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Tips on Selling Home

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.

Success Stories

Testimonials

"Trying to make the biggest financial decision of my life while being 1,000 miles away was very intimidating. However, Matthew squashed all of my concerns. He was on top of it, finding the best homes for my very picky needs and in my budget during this unprecedented market. Matthew kept me up to date in real-time, I felt like I never had to call him because he notified me of every update! He is also quite the strategist and he secured me the golden goose of houses."
"Trying to make the biggest financial decision of my life while being 1,000 miles away was very intimidating. However, Matthew squashed all of my concerns. He was on top of it, finding the best homes for my very picky needs and in my budget during this unprecedented market. Matthew kept me up to date in real-time, I felt like I never had to call him because he notified me of every update! He is also quite the strategist and he secured me the golden goose of houses."
Alyssa B.
"Matthew came to our attention by some good friends of ours, very highly recommended, and reaching out to him was the right decision. Driving 100 miles to Spokane every weekend to look at houses was certainly an experience, but Matthew made it easy for us. He was quick to respond, always available, and answered all of our questions no matter how trivial. He was kind and patient with us, and his knowledge of the Spokane real estate market was invaluable. His energy kept us motivated, he represented us well as a buyers agent, and we couldn't have asked for more. When we decide to buy or sell another house, we're definitely contacting Matthew."
"Matthew came to our attention by some good friends of ours, very highly recommended, and reaching out to him was the right decision. Driving 100 miles to Spokane every weekend to look at houses was certainly an experience, but Matthew made it easy for us. He was quick to respond, always available, and answered all of our questions no matter how trivial. He was kind and patient with us, and his knowledge of the Spokane real estate market was invaluable. His energy kept us motivated, he represented us well as a buyers agent, and we couldn't have asked for more. When we decide to buy or sell another house, we're definitely contacting Matthew."
Marcy R.
"I recently worked with Matthew on purchasing a home in Idaho, relocating from Seattle, Washington. Matthew was always available by phone, text, e-mail, and in-person. Matthew assisted in so many ways during this process. I'm in Seattle and unable to jump in and handle things that need to be done in Idaho. Matthew met with various individuals during the process for inspections, reports, and contractors, and even connected directly with my mortgage loan officer to make sure everything that was needed in order to close got done. During my emotional trials due to things taking so long and not physically being in the area, I could reach out to Matthew and he was always there for me with the emotional support that was needed! In addition to Matthew's incredible professionalism, he is patient, kind, knowledgeable, and supportive, words cannot describe my experience! One of the best individuals I have ever had the opportunity to work with - I actually felt like I developed a close friendship with Matthew and told him I didn't want to lose touch!"
"I recently worked with Matthew on purchasing a home in Idaho, relocating from Seattle, Washington. Matthew was always available by phone, text, e-mail, and in-person. Matthew assisted in so many ways during this process. I'm in Seattle and unable to jump in and handle things that need to be done in Idaho. Matthew met with various individuals during the process for inspections, reports, and contractors, and even connected directly with my mortgage loan officer to make sure everything that was needed in order to close got done. During my emotional trials due to things taking so long and not physically being in the area, I could reach out to Matthew and he was always there for me with the emotional support that was needed! In addition to Matthew's incredible professionalism, he is patient, kind, knowledgeable, and supportive, words cannot describe my experience! One of the best individuals I have ever had the opportunity to work with - I actually felt like I developed a close friendship with Matthew and told him I didn't want to lose touch!"
Brenda S.
"The Konkel Group is simply the best realtor I've ever worked with. Matthew goes above and beyond to make sure you're comfortable with your home purchase and walks you through each step along the way. After selling my home in the Seattle area, I signed up for weekly home listings in the Northern Idaho area. With the market being as explosive as it is, I was able to find a great home and Matthew negotiated a reasonable price with a cantankerous seller. He made the buying process easy and painless. If you're looking for a realtor in the Spokane or Coeur d'Alene area, you'll be in great hands with Matthew!"
"The Konkel Group is simply the best realtor I've ever worked with. Matthew goes above and beyond to make sure you're comfortable with your home purchase and walks you through each step along the way. After selling my home in the Seattle area, I signed up for weekly home listings in the Northern Idaho area. With the market being as explosive as it is, I was able to find a great home and Matthew negotiated a reasonable price with a cantankerous seller. He made the buying process easy and painless. If you're looking for a realtor in the Spokane or Coeur d'Alene area, you'll be in great hands with Matthew!"
