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Seller's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time Seller's Guide

Putting your home on the market can be a stressful process, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, with the help of an experienced team of real estate agents and this easy to follow guide, you can smoothly complete the process. Following these steps will help you prepare so you can get organized and sell your home for the best price possible.​​​​​​​

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Step 1: Understand Why You're Selling

What do you want to accomplish with the sale of your home? Do you want to make a certain amount of money that you can put toward a larger or nicer home? Do you need to sell it as soon as possible to facilitate a move to a new city or area? Once you understand your needs, you can better craft your offer. For example, if you need to sell quickly, you might want to price your home lower than if your goal is to make a certain profit margin. Make sure you convey these needs to your team of real estate agents once you choose one so they can adjust your selling price accordingly.

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Step 2: Determine Selling Price

Knowing how to price your home is one of the most important parts of the selling process. When you set a fair price in the beginning, you’ll get the most interest from other real estate agents and prospective buyers. Overpricing your home could lead to reduced interest, and underpricing leads to receiving less than what your home is worth. Working with a team of real estate agents is the best way to determine the right selling price for your home. A team of real estate agents with experience can determine what other comparable homes are selling for, evaluate the current market, and may even suggest a home appraisal.

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Step 3: Start Preparations

If you’ve kept your home in showroom condition since you’ve lived in it, you’re in the minority of homeowners. Once you price your home, it’s time to start getting it ready to be shown to potential buyers. This includes getting rid of clutter, depersonalizing the space so that buyers can envision themselves in the space, making any small repairs, and doing a deep clean to make sure your home is in pristine condition.

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Step 4: Develop a Marketing Strategy

We will develop a marketing strategy that is perfect for advertising your home. This involves listing the home and then driving the right people to that listing through social media campaigns, agent-to-agent referrals, traditional media, or SEO advertising. Our team creates a marketing campaign that aims to get the most possible traffic to your listing in the first three weeks after becoming a client.

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Step 5: Evaluate Offers

Receiving an offer is an exciting part of the process, but it doesn’t mean the journey is over. We will evaluate each offer and make sure the party making the offer is prequalified or pre-approved by a mortgage lender and that their offer is acceptable to you. If the offer is too low, you can make a counter-offer or offer other ways to bridge the gap, such as covering some or all of the closing costs, making repairs, adjusting the move-in date, or leaving some appliances or fixtures for the new buyer.

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Step 6: Accept an Offer

Once we deem the offer is acceptable, we will review the proposed contract to make sure it’s all in order and includes the necessary components such as deposit amount, down payment, financing, inspection rights and repair allowances, contingencies, settlement date, and a list of fees and who will pay them. When both parties have agreed to the term, a final contract will be prepared by your team of real estate agents.

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Step 7: Get Ready to Close

You have accepted an offer and are now very close to the end of your selling journey. But first, you and the buyer must make a list of what needs to be done before closing. In some cases, your home may need to be formally inspected, surveyed, and appraised. In other cases, major or minor repairs will need to be made before the house can close. We will head up efforts to develop and execute this list, get each action item paid for by the correct party, and make sure everything is in order by the closing date. A few days before the closing date, we will call the company closing the transaction to make sure everything is ready to go. If you haven’t done so already, you also need to make arrangements to move out of the home so the new buyer can take possession.

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Step 8: Close

You’ve reached the last step in the seller’s process. When you close on a home you are selling, you are legally transferring ownership of the property to the new buyer. We will meet with the company closing the transaction to sign the final paperwork and go over any issues that have not yet been taken care of. During this time, you can also make plans with your team of real estate agents to handle final details such as canceling utilities, cable, and lawn or trash services, changing the name on accounts that the new owner is retaining and ensuring the new owner has instructions for all appliances that will remain in the home.

Congratulations!

Once you have sold your home, you’re free to take the next step on your journey. Whether this is relocating to a new city, moving into a larger home, or downsizing and enjoying your life as empty-nesters, knowing all your selling responsibilities have been taken care of will help you achieve peace of mind for your new path.

