The complete guide to selling your home with Living Wright Realty Group.
Engel & Vƶlkers Atlanta
Our Commitment to You
Engel & Vƶlkers Atlanta has quickly become a leader in providing premier real estate services to the intown and metro area markets. Utilizing our global, national and regional networks of relationships has positioned Engel & Vƶlkers Atlanta with a robust system of referrals and provides a comprehensive umbrella of exposure for all of our listings.
With an emphasis on balancing quantitative and qualitative research, the Developer Services division of Engel & Vƶlkers Atlanta provides developers, builders, investors and financial institutions with a single source for market research and analysis, project programming, product pricing, marketing strategy and on-site sales execution.
Our team of experienced, industry-leading professionals utilize cutting edge technologies and integrated sales processes to successfully market and sell a diverse range of residential real estate products including condominiums, townhomes and single-family detached homes, both in single-use and mixed- use developments.
A Collaborative Approach
From Offer to Closing
Our collaborative approach to the sales process means involving you in as much or as little of the activities as you would like. We consider open and frequent communication between our Advisors and clients to be essential, and are committed to communication with our clients including:
ā¢ Reports on showings, feedback and status of the sales process
ā¢ Real-time market information
ā¢ Evaluation for marketing measures and advice on aesthetic improvements
ā¢ Reports on Syndication Performance and Marketing Activity Results
ā¢ Presenting offers and advising on submission of counteroffers
ā¢ Navigating you through the inspection process
ā¢ Assisting with closing preparations
While we communicate often throughout this process as your representative, it is our role to stand firm and skillfully negotiate on your behalf, and to achieve the best results for you from our pre-list process to going under contract and managing the details all the way to the exchange of keys.
Getting to Market
Meet for The Home Selling Consultation
This is where we learn your story, what you love about your home, why you bought it (at one time, you were the ideal buyer for your house). We use this info to find a new buyer and optimize your marketing! Here we will also discuss the local market conditions and current strategies for selling.
Execute Brokerage Agreement
This gives legal structure to our working relationship.
Create a Pre-Listing Action Plan and Implement Any āTo Doāsā
Painting, staging, furniture arrangement, punch list, landscape refresh, etc.
Gather Relevant Documentation and Complete Disclosures
This is an important step, please pay close attention and gather accurate information.
Follow Action Plan Created with Your Real Estate Agent
Wrap up pre-listing projects, deep cleaning, pre-packing and check- in with your agent.
Get Photo Ready and Finalize Marketing Plans
Final prep and staging for photos, plan open house, etc.
Photography and Media Appointment
We will meet the photographer onsite for listing photos. Please plan for us to be in the home for approximately 1-2 hours. Prepare for this appointment by having all window treatments open, fans off, and lights on.
Place Sign and Supra Lockbox at The Property & List in The MLS
We will have gathered your preferred showing instructions ahead of time. Once the listing goes live you will get an email to review the listing and the showings will begin!
Things to Consider
Do You Have A Timeframe for Getting Your Home Listed?
You want to have a clear plan before listing your home including making sure your house looks itās absolute best.
So for example, If youāre 14 days out from wanting to put a for sale sign in your yard and get your house on the market, youāll want to expedite your checklist!
What is Your Next Step?
Are you moving locally? Will you need to start a home search for a new house right away? Do you have to sell to buy? Make a plan for this with your Real Estate Agent as well. Share any details that are contingent to selling your home.
For example, if you need to find a new house before closing on your current home, this is something youāll want to plan for in advance and discuss with us on the front end.
What are Your Estimated Net Proceeds?
Once youāve met with us and determined the list price of your home, we would be happy to provide you with an estimate of what the proceeds from your home sale will be. Since you donāt know the final sales price yet, this is only an estimate.
To prepare this for you we will need your current loan balance, interest rate, escrow balance and loan type.
What Upgrades, Special Features, and/or Systems are in Your Home?
Each of these will be important details to relay to a buyer and boost the marketing material we put together.
What Do You Love Most About Your Current Home?
Make a list of the things you love most. Whether itās a specific home feature such as a sunny screened in porch or the bike trail that runs behind your neighborhood where you run every dayWriting these down will help us with marketing!
Contract to Close
Once The Offer has Been Negotiated and All Parties Have Signed The Contract, You are Officially Under Contract, Congratualtions!
From this point the Buyer will begin their Due Diligence period. During this time they will schedule their Inspection. They may also want to have additional inspectors out or meet contractors for quotes. It is best practice to honor their requests during this time.
