A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Sellers
Selling your home can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. With guidance from an experienced agent and this easy-to-follow guide, you can navigate the process smoothly and confidently. By following these steps, you’ll be prepared, organized, and positioned to sell your home for the best possible price.
Step 1: Understand Why You’re Selling
Before putting your home on the market, clarify your goals. Are you hoping to maximize your profit, or do you need to sell quickly to relocate? Understanding your priorities will help guide important decisions, including pricing strategy and marketing approach.
Share your goals with your real estate agent — Eric will use this information to craft a plan that aligns with your needs and helps you achieve the best possible outcome.
Step 2: Determine Your Selling Price
Setting the right price is one of the most critical steps in selling your home. A fair, competitive price attracts more interest from buyers and agents alike. Overpricing can reduce interest, while underpricing may leave money on the table.
With Eric’s expertise, you’ll get a clear understanding of comparable home sales, current market conditions, and even the option of a professional home appraisal to ensure your home is priced to sell for the best possible value.
Step 3: Start Preparing Your Home
Most homes need a little extra preparation before hitting the market. Once your price is set, it’s time to get your home ready to impress buyers. This includes:
Decluttering to create a clean, open space
Depersonalizing so buyers can imagine themselves living there
Making minor repairs to ensure everything is in good working order
Deep cleaning to present your home in pristine condition
With Eric’s guidance, you’ll make a great first impression and set your home up for a successful sale.
Step 4: Develop a Marketing Strategy
At McNeill Premier Properties, I’ll create a custom marketing plan designed to showcase your home to the right buyers. This includes:
Listing your home on top platforms
Social media campaigns to reach targeted audiences
Agent-to-agent referrals to connect with active buyers
Traditional and digital advertising, including SEO strategies
Our goal is to generate the most traffic and interest in the first three weeks, giving your home the best chance to sell quickly and for top dollar.
Step 5: Evaluate Offers
Receiving an offer is always exciting, but it’s just the beginning. Eric will carefully review each offer, ensuring the buyer is prequalified or pre-approved and that the terms meet your needs.
If an offer is lower than expected, you have options: make a counteroffer, negotiate closing costs, adjust the move-in date, request repairs, or include appliances and fixtures to bridge the gap. With the right strategy, we’ll help you get the best possible outcome for your home.
Step 6: Accept an Offer
Once an offer meets your expectations, Eric will carefully review the contract to ensure it includes all necessary details, such as the deposit, financing, inspection and repair terms, contingencies, settlement date, and fees. When both parties agree, a final contract will be prepared, bringing you one step closer to a successful sale.
Step 7: Get Ready to Close
After accepting an offer, you’re nearing the final steps of the selling process. Together with the buyer, we’ll create a list of tasks that need to be completed before closing. This may include inspections, surveys, appraisals, or any necessary repairs. Eric will oversee these items, ensuring each task is completed by the responsible party and everything is in order for the closing date. A few days before closing, we’ll confirm with the closing company that everything is ready, and you’ll want to make arrangements to move out so the new owner can take possession of your home.
Step 8: Close
You’ve reached the final step in the selling process. At closing, ownership of your home is legally transferred to the buyer. Eric will meet with the closing company to sign all final paperwork and address any remaining issues. During this time, you’ll also finalize details like canceling utilities and services, updating account names, and providing the new owner with instructions for any appliances or systems that remain in the home. This ensures a smooth transition for both you and the buyer.
Congratulations!
Once your home is sold, you’re ready to take the next step in your journey. Whether you’re relocating to a new city, moving into a larger home, or downsizing to enjoy a simpler lifestyle, knowing that all aspects of your sale have been handled will give you peace of mind and confidence as you move forward.
WORK WITH ERIC
Whether you’re buying, selling, or investing, I’m here to put my years of real estate expertise and dedication to client success to work for you. At McNeill Premier Properties, my goal is to make your real estate journey seamless, rewarding, and stress-free.
Let’s connect today and turn your property goals into reality with a trusted Boston real estate professional.