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 agent 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 real estate agent once you choose one so he or she 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 real estate agent is the best way to determine the right selling price for your home. An agent 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

I 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. My 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. I 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 I deem the offer is acceptable, I 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 agent.

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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. I 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, I 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. I 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 real estate agent 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.

Testimonials

April G.

April G.

Stephanie and Christy provided excellent service and made the mortgage process simple. I was updated quickly and clearly throughout the process.
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Larry F.

Larry F.

GMFS was terrific. Stephanie and her crew did a great job.
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Chuck B.

Chuck B.

Stephanie, Christy and the entire team at GMFS Covington were phenomenal! They worked tirelessly to help our family secure a mortgage on our new home. We highly recommend GMFS Covington and will use them for any future mortgage...
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Gary H.

Gary H.

We found the staff at GMFS to be great to work with. They were each very helpful and patient. Thanks again to Stephanie and Jennifer for making this transaction stress free!
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Brendon T.

Brendon T.

Always a pleasure doing business with Stephanie and team!
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Carla P.

Carla P.

GMFS is hands down the best! Stephanie and Kelsi were on top of every detail and I never had to worry. From day one they made me feel confidant in my decision to choose them. Highly recommend!
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Stephanie M.

Stephanie M.

Stephanie and everyone at GMFS are amazing! I work with them personally and through our mutual clients. Every transaction is always an easy, smooth process! 5 stars all around!
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Greg M.

Greg M.

Thank you for a great and easy experience. Stephanie and Kelsey are awesome! Go with them and don’t worry about shopping around for another mortgage lender.
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Devin B.

Devin B.

Really enjoyed the home buying process thanks to Stephanie and Michelle with GMFS Mortgage. Always quick to answer any questions and made the home buying process easy. I highly recommend them.
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Cody L.

Cody L.

Stephanie and the entire team at GMFS were amazing. They communicated with us throughout the entire process and guided us efficiently every step of the way. I will use them again the future and recommend to anyone.
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Donna G.

Donna G.

I would not hesitate to recommend Lynnette Boudet for one second. She not only helped us sell our home, but purchase another and coordinate everything splendidly. She was always there at the ready. Buying and selling can take a...
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Annalyne N.

Annalyne N.

Lynette helped us buy our first home. Every question that arise during the process was addressed. She was very helpful.
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Jc

Jc

Words can't describe how fortunate and Blessed we were to have Lynette Boudet as our realtor. From listing to sale, Lynette and Shelley were there every step of the way. She used her years of experience and knowledge to lay out...
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Roxanne S.

Roxanne S.

My husband and I have had the pleasure of working with Lynnette and her assistant Shelley. We are currently living in another state and are considering moving back to the North Shore. We have come down to look at houses 3 times...
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Isik U.

Isik U.

My realtor from South Florida recommended Lynette Boudet. She said she can not help me in Louisiana but I am in good hands. I told her no one can be as good as she is. Well Lynette proved me wrong. Lynette stood out with her pe...
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Lacy S.

Lacy S.

Lynnette was wonderful to work with! Very responsive and accommodating. Highly recommend!
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Jon S.

Jon S.

Lynette and Shelley are fantastic! We partner with them on new purchases and rentals. They are professional, thorough, and action-oriented. We trust them immensely. They are brilliant communicators and negotiators. Five stars!
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Kevin E.

Kevin E.

Lynnette was more than a real estate agent to us, she was a consultant. She educated us throughout the buying process of our new home and the selling process of our current home. She was there to answer any and all of our quest...
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Carol B.

Carol B.

Lynnette, a big Thank You for your continued support in my 'Rightsize Journey'! Your professionalism and joy at your craft are infectious, it shows through. This little garden home is exactly what I dreamed of, just didn't know...
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Theresia R.

Theresia R.

Lynette helped me buy my home and sell my home when I had to leave much sooner than I anticipated. She always gives 110% and treats you like you are family. Over the years I have relocated many times and I can without hesitatio...
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Work With Lynnette

My goal is to provide you with options, and to work WITH you to ensure a smooth transition to the loan closing process and beyond. Whether you are a first time home buyer, or a seasoned investor, if you or someone you care about, decide that you'd like to buy or sell a home please contact me!

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