The Selling Process

• Provide market analysis of recently sold properties, properties under agreement and those currently available as a basis for pricing
• Offer informed advice for pricing your home strategically and in line with comparable properties sold recently in your neighborhood to yield the best possible price in today’s market

• Identify those important details that can make a big difference in how quickly—and profitably—you sell your home, including recommended repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property
• Provide guidelines around cleaning, de-cluttering and straightening and arranging that will improve the all-important first impression
• Guide you on the installation of (plug-in) carbon monoxide detectors, required by Mass law
• Advise on Title V requirements if you’re selling a home on a septic system
• Ensure the following condominium documents and financials are gathered and submitted prior to listing: master deed, by laws, articles of trust, rules and regulations and meeting minutes
• Complete Property Transfer Notification Certification (Lead Paint Disclosure)

• Identify key selling features, any exclusions from sale and disclosures of material facts
• Bring in professional photographer to represent property in the best possible light
• Prepare MLS and LINK listings
• Create professional/architectural floor plan
• Develop marketing package that may include sales brochure, insert, floor plan, website, landing page, slide show and virtual tour
• Prepare and place ads (print and online)
• Post sign on property, if permitted
• Conduct broker open houses to introduce property to brokerage community
• Schedule public open houses on frequent basis, such as weekly or bi-weekly
• Permit and accommodate broker-accompanied showings with reasonable notice
• Provide ongoing communications – feedback on showings, market updates, marketing initiatives, etc.
• Work collaboratively and in partnership

Throughout the process of marketing your property, you can expect me to work with you collaboratively while always being accessible, pro-active and responsive. Click here for more information on my comprehensive property marketing services.

• Ensure all offers are complete and in writing, and submitted in a timely manner
• Entertain all written offers (considering price, contingencies, timing)
• Submit counter offer
• Counsel you in situations with multiple offers and employ strategies for best and final offers
• Prepare you to respond quickly due to time sensitive process
• Assure accepted offer is signed by buyers and sellers, and accompanied by $1000 deposit to bind offer, which gets deposited in listing brokerage firm’s escrow account

Once the offer is accepted, I will be at your service to support and guide you through the next stages of the transaction.

• At buyer’s expense, a home/building inspection will be conducted, within five to seven days of accepted offer (sooner is better so you know where you stand)
• Inspection may include different types of inspections: building/home, pest, lead, radon which will be indentified in inspection contingency as part of offer
• Expect inspectors to check the following: building exterior, roof, systems, common spaces and interior spaces, including windows, air conditioning, electrical panel, dishwasher, washer/dryer, water pressure and temperatures, etc.
• Prepare to allow inspector access to basement, roof, and wherever systems are housed
• Prepare to hear from Buyer within a few days of inspection regarding issues that he/she wants you to address as part of the Purchase & Sale Agreement or back out of deal as a result of inspection
• Prepare and respond to Buyer requests for you to pay for items that need to be fixed or extend a credit against the agreed upon purchase price
• Request a copy of the inspection report before responding (as necessary)

• Once offer accepted, hire attorney to draft Purchase & Sale Agreement and handle all legal aspects of the transaction. Seller’s attorney submits draft P&S to Buyer’s attorney and may negotiate on behalf of Seller
• Discuss with attorney items that arose in the inspection and if/how issues will be addressed
• Seller should discuss with attorney items that arose in the inspection and if/how he/she plans to address them
• Decide and direct who will negotiate inspection items. Seller’s attorney may negotiate with Buyer’s attorney (or negotiations can take place between Seller’s and Buyer’s real estate brokers/agents or some combination
• Request your attorney to review/walk through the legal process and costs associated with the sale of property and discharge of any mortgage or other liens

• Purchase & Sale Agreement, most often drafted by Seller’s attorney, typically signed by all parties within 8-10 days of an accepted written offer (although it can be sooner); includes all details, terms and conditions of sale
• Accompanied by deposit (typically 5% of the purchase price, including $1000 deposit at the time of offer)
• All monies are held in listing brokerage firm’s escrow account until completion of the transaction
• Accompanied by deposit (typically 5% of the purchase price, including $1000 deposit at the time of offer)
• All monies are held in listing brokerage firm’s escrow account until completion of the transaction
• Remainder of funds owed are delivered by Buyer at the closing

• Buyer’s lender will send an appraiser to the property
• Explore financing/bridge loan at start of process if you want to buy another property before you sell your current property

• Set up by listing brokerage firm
• Listing brokerage firm holds all clients monies in escrow account until closing/transaction complete

• Seller is responsible for Smoke/Carbon Monoxide testing by local fire department who issues certificate. Broker will provide update on any new pertinent laws
• Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Certificate from the local fire department must be provided to attorney for closing
• Seller’s broker/agent will set up inspection with local fire department within 60 days of closing
• Seller must request 6D Certificate from condo association, indicating Seller is up to date on payment of condo fees; must submit to attorney prior to closing
• Prior to closing, attorney will prepare HUD settlement which provides detailed accounting of what buyers and sellers owe in the transaction; discuss details with attorney