process
The Selling
How do I sell a home?
Selling a home is an intimidating, confusing, exciting and rewarding process. We'll work with you every step of the way.
1
step
Call an agent: Working with The Agent Creative to sell your home will not only save you time and headaches but also will make the home selling process enjoyable and rewarding for all involved.
2
step
Determine a price: Based on market data and The Agent Creative's knowledge of the area, you will be able to set a fair value for your home.
3
step
Prepare your home for sale: The Agent Creative will identify to-do items and home staging to make your home as desirable for potential buyers as possible
4
step
Create a Marketing Plan : The Agent Creative will present an extensive marketing plan that includes out-of-the box ideas to draw attention to your home and get it sold quickly
5
step
Negotiate a contract: The Agent Creative will negotiate offers on your behalf to secure price and terms you desire.
6
step
Address the inspection: The Agent Creative will review with you the buyer’s inspection and guide you through needed repairs.
7
step
Close the sale: The Agent Creative will advise you on the closing process and any documentation you need to secure.
questions
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What's the first step of the home buying process?Getting a pre-approval letter from a lender to: - Let you know how much you can borrow and prevent disappointment caused by falling in love with unaffordable homes. - Show how much money is required for the down payment and closing costs. - Demonstrate that you are a serious buyer to both your real estate agent and the person selling their home.
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How long does it take to buy a home?Under normal market conditions, the average time to complete the sale of a home is 30 to 45 days, giving you enough time for due diligence and get a loan completed.
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What is a "Seller's Market"?"In a seller's market, increasing demand for homes drives up prices. Here are some of the drivers of demand: - Economic factors - Interest rates trending downward - A short-term spike in interest - Low inventory
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What is a "Buyer's Market"?"A buyer’s market is characterized by declining home prices and reduced demand. - Economic disruption - Interest rates trending higher - Short-term drop in interest rates - High inventory - Natural disasters
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How much do I have to pay an agent to help me buy a house?Home buyers are responsible for paying an agent to represent them when buying a home. However, listing agents represent sellers and charge a fee to represent them and market the property. When the home is sold, the listing agent will typically split the listing fee with the buyer’s agent. Thus, buyers may have their agent fees covered by the listing agent.
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How much do I need for a down payment?The national average for down payments is 11%, though first time homebuyers usually only put down 3 to 5% on a home. Conventional loans often require more and are typically taken out by repeat buyers who could use equity from their existing home as a source of down payment funds. There are also programs that can take the down payment even lower, depending on circumstances.
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How many homes should I see before buying one?That’s up to you! The ability to search for homes online and see pictures, even before setting a foot outside the comfort of your living room, has completely changed the home buying game. Convenience is at an all-time high. But, nothing beats visiting a home to see how it looks and ‘feels’ in person. The Agent Creative will help arrange and be with you on these visits.
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How do I know if I'm getting a good deal?While there’s no crystal ball, the best way is to work with The Agent Creative to check out comparable sales and whether those prices have been going up or down in the recent past
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What is earnest money?When you make an offer on a home, you'll need to provide a “deposit” to accompany it, typically 1% to 2% of the purchase price. Earnest money is made in good faith to demonstrate – to the seller – that the buyer’s offer is genuine.
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How long can the seller take to respond to my offer?Your written offer will stipulate the timeframe in which the seller should respond. A typical timeframe is 24 hours after the offer is submitted.
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Should I get a home inspection?Yes! While not always required, home inspections are highly recommended because they can reveal defects in the home that are not easily detected. Home inspections bring peace of mind to one of the biggest investments of a lifetime.
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Can I back out if I change my mind?While buyers can always back out of a deal, doing so without good reason, or outside what is stipulated in the contract, may forfeit your earnest money.
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Do I need to do a final walkthrough?The Agent Creative always recommends and provides a final walkthrough. This gives us the chance to make sure all requested repairs have been made and nothing has changed since the contract was executed. You, as the buyer, can choose to be present if you wish.