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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.

See Why Our Clients Love Us

Testimonials

"Jacci and Rachael See are effervescent (they take the drudgery out of home shopping). I was relocating to the Madison, WI area, didn't have much time, and needed to find a good neighborhood with great schools. They handled all of my needs beautifully!"
"Jacci and Rachael See are effervescent (they take the drudgery out of home shopping). I was relocating to the Madison, WI area, didn't have much time, and needed to find a good neighborhood with great schools. They handled all of my needs beautifully!"
Molly N.
"I can't speak to her negotiation skills. My situation didn't allow for too much haggling. She was very current on market changes and neighborhood events. Very flexible with accommodating with her schedule. Definitely a good advocate for the inexperienced and helps you feel confident about your options. Came to all scheduled meetings prepared. Remember any allowances or conditions discussed in the contract. Take a good look at the details of the final house she plans to show you. She's very good at identifying what you want. The first few houses are to show you comparable options but the last one she takes you to is likely the one she knows you will love. It's still important to see all the houses though. They provide an excellent baseline of market value."
"I can't speak to her negotiation skills. My situation didn't allow for too much haggling. She was very current on market changes and neighborhood events. Very flexible with accommodating with her schedule. Definitely a good advocate for the inexperienced and helps you feel confident about your options. Came to all scheduled meetings prepared. Remember any allowances or conditions discussed in the contract. Take a good look at the details of the final house she plans to show you. She's very good at identifying what you want. The first few houses are to show you comparable options but the last one she takes you to is likely the one she knows you will love. It's still important to see all the houses though. They provide an excellent baseline of market value."
Buyer
"Jacci is a pleasure to work with. Selling was a seamless process. Jacci handled everything quickly and professionally, from preparing the listing through closing."
"Jacci is a pleasure to work with. Selling was a seamless process. Jacci handled everything quickly and professionally, from preparing the listing through closing."
Joe A.
"With Jacci See’s help, we were able to find just the right house and make just the right offer in a tight market. Jacci was a great resource and shepherded us through the purchase process quickly and efficiently. Our experience with Jacci could not have been better."
"With Jacci See’s help, we were able to find just the right house and make just the right offer in a tight market. Jacci was a great resource and shepherded us through the purchase process quickly and efficiently. Our experience with Jacci could not have been better."
Buyer
"Rachael is very friendly and responsive. She was able to help clear some roadblocks we ran into along the way. It was great having someone willing to explore different options during social distancing so that we did not need to take any unnecessary risks."
"Rachael is very friendly and responsive. She was able to help clear some roadblocks we ran into along the way. It was great having someone willing to explore different options during social distancing so that we did not need to take any unnecessary risks."
Buyer
"Rachael is extremely personable and fun to work with. She takes your needs and wants into consideration when finding your possible new home. She opens your eyes to things you may not have originally thought of and is honest with you on the spot if she sees any issues with a house. Highly recommend working with Rachael!"
"Rachael is extremely personable and fun to work with. She takes your needs and wants into consideration when finding your possible new home. She opens your eyes to things you may not have originally thought of and is honest with you on the spot if she sees any issues with a house. Highly recommend working with Rachael!"
Buyer
"Rachael showed me 20 homes, several virtual. She was always responsive to homes I found on the internet. She was very understanding and helpful with my difficult situation of buying in Madison while selling in Colorado."
"Rachael showed me 20 homes, several virtual. She was always responsive to homes I found on the internet. She was very understanding and helpful with my difficult situation of buying in Madison while selling in Colorado."
Buyer
"Rachael does a great job keeping us informed and up to date on when listings pop up and got a great deal for us in negotiating. Always replies very quickly as well!"
"Rachael does a great job keeping us informed and up to date on when listings pop up and got a great deal for us in negotiating. Always replies very quickly as well!"
Buyer | Seller
"I would highly recommend Jacci to anyone who is in the market for a new home. She is very knowledgeable and responds to my questions and concerns very quickly."
"I would highly recommend Jacci to anyone who is in the market for a new home. She is very knowledgeable and responds to my questions and concerns very quickly."
Buyer
"We first met Rachael See when she was the agent for our daughter and son-in-law several years ago. We were impressed then with her thorough knowledge of real estate and her professionalism. Our daughter has recommended Rachael to every friend she has who has bought a house, and everyone has been delighted. We decided to move to Madison to be closer to our kids and never considered anyone but Rachael. As always happens with buying a house, there were a few bumps in the road that Rachael smoothed out many times before I could. Rachael’s expertise, helpfulness, and professionalism, not to mention that she knows other professionals involved in every part of buying and closing on a house, made her the premier agent that we have ever worked with, and we have been buying, investing in, and selling houses for over 45 years. I can’t recommend her enough!"
