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Seller's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time Seller's Guide

Putting your home on the market can be a stressful process, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, with the help of an experienced team of real estate agents and this easy to follow guide, you can smoothly complete the process. Following these steps will help you prepare so you can get organized and sell your home for the best price possible.​​​​​​​

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Step 1: Understand Why You're Selling

What do you want to accomplish with the sale of your home? Do you want to make a certain amount of money that you can put toward a larger or nicer home? Do you need to sell it as soon as possible to facilitate a move to a new city or area? Once you understand your needs, you can better craft your offer. For example, if you need to sell quickly, you might want to price your home lower than if your goal is to make a certain profit margin. Make sure you convey these needs to your team of real estate agents once you choose one so they can adjust your selling price accordingly.

 

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Step 2: Determine Selling Price

Knowing how to price your home is one of the most important parts of the selling process. When you set a fair price in the beginning, you’ll get the most interest from other real estate agents and prospective buyers. Overpricing your home could lead to reduced interest, and underpricing leads to receiving less than what your home is worth. Working with a team of real estate agents is the best way to determine the right selling price for your home. A team of real estate agents with experience can determine what other comparable homes are selling for, evaluate the current market, and may even suggest a home appraisal.

 

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Step 3: Start Preparations

If you’ve kept your home in showroom condition since you’ve lived in it, you’re in the minority of homeowners. Once you price your home, it’s time to start getting it ready to be shown to potential buyers. This includes getting rid of clutter, depersonalizing the space so that buyers can envision themselves in the space, making any small repairs, and doing a deep clean to make sure your home is in pristine condition.

 

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Step 4: Develop a Marketing Strategy

We will develop a marketing strategy that is perfect for advertising your home. This involves listing the home and then driving the right people to that listing through social media campaigns, agent-to-agent referrals, traditional media, or SEO advertising. Our team creates a marketing campaign that aims to get the most possible traffic to your listing in the first three weeks after becoming a client.

 

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Step 5: Evaluate Offers

Receiving an offer is an exciting part of the process, but it doesn’t mean the journey is over. We will evaluate each offer and make sure the party making the offer is prequalified or pre-approved by a mortgage lender and that their offer is acceptable to you. If the offer is too low, you can make a counter-offer or offer other ways to bridge the gap, such as covering some or all of the closing costs, making repairs, adjusting the move-in date, or leaving some appliances or fixtures for the new buyer.

 

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Step 6: Accept an Offer

Once we deem the offer is acceptable, we will review the proposed contract to make sure it’s all in order and includes the necessary components such as deposit amount, down payment, financing, inspection rights and repair allowances, contingencies, settlement date, and a list of fees and who will pay them. When both parties have agreed to the term, a final contract will be prepared by your team of real estate agents.

 

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Step 7: Get Ready to Close

You have accepted an offer and are now very close to the end of your selling journey. But first, you and the buyer must make a list of what needs to be done before closing. In some cases, your home may need to be formally inspected, surveyed, and appraised. In other cases, major or minor repairs will need to be made before the house can close. We will head up efforts to develop and execute this list, get each action item paid for by the correct party, and make sure everything is in order by the closing date. A few days before the closing date, we will call the company closing the transaction to make sure everything is ready to go. If you haven’t done so already, you also need to make arrangements to move out of the home so the new buyer can take possession.

 

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Step 8: Close

You’ve reached the last step in the seller’s process. When you close on a home you are selling, you are legally transferring ownership of the property to the new buyer. We will meet with the company closing the transaction to sign the final paperwork and go over any issues that have not yet been taken care of. During this time, you can also make plans with your team of real estate agents to handle final details such as canceling utilities, cable, and lawn or trash services, changing the name on accounts that the new owner is retaining and ensuring the new owner has instructions for all appliances that will remain in the home.

 

Congratulations!

