Before Listing
Below is a list of all of the actions a realtor takes to buy or sell a home for our clients. We work hard to make sure your find your dream home and start building your legacy.
- Make appointment with seller for The Seely Group Buyer/Seller presentation
- Send seller a confirmation email of listing appointment and call to confirm
- Prepare pre-appointment questions
- Research all currently listed comps
- Review sales activity from Local MLS Broker Marketplaces and public records databases
- Assess Average Days on Market for property of this type, price range, and location
- Prepare property tax roll/assessor information
- Analyze preliminary Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) to establish fair market value
- Request copy of subdivision plat/complex lay-out
- Document property’s ownership and deed type
- Request property’s public record information for lot size and dimensions
Presentation
- Discuss client’s privacy needs and if this will be an off-market listing
- Present seller with an overview of current market conditions and projections
- Tour the client’s property that they’d like to sell
- Review agent’s and company’s credentials and accomplishments in the market
- Present company’s profile and position or niche in the marketplace
- Explain preliminary CMA to seller, including comparable properties, sold properties, current listings, and expired listings
- Offer pricing strategy with updates to CMA based on tour of home and updates, upgrades professional judgment, and current market conditions
- Discuss goals with seller to market their property
- Review The Seely Group Concierge Program with client
- Coordinate repairs and renovations ordered through the Concierge Program
- Explain market power and benefits of Local MLS Broker Marketplaces
- Discuss market power of web marketing, IDX and REALTOR.com
- Present the work you do behind the scenes and your availability on weekends
- Explain role in screening for qualified buyers and protect seller from curiosity seekers
- Present and discuss strategic custom marketing plan
- Explain transaction/agency brokerage relationship
- Review and explain all clauses in listing contract and addendum, then obtain seller’s signature once property is under listing agreement
- Review current title information
- Double check footage/measure overall and heated square footage as required
- Measure interior room sizes and compare to sizes previously documented
- Confirm lot size via owner’s copy of certified survey, if available
- Note all unrecorded property liens, agreements, easements
- Obtain house plans, if applicable and available
- Review house plans and make copy
- Prepare showing instructions for buyers’ agents and showing times with seller
- Discuss possible buyer financing alternatives and options with seller like Assumable Rate Mortgages
- Review current appraisal if available
Presentation (Continued)
- Identify Homeowner Association manager if applicable
- Verify Homeowner Association Fees with manager—mandatory or optional, plus fees
- Request copy of Homeowner Association bylaws, if applicable
- Research electricity availability, supplier’s name, and phone number
- Have utility companies provide average utility usage from last 12 months of bills
- Research and verify city sewer/septic tank system
- Calculate average water fees or rates from last 12 months of bills
- Confirm well status, depth and output from Well Report
- Natural Gas: Research/verify availability, supplier’s name, and phone number
- Verify security system, current terms of service and whether owned or leased
- Verify if seller has transferable Termite Bond
- Review Your Home Sold Guarantee with client
- Ascertain need for lead-based paint disclosure
- Prepare detailed list of property amenities and assess market impact
- Stage property and have professional photos taken
- Prepare detailed list of property’s inclusions and conveyances with sale
- Compile list of completed repairs and maintenance items
- Send vacancy checklist to seller if property is vacant and register the property with the township
- Mail out Just Listed notice to all neighborhood residents
- Advise The Seely Group network referral program of listing
- Provide marketing data to buyers through international relocation network buyers
- Provide marketing data to buyers coming from referral network
- Promote listing through multi-channel custom marketing plan
- Submit ads to digital network
- Have the property Certified Pre-Owned
- Price changes conveyed promptly to all relevant locations
- Reprint/supply brochures promptly as needed
- Feedback e-mails sent to buyers’ agents after showings
- Review weekly market study
- Discuss with sellers any feedback from showings to determine if changes are needed
- Set up marketing reports on showing-time application and company website
- Place regular weekly update calls to seller to discuss marketing and pricing
Accept An Offer
- Receive and review all Offer to Purchase contracts submitted by buyers’ agents.