Aedyn B.
"If you want a realtor who actually feels like he's on your team, and not just looking for a commission, Matthew is the only choice. I was shocked at the lengths he went to get us into our first home. His availability and eagerness to help us out with anything was astounding. Our builders didn't accept offers above asking, the home was on a first-come-first-serve basis, so Matthew stayed at home the day the listing went live, refreshing the page every 2 minutes, just so we would be the first offer in. He continued to be a helpful presence, even well after the closing contracts were signed. Extremely grateful for all that he did to get us into our dream house and will be recommending him to anyone in the area that needs a realtor."
"If you want a realtor who actually feels like he's on your team, and not just looking for a commission, Matthew is the only choice. I was shocked at the lengths he went to get us into our first home. His availability and eagerness to help us out with anything was astounding. Our builders didn't accept offers above asking, the home was on a first-come-first-serve basis, so Matthew stayed at home the day the listing went live, refreshing the page every 2 minutes, just so we would be the first offer in. He continued to be a helpful presence, even well after the closing contracts were signed. Extremely grateful for all that he did to get us into our dream house and will be recommending him to anyone in the area that needs a realtor."
Kevin K.
"I can’t recommend Matthew enough! I had a long list of things I wanted in a house and Matthew worked tirelessly to help me find everything I was looking for. He helped me feel confident about the process and always answered any questions I had gladly. If you want to buy or sell I highly recommend working with Matthew."
"I can’t recommend Matthew enough! I had a long list of things I wanted in a house and Matthew worked tirelessly to help me find everything I was looking for. He helped me feel confident about the process and always answered any questions I had gladly. If you want to buy or sell I highly recommend working with Matthew."
Hali T.
"Matthew is the very best realtor we have ever had. He is super knowledgeable, always available, communicates well, and makes the whole experience easy for us. We will give out his name liberally to anyone who needs superlative guidance and help in this area. Thanks a million, Matthew!"
"Matthew is the very best realtor we have ever had. He is super knowledgeable, always available, communicates well, and makes the whole experience easy for us. We will give out his name liberally to anyone who needs superlative guidance and help in this area. Thanks a million, Matthew!"
Ames S.
"Matthew is a true professional. He made the sale of our home easy. He is always reachable. He goes above and beyond! Thank you, Matthew."
"Matthew is a true professional. He made the sale of our home easy. He is always reachable. He goes above and beyond! Thank you, Matthew."
Kelly P.
"Matthew, on multiple occasions, went above and beyond to help us find the perfect home for our family. We looked at everything from New builds to renos, and even some that were probably not worth looking at all. In all circumstances, Matthew showed up at any hour we requested with a smile on his face and ready to help us identify the value and potential shortfalls of each property. While he is the expert, he always places the most value in your opinion and what is best for the client. Meanwhile, in the background, Rachel was assisting with research-finding homes based on our interests and helping us get all the proper paperwork submitted to complete the homebuilt process. I can't recommend the Konkels enough!"
"Matthew, on multiple occasions, went above and beyond to help us find the perfect home for our family. We looked at everything from New builds to renos, and even some that were probably not worth looking at all. In all circumstances, Matthew showed up at any hour we requested with a smile on his face and ready to help us identify the value and potential shortfalls of each property. While he is the expert, he always places the most value in your opinion and what is best for the client. Meanwhile, in the background, Rachel was assisting with research-finding homes based on our interests and helping us get all the proper paperwork submitted to complete the homebuilt process. I can't recommend the Konkels enough!"
Brandon W.
"We've purchased 3 homes now, and have experienced realtors of all sorts. No experience has been as seamless as with Matthew Konkel. From start to finish, the process felt effortless, we felt supported and advocated for, and he took time to help us understand parts of the process that would have gone over our heads. We had a unique situation, and Matthew was extremely knowledgeable and helped us navigate everything. We've worked with realtors before who made us wonder what they actually got paid for. Matthew worked hard and earned his keep. We will absolutely use him again when we sell our home. 10 over 10."
"We've purchased 3 homes now, and have experienced realtors of all sorts. No experience has been as seamless as with Matthew Konkel. From start to finish, the process felt effortless, we felt supported and advocated for, and he took time to help us understand parts of the process that would have gone over our heads. We had a unique situation, and Matthew was extremely knowledgeable and helped us navigate everything. We've worked with realtors before who made us wonder what they actually got paid for. Matthew worked hard and earned his keep. We will absolutely use him again when we sell our home. 10 over 10."
Amanda M.

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