Once you have sold your home, you’re free to take the next step on your journey. Whether this is relocating to a new city, moving into a larger home, or downsizing and enjoying your life as empty-nesters, knowing all your selling responsibilities have been taken care of will help you achieve peace of mind for your new path.

See Why Our Clients Love Us

Testimonials

Read what our clients have to say about working with us.

"Working with Mike and Eric was an absolute pleasure. Their professionalism, expertise, and dedication impressed us from the first meeting to the final closing. They took the time to understand our needs and financial goals, making us confident in their commitment to our best interests. Throughout the selling process, both Mike and Eric demonstrated a keen understanding of local market trends and crafted a strategy that maximized the value of our property. Their attention to detail was remarkable, and they went the extra mile to present our house in the best possible light to potential buyers. During the buying process, their strong negotiation skills shone through as they patiently helped us find a home that perfectly fit our needs and very specific location preferences. Their expertise in real estate transactions resulted in a purchase price well within our budget for a home that surpassed our expectations. Beyond their professional skills, Mike's and Eric's excellent communication made us feel valued as clients. We wholeheartedly recommend them for their passion, professionalism, and dedication. Thanks to their exceptional guidance, our home-buying journey was seamless and rewarding. We are grateful for their outstanding service and will gladly refer them to anyone in need."
"Working with Mike and Eric was an absolute pleasure. Their professionalism, expertise, and dedication impressed us from the first meeting to the final closing. They took the time to understand our needs and financial goals, making us confident in their commitment to our best interests. Throughout the selling process, both Mike and Eric demonstrated a keen understanding of local market trends and crafted a strategy that maximized the value of our property. Their attention to detail was remarkable, and they went the extra mile to present our house in the best possible light to potential buyers. During the buying process, their strong negotiation skills shone through as they patiently helped us find a home that perfectly fit our needs and very specific location preferences. Their expertise in real estate transactions resulted in a purchase price well within our budget for a home that surpassed our expectations. Beyond their professional skills, Mike's and Eric's excellent communication made us feel valued as clients. We wholeheartedly recommend them for their passion, professionalism, and dedication. Thanks to their exceptional guidance, our home-buying journey was seamless and rewarding. We are grateful for their outstanding service and will gladly refer them to anyone in need."
Mike & Shuvi P.
"Listing with the team of Mike Pavone and Eric Kinzler, was a great experience. Their combined expertise was amazing. They navigated us through the process with ease. Everything went so smoothly. They were good at problem-solving and resolving issues as they came up. Couldn’t have been more happy with our sale. You won’t be disappointed with either."
"Listing with the team of Mike Pavone and Eric Kinzler, was a great experience. Their combined expertise was amazing. They navigated us through the process with ease. Everything went so smoothly. They were good at problem-solving and resolving issues as they came up. Couldn’t have been more happy with our sale. You won’t be disappointed with either."
Joseph A.
"From Day 1, Mike and his team were engaged and always quick to respond to questions/concerns. They made smart recommendations as to what projects to complete, in order to maximize the appeal of our home to prospective buyers. Very professional and friendly! They made the daunting home-selling process easy for us novices to understand. Guided us throughout the entire process! There's a saying that goes "You get what you pay for" and with Mike and his Team - if anything, we feel like they provided us even more value than what we did end up paying for. Not only are they "Our" choice in realtors but we now count them as good friends! Our only regret is that they aren't licensed in South Carolina to assist us down here! If / when we do move back to the PNW I can guarantee you they will be our first phone call!"
"From Day 1, Mike and his team were engaged and always quick to respond to questions/concerns. They made smart recommendations as to what projects to complete, in order to maximize the appeal of our home to prospective buyers. Very professional and friendly! They made the daunting home-selling process easy for us novices to understand. Guided us throughout the entire process! There's a saying that goes "You get what you pay for" and with Mike and his Team - if anything, we feel like they provided us even more value than what we did end up paying for. Not only are they "Our" choice in realtors but we now count them as good friends! Our only regret is that they aren't licensed in South Carolina to assist us down here! If / when we do move back to the PNW I can guarantee you they will be our first phone call!"