"We first met Rachael See when she was the agent for our daughter and son-in-law several years ago. We were impressed then with her thorough knowledge of real estate and her professionalism. Our daughter has recommended Rachael to every friend she has who has bought a house, and everyone has been delighted. We decided to move to Madison to be closer to our kids and never considered anyone but Rachael. As always happens with buying a house, there were a few bumps in the road that Rachael smoothed out many times before I could. Rachael’s expertise, helpfulness, and professionalism, not to mention that she knows other professionals involved in every part of buying and closing on a house, made her the premier agent that we have ever worked with, and we have been buying, investing in, and selling houses for over 45 years. I can’t recommend her enough!"
Lindy W.
"LaDonna made the first time homebuying experience a breeze, I would highly recommend her."
"LaDonna made the first time homebuying experience a breeze, I would highly recommend her."
Beau F.
"LaDonna went above and beyond when helping us find our home. She was always available and made it clear that our happiness was a priority for her. Having her there for our walkthroughs was a life saver — she pointed out things we wouldn’t have even thought to look at. She is wonderful to work with, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone."
"LaDonna went above and beyond when helping us find our home. She was always available and made it clear that our happiness was a priority for her. Having her there for our walkthroughs was a life saver — she pointed out things we wouldn’t have even thought to look at. She is wonderful to work with, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone."
Nathan I.
"LaDonna was extremely helpful, involved, and responsive in our purchase of a new home in Madison. She was especially diligent in communication and research, and helped us through the many complications of financing, inspections, and negotiating. A variety of surprises came up during the process, but she helped us stay on top of them, and ultimately get a great home!"
"LaDonna was extremely helpful, involved, and responsive in our purchase of a new home in Madison. She was especially diligent in communication and research, and helped us through the many complications of financing, inspections, and negotiating. A variety of surprises came up during the process, but she helped us stay on top of them, and ultimately get a great home!"
Kyle H.
"I've known Jacci for years and her level of commitment, industry knowledge, and genuine care and compassion for her clientele makes her the Best Realtor of choice! I have, and will continue to highly recommend!"
"I've known Jacci for years and her level of commitment, industry knowledge, and genuine care and compassion for her clientele makes her the Best Realtor of choice! I have, and will continue to highly recommend!"
Cheryl
"Jacci See is an outstanding Realtor! Her extensive knowledge in le real estate industry is second to none. She made the entire process stress free from beginning to end in our selling process. Pure in good hands with Jacci and she treats you like you're a art of her family. Give her a call, you'll be glad you did."
"Jacci See is an outstanding Realtor! Her extensive knowledge in le real estate industry is second to none. She made the entire process stress free from beginning to end in our selling process. Pure in good hands with Jacci and she treats you like you're a art of her family. Give her a call, you'll be glad you did."
David & Lisa S.
"Recommended going to another Bank which was quick and easy. She really worked hard to close the sale of my home and help with my search for a new one - I was thankful to have such a professional, resourceful, and thoughtful agent - she and her staff really took good care of me."
"Recommended going to another Bank which was quick and easy. She really worked hard to close the sale of my home and help with my search for a new one - I was thankful to have such a professional, resourceful, and thoughtful agent - she and her staff really took good care of me."
Kimberly C.
"Jacci is the consummate professional with years of knowledge and expertise. In this kind of market you want nothing less."
"Jacci is the consummate professional with years of knowledge and expertise. In this kind of market you want nothing less."
Tim & Patricia O.
"We were very impressed with the knowledge and experience of our realtor. Jacci is detail oriented and understands what key information is needed for us to make good decisions."
"We were very impressed with the knowledge and experience of our realtor. Jacci is detail oriented and understands what key information is needed for us to make good decisions."
Mary Lou & Christopher D.
"Jacci guided me through the whole process of selling a home from getting the house ready to sell (repairs, painting, and staging) to the closing. She also helped me look for a new place to live. I saw many great homes. Jacci is professional, knowledgeable and ready to help. I appreciate everything she did to help me."
"Jacci guided me through the whole process of selling a home from getting the house ready to sell (repairs, painting, and staging) to the closing. She also helped me look for a new place to live. I saw many great homes. Jacci is professional, knowledgeable and ready to help. I appreciate everything she did to help me."
Trisha L.
"It was a pleasure working with Jacci. I went through a very difficult personal loss during the sale of my home and the purchase of my new home. I was thinking of just renting an apartment for a while but Jacci had a great idea to recommend we see the Harbor House condos - it was just right for me - smaller size and cheaper than rent and ideal location. And when my lender had difficulty with the loan, she quickly."
"It was a pleasure working with Jacci. I went through a very difficult personal loss during the sale of my home and the purchase of my new home. I was thinking of just renting an apartment for a while but Jacci had a great idea to recommend we see the Harbor House condos - it was just right for me - smaller size and cheaper than rent and ideal location. And when my lender had difficulty with the loan, she quickly."
Buyer
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