- Present multiple cash offers to client
- Evaluate offer(s) and prepare a net sheet for the owner for comparison purposes
- Explain merits and weakness of each offer to sellers
- Contact buyers’ agents to review buyer’s qualifications and discuss offer
- If representing the buyer, discuss buyer programs like Buy Before You Sell, Multiple Preferred Lenders, and Free Trust
- Deliver Seller’s Disclosure to buyer upon request and prior to offer if possible. Upload to the Local MLS Broker Marketplaces additional documents at time of listing
- Confirm buyer is pre-qualified
- Obtain buyers’ pre-qualification letter from loan officer if not submitted with offer
- Negotiate all offers per seller’s direction on seller’s behalf, set time limit for loan approval and closing
- Prepare and convey counteroffers, acceptance or amendments to buyer’s agent
- Create excel spreadsheets for easy review on multiple bids
- Email or send copies of contract and all addendum’s to the closing attorney or title company
- When Offer to Purchase contract is accepted, deliver to buyer’s agent
Under Contract
- Record and promptly deposit buyer’s earnest money in escrow account
- Disseminate under-contract showing restrictions as seller requests
- Deliver copies of fully signed Offer to Purchase contract to seller
- Deliver copies of Offer to Purchase contract to lender
- Provide copies of signed Offer to Purchase contract for office file
- Advise seller of additional offers submitted between contract and closing
- Change status to sale pending in all relevant locations online
- Update transaction management program to show Sale Pending
- Provide credit report information to seller if property will be seller-financed
- Assist buyer with obtaining financing, if applicable, and follow-up as necessary
- Coordinate with lender on discount points being locked in with dates
- Update all relevant locations of Under Contract status
Inspections
- Deliver unrecorded property information to buyer
- Order septic system inspection, if applicable
- Receive and review septic system report, and assess any possible impact on sale
- Deliver copy of septic system inspection report lender and buyer
- Deliver Well Flow Test Report copies to lender and buyer, and property listing file
- Verify termite inspection ordered
- Verify mold inspection ordered, if required
- Confirm verifications of deposit and buyer’s employment have been returned
- Follow loan processing through to the underwriter
- Add lender and other vendors to your management program so agents, buyer, and seller can track progress of sale
- Contact lender weekly to ensure processing is on track
- Relay final approval of buyer’s loan application to seller
- Coordinate with seller for buyer’s professional home inspection
- Review home inspector’s report
- Enter completion into transaction management tracking program
- Explain seller’s responsibilities, and recommend an attorney interpret any clauses in the contract
- Ensure seller’s compliance with Home Inspection Clause requirements
- Assist seller with identifying contractors to perform any required repairs
- Negotiate payment, and oversee all required repairs on seller’s behalf, if needed
Appraisals
- Schedule appraisal to document value of the property, if applicable
- Provide to appraiser any comparable sales used in market pricing
- Follow-up on appraisal
- Present appraisal to client
Closing
- Enter completion into transaction management program
- Assist seller in questioning appraisal report if it seems too low
- Get contract signed by all parties
- Coordinate closing process with buyer’s agent and lender
- Update closing forms and files
- Ensure all parties have all forms and information needed to close the sale
- Select location where closing will be held
- Confirm closing date and time, and notify all parties
- Assist in solving any title problems or in obtaining death certificates
- Work with buyer’s agent in scheduling buyer’s final walk-thru prior to closing
- Double check all tax, homeowners’ association dues, utility, and applicable prorations
- Request final closing figures from closing agent (attorney or title company)
- Receive and carefully review closing figures to ensure accuracy of preparation
- Confirm buyer and buyer’s agent have received title insurance commitment
- Provide homeowners warranty for availability at closing
- Forward closing documents to absentee seller as requested
- Review documents with closing agent (attorney)
- Coordinate closing with seller’s next purchase, and resolve any timing problems
- Have a no-surprises closing so seller receives a net-proceeds check at closing
- Refer sellers to one of the best agents at their destination, if applicable
- Change status to Sold on all applicable locations. Enter sale date, price, selling broker, etc.
After Closing
- Share the warranty paperwork for claims in the future
- Attempt to clarify and resolve any conflicts about repairs if buyer is not satisfied
- Respond to any calls and provide any information required from office files
- If a rental, verify all deposits and prorated rents are reflected accurately on the closing statement
- Close out listing in your management program
- Invite client to join the Burgundy List
- Request a review and testimonial from the client