Sellers Guide

Assessment of the property’s market value, for the purpose of obtaining a mortgage and performed by a licensed appraiser.

Value placed upon property for property tax purposes by the tax collector.

Expenses incidental to a sale of real estate, such as loan fees, appraisal fees, and title insurance.

The statement which lists the financial settlement between Buyer and Seller, and the costs each must pay.

A background check on the property and the seller to ensure there are no outstanding debts or claims upon the property.

Advanced approval from a bank or other lending institution for a home mortgage.

Insurance to protect the buyer and lender against losses arising from disputes over the ownership of a property.

A fee paid to the local government to officially report a sale of a home; usually paid by the buyer.

Certain criteria that have to be met in order to finalize the sale.

The percentage of an individual's monthly gross income relative to the amount of debt owed.

A good faith deposit the buyer makes with an offer to show that you are serious about buying the property. In exchange, the seller agrees to stop marketing the property.

The buyer reviews the house just before closing to make sure everything is in the same condition and that all home inspection items are fixed.

An expert conducts a formal review of the property to find visible issues that need to be repaired. Buyers typically make their offers contingent on an inspection, but sellers can conduct a pre-offer inspection to appeal to buyers. The buyer may choose to do additional inspections like radon and a sewer scope.

We'll meet to discuss your plans and goals, trends in the current marketplace, and assess your property’s qualities and characteristics. I will analyze comparable property sales, and work with you to determine pricing. You'll outline a strategic plan to achieve the best possible result for you as a seller.

From applying a fresh coat of paint to rearranging furniture, I will work with you to ensure the property is visually ready to make the right first impression with buyers. I will prepare to market your property, which can include scheduling a photoshoot, organizing staging, commissioning an illustrative floor plan, and writing a listing description. We'll also sit down to complete the Seller Disclosure documents necessary for the transaction.

Your property listing is showcased on Compass.com and sent across our 100+ partner sites for the duration of the selling process.

I will develop and execute an intelligent, effective marketing plan. The Compass marketing team will produce beautiful print and digital collateral to strategically showcase your property. Eye-catching yard signs are produced and can be placed outside your property.

I will continuously leverage professional contacts and the Compass Network Tool to find ideal buyers and brokers. Open houses are hosted for both brokers and clients on an ongoing basis.

I will conduct an assessment of the market response within the first couple weeks your listing is live. Feedback from agents and buyers is aggregated, and the listing strategy is revised if necessary.

You and I will establish the best method and frequency of communication. I will provide frequent updates and continuous traffic metrics, as well as information about the market.

Once an offer is made, I will contact you to review the terms of the offer and to analyze the pros and cons. Together I will help you decide how to respond to the buyer in one of several ways: by accepting the offer, rejecting the offer, or making a counter offer.

The contract is negotiated and accepted, and the transaction summary is circulated to all parties. I will observe and record all contingency periods throughout the in-contract stage. A property appraisal and home inspection take place, and any further negotiations are managed. All financial and supplemental information is collated and submitted to the managing agent.

I will monitor and coordinate all the details necessary to get you to the finish line. Once the buyer has performed inspections, removed their contingencies, and the loan (if any) is ready to fund, we'll arrange the final walk-through. Finally, at closing you will hand over keys to the buyer.