What Our Client Says

Testimonials

"When we decided to sell our lakefront home in Lake San Marcos, we wanted to be represented by a realtor who knew the area and understood our HOAs. Janice Davidson was recommended, and we are so glad we chose her to sell our home. Janice put together a plan for new flooring and staging prior to us returning to our primary home out of state. We left and Janice coordinated the flooring installation, staging, professional photography to baking of cookies for the open house. Her knowledge of the HOA rules and bylaws provided prospective buyers with answers. She worked tirelessly and got the home sold with multiple offers all while we were out of state. She coordinated with the movers to put our furniture in storage prior to purchasing another home in the lake. Janice had known about a home that met our specifications 9 months before hitting the market. She was diligent in reaching out to the trustees prior to the home going on the market. When it hit the market, it had multiple offers, so we flew in, viewed the home, and put a strategy into place to have our offer accepted over others. We had planned a trip out of the country during the whole process and Janice stepped in to handle everything while we vacationed. It is prudent to have a great Buyers representation in place. We highly recommend Janice to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home."
"When we decided to sell our lakefront home in Lake San Marcos, we wanted to be represented by a realtor who knew the area and understood our HOAs. Janice Davidson was recommended, and we are so glad we chose her to sell our home. Janice put together a plan for new flooring and staging prior to us returning to our primary home out of state. We left and Janice coordinated the flooring installation, staging, professional photography to baking of cookies for the open house. Her knowledge of the HOA rules and bylaws provided prospective buyers with answers. She worked tirelessly and got the home sold with multiple offers all while we were out of state. She coordinated with the movers to put our furniture in storage prior to purchasing another home in the lake. Janice had known about a home that met our specifications 9 months before hitting the market. She was diligent in reaching out to the trustees prior to the home going on the market. When it hit the market, it had multiple offers, so we flew in, viewed the home, and put a strategy into place to have our offer accepted over others. We had planned a trip out of the country during the whole process and Janice stepped in to handle everything while we vacationed. It is prudent to have a great Buyers representation in place. We highly recommend Janice to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home."
Nancy S. & Kevin B.
"We met Janice while looking for houses in Lake San Marcos. Janice is very knowledgeable about the area and has many local contacts. We worked with her for 3+ years, and she was very patient and helpful. Finally, the right home came up and we got it thanks to Janice and her well-known professionalism in the area. We were not quite ready to move into the home, so Janice helped rent it out. We had a bit of work to do to rent it and used Janice’s many local contacts who did great work at fair prices. Janice still helps us when issues come up. I highly recommend Janice Davidson as an agent. She is so knowledgeable, professional, kindhearted, and a good person and friend."
"We met Janice while looking for houses in Lake San Marcos. Janice is very knowledgeable about the area and has many local contacts. We worked with her for 3+ years, and she was very patient and helpful. Finally, the right home came up and we got it thanks to Janice and her well-known professionalism in the area. We were not quite ready to move into the home, so Janice helped rent it out. We had a bit of work to do to rent it and used Janice’s many local contacts who did great work at fair prices. Janice still helps us when issues come up. I highly recommend Janice Davidson as an agent. She is so knowledgeable, professional, kindhearted, and a good person and friend."
Tracey & Jim W.
"I wish to tell you about our experience with Janice Davidson of the Davidson Group Realty. Our family first met her while we were house hunting at Lake San Marcos. We could see that she knew this neighborhood and area. Janice took us on a tour of the various communities in and around Lake San Marcos and North County. We appreciated her patience and willingness to help us find the home that matched our needs. This is something she accomplished. The hardest part was yet to come. We were living out of state, so Janice had to negotiate with the sellers to get the items we wanted left in the home and to have work done on repairs. Janice negotiated concessions to pay for those items. Janice suggested using my VA loan privilege to help save us money. She supervised the work and handled any problems that arose with our lender. Because we could not move in right away, Janice secured a short-term tenant which helped us with monthly expenses. When we arrived at the San Diego airport, we were met at the airport to welcome us to California. The next day we took possession of the home. Janice had the home cleaned, prepared with fresh linens and towels, and enough furniture for us to use until our furnishings arrived several days later. No one could have been more considerate and generous to us. Janice has the highest integrity and commitment to her work."
"I wish to tell you about our experience with Janice Davidson of the Davidson Group Realty. Our family first met her while we were house hunting at Lake San Marcos. We could see that she knew this neighborhood and area. Janice took us on a tour of the various communities in and around Lake San Marcos and North County. We appreciated her patience and willingness to help us find the home that matched our needs. This is something she accomplished. The hardest part was yet to come. We were living out of state, so Janice had to negotiate with the sellers to get the items we wanted left in the home and to have work done on repairs. Janice negotiated concessions to pay for those items. Janice suggested using my VA loan privilege to help save us money. She supervised the work and handled any problems that arose with our lender. Because we could not move in right away, Janice secured a short-term tenant which helped us with monthly expenses. When we arrived at the San Diego airport, we were met at the airport to welcome us to California. The next day we took possession of the home. Janice had the home cleaned, prepared with fresh linens and towels, and enough furniture for us to use until our furnishings arrived several days later. No one could have been more considerate and generous to us. Janice has the highest integrity and commitment to her work."
