What Does A Realtor® Do To Sell Your Home?
Being a Realtor® isn’t as easy as it might look and there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to arrive at a successful closing.
What Does A Realtor® Do To Sell Your Home?
Being a Realtor® isn’t as easy as it might look and there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to arrive at a successful closing. So what exactly does a Realtor® do during a transaction to sell your home? While no two transactions are the same this list provides a general idea of what your agent is doing to get you to a smooth settlement. This list is not all inclusive nor does every item always apply to every transaction. Different agents provide different levels of service and this list was designed to show services and tasks that a full service agent typically provides.
1. Set a listing appointment with the seller
2. Email or call seller to confirm listing appointment
3. Research comparable currently listed properties
4. Research average days on market for homes comparable to the subject property
5. Research sales activity in the neighborhood where the subject property is listed
6. Pull tax record for subject property
7. Prepare current market analysis (CMA) for subject property
8. Research type of ownership for subject property
9. Research lot size and dimensions
10. Research legal description
11. Verify legal name(s) of owner(s) on tax record
12. Determine if home needs a lead based paint disclosure completed
13. Prepare listing presentation
14. Drive by subject property to assess exterior condition
15. Take photo of exterior to include with listing presentation
16. Create office file for subject property
17. Research schools that are currently associated with the property
18. Complete listing appointment checklist to verify all documents have been gathered for seller
19. Provide seller with an overview of the current market conditions
20. Provide seller with market projections
21. Provide seller with overview of credentials and how agent operates, including agents normal work hours
22. Present seller with the CMA and review comparable homes, recent solds, current and expired listings
23. Review pricing strategy based off CMA findings and professional expertise
24. Review goals with sellers
25. Explain the multiple listing service and why they want their home listed there
26. Explain other marketing sites such as Zillow, Homes.com, Realtor.com
27. Explain what will take place behind the scenes to prepare the marketing for the home
28. Explain the hours the agent works, weekend availability, and if any other members from the brokerage will be in contact with the seller
29. Present and review marketing plan for subject property
30. Determine if any portion of the home is rented – if so obtain and review lease, discuss giving tenant notice to vacate
31. Review the listing agreement, addendums, and disclosures with seller
32. Have seller sign listing agreement, addendums, and disclosures
33. Measure square footage of home
34. Measure interior room sizes
35. Request copy of survey from owner to verify lot size
36. Discuss showing instructions and times with seller
37. Prepare showing instructions for buyer agents
38. Obtain current mortgage and loan information from seller
39. Verify loan information including payoff balances with lender(s)
40. Obtain homeowner association information if applicable
41. Verify homeowner association fees
42. Order homeowner association resale packet
43. Obtain names of utilities companies associated with property from seller
44. Calculate average utility usage
45. Determine if home is on septic or sewer
46. Determine if home is on public water or a well
47. Discuss with seller if home has security or recording system
48. Prepare a conveyances list to include with MLS listing
49. Prepare a list of community amenities
50. Prepare list of any recent updates to subject property
51. Provide seller with a list of pre-listing recommendations to include repairs
52. Provide seller with suggestions to improve curb appeal
53. Provide seller with suggestions to improve interior décor, recommend professional staging if needed
54. Review home warranty pros/cons with seller
55. Help sellers complete home warranty application
56. Obtain key for lockbox from seller
57. Install lockbox
58. Place request for sign post installation
59. Install sign panel and/or riders after post installation
60. Install exterior flyer box
61. Request professional photography appointment
62. Meet photographer for photos
63. Input listing into MLS
64. Proofread MLS listing for accuracy
65. Add property to coming soon
66. Provide seller with electronic copies of signed listing agreement and all addendums
67. Sort through photos and select the top 30 for the MLS
68. Upload photos to MLS
69. Create video or slideshow with all additional photos
70. Create interior home flyer
71. Create exterior home flyer
72. Print all flyers
73. Visit home to place interior/exterior flyers
