Trust your property to the experts.

Just as with buying, selling a home is one of the largest financial transactions most people will conduct in their lifetime, which is why 87% of sellers select an agent to be their guide¹.
Real estate agents know how to sell your home quickly and for the best price due to their knowledge of broader market trends and their familiarity with the sale prices of other similar houses nearby.

A skilled agent will:

• Help determine a market-competitive asking price
• Offer recommendations on how to prepare your home to attract attention
• Market your home to people who are most likely to buy your home 
• List your property on the Multiple Listing Service, so buyers can easily find it online
• Represent your needs as the seller and negotiate the best deal possible
• Help you navigate appraisals, inspections, home repairs, title, mortgage, home warranty, insurance, and more 
• Be readily available to take your calls and answer any questions

There are also significant financial advantages to using an agent:

• In 2021, home sales assisted by an agent had a median sales price $120,000 higher than homes offered for sale by the owner².
• Furthermore, the average Coldwell Banker® listed property sells for 20.7% higher than the National Association of REALTORS® average price³.
  You should contact an agent as soon as you begin considering selling as they will provide valuable recommendations before you list your home. Use our Agent Search to find a Coldwell Banker agent near you. 

Preparing Your Home for Sale

Your agent will assist you in preparing your home for sale, including recommendations for deep cleaning, decluttering, handling cosmetic maintenance issues and fixing any known problems with the home. 

If you are not already working with one of our agents, you can find one here. During this time your agent will additionally help you gather all the paperwork that you will need to expedite the closing once you have an acceptable offer.

Determining an Asking Price

There are many factors that impact the list price of a home: location, condition, amenities, supply and demand, as well as local and global market conditions. Your agent can provide a thorough market analysis of your home so you will be able to come up with a realistic, competitive pricing strategy.

Receiving Offers

When an offer is presented, your agent will help you negotiate the best possible price and terms. The offer procedure and paperwork vary by region, and your agent will walk you through what is needed such as ensuring the buyer is pre-qualified. Your agent will promote your interests and assist in developing a clear and binding transaction.

Typically, an offer is initiated through the buyer’s agent and includes the following information:

• The amount the buyer is willing to pay
• Mortgage amount, if any
• Desired closing and occupancy dates
• Contingencies, such as mortgage commitment and requested inspections, such as termite, pest, radon, water portability, well, lead, septic and oil tank
• Any personal property specifically included or excluded

If the offer is not acceptable to you, further negotiations may be necessary to reach terms that are agreeable to you and the buyer. Because counteroffers are common (any change in the offer can be considered a counteroffer) it is important that you remain in close contact with your agent during the negotiation process so that proposed changes can be reviewed and responded to quickly.

Accepting an Offer

Once you have an accepted offer, you will go to contract. Your agent will be an invaluable asset at this stage and will work closely with you on writing the contract, determining down payments required, managing inspection contingency dates and other aspects of the transaction.
In some areas of the U.S., a lawyer may be required or advisable, so where applicable, the seller will work through their lawyer to negotiate the sales contract once an offer has been accepted.

What to Expect at Closing

Closing is a formal process where all parties sign the necessary paperwork needed to complete the sale and the title to the property is transferred from you to the buyer; they receive the house keys, and you receive payment for the house. From the amount credited to you, the title representative subtracts the funds to pay off the existing mortgage and other transaction costs. Deeds, loan papers and other documents are prepared, signed and ultimately filed with the local property record office.

Intelligent pricing is one of the most critical aspects of a successful sale – no matter how perfect your home is, you’ll miss out on potential buyers if its price doesn’t align with similar properties selling in your market. Your Coldwell Banker® affiliated agent will thoroughly assess your home and optimally price it in relation to market factors and local competition to generate the most interest from buyers and their agents.

Your agent will prepare comparative market analysis (CMA), a report that pulls data from sales activity in your area and offers intelligence on homes similar to yours. The CMA will be used to establish an ideal listing price that both meets your financial needs and appeals to buyers.

Key CMA data includes:

• Comparable properties in your area that recently sold and failed to sell
• Pending sales in your area
• Comparable active listings in your area

Throughout the selling process you are likely to receive competing offers or offers below your asking price. Your Coldwell Banker® affiliated agent will leverage your input and their expertise to negotiate on your behalf, building the strongest possible case for your home to secure top dollar.