Jon & Martha S.
"Janice Davidson is an excellent real estate agent who’s easy to work with and gets the job done quickly. She listened to what we wanted in the new house and the first house she showed us met every one of our requests. We bought that home and just love it! Her group uses an experienced team of professionals with whom they work regularly, to help with all aspects of the transaction. We feel we received the best service all around.  Janice also listed and sold our former home. We were surprised to learn the average time of sale from the listing date for The Davidson Group is 7 days. We had multiple offers and were thrilled to sell our house over the asking price. We can’t recommend Janice highly enough; she knows the market and communicates well with all parties. Before the showing of our house, she staged our furniture, hung new art, and brought plants over to spruce up our patio, just a few things she did to make our house shine.  We feel anyone would be lucky to have her as their agent."
"Janice Davidson is an excellent real estate agent who’s easy to work with and gets the job done quickly. She listened to what we wanted in the new house and the first house she showed us met every one of our requests. We bought that home and just love it! Her group uses an experienced team of professionals with whom they work regularly, to help with all aspects of the transaction. We feel we received the best service all around.  Janice also listed and sold our former home. We were surprised to learn the average time of sale from the listing date for The Davidson Group is 7 days. We had multiple offers and were thrilled to sell our house over the asking price. We can’t recommend Janice highly enough; she knows the market and communicates well with all parties. Before the showing of our house, she staged our furniture, hung new art, and brought plants over to spruce up our patio, just a few things she did to make our house shine.  We feel anyone would be lucky to have her as their agent."
Judy & Darrel H.
"You might say I’m an experienced mover-less than the Army but more than your regular home buyer. I can attest without hesitation, therefore, that this team is by far the most experienced, helpful, and kind people with whom I’ve ever worked. They don’t just do the paperwork—they work! Period. They repainted parts of the house, moved our two office desks to our new location to make the house for sale look more spacious, and even hired a landscaping team to clean up our copious plants and lay new wood chip mulch. They were always there to offer any needed help and kept us all on an even keel with humor and understanding. I highly recommend them. Our home sold in less than 5 days on the market."
"You might say I’m an experienced mover-less than the Army but more than your regular home buyer. I can attest without hesitation, therefore, that this team is by far the most experienced, helpful, and kind people with whom I’ve ever worked. They don’t just do the paperwork—they work! Period. They repainted parts of the house, moved our two office desks to our new location to make the house for sale look more spacious, and even hired a landscaping team to clean up our copious plants and lay new wood chip mulch. They were always there to offer any needed help and kept us all on an even keel with humor and understanding. I highly recommend them. Our home sold in less than 5 days on the market."
Chute & Gary H.
"We can’t speak highly enough in our praise for all The Davidsons have done in helping us move from our large San Pable home to the Chateau a welcome experience. They lined up personnel to install new flooring, fireplace, plumbing, etc. plus they helped in the purchase of needed items to make the Chateau our home. Janice’s experience in Staging our home on San Pablo for sale was a masterpiece. We had them rearrange our large furniture to create a more spacious space. We are appreciative of all they accomplished in all aspects of both purchase and sale. Thank you."
"We can’t speak highly enough in our praise for all The Davidsons have done in helping us move from our large San Pable home to the Chateau a welcome experience. They lined up personnel to install new flooring, fireplace, plumbing, etc. plus they helped in the purchase of needed items to make the Chateau our home. Janice’s experience in Staging our home on San Pablo for sale was a masterpiece. We had them rearrange our large furniture to create a more spacious space. We are appreciative of all they accomplished in all aspects of both purchase and sale. Thank you."
Bruce & Marlen B.
"We had the pleasure of working with Janice and the Davidson Group Realty in the preparation and sale of my father’s condo. We lived out of state and were concerned about the potential difficulties of selling the property without being able to physically be in the area during the sales process. Janice scheduled a phone consultation to discuss the options of repairs and what needed to be done to get fair market value. We were left with a very comfortable feeling that we would be treated as friends and that Janice would do whatever it took to prepare and sell the home with no hassles or problems for us to deal with. After a few weeks of hard work, the condo went on the market, and in less than one day we had multiple offers which ended in a sales price much higher than we ever imagined. Janice kept our best interests in mind, and we would recommend her and her team to everyone we know who needs an honest and diligent realtor."
"We had the pleasure of working with Janice and the Davidson Group Realty in the preparation and sale of my father’s condo. We lived out of state and were concerned about the potential difficulties of selling the property without being able to physically be in the area during the sales process. Janice scheduled a phone consultation to discuss the options of repairs and what needed to be done to get fair market value. We were left with a very comfortable feeling that we would be treated as friends and that Janice would do whatever it took to prepare and sell the home with no hassles or problems for us to deal with. After a few weeks of hard work, the condo went on the market, and in less than one day we had multiple offers which ended in a sales price much higher than we ever imagined. Janice kept our best interests in mind, and we would recommend her and her team to everyone we know who needs an honest and diligent realtor."
Jason & Niki S.

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