Ready to Sell?
Whether it's because you've taken a new job in a different city, your family is growing and you need a bigger home, or you just want a change of scenery, Merlin Realty can help you with every step in the selling process. Putting your home on the market can involve a great deal of work, but with the right agent, it can be easy and financially rewarding. Our six-step Seller's Guide lays out the questions you need to ask yourself and your realtor before beginning the process. Click on the sections below to begin the sale!
- A Small Step, A Giant Leap
- Select An Agent, Select An Ally
- Prepare for Showtime
- Money in the Bank
- Buyer Evaluation
- Movin' On Up
1 - A Small Step, A Giant Leap
Taking the first steps toward selling your home.
Know Why You Want to Sell
Though it might seem clear that you want to sell your home, many people haven't thought through all the implications of relocating, even when it's within the same city. Moving can affect your social life, your finances, your commute, and can have sweeping changes for children, so we urge all our clients to carefully consider the impacts the move could have on their lives before working with us. Also, if you know why you want to move, it will help our agents determine the best course of action that serves your needs.
Establish Your Time Frame
Sometimes, life takes an unexpected and exciting turn, and you need to sell your home as soon as possible; and other times, the move is a welcome change that is a long-time coming. Either way, you should consult with a professional who has the experience and connections to sell your property quickly; or to carefully ensure you get the best deal possible. Whatever your time frame, Merlin can meet the deadline.
Gauge the Market
With years of experience working in the metro D.C. real estate markets, we know the history and trends that will affect your sale. Our goal is to maximize the selling price of your home, and we monitor breaking trends in area prices, financing, and other items to ensure you get the best deal possible when selling your home.
Financial Wizardry
Again, selling your home can be a major boost for your financial situation, but only when executed properly. With the help of our agents or a financial advisor, you can examine the potential benefits that could come from selling your home, and determine how to utilize maximize your long-term financial outlook. Our agents can also help you understand the tax benefits and opportunities available to you.
Keep Your Paperwork in Order
Selling your home takes major financial planning, but it's not an impossible task. Before you begin the process, your first have to gather your relevant financial documents such as the deed and property tax paperwork. Also, as the process moves forward, keep copies of all documents related to the sale and take notes during all verbal negotiations. This could be extremely important for clarity purposes later on.
2 - Select An Agent, Select An Ally
Find an agent that will work for you.
Guidance With Complex Issues
The financial decisions of selling your home can be difficult to understand and require a great deal of paperwork. To make this process as easy as possible, our trained agents will help you take every step and make the process as easy as possible. We can also ensure other realtors see your home before they even go on the market.
Choosing the Right Representative
Realtors work for you, so choosing an agent is like interviewing a potential employee. Consider these factors when you pick your agent:
- Find an agent with experience with transactions similar to yours and with a history of working in your area
- Ensure the agent's education and credentials are solid, and ask if they have licensed assistants
- Ask for references or a list of homes sold
- Inquire about the agent's marketing and advertising strategies. Does he or she utilize the internet to it's full potential?
- Notice if the agent is attentive to your needs and really listens to your questions and concerns
- Speak to multiple agents, and pick the agent who makes you feel most comfortable
3 - Prepare for Showtime
Impress potential buyers by making your home look its best.
First Impressions
With a few simple touches, you can spice up your landscaping and make your yard look much more attractive to buyers. Your agent can even connect you with a talented landscaper to give the yard s striking, colorful boost. We will also work with you to ensure any needed repairs or upgrades have been completed before beginning the selling process.
A Welcoming Interior
Clean the house extensively before showing your home to potential buyers so it looks as welcoming as possible. Replace any old light bulbs and have the carpets cleaned to make the house bright and fresh for buyers. Your agent will also visit before showing the property to ensure every tiny detail has been attended to. Also, just before the open house, put sweet-smelling cookies or cinnamon rolls in the oven to welcome your visitors.
