Encompass Realty, San Diego County Real Estate Experts

List the repairs and projects you’ll have to do to get your home in selling condition and estimate the costs of hiring contractors and ordering supplies.
See what projects you can afford and adjust how much you expect to get for selling your home.
To get top dollar, consider remodeling projects and green upgrades that increase your home value.
Expect to pay about 7 percent to 10 percent of the home’s sale price in closing costs, including real estate agent commissions, transfer taxes and pro-rated property taxes.

Research public records and collect information on comparable homes in your area with similar square footage, construction, age, and condition that have sold within the past six months and are currently on the market. Your Encompass Realty sellers agent will help with this process.
Browse listings for homes for sale in your area to get a sense of what is on the market and current home prices.
Ask your agent to prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report.
Find out about new construction and foreclosures in your area.
Figure out the average cost per square foot for your area, and make sure your home is in line with it.
Evaluate market trends, including whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market.
Use your FMV to determine your asking price. Consider pricing strategies such as pricing low to urge a bidding war or Value Range Marketing.

Your Encompass Realty expert sellers agent will launch your personalized marketing plan
You will receive consistent communication as the marketing plan unfolds with updates on all of the results as well both potential buyer and agent feedback.

For each offer, note the proposed offer price, preapproval letter, contingencies, earnest money amount, proposed closing date, and offer expiry date.
Have a process in place if you expect to get multiple offers.
Keep emotions in check when receiving lowball offers.

Approach each offer as an opportunity to negotiate.
If the buyer’s offer is contingent on selling a home, counter with a Removal of Sale Contingency.
If you won’t budge on price, offer financial incentives that don’t require cash out of your pocket, such as paying for part or all of the buyer’s closing costs or completing repairs found during the property inspections.
Offer to include furniture, appliances, window treatments, or lighting fixtures.
If you’re worried you won’t be able to buy a home after you sell, include a “rent back” clause which lets you rent back your home from the buyers after escrow closes.
Make a full-price counteroffer, if your comps can back it up.
Make the sale contingent on you buying a home.
Don’t forget to set a closing date and move-in date.

Create a formal plan for handling home repairs, including when they should be made and who pays for them.
Clean and prepare the home for the appraisal and home inspections.
Choose an escrow officer who will order a title search, request payoff information for your mortgage and other liens on the home, prepare and record documents, hold and disburse funds, and prepare closing statements.
Prepare for the final walk-through inspection.
Sign the closing documents and move out of your home.
Keep copies of your documents for reporting the sale on federal and state tax forms.

SELLERS CHECKLIST