana Real Estate agents serve clients in the areas of Billings, Red Lodge, Laurel, Columbus, Butte and the entire state of Montana. We're experienced in the sale of residential and ranch properties.
Get assistance in determining current property value, crafting a competitive offer, writing and negotiating a contract, and much more. Contact Stacie today to discuss all your real estate needs!
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