Presentation
With a firm knowledge of your sales goals, your agent will handle the showings. Potential buyers tend to be more comfortable discussing business specifics with a realtor, and your agent will have the negotiation experience ensure your interests are best-represented.
4 - Money in the Bank
Trust your realtor's negotiation skills and you'll maximize selling price.
Ethics In Negotiation
We understand that many people are skeptical when it comes to realtors, and rightly so. But when you work with Merlin, your agent will never be anything but honest and completely straightforward with you. Your bottom line is our bottom line, and your agent will be on your team, working to maximize the selling price and negotiate the best selling conditions of your sale.
The Subtle Differences
Though it may seem like negotiations are a simple matter price, there are an array of terms and conditions that aren't immediately obvious to the layman. Initial offers often change after potential buyer inspections, and your agent will have the insider expertise to help you understand the subtleties of the negotiation process. We'll secure the best deal for you, guaranteed.
An Offer They Can't Refuse
Once you and the buyer have agreed on a selling price, your agent will set up an escrow account. This neutral account will hold the buyer's funds and the property, ensuring that no money or property is transacted until all final conditions of the sale have been met. Your agent will then make sure that all necessary improvements or changes are made to the house in time to meet the deadline agreed upon by you and the buyer.
5 - Buyer Evaluation
The buyer's agent surveys the property and estimates the value.
Title Company
The buyer's agent will send a representatives of a "title company" to examine the property and ensure the title and deed are in order, as well as to research the history of the property. The title company will make sure that the title is clear of other encumbrances, such as mortgages or leases and that all new encumbrances are included in the title agreement. They will later produce a title report that your agent can explain to you.
Evaluation And Negotiation
The buyer's agent will then have professional inspectors come to the house to go over every aspect of the property. The inspectors will examine everything from roofing to the septic system to the pool and/or spa and nearly every other aspect of the home. Following these evaluations, the buyer may request that repairs be made to the property, or may ask to renegotiate the price.
This can be the most complicated part of the selling process, and you'll be grateful that Merlin Realty's professionals are working on your side every step of the way to ensure you get the best deal in these negotiations. Your agent will also handle these inspections, ensuring the complex assessments don't interrupt your busy life.
Buyer's Loan Approval
An appraiser will come out to assess the value of the property and ensure the sale price is appropriate for market conditions. Our agents suggest that you try to accept buyers who have a pre-approval letter from a lender, which is a better guarantee of approval than pre-qualification.
6 - Movin' On Up
The though parts behind you, you can now turn to the next phase in your life.
Final Formalities
Just days before closing, the buyer will come over for a final inspection. This gives the buyer a chance to walk through the house before signing on the dotted line, and you will both sign papers certifying that the house was sold in good condition.
You'll also want to contact your utilities and other home services such as newspapers in the weeks before leaving. We can also help you set up a forwarding address with the post office so that all your mail will automatically be delivered directly to your new home.
At this crucial time, your agent is prepared to help in the event a last-minute disaster. We’ve done this for years, and if something breaks in the house, or if you suddenly need to change the closing date, we can handle these and other mini-tragedies with ease.
Closing Date
Coordinated by the title company, the closing date is the day when the officially property changes hands. The company will provide a closing statement, which summarizes the financial conditions and statements. After you and the buyer sign, the title company will record the sale at the County Recorder's office, and you will receive final payment for the property.
Ready to Sell? Let's Get This Party Started!
Merlin Realty's team has analyzed the value of hundreds of homes using a technique called Competitive Market Analysis, and with some basic information, we can give you an estimate of how much your home is worth, so you can begin the selling process. We have access to comprehensive sales data for properties in your area that tells us the going market prices for similar homes, and if fill in the fields below, we will get back to you quickly with a free price analysis.
Visit us at:
7310 Maple Place, Suite 200
Annandale, Virginia
22003
Office: 703-658-3000
Fax: 703-658-3007
Contact email: info@merlinrealestate.com