Seller Services
How Kairos Realty Group can help you sell your home
In many markets, now is a great time to think about selling your home! You might be surprised to find how much property values have increased in a variety of markets. Coupled with historically low interest rates, this might be the perfect opportunity to move up or think about buying that investment or vacation property.
What to expect during the Home Selling Process
Selling a home can seem overwhelming, and not just because of your financial investment in the property — there’s an emotional investment there too. Ultimately, every seller wants to walk away from selling his or her home with the satisfaction of knowing that they got top dollar for their home, while experiencing few, if any, hassles and headaches throughout the process. The following will provide you with what to expect from the time you decide to sell your home until the day you close the deal and hand the keys over to the new owner:
– Initial Consultation
- Determining your needs and priorities
- Previewing a marketing plan
- Reviewing your prepared Comparative Market Analysis
- Establish a competitive pricing strategy
– Listing Your Home For Sale
- Discuss home enhancement recommendations
- Discuss your property’s marketing plan
- Review preliminary title report
- Research of property information: zoning, taxes, flood, fire, etc
- Sign listing agreement
- Place lock box on your property (optional)
– Marketing to the public
- Placement of the property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
- Post property on popular Real Estate Websites (Realtor.com, Truila, Zillow, etc..)
- Post property on social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
- Fliers with photos, features and descriptions
- Open Houses/Scheduling to view your property
- Direct-mail postcards
- Discuss showings and express buyer feedback
– Review Offer and Reach Agreement with Buyer
- Discuss and clarify proposed terms and conditions with you
- Negotiate possible counter offer
- Reach final agreement/sign all documents pertaining to the sale
- Open title/escrow
- Buyer forwards earnest money deposit (good faith payment) to escrow/title
– Completing the Sale
- Provide disclosures/reports to buyer
- Negotiation of inspections
- Removal of remaining contingencies
- Scheduling buyer’s final walk-through of property
- Scheduling the closing
- Recording of title
Curious To Know How Much Your Home is Worth? Click Here!
Home Selling Tips
- Maintain the property in ready-to-show condition.
- Ensure that the house is easily accessible to real estate professionals (lock box and key).
- Try to be flexible in the scheduling of showings.
- When you are not at home, let us know how you can be reached in case an offer is received.
- If approached directly by a buyer who is not represented by a real estate professional, please contact the agent. Do not allow them into the property unescorted.
- Remove or lock up valuables, jewelry, cash and prescription medications.
- If possible, do not be present when the property is being shown.
- Securely pen-up pets or take them with you.
- Be cautious about saying anything to buyers or their sales professional that could weaken your negotiating position, especially regarding price or your urgency to sell.
- Let an agent know of any changes in the property’s condition that would need to be disclosed to potential buyers.
- Be available to review with the agent the list price and condition of your property if it has not sold in a reasonable period of time.
Facing Foreclosure – What are my options?
Many American homeowners are wondering what to do. While government loan modification programs have fallen short of the mark so far, there is another solid, sensible option for homeowners. It’s called a short sale – a sale to a buyer where the seller’s lender agrees to accept less than the full amount owed.
Weighing your options: Foreclosure vs. Short Sale
-Avoid the foreclosure stigma:
Homeowners will always have to disclose that they had a foreclosure on any mortgage application and many job applications that they submit in the future. This can have an adverse effect on their future mortgage rates. Foreclosure is asked about specifically in credit inquiries. There is a seven-year time limit on this item.
-Protect credit score:
Credit scores will be lowered by 300-plus points (per loan) by foreclosure. The impact of a short sale – about half that much.
-Improve eligibility for a government insured loan:
The homeowner will be ineligible for a government insured loan for 3 years (only two years in a short sale). A foreclosure is the one credit report item that is very difficult to repair.
-Avoid a deficiency judgment:
Lenders can seek a deficiency judgment against the homeowner and can collect any amount they do not recover at sale.
-Protect employment prospects:
Many employers run credit checks on prospective employees. Foreclosure is one of the top items that will put a potential new hire, or even current employment, in jeopardy.
| Foreclosure | Short Sale | |
|---|---|---|
| Used When: | Borrow defaults on payments | Borrow unable to make mortgage payments, owe more than home’s current worth and lender agrees. |
| Sold by: | Lender | Homeowner |
| Method of sale: | Auctioned at Trustee Sale | Realtor |
| Impact on Credit Score and Credit History: | Drops 200 – 400 points. Remains on report for 7 years. | Drops 50 – 150 points. Listed on credit report if the creditor reports the debt reduction to credit reporting agencies. |
| Initiated by: | Lender | Homeowner |
| Future loans: | Must report future loan applications | May or may not be reported on future loan applications |
| Who has control of real estate: | Lender | Homeowner |
| Restrictions on future home purchases: | Eligible to buy in 3 years with restrictions or 7 years with no restrictions | Can purchase immediately under certain circumstances |
If you are faced with this decision, a Kairos Realty Group short sale specialist can provide you with your full range of options.