Dale & Jodi
"Eric did an incredible job selling my house, and also with finding my new house. With both transactions he kept me informed every step of the way, and was always available, no matter the time or day, to answer my questions. Throughout the entire process, Eric kept to the timeline he laid out. If you’re looking for an agent who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, competent, hardworking, and friendly, Eric is the one. From experience, I can tell you that you will be in the best of hands."
"Eric did an incredible job selling my house, and also with finding my new house. With both transactions he kept me informed every step of the way, and was always available, no matter the time or day, to answer my questions. Throughout the entire process, Eric kept to the timeline he laid out. If you’re looking for an agent who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, competent, hardworking, and friendly, Eric is the one. From experience, I can tell you that you will be in the best of hands."
Jenifer B.
"Mike has now got us into our starter home which we loved to call home for 8 years and then into our forever home along with selling our first. Mike is the hardest working partner we ever could’ve hoped for and has always gone above and beyond to make what can be a confusing experience, simple and easy. I would 100% recommend Mike and his amazing team to ANYONE, whether you are looking for a starter home, vacation home or forever home, you will be in great hands."
"Mike has now got us into our starter home which we loved to call home for 8 years and then into our forever home along with selling our first. Mike is the hardest working partner we ever could’ve hoped for and has always gone above and beyond to make what can be a confusing experience, simple and easy. I would 100% recommend Mike and his amazing team to ANYONE, whether you are looking for a starter home, vacation home or forever home, you will be in great hands."
Chris & Liz S.
"I dragged Eric around to every piece of vacant land and dozens of homes over a year and a half looking for that perfect place. He nearly lost a leather shoe in a marsh. Rain, snow, sun. Didn't matter. He was always there with all the property deets and his expert opinion. In the end, we found our home sweet home. We had 2 homes to sell and one to buy in a very short window of time. There was never a question he couldn't answer. A problem he couldn't troubleshoot or resolve and he and his team kept us up to date and on track. Due to his attention to detail, staging, and pricing, both existing homes sold on the opening weekends (even in this climate) and for above asking price and closed without issues (visible to us). We wholeheartedly recommend Eric and his team for all your real estate needs!"
"I dragged Eric around to every piece of vacant land and dozens of homes over a year and a half looking for that perfect place. He nearly lost a leather shoe in a marsh. Rain, snow, sun. Didn't matter. He was always there with all the property deets and his expert opinion. In the end, we found our home sweet home. We had 2 homes to sell and one to buy in a very short window of time. There was never a question he couldn't answer. A problem he couldn't troubleshoot or resolve and he and his team kept us up to date and on track. Due to his attention to detail, staging, and pricing, both existing homes sold on the opening weekends (even in this climate) and for above asking price and closed without issues (visible to us). We wholeheartedly recommend Eric and his team for all your real estate needs!"
Jennifer T.
"Mike has been our one-stop, go-to guy for real estate since before we moved back to the area. He helped us find our house and years later to sell that house. He has put together a team that can work through all phases with ease and everyone is timely, responsive, and enthusiastic for their customers. I only wish he was moving with us to our new location."
"Mike has been our one-stop, go-to guy for real estate since before we moved back to the area. He helped us find our house and years later to sell that house. He has put together a team that can work through all phases with ease and everyone is timely, responsive, and enthusiastic for their customers. I only wish he was moving with us to our new location."
Walt & Wendy A.
"From the beginning to the very end, Eric has been nothing short of perfection. His team is an all-star team; everyone was professional, kind, and efficient. His process of guidance is highly educational and supportive in a way that prepares us, equips us, and gives us knowledge in areas we normally would have overlooked. Despite the ludicrous housing market and numerous bidding wars, Eric counseled us on several strategies for competitive offers. He continues to be genuinely thoughtful, sharply knowledgeable, and beyond professional. He frequently communicated with us either with updates, proceedings, and to answer our questions which helped calm our nerves throughout the process. We will recommend him to anyone who is looking to buy or sell property. He's helped us with both, at the same time. Best agent in the game."