Negotiations from Inspection Takes Place
The Amendment to Address Concerns will be presented by the Buyerās Agent. There may be instances where the Buyer would prefer to negotiate a financial concession toward closing costs in lieu of repairs.
Contingencies Will Come Due
Any contingencies that are part of the contract must be satisfied by the defined time periods. Most often the Appraisal will be ordered during this time and the Buyerās loan will be underwritten. We will communicate any updates pertaining to these contingencies with you as we move through the contract period.
Attorney Will be Preparing The File to Close
The attorney will reach out to gather your Seller information, get the Authorization for Payoff, and complete the title search to prepare for closing. Please get them all items requested in a timely fashion.
Pre-Closing
Once all contingencies are satisfied and the attorney confirms clear title we will schedule the closing. Once the closing is scheduled we will reach out to give you all important closing details.
Final Walk-Thru and Closing
The Buyer will perform a final walk-thru before closing. If repairs were negotiated during Due Diligence they should be completed prior to closing and paid invoices provided to us in advance. If no repairs were negotiated the Buyer is still granted the opportunity for a walk-thru before closing. After all parties have signed at the closing and funding is approved you will receive any proceeds by check or wire and the home will be SOLD!
FAQs
What Should I Do to Prepare The House?
No Kidding! Clean and unclutter edges a long, long, way. Youāre moving, so go ahead and pack it up. Address any deferred maintenance, spruce up your curb appeal, and for that matter, every nook and cranny of your house. In most cases, major projects are not necessary but do consider refreshing the home perhaps by painting, or cleaning windows and carpet- your Living Wright Realty Group expert will give you specific guidance and we have included some resources in this guide. Most importantly, we should price the home right from the start for ultimate success.
Do I Need to Have The House Staged?
We will help you prepare the home as needed before photos are to be taken. If staging is necessary we will work with you to coordinate.
Will People Try to Show The House Without an Appointment?
Yes, sometimes agents do not follow the exact showing instructions and may pay a surprise visit. Do the best you can to remain flexible.
FAQs Continued
How Will You Market My Listing?
We utilize professional photography for all of our listings. All of our listings go into the local MLS Systems which push to every major real estate website. Your home will be marketed within our brokerage network, to our vast list of real estate agents in our database via email blast, and on our social media pages where we have high engagement. A custom USPS mailing campaign will go out upon going live. We will provide inhome marketing materials as well.
How Do I Prepare for A Showing?
Leave the home neat and tidy, all window treatments open, lights on, and the home smelling good! Please be prepared for agents to arrive a little early or a bit late from time to time. We do our best to avoid this, but sometimes it is inevitable when the agent has multiple showings back-to-back. Some agents may never show. This is disappointing to all of us, but it does happen occasionally.
Do I Need to Leave for Showings and Inspections?
It is absolutely best that you vacate the home for showings and inspections. Buyers need to be able to look and discuss openly. (Reminder: Secure valuables, weapons, and medications before listing)
Will I Receive Below List Price Offers?
Itās possible! Be ready to respectfully respond to any and all offers.
What Do I Do if My House is Not Getting Activity?
This is when you and your Living Wright Realty Group REALTORĀ® confer to determine if a price adjustment is needed or additional staging, repairs, or modifications might be made. Each situation is unique and so it is important to allow your real estate advisor to guide you.
FAQs Continued
What Expenses Do I Need to be Prepared for as The Seller?
As the Seller you will have minimal fees to be paid at closing. You are responsible for paying the agent commissions you agreed to in the Listing Agreement, tax and if applicable HOA prorations, and a small fee to the attorney for processing the closing and overnighting the payoff to your mortgage servicer. If you negotiated to contribute toward Buyer closing costs these will be settled at closing too. Your Living Wright Realty Group advisor can prepare an Estimate Net to Seller sheet for you ahead of time so you can get an idea of how the numbers will shake out.
When Will I Know if I Got an Offer?
We do our best to keep you in the loop on showing feedback and will present an offer to you at the moment we get our hands on it. From there we will schedule a time to talk to review the offer(s) together over the phone or in person.
This May Happen
Anticipating Challenges During Showings
From unpredictable buyer behaviors to unforeseen requests, Living Wright Realty Group is here to guide you through challenges during showings.
ā¢ You may feel nervous or upset during this process, itās emotional!
ā¢ An agent may call and wants to show it NOW.
ā¢ Some showings will take forever; some may drive up and never go in.
