A Guide for Sellers
A Message From Our Broker
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these important next steps as you consider the sale of your home. I am proud we have put together a collection of resources in the following pages that we hope you’ll find helpful and informative. Please allow us to be a resource for any of your questions until we meet again -we’re here to help!
Karen Hanson Broker & License Partner
Our Promise
For over 20 years, we’ve had the privilege of serving incredible sellers and showcasing their fabulous homes. Yet, time and again, we hear the same frustration about past experiences with Realtors: They simply didn’t keep in touch.
That’s why we’re proud to share Our Promise with you. Trust is the foundation of our relationship, and we are committed to doing exactly what we say we will. You deserve complete confidence, transparency, and predictable updates on the progress of your sale and the work we’re doing to achieve your goals.
We take great pride in crafting and executing dynamic, creative, and measurable strategies tailored to your home. And you deserve to know all about it—every step of the way.
Success is...
Guiding you to the closing table after maximum exposure for your property, receiving the highest possible price and in the shortest amount of time
Ensuring you feel informed at every step
Along the way, you are confident in your advisor and we have alleviated all fears, so that you can focus entirely on where your next steps are taking you.
Strategic Start, Stronger Results
Market Preparation
Once the story of your property has been crafted through professional still and digital photography and the written word, we can begin to inform the brokerage community and utilize other “coming soon” awareness. Even in a
Organize & Remove Clutter
Neutralize things that are highly customized to you
Small repairs that have big impact
A deep cleaning
Staging your home
Creating a spectacular entrance
All property research, including history, easements, a full knowledge of its current state
Ifanyofthesethingsfeeloverwhelming, wealwayshaveateamofprofessionals tohelp.
market where the Seller has the upper hand, it’s hard to underestimate the power of doing this work. At E&V, we take pride on our passionate and creative approach to pre-listing marketing.
Time to Wow Buyers
Showings & Open Houses
You’ve done all of the preparation, curated all of the marketing materials, and now it’s GO time! You’re ready to open the doors to the public with Open Houses & Showings. The highest level of interest and excitement of potential homebuyers is within the first two weeks of launch.
Open Houses
Can be the most effective way to create that “buzz” that encourages competing bids
For some homes, open houses aren’t the best strategy - very large homes or unfinished for example. Your advisor should help you devise a strategy that works best for your property.
You can expect to receive feedback from your advisor that day Plan to leave at least 20 minutes before the start time
If things go well, your advisor may ask to stay later than the allotted time to gracefully accommodate all guests without rushing them
Showings
You set the availability of the home for showings and open houses
It is common to request 24 hour notice before a showing, but last minute opportunities do arise and you’ll need to decide how to handle them.
The house and grounds should be looking tip top prior to showings - mow the lawn, draw the curtains, empty the sink.
Your advisor should arrive with plenty of time before the showing, to address anything unexpectedly out of place, and to prepare the home for guests
In general, allow one hour for each showing
You should expect a call from your advisor when they’ve left the house and feedback from them on the showing that day
Although feedback direct from the buyer is very helpful, many buyers agents will not share feedback these days, for fiduciary reasons
AtE&V,wetakeallshowingopportunitiesseriouslyandoftenpracticethembefore bringingbuyersthrough,orcreatea“talktrack”ofimportantselling featuresto highlightduringtheshowing..
Every Detail, Expertly Analyzed
Offers
Even though the sale price is often the most important element of an offer, there are several other factors that can be negotiated to make it safe and give it the highest chance of closing. We will help you to analyze every single element of the offer, and how they contribute to your success.
Something to think about:
Your Advisor Will
Present all offers to you
Qualify the buyer
Prepare, and or gather all legal documentation
if there are competing offers, we will organize them for easy comparison
A low offer can actually be the beginning of a very satisfactory sale and oftentimes the first offer is the best offer, because they’ve been waiting the longest for it to appear.
If you receive an offer that’s lower than you like at the start, try to consider it as the opening of a conversation. So many times, we are surprised where it leads!
Seamless Path to Closing Contract To Close
Once we have collected, negotiated, and maximized all offers, and you have chosen the one that suits you best, you are one step closer to celebrating at the closing table! Now begins the crucial work to ensure that everything proceeds smoothly and as planned.
You Can Count On Us To:
Facilitate legal documents
Handle escrow deposits
Accompany the inspection, answer questions that arise
Negotiate on your behalf, if issues arise during due diligence
Monitor the buyer’s financing progress
Prepare for the appraiser
Manage all conditions of offer
Facilitate the final walk through
Procure state and local requirements, including smoke & CO certs, municipal sign-offs, and 6D certificates
Liaise with closing attorney
After the closing, you are off to your next adventure!
Your Biggest Questions Answered
What Every Seller Wants to Know
From timing and staging to signs, repairs, and more, here’s what you need to know before listing your home.
When is the best time to list my home?
Why list with a global company?
Tell me about appraisals.
Should I make repairs or not?
How long does it take to get my home on the market?
Do I really need to stage my home?
Should I put up a sign or not?
Are there fees to sell my home?
How long will it take to sell my home?
Do I need to sell before buying my next home?
Check it Twice!
Your Moving Day
Survior
Kit
Moving day can be chaotic, but a little preparation goes a long way. This checklist is packed with the essentials you’ll want easy access to, from chargers and snacks to tools and toiletries— plus clever packing tips to keep things running smoothly. Stay organized, stay calm, and settle in faster.
You:
Phone charger
Sheets/ Blankets
Flashlight
Towels
Soap
Toilet paper
Toothbrush/paste
Prescriptions
Readers
Checkbook
Change of clothes
Pet food
Your House
House keys
Paper towels
Cleaning supplies
Water
Snacks
Paper plates
Hammer
Screwdriver
Tape measure
Batteries
Light bulbs
Scissors
Trash bags
Pocket knife
Pro Tips
Label boxes with the room they’ll be unpacked in.
Label fragile items with red marker.
Pack plates vertically- they’ll be less likely to break.
Keep sandwich bags for the small parts of things you’ll disassemble like curtain rods or mounted tvs.
Take a photo of how your electronics were connected.
Keep drawers and other items with loose objects intact by covering them with Press’n’Seal wrap. Your toiletries, too!
Key Documents to Know The Forms
When selling your home, there are a few essential forms that help outline our working relationship, our responsibilities to each other, and your goals for the sale. You should have plenty of time to review these forms, understand them fully, and ask any questions you may have. To help, here’s a quick look at the key documents most Realtors typically require to get started:
Agency Disclosure Form
Allows you to choose how I will represent you in the transaction.
Authorization to Compensate a Buyer Broker
Required if you choose to offer compensation to a buyer’s agent.
Seller’s Statement (optional)
Provides details about the condition of your home.
Listing Agreement
Defines the terms of our relationship, including the listing duration, desired listing price, agreedupon commission, and any special conditions.
Lead Paint Form
Discloses any knowledge you have regarding lead paint in the home, as required by law.
Inclusions/Exclusions
Specifies which items will stay with the home and which you’ll take with you.
At Engel &Völkers, we use the official forms provided by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors to ensure accuracy and compliance, and use DotLoop for secure electronic signatures.
Notes & Reminders
Notes & Reminders
