Selling your home doesn′t just mean hiring a realtor to stick a sign out front. There are a lot of preparations you should make to ensure you get the best offer possible in the shortest time. To get started with The Southbound Group, we’ll follow the following steps:

 

Step 1: Complete our Seller Questionnaire
This will give us some basic information about you and your home so we can start our research. We’ll ask the questions we need answered to best prepare for our listing appointment which happens next.

 

Step 2: Meet for a Listing Presentation
You’ll have the opportunity to suggest 3 days/times that work best for you and any other decision makers to meet for a listing presentation. This meeting typically takes 1-2 hours and consists of a tour of the home, review of a listing presentation, a 30-day plan and a compilation of to-dos for your Personalized Pre-Listing Checklist – a thorough list of items to be completed prior to listing your home.

 

Step 3: We’ll Ask You to “Date Us”
We always use dating as an analogy with our real estate clients. We say “we promise not to cheat on you if you promise not to cheat on us.” We don’t expect someone to “date” us without meeting us first. If we all feel that we’re a good match for each other during our listing presentation, we’ll ask that you commit to us. Once you sign the listing paperwork, your Personalized Pre-Listing Checklist will be sent to you along with your 30-day plan.

 

Step 4: Hit the Ground Running
After we make it official, we’ll put your 30-day plan into action. This consists of placing a “Coming Soon” sign, starting marketing efforts, working through your Personalized Pre-Listing Checklist, scheduling photos and mobilizing the community to build excitement about your home.

 

Here are some general rules of thumbs if you wish to start working on preparing your home until we can schedule our meeting!

 

Repair. Just because you’ve gotten used to the cracks in the walls and the rattles in the radiators doesn’t mean a buyer will too. If you have hardwood floors that need refinishing, be sure to get it done—hardwood is a huge selling point. Buyers like to snoop around, so be sure to fix any sticky doors or drawers as well. Finally, don’t forget to address any issues with the exterior—fences, shingles, sidewalks, etc. After all, without curb appeal, some buyers may never get to see the inside.

 

Neutralize. You want buyers to see themselves in your home. If your living room has lime green shag, wood-paneled walls, and all your collectibles and personal photographs, this will be much harder for them to do. Try replacing any bold color choices in your floors and walls with something more neutral—grays, tans, and whites. Repainting and reflooring will make everything look fresh and new, and help prospective buyers imagine all the possibilities.

 

Stage. Once your house is clean and updated, it’s time to play dress up. We are trained in home staging and can add small details and décor touches that will bring out the possibilities in the various spaces in your home: lamps, mirrors, throw rugs and pillows, flowers, decorative soaps and towels, patio furniture (we attempt to use what you currently own but professional staging supplies are sometimes needed). Home staging can be particularly useful if your home is especially old or if the exterior looks dated. Think of it as a little mascara and rouge—if it’s done right, you notice the beauty, not the makeup.