Evaluating Your Home

The first step to selling your home is to evaluate the home’s condition. It will be important to address any cosmetic or functional problems and discuss potential upgrades or improvements that may bring additional value to your sale. Note that some problems may require disclosure to potential buyers. We will discuss the findings and available options to help ensure your home is in the best condition possible for attracting buyers.

Choosing The Right Listing Price

There are many important factors to consider in determining a fair market value for your home, such as location, condition, style/size, features/amenities, supply and demand, local market conditions, and timing. Understanding what the market will pay is a critical part of achieving a successful sale, and all these factors will help guide your decision to establish a list price.  I will help walk you through this process by discussing each component with you and preparing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of similar homes that have recently sold in your area. You may also choose to have a professional appraisal of your home conducted in advance.

Getting Market Ready

Preparing your home to sell makes a big difference in what a buyer is willing to pay for it. Getting market-ready may include a variety of tasks from obtaining a professional home inspection, fixing maintenance concerns, updating paint colors, remodeling rooms, reducing clutter, and addressing landscaping needs.  The focus of this process is to prepare your home to make a great impression and invite the most attractive offers possible.   Together we will determine the best strategy for enhancing your home for the greatest value the market will bear.

Listing & Marketing Your Home

When the home is ready for market, I will have professional photography taken including a walk-thru video and aerial photos.  Your home will be listed on the local MLS for local brokerage networking and displayed on dozens of top national and international real estate websites.  A custom marketing plan will be created including highly targeted social networks to reach the widest audience possible to drive potential buyers to your home’s listing.

Home Showings

Once your home has been listed, home showings will begin. We want the buyer to have a sense of “Wow” as they approach and enter the home.  This requires always keeping the home in show condition.  During showings the homeowner is not present to create an inviting and welcoming atmosphere for buyers touring the home and discuss freely.  It may also be advantageous to hold an open house to further expose your listing to the local market.

Receiving & Negotiating Offers

An offer, or multiple offers, will be made by a buyer, which you may accept, counter, or reject. Negotiating an offer is key to obtaining top value for your property, essential to resolve small differences before they escalate, and key to striking an effective deal.  Five negotiating points that may be countered are price, terms, inclusions/exclusions, dates, and contingencies.  As a negotiator I will work collaboratively for an acceptable agreement between you and a buyer to attain your sale goals.   Once an agreement is achieved, you are under contract and escrow opens.

The Transaction (Escrow period)

Once an agreement is reached, escrow will open, requiring the buyer to make their initial agreed upon deposit into escrow.  Next a series of tasks agreed in the Purchase Contract need to be performed by either you or the buyer in a timely manner or “default of contract” could occur with negative consequences and possible cancelation.  As your Realtor I will monitor these transaction dates, order necessary documents, inspections, and other items of request in the contract while keeping you informed throughout.

Closing!

The buyer’s lender, if used, will provide final confirmation about 10 days prior to the closing date that they are approved to close.  Escrow will send you closing documents required to complete the sale 5-7 days prior to closing.  Signing is usually done with a notary and not at Title and Escrow.  In the State of Hawaii, all transactions are recorded by the Bureau of Conveyances and all monies and closing documents by all parties must at the Bureau 72 hours prior to the closing date.  Your Property will officially be sold once the Bureau of Conveyances records the transaction not when you sign your closing documents.  Once the Bureau records the sale, Escrow will wire the net proceeds of the sale to your bank account that day.  Then it is time to celebrate!