Selling a Home in the DC area Today
If you are thinking about selling your home, we know you have many questions. How do you know the current market value of your home? What's staging all about and should I stage my home? Are home inspections something to worry about? There are so many moving parts to a home sale and it's important to have trusted guidance, open communication with your agent, and to work with a professional who is proactive and experienced. It is always our goal to exceed the expectations of our selling clients, and here's a quick look at some of the ways we do that.
10 Steps to Selling a Home
1. Find an experienced agent
When it comes to selling your home, the choice of your agent sets the tone for success. With our extensive knowledge and proven expertise, we are your essential partners throughout this journey. Having a team in your corner means you have the experience of every Banner Team member vested in your home selling success. The Banner Team is experienced in every corner of the DMV, and it is our collective goal to take as much stress out of this process as possible. We know that success doesn't just happen, but is a result of the careful orchestration of preparing a home, reading the market trends, and implementing a state-of-the-art selling plan that will reach the largest base of qualified buyers. Learn more about our qualifications and track record.
2. Consider repairs and improvements
3. Set the price right
Request a neighborhood sold report from the Banner Team, and you'll see the price ranges of homes that are similar to yours. Once we have had the opportunity to meet at your home and discuss our recommendations, we'll be able to accurately price your home to fetch the highest price and best terms of an offer. We look at homes that are comparable to yours, consider the value-add of painting, staging and updating the curb appeal, and use it to determine a competitive price that maximizes your return and minimizes time on the market. We will work together to consider the price of recently sold homes in DMV, homes currently on the market in your neighborhood, and the specifics of your home to set the right listing price.
4. Prepare your home
The importance of this step cannot be understated. You need to look at your home as a buyer will. If there is too much clutter, the buyer will focus on that and not the actual space, light and architecture your home offers. Work from your attic down to your basement and don't forget closets. We always advise clients to remove extra furniture so that every room has good traffic flow, to limit collections of things (so that buyers don't focus on them), and to make the home as neutral as possible. Buyers have to be able to envision themselves living in your home, so give every room a purpose. We'll work with you to stage your home so that the professional photos and videos we get highlight all of your home's best features.
5. Market your home
We have a full-time Marketing Director on staff who will work with your Banner Team agent in creating compelling marketing materials that convey to buyers the wonderful amenities your home offers. We know a buyer isn't just buying the sticks and mortar; they are buying a lifestyle. Our state-of-the-art marketing capitalizes on your home's indoor and outdoor space, the neighborhood features, and the experiences that await a new owner. We use every tool at our disposal to reach the most qualified buyers, including placing your home on all the website platforms, the leading luxury sites, social media marketing channels, beautiful custom print materials and networking to our industry partners.
6. Open your home to buyers
We'll discuss the options for showing your home prior to putting it on the market. We want to make it as easy as possible for buyers to see it, and there are secure ways to make that happen via an electronic lockbox. When your home is on the market, it's important to keep it "show ready", but we always try to provide you as much advance notice as possible. We are made aware of every showing request, will get approval from you, and then will follow up with the agent who has shown it for all feedback. We'll also discuss open houses with you prior to listing: both Broker Opens (to agents only) and public open houses. Both have their benefits, and we'll offer our recommendation on how they may work best for you.
7. Negotiate and accept an offer
How exciting! You've received an offer. Now put the Banner Team's negotiating expertise to work. Because every selling situation is unique, there is no "one size fits all" for what the best offer is. We will walk you through every detail; from the price, to any contingencies, to the closing date, and every other term of the contract so that you understand every detail. We will advise you on the best ways to counter an offer with a strategy that keeps you in the driver's seat while also keeping the buyer engaged. It is always up to you to accept or renegotiate, and we want you completely informed about the impact of any and all terms.
8. Ratify your offer
Once all the terms are agreed to by both buyer and seller, we have a ratified contract. There will be dates where an earnest money deposit (EMD) should be received, dates where contingencies expire, and dates for the final closing date. Our Banner Team Closing Coordinator will ensure that all t's are crossed, and all i's are dotted. We will coordinate the transfer of all of the contract details to the appropriate parties: to the buyer's agent, the title company, the brokerages, lenders (if any) and to you. Most importantly, YOU will be kept informed of every development at every stage.
9. Cooperate with due diligence
If a home inspection or appraisal is part of your ratified contract, all of these dates will be calendared. Any resulting negotiations will also be managed by your Banner Team agent and all paperwork ratified as an addendum to the contract.
10. Settlement Day!
Most buyers arrange for a pre-closing final walkthrough, where they'll have an opportunity to visit your home one last time before closing to ensure that it is in the same condition as when they offered to buy it, or that any home inspection items that were agreed upon have been completed. This is typically the same week as your closing. Otherwise, your Banner Team agent and Closing Coordinator will arrange to an agreed-upon closing date where you will sign the closing documents and deliver the keys. Sometimes this is held in person at the title company, sometimes a notary handles the paperwork remotely, but either way, once you've decided on the closing plan that works best for you, we'll make it happen. You'll be working the entire time in conjunction with a title company who will provide you with the proceeds from your sale in any form you'd like: wired to your bank or a check. Congratulations—you just sold your home!
Ready to Start Selling Your Home in DMV?
We’ll help you through every step of the home selling process, from staging and showing to marketing and negotiations. The Banner Team will work hard to provide you with a hassle-free selling experience.
Still have questions about selling your home? We’ve compiled some seller resources that will provide more information about the process and prepare you for the process of selling your home and moving forward with your next chapter!