Make your next move.
SELLING YOUR HOME
Selling your home.
The process of selling your home is exhilarating, exhausting, and kind of emotional. But don’t worry! You’re not going to do this alone. Working with a Five Star Realtor® means you have a trusted partner that will guide you through the process. Our experienced agents are here to ensure your home sale is a success and you’re totally taken care of.
Experience the Five Star effect.
Since 1996, Five Star Real Estate has provided hands-on guidance and expertise to people looking to buy or sell a home. Five Star agents are innovative, experienced Realtors® who are passionate about people and property.
As a real estate leader, we consistently close more than twice the national average of transactions. While success is key in effectively selling and buying homes, the heart of our business is the relationships we build with homeowners.
YOUR LISTING AGENT WILL HELP WITH:
RESEARCH
+ Study comparable properties
+ Location assessment
+ Area amenities
+ Neighborhood stats
+ In-depth market analysis
MARKETING
+ Pricing strategy
+ Staging, prep, and photos
+ Showings
TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT
+ Offer analysis
+ Negotiation terms
+ Inspections
CLOSING PREP
+ Review closing disclosure
+ Gather necessary documents
+ Prepare for final walkthrough
+ Review and sign documents
Be a stellar seller.
Selling a home is way more than hosting an open house and signing a few papers (although, there’s no shortage of papers to sign). Here’s how we earn a gold star as a listing agent:
DISCOVERY
We start by getting familiar with your space—its charm, its quirks, and its storied history. Once we have a good feel for your home, we can properly introduce your space to prospective buyers. We’ll discuss the value of the home and, together, land on a listing price that feels right. From there, we’ll get to work on a marketing plan to get your home out there!
LISTING APPOINTMENT
Once you’re ready to list, we’ll meet to review the calendar of expectations, sign documents, and enter into the contract.
PREP
Leading up to launch day, we’ll be busy getting your home ready to be viewed. This includes things like finalizing photography for marketing materials and placing lock boxes on your home.
LAUNCH
Let’s get your home on the market! We’ll get it posted online, get those official yard signs out front, and kick our marketing plan into full gear.
BUYER PROSPECTING
Now we wait for someone to fall in love with your house. But we’re not just sitting around. Behind the scenes, your Realtor® will work their network and schedule tours, open houses, and second showings while making sure your house is looking topnotch for every showing.
Countdown to closing day.
Ready! Set! Sold! Once you’ve reeled in a buyer, what happens between that switch from “For Sale” to “Just Sold!”?
2
CLOSING PREP
As you wait for closing day, we’ll handle the heavy lifting:
Order documents
Review the figures
Final walkthrough
3
LOAN COMMITMENT
Once the buyer gets loan approval, we will take care of some key details.
Perform appraisal
Underwrite the buyer’s loan
Verify buyer’s documentation
SALES AGREEMENT
Your hard work has paid off, and you got an offer! Or two … or three! What’s next?
Respond to the sellers
Negotiate as needed
INSPECTION
Typically, a home inspection is required to happen within ten days of an accepted offer. The buyer will hire an inspector to review your home. Next we’ll:
Review the report
Discuss repairs or upgrades
CLOSING
Navigate negotiations
Woo-hoo! You made it! Your Realtor® will join you at the closing to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Sign documents
Receive funds Exchange keys 5 1 4
Although the sale of your home is now finalized, our relationship is really just beginning! We are here for you from moving boxes and beyond.
Reviewing comparables and researching your area ensures your home is priced right from the start.
Pricing your place.
Discussing the price of your home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. While it’s tempting to aim high, there are some risks when pricing too aggressively. We’ll talk through pricing strategies so you can land on a price you feel good about.
Seller’s prep
check list.
To make your home more buyer-friendly, we recommend tackling a few crucial tasks.
Replace loose handles, squeaky doors, and broken blinds
Fix small dents in the wall and touch up paint
Paint bold accent walls more neutral colors
Declutter drawers, countertops, closets, and other visible surfaces
Remove family photos, bold artwork, and other personal touches
Clean top to bottom, including appliances, walls, curtains, and windows
Ask a friend to sniff out any unpleasant odors so your home smells fresh
Hide or store jewelry, art, and other expensive items in a safe or off site
Setting the scene.
Ultimately you want buyers to walk in and see themselves in your home. We are here to help you spot quick fixes to enhance your home’s appeal and increase your chances at an offer.
STAGING TIPS:
+ Fresh cut flowers
+ A lovely but not overpowering scent
+ Swap family photos for neutral artwork
Customstaging options,suchas furniture,rugs, andartwork,are also available.
The right mix = right price + right marketing + adjusting per market feedback
Spread the word.
We will devise a strategic marketing plan to get your home in front of as many potential buyers as possible. So, what exactly does that include?