74. Create internet marketing – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Blog, Craigslist
75. Setup listing with showing service including showing instructions and best point of contact
76. Input listing to company website
77. Notify database of existing buyers of the coming soon listing
78. Research surrounding homes to mail Just Listed postcards too
79. Create Just Listed postcards
80. Order Just Listed postcards
81. Print out mailing address labels
82. Purchase postage for Just Listed postcards
83. Label, stamp, and mail Just Listed postcards
84. Review activity in neighborhood regularly to ensure property remains competitive – price, terms, condition
85. Reprint/drop off more flyers at home as needed
86. Contact buyer agents that have shown home to ask for feedback
87. Provide seller with feedback on a weekly basis
88. Provide seller with number of showings on a weekly basis
89. Discuss weekly with seller if any changes are needed
90. Enter any price changes into MLS promptly
91. Receive and review all purchase contracts
92. Evaluate price and terms in all purchase contracts and prepare a net sheet for seller
93. Confirm the offer has a pre-approval letter included
94. Contact buyers loan officer to verify financing
95. Assist seller with understanding all the details of an offer – review pros and cons
96. Prepare counteroffer for seller
97. Have seller sign counteroffer
98. Negotiate on sellers behalf
99. Arrive at agreeable terms for both buyer and seller
100. Verify both buyer and seller have signed, initialed, and dated in all required locations of contract and addendums
101. Ratify contract
102. Submit ratified contract to the title company
103. Send seller copy of ratified contract and all addendums
104. Complete contract submission paperwork to brokerage
105. Deliver homeowners association resale packet to buyer’s agent
106. Have acknowledgement of receipt signed by buyer
107. Order termite, septic, or well inspection if applicable
108. Send inspection results to buyer’s agent
109. Send termite inspection results to title company
110. Coordinate scheduling home inspection with buyer’s agent and seller(s)
111. Review home inspection report
112. Review home inspection repair requests if applicable
113. Advise seller on how to respond to repair requests
114. Ensure response from seller to home inspection requests are delivered within contingency deadline
115. Have seller sign off on final agreed upon terms for home inspection contingency removal
116. Provide seller with buyer signed home inspection contingency removal form
117. Make recommendations for contractors to make repairs
118. Assist seller in meeting contractors if needed
119. Oversee completion of all repairs and obtain receipts from seller
120. Coordinate appointment with appraiser
121. Meet appraiser at home to complete visit for appraisal
122. Provide appraiser with comparable sales and any updates that have been done to the home
123. If appraisal comes in low review report with seller and advise on disputing report or renegotiating the terms of the contract with the buyer
124. Confirm buyer’s earnest money check was deposited
125. Check in with buyer’s lender to verify financing remains on deadline
126. Manage financing contingency deadline for seller
127. Request buyer’s agent submit signed financing contingency when due
128. Coordinate time and location for closing
129. Confirm time and location for closing with all parties
130. Ensure buyer has final loan approval
131. Ensure the title company has all of the closing documents
132. Ask seller to contact utility companies to have service taken out of their name the day
after closing to avoid any gap in service for the buyer
133. Coordinate date and time for buyer’s final walk through
134. Provide all home inspection repair item receipts to buyer’s agent prior to walk through
135. Review final closing figures prior to closing with seller
136. Provide home warranty information to buyer’s agent if applicable
137. Ask seller to bring a voided check for the account they would like their proceeds wired too
138. Coordinate settlement of home seller is purchasing if applicable
139. Attend settlement with seller or on their behalf if they have signed in advance
140. Reply to any questions or concerns after settlement
Attention to detail is imperative during a real estate transaction. It takes extensive knowledge, organization, and experience to achieve a successful sale. A Realtor® provides value to their clients in many different ways but, the key is to hire the right Realtor® to represent your best interests. Like most things not all agents are created equal and when it comes to handling what is likely one of your biggest investments you want to work with a local expert who you trust.
Amanda Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group
Broker - Owner
Licensed in VA and DC6485 Old Beulah Street
Alexandria, VA 22315Cell: 703.431.3755
Fax: 703.562.7057
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