Selling a House From Prep to Close

Selling a House With Me

Selling a house is a time consuming, detail oriented, multi-faceted task. It consists of getting your house ready, producing documents that are required by law, understanding and negotiating contracts, repairs if needed, mortgage lenders, title policies, home owners associations and, of course, knowing the market and area. Let me help with this process. I will lead you through step by step from prep to close.

Some people are very visual, to help with this I have created this information so you can see what is needed. Feel free to click on any of the links to get more detailed information. This might be something as simple as another copy of the Home Owners Association Profile Sheet. Let me know if you need further assistance.

Selling A House From Prep to Close

How to Get Your House Ready…

When clients ask me “What do I need to do to get my house ready?” I use these ideas as guidelines to follow. Keep in mind, it is no longer your HOME, but a HOUSE you are trying to sell.

Selling A House From Prep to Close

Documents For Listing Your House

Lets get you ahead of the game. Here is a checklist consisting of some documents and tasks that get that ball in motion.

Selling A House From Prep to Close

What Will It Sell For?

The market tells us how much your home is worth. I will advise you on pricing after my thorough analysis of your property compared to the market, and with my recommendation, YOU will make the final decision.

Selling A House From Prep to Close

Prepare for Photos and Showings

It’s a fact: acquiring the highest market value and elevating your home above others in the same price range often comes down to first impressions. Here is a checklist to prepare the interior and exterior for the professional photographer I hire and for potential buyers to view your house.

Selling A House From Prep to Close

Listing Listings

List With Me

View some of my recent listings and see what I can do for you.

Do you and all members of the household want to be notified of all shows? By email/text? Do you need a notice so you have time to vacate the property? What hours and days of the week will the house be available to view?

Listing Listings

Selling A House From Prep to Close

Offers will be presented to you

Accept an Offer

As long as your property is price right you will have offers on your house. In todays market that could be the same weekend you list you house.

I will go through the offer(s), explain the dates and amounts involved and answer any and all questions you may have so you feel confident in making the decision. If there are more than 2 offers I will create a spreadsheet that compares each offer and review them with you in detail.

Once the choice is made and you sign the contract, the buyer will send 2 checks to the Title Co. One is for the option period and that will come to you. The second is for earnest money and that is held at Title until closing.

Offers will be presented to you

Selling A House From Prep to Close

Option Period (5-10 days, depending on the contract terms)

Now in Option

First phase: You are now in the Option Period (Active Option- AO). Depending on the contract this can be between 5-10 days at about $10/day. In this period you are allowing the buyer to visit your property with an Inspector so they can get a comprehensive report on any visual areas of concern.

The buyer can then open negotiations for repairs. I will speak with the buyer’s agent and we will determine what repairs will be done, if any.

In extreme cases they may back out of the contract. In this case they do not need a reason for removing their offer, but you can keep the option money for your inconvenience.

Option Period (5-10 days, depending on the contract terms)

Selling A House From Prep to Close

Sale Pending (Under Contract until the Closing Date according to the contract terms)

Under Contract Until Closing

After the Option Period is over you are now waiting for closing. There are several things going on behind the scenes and I will let you know if any issues arise.

Title will be working on the Title Policy and checking for any previous owner claims or outstanding balances still owed on the property.

Home Owner Association (HOA) Documents will be ordered. You will be sent a link in order to get that process started.

The buyer’s lender will be finishing their documentation and ordering an appraisal to be done on your house. They will then send the file to underwriting and then Title.

Sale Pending (Under Contract until the Closing Date according to the contract terms)

Selling A House From Prep to Close

Closing Time

Final Signing!

The closing process finalizes the sale of your home and makes everything official. The closing is when all documents are signed, it initiates your payment and the buyer receives the deed to your home.

It is important that all of your possessions are out of the house and you have left it in good condition. The previous day or the day of the buyer will do a final walkthrough to make sure all is in order and no damage was done to the house.

Here are a few things to bring to the closing:

  • House keys
  • Garage door opener(s)
  • A picture ID
  • A check with your account information for initiating a wire transfer

Closing Time

Lets Visit!

Ronda Sawyer at JPAR

Hi Y’all! Hope you are having fun so far with the home buying and/or selling. It can be very stressful time, but let me take on that stress for y’all. Are you ready to get going or just need a little more time?


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How can I help?!