"From the beginning to the very end, Eric has been nothing short of perfection. His team is an all-star team; everyone was professional, kind, and efficient. His process of guidance is highly educational and supportive in a way that prepares us, equips us, and gives us knowledge in areas we normally would have overlooked. Despite the ludicrous housing market and numerous bidding wars, Eric counseled us on several strategies for competitive offers. He continues to be genuinely thoughtful, sharply knowledgeable, and beyond professional. He frequently communicated with us either with updates, proceedings, and to answer our questions which helped calm our nerves throughout the process. We will recommend him to anyone who is looking to buy or sell property. He's helped us with both, at the same time. Best agent in the game."
Spencer & Dani D.
"Cameron was an absolute pleasure to work with through the home search and purchase journeys. Cameron was always thoughtful and consistently advocated for us and our needs. We also appreciated Cameron’s responsiveness and follow through as we worked across multiple teams (agents, builders), and he ensured that all parties were aligned and on the same page. Cameron brought transparency and empathy to a complex home-buying process, and we greatly appreciated his guidance throughout."
"Cameron was an absolute pleasure to work with through the home search and purchase journeys. Cameron was always thoughtful and consistently advocated for us and our needs. We also appreciated Cameron’s responsiveness and follow through as we worked across multiple teams (agents, builders), and he ensured that all parties were aligned and on the same page. Cameron brought transparency and empathy to a complex home-buying process, and we greatly appreciated his guidance throughout."
Haruka J.
"Working with Mike was the best part of a tough home-buying process. In a very tough market, Mike's experience and knowledge made all the difference. Mike showed us several homes and helped us put together several offers until one was accepted. His patience explaining the various intricacies of the process and relationships in the area truly helped us feel secure. Mike was helpful through every part of the process. He helped us find a lender before we bought the home, connected us to contractors and service people to get the home ready for our move once we purchased it and counseled us throughout the process. Truly a one-stop shop that goes above and beyond."
"Working with Mike was the best part of a tough home-buying process. In a very tough market, Mike's experience and knowledge made all the difference. Mike showed us several homes and helped us put together several offers until one was accepted. His patience explaining the various intricacies of the process and relationships in the area truly helped us feel secure. Mike was helpful through every part of the process. He helped us find a lender before we bought the home, connected us to contractors and service people to get the home ready for our move once we purchased it and counseled us throughout the process. Truly a one-stop shop that goes above and beyond."
Dhiya G.
"We could not have asked for a better Real Estate agent than Mike Pavone and his associates at Mike Pavone Properties/Windermere when looking for a new home after our move from California. With his help, and that of Eric Kinzler from his office, we found exactly that not just a house, but a wonderful home. From finding and coordinating storage of our furniture in the early weeks; to a Welcome Home basket after our move-in was completed; to providing names of craftsmen when asked all was done with a courtesy and knowledge that was very appreciated."
"We could not have asked for a better Real Estate agent than Mike Pavone and his associates at Mike Pavone Properties/Windermere when looking for a new home after our move from California. With his help, and that of Eric Kinzler from his office, we found exactly that not just a house, but a wonderful home. From finding and coordinating storage of our furniture in the early weeks; to a Welcome Home basket after our move-in was completed; to providing names of craftsmen when asked all was done with a courtesy and knowledge that was very appreciated."
Bob & Mary G.
"I can’t thank Eric enough for making our home buying experience so smooth. He went above and beyond to make sure we always knew where we were in the process and what to expect next. We had so many questions for him and he always either knew the answer or found it quickly. I would work with him again in a heartbeat!"
"I can’t thank Eric enough for making our home buying experience so smooth. He went above and beyond to make sure we always knew where we were in the process and what to expect next. We had so many questions for him and he always either knew the answer or found it quickly. I would work with him again in a heartbeat!"
