Selling Your Home 101

So you’re thinking of selling your home? We know the questions surrounding a home sale can feel endless. Click on the icons below to learn more about each of the steps along the path to the sale of your home.

DECIDING TO SELL

HIRING AN AGENT

PRICING YOUR HOME

SHOWING & MARKETING

GETTING AN OFFER

INSPECTIONS & APPRAISAL

SETTLEMENT

Inspections and Appraisal
After you have a signed contract, the buyer will likely set up home inspections. The can include inspection on the home, for radon, for lead-based paint, inspections of a well or septic system and reviews of surveys, zoning and insurability, to name just a few. Based on the findings of the inspections the buyer may decide to negotiate repairs as part of the purchase. Talk with your agent about the best way to go about this. You will likely have to weight the benefits of moving forward with this deal vs. putting your home back on the market. Also consider the fact that once you know about a defect in your home you will be obligated to disclose it to potential buyers.

The buyer's lender will also order an appraisal to verify that the home is worth the amount that they are lending the buyer.

All these steps, and a few others, have specific timelines that are outlined in the sales contract. It’s important to pay attention to those dates so you don’t forfeit any of your rights in the sales process.