Home Sellers GuidePlease Note: This is a work in progress so some links may not be working today. Check back tomorrow to see what's been updated! Thanks Use this home sellers guide to learn about the home selling process from putting the sign in the yard to handing over the keys to the new owners. Click on "RE/MAX Friendswood" to learn about RE/MAX and what we can do to sell your home for the highest possible price in the least amount of time. Use this landing page whenever you want to learn about the next stop on the road to selling your home. What's My Home Worth?Learn how to determine a listing price for your home based on market conditions. Find out what a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is and what you can learn from it.Based on how fast you need to sell and market conditions in your neighborhood, I can help you determine the best range to price your home. Gather All Your InformationLearn what information is needed to list and sell a house for efficiency and greater profit. Some things are needed for legal reasons, such as completing the listing agreement and sellers disclosure, but much of it is needed to enhance the written marketing plan I prepare for your home.Ready To ShowBefore we can show your home to agents and buyers we want to make sure it shows it's best features. This home sellers guide lists ways to make your home look more appealing to buyers and show well in the pictures posted on the internet and in other advertising.Home Sellers Guide To The MLSLearn about the Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service (MLS): what it is, how it works and what information it contains about each property. Also learn about how agents show properties to buyers.Receiving and Negotiating the OfferWhen a buyer decides to make an offer, their agent will prepare the necessary papers and present it to the seller's agent (the listing agent). When I receive the offer I will immediately prepare a Seller's Net Sheet based on the terms of the offer. You can ignore the offer, accept the offer, reject the offer or make a counter offer among other things. Learn about the process of negotiating the offer in the Home Sellers Guide.Agree to Terms and Sign ContractNow that both Seller and Buyer have agreed to terms, the contract is signed by both parties. After all parties have signed, the Seller's agent will date the contract and notify the buyer's agent that the contract is signed and the option period (if any) begins the following day.Continue reading the Home Sellers Guide to learn what happens next. Home Sellers Guide To The Option PeriodThe typical option period runs for about 10 days but it can be whatever the buyer and seller have agreed upon. The option period starts at midnight after the effective date of the contract. During the option period the buyer will generally have inspections of the structure, pool, heating and air conditioning, etc. so they'll know the condition of the property. The buyer can request that the seller make repairs and this is generally negotiated between the parties. If the Seller agrees to make repairs these are generally done prior to closing but this too is negotiable.The Title CompanyDuring the option period the contract is in the hands of the title company and they have usually begun checking the status of the title to the property. Once the option period is over the title company will order a survey, if needed and other documents needed by their underwriters. If there are any judgments or liens on the property, the seller will be contacted by the title company to see about clearing those from the title records.During this time the buyer is working with their lender to complete the loan application process as well as securing the property insurance required by the lender. Once the lender has notified you that the loan process in on the way to closing, this is also the time you'll be contacting the utility companies, changing your address with the post office and making plans to move. ClosingEveryone loves closing day. A day or so before closing the title company will issue an estimated HUD-1 Settlement Statement (called a "HUD" for short) for all parties to review. Learn what a HUD looks like and why it's so important. The HUD will show the amount of funds you'll need to bring to closing. These funds will need to be in the form of a cashier's check from a financial institution. Closing generally takes place at the title company offices.FundingGenerally, possession of the property goes from seller to buyer at "closing and funding". Closing means that all parties have signed all the documents and funding means that your lender has sent instructions to the title company that the funds have arrived. We like to schedule closing appointments early in the day so the lender has plenty of time to fund the loan that day. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until the next business day to receive the keys to your new home. Once the loan has been funded, the seller receives a check from the title company for their proceeds from the sale.SOLD!You've signed all the papers, you've gotten your check for the proceeds and handed over the keys. Learn what you do after closing and funding.
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