ā¢ Unfortunately some agents will make appointments they wonāt keep, they may not even call to cancel. Some agents may be significantly early or late.
ā¢ Buyers may touch things they shouldnāt touch so please put all valuables, fragile items, medications, and dangerous items away before showings.
ā¢ Buyer may back out.
ā¢ Inspections may shock you.
ā¢ Buyer may ask for what you think is unreasonable.
ā¢ Buyers may ask for multiple appointments to access your home during your contract period.
ā¢ Buyers may take photos or video during a showing so please put away any sensitive photos or documents.
Preparing for Showings
Make a Lasting Impression
You only get one opportunity to make a good impression, so you want to make it count. We will guide you through the best way to prepare your property for showings.
1 2 3 4 5
Make a Good First Impression
A critical inspection of the exterior, paying special attention to the condition of paint, windows, shutters, screens, gutters condition of lawn and grass is important. If your property looks in disrepair, it will form an unfavorable impression. Make sure the front door is spotless and that the windows gleam.
Keep it Clean
Do a room-by-room cleaning, and donāt forget any out-of-sight areas because thatās often where a discriminating buyer will look first. At the very least, have your carpets cleaned, and if they are worn, itās wise to replace them, or remove them if there is hardwood underneath.
De-Clutter
Clutter makes a poor impression. In closets, cabinets, kitchen countertops and other storage areas like basements, remove anything not needed for daily housekeeping. To make each room in your property look larger, get rid of or donate unnecessary furniture. Walk through your property and think: āLess is more.ā
Make Repairs
Make sure everything is in good working order. A few hours spent on repairs, whether by yourself or a tradesman, can pay big dividends when an offer is made.
Make Sure to Look at Little Things
It is easy to improve the appearance of any room. You may want to replace worn rugs or small pillows, put new towels in the bathroom or brighten up a room with a vase of flowers.
Pre-Listing Prep List
Clean ā¢ Replace ā¢ Pack ā¢ Organize
ā¢ Deep clean bathrooms
ā¢ Wash Shower Curtains
ā¢ Wipe down baseboards
ā¢ Have carpets professionally cleaned
ā¢ Wipe down hard to reach spots
ā¢ Dust fan blades and blinds
ā¢ Wash down kitchen cabinets
ā¢ Wipe down doorknobs
ā¢ Wash windows and ledges
ā¢ Deep clean kitchen and appliances
ā¢ Wipe down light switch plates
ā¢ Replace light bulbs where needed
ā¢ Replace Door Mat
ā¢ Purchase white linens and towels
ā¢ Replace Air Filters
ā¢ Remove gallery walls & family photos
ā¢ Swap out large framed photos for artwork
ā¢ Give every room a purpose
ā¢ Invest in additional lighting if needed
ā¢ Bookshelves - remove anything smaller than a baseball
ā¢ Coat Closet - store what you donāt use regularly
ā¢ Bedroom Closets - Remove half of what is inside (store and/or donate), then organize whatās left
ā¢ Bathroom / Linen Closets - Fold towels nicely, buy organizing bins, throw out expired products and medicine
ā¢ Shoe closet: Add shelves and stack shoes nicely (store off season shoes)
ā¢ Declutter & organize the mudroom
ā¢ Tackle painting projects - refresh rooms
ā¢ Touch up interior doors
ā¢ Touch up interior paint
ā¢ Power Wash Deck and patio furniture
ā¢ Replace outdoor bulbs
ā¢ Spruce up curb appeal and front entryway
ā¢ Power wash driveway, sidewalk, entry patio
Highlight each task as you complete it.
Your Home Work
Things We Will Need from You
Set of keys (or two) to your home
Completed Sellerās Property Disclosure
Complete Community Association Disclosure (HOA Information if Applicable)
Copy of HOA By-Laws (if Applicable)
List of Current Utility Providers & avg. Monthly cost for each (if the property will be unoccupied, leave utilities on for showing & inspection purposes)
Copy of your termite bond from your pest control company (if you have one)
Copy of your floor plan (if you have one)
Copy of the survey (if you have one)
Copy of your propertyās Legal Description found on Warranty Deed
Answers to questions below
House Notes from The Seller
ā¢ Do you know who designed and or built the house?
ā¢ Please list renovations, additions and upgrades that you have done since owning the house. A ballpark estimate of the cost of each would be helpful, too.
ā¢ Please tell us any interesting stories about and/or list the things each of you have loved about living in your home.
ā¢ Please list any regular contractors who service your home and landscape.
ā¢ Do you have a security system? Instructions for us?