Alexandra & Erin J.
"It was such a pleasure to work with Mike. He made the home buying process feel less intimidating. I was new to the home buying process and he explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. Mike took the time to learn what I was looking for in a home and helped me find the right home for me."
"It was such a pleasure to work with Mike. He made the home buying process feel less intimidating. I was new to the home buying process and he explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. Mike took the time to learn what I was looking for in a home and helped me find the right home for me."
Karen B.
"Eric is an amazing realtor from start to finish. Texts back immediately, always answers calls and questions, and helped me negotiate lower than asking with an additional seller credit. 10/10 recommend!"
"Eric is an amazing realtor from start to finish. Texts back immediately, always answers calls and questions, and helped me negotiate lower than asking with an additional seller credit. 10/10 recommend!"
Irie T.
"Mike and his team are amazing, truly amazing. They helped us buy a new house and sell two houses. Mike was incredibly patient with us as we figured out what we wanted and completely understood what we were looking for. He answered a million questions during and even after the sales; he really knows his stuff. Mike has a great network of contacts and arranged all kinds of quality workmanship for us. Mike and his team made our old townhouses look brand new for sale. Both houses sold for over the asking price. We really cannot recommend Mike enough. It's too bad that we don't expect to need his services again for another 15-20 years!"
"Mike and his team are amazing, truly amazing. They helped us buy a new house and sell two houses. Mike was incredibly patient with us as we figured out what we wanted and completely understood what we were looking for. He answered a million questions during and even after the sales; he really knows his stuff. Mike has a great network of contacts and arranged all kinds of quality workmanship for us. Mike and his team made our old townhouses look brand new for sale. Both houses sold for over the asking price. We really cannot recommend Mike enough. It's too bad that we don't expect to need his services again for another 15-20 years!"
Roey & Jane
"Eric is awesome! We really appreciate the time he took to understand our needs and wants in a new home and was able to find us some really great properties. We would be lost in the home-buying process without his knowledge - he would regularly point out areas of concern in properties, estimate what it might cost to fix something and would ask us thoughtful questions that helped us decide if a home was right for us. He was like a real estate therapist! Thanks to his lender recommendations and knowledge of the market, we felt we were always submitting competitive offers on homes and had confidence we would get a home at a price that worked for us. We can't recommend Eric enough for his diligence, knowledge, availability, and communication, which helped us feel so calm during the house-hunting process. We'll definitely work with him again in the future to purchase our second home."
"Eric is awesome! We really appreciate the time he took to understand our needs and wants in a new home and was able to find us some really great properties. We would be lost in the home-buying process without his knowledge - he would regularly point out areas of concern in properties, estimate what it might cost to fix something and would ask us thoughtful questions that helped us decide if a home was right for us. He was like a real estate therapist! Thanks to his lender recommendations and knowledge of the market, we felt we were always submitting competitive offers on homes and had confidence we would get a home at a price that worked for us. We can't recommend Eric enough for his diligence, knowledge, availability, and communication, which helped us feel so calm during the house-hunting process. We'll definitely work with him again in the future to purchase our second home."
Chandler & Patrick
"Mike and his team were outstanding! Mike offered advice and suggestions throughout the process and always kept me updated. Mike was always available and answered all my questions. I moved to a different state before listing and selling, Mike and his team calmed my nerves and handled everything with ease. I highly recommend putting your trust in Mike to help you with your buying/selling needs."
"Mike and his team were outstanding! Mike offered advice and suggestions throughout the process and always kept me updated. Mike was always available and answered all my questions. I moved to a different state before listing and selling, Mike and his team calmed my nerves and handled everything with ease. I highly recommend putting your trust in Mike to help you with your buying/selling needs."
Casey H.
