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Your Selling Edge

Seller's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time Seller's Guide

Putting your home 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 home for the best price possible.​​​​​​​

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Step 1: Understand Why You're Selling

What do you want to accomplish with the sale of your home? Do you want to make a certain amount of money that you can put toward a larger or nicer home? 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 home 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.

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Step 2: Determine Selling Price

Knowing how to price your home 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 home could lead to reduced interest, and underpricing leads to receiving less than what your home is worth. Working with a real estate agent is the best way to determine the right selling price for your home. An agent with experience can determine what other comparable homes are selling for, evaluate the current market, and may even suggest a home appraisal.

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Step 3: Start Preparations

If you’ve kept your home in showroom condition since you’ve lived in it, you’re in the minority of homeowners. Once you price your home, 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 home is in pristine condition.

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Step 4: Develop a Marketing Strategy

I will develop a marketing strategy that is perfect for advertising your home. This involves listing the home 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.

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Step 5: Evaluate Offers

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.

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Step 6: Accept an Offer

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.

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Step 7: Get Ready to Close

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 home 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, I 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 home so the new buyer can take possession.

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Step 8: Close

You’ve reached the last step in the seller’s process. When you close on a home 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 home.

Congratulations!

Once you have sold your home, you’re free to take the next step on your journey. Whether this is relocating to a new city, moving into a larger home, 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.

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Testimonials

"Claudia is all around an amazing realtor who gives 110% to all her clients. She goes above and beyond to make sure her clients are happy from the start to finish."
Brenda R.
"Claudia’s passion for her work shines through in her exceptional work ethic! She guided me through the process of purchasing my first home with ease. Claudia maintained open communication with me and the lender to ensure that nothing was overlooked. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to work with Claudia again in the future. I highly recommend her services!"
Alberto A.
"I had the pleasure of working with Claudia Priess as our realtor, and I must say, she exceeded all our expectations. From the initial consultation to closing, Claudia demonstrated unparalleled dedication and professionalism. One of the standout qualities of Claudia is her ability to truly listen to her clients' needs. She took the time to understand our family's requirements and preferences, ensuring that every property she presented aligned perfectly with our criteria. Her attention to detail and proactive approach made the entire process seamless and stress-free. Moreover, Claudia's expertise in securing financing was invaluable. She guided us through the complex financial aspects of purchasing a property, providing clear explanations and valuable insights every step of the way. Thanks to her guidance, we were able to secure favorable financing terms that suited our budget and preferences. Throughout the entire home-buying journey, Claudia demonstrated a genuine passion for her work and a commitment to delivering exceptional service. Her professionalism, expertise, and personalized approach make her an outstanding realtor, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone in search of their dream home. Claudia Priess truly goes above and beyond for her clients, and we are incredibly grateful for her assistance in finding our perfect property."
Mary Joe M.
"Claudia was amazing!we got in contact with her and told her our needs and how it needed to happen as soon as possible and she did not disappoint! Everything happened quick and with ease. Thank you so much!"
Francisco M.
"I wanted to let everyone know that Claudia is the best realtor there is in the area. As a Latina it’s inspiring to find such a hard working motivating bilingual realtor that you can trust to have your best interest at heart. She helped my husband and I buy our first home and went above and beyond to make our dream of being homeowners come true."
Denisse C.
"We had the most incredible experience working with Ms. Claudia! She helped us buy a house in Texas while we were living in Arizona, and she made the entire process seamless and stress-free. Everything was done virtually, and her dedication and expertise were evident every step of the way. Even when we were feeling discouraged and ready to give up, she didn't stop. Ms. Claudia kept pushing forward, still searching for the perfect home for our family. Thanks to her persistence and commitment, we found our dream home! If you're looking for a realtor who will go above and beyond, especially in challenging circumstances, we highly recommend Ms. Claudia. She's truly amazing!"
Taylor K.
"Claudia Priess is an exceptional realtor who provided an outstanding experience. Her bilingual proficiency was a perfect fit for my husband and me. She adeptly guided us through every step of the process, patiently explaining all available options, alleviating any concerns, which was especially comforting for us as first-time homebuyers. Her enthusiasm for her job and her dedication to assisting people are evident in her rapid responses and unwavering support. Without a doubt, we wholeheartedly recommend Claudia to everyone, particularly those new to homeownership. She sets an exemplary standard for all real estate professionals to aspire to."
Britany E.
"Working with Claudia Priess was an absolute game-changer for us in the daunting process of buying our first home during the chaotic times of the pandemic. Her exceptional knowledge and unwavering dedication were remarkable, especially considering we initially started unrepresented and faced challenges with a builder. Claudia’s commitment to her clients is unmatched, and her hard work ensured we found the perfect home despite the initial setbacks. She’s simply amazing, and we couldn’t have navigated this without her expertise and support."
William L.
"My experience with Claudia was excellent! She is very professional and was always happy to answer all my questions. She made me feel like family. She also made buying a home for the first time very easy. I will always recommend her as the best trustworthy realtor around."
Buyer
"Claudia was an amazing realtor. My wife and I are first-time home buyers who had no idea what we were doing. Claudia helped us out with all of the financing and paperwork. I am also military and was unfamiliar with the VA loan and how to use it. She took over immediately and did everything for me. Without her, I wouldn't have been able to get anything done on time. She was involved every step of the way. Any meetings we had, she always knew about them when we did and was there. She also constantly checked up on us, making sure we understood every part of the process. She always kept in contact with me and my wife, giving us constant updates or talking to the other people involved. During our walk through of the home, she pointed out things that either needed to be touched up or fixed by the company before we purchased. Without her present, I would not have noticed these things and been stuck with the fix myself. From me and my family, we can't thank you enough for your hard work and dedication to us becoming homeowners. I would recommend Claudia to anyone. She will get the job done and make your life 1000 times easier!"
Ross S.

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