+ Tapping into our vast network
+ Connections to established agents
+ MLS, referral, and relocation services
+ Yard signs, brochures, and other printed assets
+ Social media
Marketing for your market.
You may not realize it, but pricing your home according to the market is the first step to great marketing. With the right price and some great photography (and maybe a yard sign or two), we’re confident we could sell any home.
But at Five Star, we go above and beyond to create a tailored marketing plan customized to your home, neighborhood, and price range. That may include flyers and social media, or it could be hosting an open house; it all depends on you!
When reviewing offers, we’ll focus on the full picture, not just the highest number.
Navigating the sale.
When an offer comes in, it’s an exciting moment but also one that requires strategy. This is where having a Five Star Realtor® comes in clutch! Through clear, open communication, we’ll help you review the offer in detail, weigh your options, and decide whether to accept, counter, or hold out for better terms. Our goal is to have you walk away with maximum value and minimal stress.
Who’s picking up the tab?
From inspections to appraisals and closing costs, there are a lot of items on a buyer’s final bill. Typically, the seller will cover some of these expenses.
BUYER’S
CLOSING COSTS
+ Down payment
+ Home inspection
+ Mortgage-related costs
+ Title insurance
+ Property taxes
+ Recording fees
+ Attorney fees
+ Other fees can include escrow fees, transfer taxes, and survey fees
SELLER’S
CLOSING COSTS
+ Real estate commissions*
+ Property taxes
+ Transfer taxes
+ Home warranty
+ Attorney fees
+ Seller concessions
* Real estate commissions are negotiable. Together we will discuss the best commission strategy for you.
Key Terms
Buying & Selling Basics
APPRAISAL
A professional estimate of a home’s market value, usually required by a lender before approving a loan.
ASSESSED VALUE
The value assigned to your property by the local government for tax purposes. Not always the same as market value.
BUYER’S AGENT
The real estate agent who represents the buyer’s interests in a transaction.
SELLER’S AGENT (LISTING AGENT)
The agent who represents the seller and markets the property.
CLOSING
The final step in a real estate deal—when all paperwork is signed, money changes hands, and the property officially changes ownership.
CLOSING COSTS
Fees due at closing, often 2–5% of the purchase price. May include loan fees, title fees, taxes, and more.
CONTINGENCY
A condition that must be met for a sale to proceed (e.g., financing, inspection, appraisal).
EARNEST MONEY
A deposit from the buyer (typically 1–3% of the price) to show serious intent to purchase. It’s applied to the purchase or refunded if a contingency isn’t met.
PENDING
The home has an accepted offer and is in process, with contingencies being worked through or cleared.
Financing & Loan Terms
AMORTIZATION
The process of paying off a loan over time through regular payments of principal and interest.
ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE
(APR)
The full cost of borrowing money, including interest and lender fees, shown as a yearly percentage.
CONVENTIONAL LOAN
A mortgage not insured by the government (unlike FHA or VA loans).
FHA LOAN
A loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration, often with lower credit and down payment requirements.
VA LOAN
A loan program for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and some spouses, often requiring no down payment.
FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE
A home loan where the interest rate stays the same for the entire term of the loan.
ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGE (ARM)
A loan where the interest rate may change over time after an initial fixed period.
LOAN PRE-APPROVAL
An early review by a lender to determine how much you may qualify to borrow based on your income and credit.
DOWN PAYMENT
The upfront portion of the purchase price paid by the buyer, usually between 3% and 20%.
ESCROW ACCOUNT
An account set up by the lender to pay property taxes and insurance on your behalf.
HELOC (HOME EQUITY LINE
OF CREDIT)
A flexible loan that lets you borrow against the equity in your home, often used for renovations or large expenses.
CLOSING
DISCLOSURE (CD)
A detailed summary from your lender / title company of all final costs, loan terms, and payments. Look for this about 3 business days before closing.
SHORT SALE
When a home is sold for less than what’s owed on the mortgage. Requires lender approval and may take longer than a normal sale.
FORECLOSURE
When the lender takes legal action to repossess a property after missed mortgage payments. Often sold “as-is” at auction or through the bank.
Title & Legal Docs
TITLE
Legal ownership of a property.
TITLE INSURANCE
Insurance that protects buyers and lenders from disputes over property ownership or past claims.
TITLE COMMITMENT
A document that outlines what must be cleared up before title insurance can be issued, like unpaid taxes or liens.
PRELIMINARY TITLE REPORT
A snapshot of the property’s title status before closing. Shows any known issues like easements or liens.
DEED
The legal document that officially transfers property ownership from seller to buyer.
LIEN
A legal claim against a property for unpaid debt, like taxes or contractor work. Must usually be resolved before sale.
HOA (HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION)
An organization in some communities that sets and enforces rules and collects fees for upkeep of shared areas.