"Cameron was a great agent! He is very responsive and willing to adjust the search at anytime. We changed our description of our “perfect” home numerous of times throughout the year and a half of working together. He was alert and prepared for every change and allowed us to feel stress free during the process. Cameron’s crew at Windermere we’re also very helpful when we needed extra assistance with closing on our home. We’re so thankful to have worked with Cameron and his crew. Look forward to working together again in the near future."
"Cameron was a great agent! He is very responsive and willing to adjust the search at anytime. We changed our description of our “perfect” home numerous of times throughout the year and a half of working together. He was alert and prepared for every change and allowed us to feel stress free during the process. Cameron’s crew at Windermere we’re also very helpful when we needed extra assistance with closing on our home. We’re so thankful to have worked with Cameron and his crew. Look forward to working together again in the near future."
Danny S.
"I could not recommend an agent more highly than Eric. Eric takes the time to really explain the process, which for this new buyer, was important. He deeply understands the local market and knows how to tap into resources from his agency when needed. In today's crazy seller market, being a first-time buyer can be overwhelming. Eric took the time to really explain things like contingencies and how they work, as well as keeping an eye on the market and its fluctuations. He's passionate about homes and helping people and has a great eye for detail. Most of all, though, Eric strives to truly understand his buyers, what they want and need, what's important to them, and how they feel about the process. In addition to deeply understanding what I was looking for and what my non-negotiables were, Eric made the process fun and I can't underestimate the importance of this! Buying a home is inherently stressful, but Eric made the process easy and fun. I cannot recommend him highly enough and would absolutely use him again if I wanted to sell my home or buy another. Thank you so much Eric for helping me find my new home!"
"I could not recommend an agent more highly than Eric. Eric takes the time to really explain the process, which for this new buyer, was important. He deeply understands the local market and knows how to tap into resources from his agency when needed. In today's crazy seller market, being a first-time buyer can be overwhelming. Eric took the time to really explain things like contingencies and how they work, as well as keeping an eye on the market and its fluctuations. He's passionate about homes and helping people and has a great eye for detail. Most of all, though, Eric strives to truly understand his buyers, what they want and need, what's important to them, and how they feel about the process. In addition to deeply understanding what I was looking for and what my non-negotiables were, Eric made the process fun and I can't underestimate the importance of this! Buying a home is inherently stressful, but Eric made the process easy and fun. I cannot recommend him highly enough and would absolutely use him again if I wanted to sell my home or buy another. Thank you so much Eric for helping me find my new home!"
Lourdes O.
"Mike was incredible to work with! He helped us both prepare a home for sale, and buy a new home. Him and his team have developed a tremendous number of connections, which made the process of preparing our home for sale extremely smooth and at a minimal cost (drywall repair, painting, cleaning/staging). He is extremely communicative. He is always connected with you as a client and anyone else who is involved with your real estate transaction (contractors, loan officers, etc.) He will get you in to see a house as soon as he can. There were many homes we walked with him hours after being listed. Our new home was one which we walked with him the day before Thanksgiving. He knows the housing market in this area very well, and knows what it is going to take to win in this market. We are thankful to have been connected with him. Once under contract, we were always aware of where we stood during the process for each transaction, and never felt lost."
"Mike was incredible to work with! He helped us both prepare a home for sale, and buy a new home. Him and his team have developed a tremendous number of connections, which made the process of preparing our home for sale extremely smooth and at a minimal cost (drywall repair, painting, cleaning/staging). He is extremely communicative. He is always connected with you as a client and anyone else who is involved with your real estate transaction (contractors, loan officers, etc.) He will get you in to see a house as soon as he can. There were many homes we walked with him hours after being listed. Our new home was one which we walked with him the day before Thanksgiving. He knows the housing market in this area very well, and knows what it is going to take to win in this market. We are thankful to have been connected with him. Once under contract, we were always aware of where we stood during the process for each transaction, and never felt lost."
Will D.

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