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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

"Martin is wonderful. He has now twice helped us to buy a home and now sell a home. I would recommend Martin to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. He is super cheery and such a fun guy to boot!"
"Martin is wonderful. He has now twice helped us to buy a home and now sell a home. I would recommend Martin to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. He is super cheery and such a fun guy to boot!"
Brittany & Casey
"Selling a home quickly and buying another one in another city can be a daunting and overwhelming experience. I was getting married and my future husband got his dream job in another city. I knew of Martin's experience and seen where he had worked miracles for others, so I contacted him. That day he put my home on the market and that day it sold for my asking price! He took care of all the details and keep me in the loop, explaining the entire process. Next step, find a together home for me and my husband. Martin knew the details of what we wanted. A place where we could split the travel time between both of us, but not a long distance. A place close to shopping, nice restaurants and just miles from the arts district of this great city. We were thrilled. He made the entire process stress free and everything moved along quickly. His expertise and knowledge of real estate, our wants and needs along with financially making this a great experience. Contact Martin Johnson for a worry free, great home buying and selling experience."
"Selling a home quickly and buying another one in another city can be a daunting and overwhelming experience. I was getting married and my future husband got his dream job in another city. I knew of Martin's experience and seen where he had worked miracles for others, so I contacted him. That day he put my home on the market and that day it sold for my asking price! He took care of all the details and keep me in the loop, explaining the entire process. Next step, find a together home for me and my husband. Martin knew the details of what we wanted. A place where we could split the travel time between both of us, but not a long distance. A place close to shopping, nice restaurants and just miles from the arts district of this great city. We were thrilled. He made the entire process stress free and everything moved along quickly. His expertise and knowledge of real estate, our wants and needs along with financially making this a great experience. Contact Martin Johnson for a worry free, great home buying and selling experience."
Don & Cindy
"Great experience working with Martin! In a niche neighborhood with limited inventory, Martin helped us find our dream home and connected us with great resources to explore lending options that would best suit our needs. It was a smooth process all around!"
"Great experience working with Martin! In a niche neighborhood with limited inventory, Martin helped us find our dream home and connected us with great resources to explore lending options that would best suit our needs. It was a smooth process all around!"
Jen & Kevin W.
"Martin was recommended to me by good friends. I also read previous reviews. Martin was prompt, efficient and courteous in all of our conversations in person or by email and text. My personal situation at the time was difficult to deal with whilst selling a home and he worked around all the 'hard' and went the extra mile. Thanks to Martin and his family too."
"Martin was recommended to me by good friends. I also read previous reviews. Martin was prompt, efficient and courteous in all of our conversations in person or by email and text. My personal situation at the time was difficult to deal with whilst selling a home and he worked around all the 'hard' and went the extra mile. Thanks to Martin and his family too."
Boyd Z.
"Martin did a fabulous job helping us sell our home. We listed the house and 4 days later accepted an offer! When he first met with us, he explained the process in great detail, had professional pictures taken and the house was listed in less than a week. We hardly had to lift a finger. We received feedback almost immediately when someone came to look at the house which was very helpful. Communication was superb and the closing process was simple and sweet. Thank you Martin for your help, we truly appreciate it!"
"Martin did a fabulous job helping us sell our home. We listed the house and 4 days later accepted an offer! When he first met with us, he explained the process in great detail, had professional pictures taken and the house was listed in less than a week. We hardly had to lift a finger. We received feedback almost immediately when someone came to look at the house which was very helpful. Communication was superb and the closing process was simple and sweet. Thank you Martin for your help, we truly appreciate it!"
Bennett A.
"Martin is a go-getter and will give his best to his clients! He sold our home in the middle of winter and guided us the whole way. My husband was out of the country and he helped us with extra paperwork and steps so that we could still sell. He went above and beyond."
"Martin is a go-getter and will give his best to his clients! He sold our home in the middle of winter and guided us the whole way. My husband was out of the country and he helped us with extra paperwork and steps so that we could still sell. He went above and beyond."
Amanda B.
"Martin has helped me on several occasions, both personally and with my business. He has helped me sell a home, buy or build a home, and purchase property for our business. He has also been a great resource for questions, concerns, ideas, and more. I have felt very comfortable with all of my real estate dealings as long as Martin is in the mix."
"Martin has helped me on several occasions, both personally and with my business. He has helped me sell a home, buy or build a home, and purchase property for our business. He has also been a great resource for questions, concerns, ideas, and more. I have felt very comfortable with all of my real estate dealings as long as Martin is in the mix."
Adam D.
"Martin did a fantastic job when he sold our home. Even though he had recently moved from the area, he flew back in to town just to make sure everything was done correctly and professionally. He was consistently up-beat, dealt professionally and empathetically with our frustrations, yet didn't sugarcoat the truth. He wanted to make sure we had an honest, straightforward assessment of what we should expect, and what would be expected of us. In fact, we accepted a bid we received in the first day and had to turn down a dozen-plus requests for a showing after the bid. Would definitely be worth bringing him in again regardless of where we live. Highly recommended."
"Martin did a fantastic job when he sold our home. Even though he had recently moved from the area, he flew back in to town just to make sure everything was done correctly and professionally. He was consistently up-beat, dealt professionally and empathetically with our frustrations, yet didn't sugarcoat the truth. He wanted to make sure we had an honest, straightforward assessment of what we should expect, and what would be expected of us. In fact, we accepted a bid we received in the first day and had to turn down a dozen-plus requests for a showing after the bid. Would definitely be worth bringing him in again regardless of where we live. Highly recommended."
Chris & Courtney D.
"Martin was absolutely fantastic to work with on the purchase of my first home! From working with me in the early stages of just "looking" to finding me the place I call home he answered all my questions and concerns! I recommend Martin to anyone I know looking at purchasing a home!"
"Martin was absolutely fantastic to work with on the purchase of my first home! From working with me in the early stages of just "looking" to finding me the place I call home he answered all my questions and concerns! I recommend Martin to anyone I know looking at purchasing a home!"
Corey R.
"Martin Sold my home fast, and negotiated fair and tough. Do to a strenuous situation with my job moving me across the country he and my wife work hand in hand together. Very Respectful, honest and hard working realtor."
"Martin Sold my home fast, and negotiated fair and tough. Do to a strenuous situation with my job moving me across the country he and my wife work hand in hand together. Very Respectful, honest and hard working realtor."
Dan M.
"We could not be more pleased with our house selling experience with Martin Johnson. He was extremely personable and knowledgeable. He kept us informed through each step of the process and made this experience less stressful than we anticipated. We would highly recommend Martin for anyone looking for someone to help through buying or selling a home."
"We could not be more pleased with our house selling experience with Martin Johnson. He was extremely personable and knowledgeable. He kept us informed through each step of the process and made this experience less stressful than we anticipated. We would highly recommend Martin for anyone looking for someone to help through buying or selling a home."
Mails J.
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