Selling a Home

Working with a REALTOR^® can help you sell your home quickly, efficiently and for the best price.  It may be tempting to try to sell your home yourself, but research shows that without a REALTOR^® , for-sale-by-owner properties sell for about twenty six (26) percent less than properties listed by a REALTOR^®.  REALTORS^® not only help sellers get a higher price for their property, they bring significant experience and knowledge to the transaction to help their seller's throughout their home selling journey.  Here's a look at all the things — big and small — that an agent who is a REALTOR^® may do to help clients when buying and selling a home.  You know you earn every penny you get when you sell a home. This list can help you understand all the value your REALTOR^® will bring to your transaction and the benefit of having a trusted REALTOR^® by your side while you sell your home. REALTOR^® Value Brochure:  English  Español

Before beginning your home selling journey, you’ll want to find a REALTOR^® with insight into local market conditions and who will be able to guide you through the process, explain the technicalities in the final contract and answer your questions along the way.  Selling your home is one of the largest financial decisions you will make.  While selling your home can be stressful, with preparation and a valued REALTOR^® by your side, it can be an exciting and rewarding experience.

While many consumers believe the term “REALTOR^®” refers to all real estate agents, it refers exclusively to real estate professionals who belong to the National Association of REALTORS^®. As members of NAR, REALTORS^® subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics that goes above and beyond the requirements of state licensing law. REALTORS^® are dedicated to protecting consumers, guiding homebuyers and sellers and supporting their local communities.  Our REALTORS^® are dedicated to helping consumers build wealth while staying protected.  The first step to selling your home efficiently and for the best price is to find a REALTOR^® who understands your goals.  

Don't be afraid to interview a few REALTORS^® to help you find the REALTOR^® that is right for you!  Here are some sample interview questions to help get you started.  Keep in mind, you should also inquire about their experience in the geographic area where you are selling your property as well as the property types you are looking to sell.  Central and Eastern Oregon are unique and the markets our members serve can be very different.  Are you ready to start your home selling journey? Find your REALTOR^® today! Find a REALTOR^®

When you find the right REALTOR^® for you, you’ll sign a listing agreement. This agreement gives them authority to market your home, install a lockbox, show your home to potential buyers and represent you when selling your home. It should include some specifics like a general list of services, the fee and payment structure and how long the agreement will last. 

Developing a strategy helps ensure your home sells for the best price according to your ideal selling timeline. Discussing your goals and interests with your REALTOR^® can help you both come up with a strategy that best supports you during the homeselling process. This strategy will likely include these steps:

• Estimating Your Listing Price- Work with your REALTOR^® to establish the best listing price for your home. This allows you to estimate your homeselling timeline to plan your next steps. Your REALTOR^® will likely complete a comparative market analysis to compare your property to similar properties in the area. This information helps you both price your property accurately.
• Create a Selling Timeline- How quickly do you want to sell your home? Do you have a place to live once your home is sold, or are you also looking to buy or rent at the same time? Consider these important factors when developing your selling timeline. Discuss all of your goals with your REALTOR^® to ensure you’re both on the same page.
• Determine Next Steps- Once you have a listing price and a timeline, talk with your REALTOR^® about your next steps. This may include ways to prepare your home for selling, including decluttering, cleaning or making minor repairs.

Obtaining a pre-sale inspection can be beneficial in some scenarios, particularly if you are looking at making some repairs prior to selling.  Discuss this process with your trusted REALTOR^® to determine if a pre-sale inspection is a good next step for you.  A home inspection assesses:

• Condition of windows and doors
• Level or unlevel floors and their condition
• Plumbing condition and evidence of leaks
• Signs of moisture
• Condition of foundation and structural elements of the structure
• Status of the roof
• Visible electrical wiring condition
• Heating and cooling system status and age.

Are you looking for a home inspector?  Ask your REALTOR^® or check out our list of home inspectors.  Don't be afraid to interview several inspectors to find the right home inspector for you!  Here are some sample questions to help you interview home inspectors. Find an Affiliate

Before your property is listed for sale, you must complete the Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement. This form discloses known defects and conditions on your property. The seller’s disclosure form covers all details of the property (type of property, type of roofing, heating and cooling systems, etc.) and whether there are any known defects to each element. State law requires sellers to complete this form.  Ask your REALTOR^® for this form.

When selling your home, you'll want it to look presentable and clean for photos and showings.  Ask your REALTOR^® how you can prepare for sale, as different homes may require additional preparation depending on the overall condition. Check out this Homeselling Checklist for items to consider and to discuss with your valued REALTOR^®. 

The majority of buyers search for homes online, so high-quality photos are extremely important for showing off your home and attracting buyers. Your Realtor will help coordinate professional photographs to showcase your home’s best features. 

Now that you have prepared your home and completed the necessary paperwork, your property is ready to be listed for sale.  Your REALTOR^® will list you home on the Multiple Listing Service where other REALTORS^® and their buyers can view the details and determine whether they would like to see more.  

There are two ways your REALTOR^® may suggest showing your home: private showings and open houses. 

Private showings are a great option for prospective buyers to view your home. Typically, they’ll schedule a time to view your home with their real estate agent. Private showings allow prospective buyers to take their time to go through each room.

Open houses are usually scheduled for a few hours on weekends. They allow prospective buyers to enter your home and walk through at their own pace. Hosting an open house can let multiple prospective buyers see the property at once. Ask your REALTOR^® how to prepare for and schedule an open house.

 Here are some great tips to get and keep your home show ready throughout the listing period.  

When prospective buyers want to make an offer on your home, they’ll send an offer and any other necessary documents to you through your REALTOR^®. Your REALTOR^® will help you review all of the offers and prioritize them, considering contingencies, lending requirements and requests from buyers.

Once both parties agree to the offer, it’s time to close the deal. However, there are several steps to complete before you sell your home, such as the appraisal, title search and buyer inspections. Your REALTOR^® will help you coordinate these.

Additionally, the buyer may be contractually entitled to one or two final walkthroughs with their agent before buying your home. If everything goes as planned, your REALTOR® will work with the title company to coordinate the document signing for all parties to verify both you and the buyer have met the terms of the purchase agreement. Once those terms are met, funds will be paid, the title will be transferred and the deed will be recorded. Your REALTOR® will help you collect the sale proceeds via a predetermined method. Congratulations, you’ve sold your home!