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A Step-by-Step Seller's Guide

First impressions are key! To make your home outshine the competition, it’s essential to implement customized strategies that attract buyers and maximize your value. With 360 Real Estate Pros by your side, you can earn top dollar, expedite the selling process, and gain significant negotiating power. We understand that putting your home on the market can be stressful, but our easy-to-follow guide makes it manageable. By following these valuable tips, you'll be organized and ready to sell your home for the best price possible. Remember, we are here to simplify the real estate process and amplify your real estate experience!

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Step 1: Why Are You Selling?

That's the first question every buyer wants to know. 360 Real Estate Pros are here to help you navigate this important decision. Understanding your objectives for selling is essential to achieving a successful transaction. What do you hope to accomplish with the sale of your home? Are you aiming to secure a specific dollar amount to invest in a larger or more desirable property? Or do you need to sell quickly to facilitate a move for a job relocation? By clarifying your goals, we can effectively tailor a custom selling strategy. For example, if a fast sale is important, we might recommend pricing your home more competitively than if you’re focused on achieving a particular profit margin. We will work closely with you to communicate these objectives, ensuring that your selling price and our marketing approach align with your needs.

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Step 2: Start Interior Preparations

To start preparing your home for sale, it's important to focus on creating an environment where potential buyers can easily picture themselves living. A key part of this process are the "4 Ds": Declutter, Depersonalize, Define Spaces, and Deep Clean. Here's how to tackle each one:

  1. Declutter: Remove excess items from your home to create a more open and inviting space. Buyers need to envision where their belongings will fit, not get distracted by too much furniture or personal items. Remember, you're moving, so start packing!

  2. Depersonalize: Take down family photos, personal memorabilia, and any bold décor that reflects your individual style. A neutral, blank canvas allows buyers to imagine themselves living there, and less about about how you lived in the home.

  3. Define Spaces: Ensure each room has a clear purpose. If you've been using a dining room as a home office, consider returning it to its original setup. Buyers should easily understand how each area is meant to be used.

  4. Deep Clean: A spotless home is non-negotiable. Pay special attention to kitchens and bathrooms, which can leave a lasting impression. Neutralizing any strong odors, whether from pets or cooking, is equally important. A fresh-smelling home enhances the overall appeal.

In some cases, touching up or fully repainting rooms may be necessary, especially if there are vibrant or unusual colors. Neutral tones are more inviting and help buyers picture how their own style will fit. The less work buyers see, the easier it is for them to imagine moving in without needing to make immediate changes.

Taking these initial steps sets the stage for a successful listing, ensuring your home is seen in its best light.

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Step 3: Start EXterior Preparations

To make a great first impression and boost your home’s curb appeal, starting exterior preparations is key. Here are the initial steps to get your home’s exterior ready for sale:

  1. Pressure Wash: Pressure washing your home’s exterior can make a huge difference. Clean the siding, driveway, walkways, and even the deck or patio to remove dirt, cobwebs, and stains that have accumulated over time. This gives the home a fresh, well-maintained appearance.

  2. Clean Windows Inside and Out: Sparkling windows make a home look brighter and more inviting. Be sure to clean both the inside and outside of all windows, ensuring clear views and a polished look. Removing smudges and dirt allows more natural light to come through, making the home feel more open and cheerful.

  3. Declutter and Store Garden Supplies: Remove any yard clutter like toys, tools, or garden equipment. Store items such as hoses, rakes, and lawnmowers out of sight in a shed or garage. A tidy yard without distractions allows buyers to focus on the property and picture themselves enjoying the space.

  4. Freshen Up Landscaping: Clean up any landscaping by trimming bushes, hedges, and trees. Add fresh mulch to flower beds, and pull out weeds to create a polished look. Well-maintained landscaping adds instant curb appeal and can help your home stand out.

  5. Enhance Curb Appeal: Take an overall look at the front of your home. Consider simple upgrades like repainting the front door, adding potted plants, or updating outdoor lighting. These small touches can make the home more inviting from the moment buyers arrive.

  6. Inspect Roof and Gutters: If possible, check the roof and clean out the gutters. A well-maintained roof and clean gutters can give buyers peace of mind about the overall upkeep of the home, eliminating potential buyer objections.

By following these steps, you'll create a welcoming exterior that will leave a positive first impression on potential buyers, helping to set the tone for a successful photo shoot and showings.
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Step 4: The Right Price

Establishing the right marketing number  (or sales price) is also part of our marketing strategy. This is one of the most important aspects of the selling process. A well-set price attracts interest from real estate agents and potential buyers, positioning your home favorably from the beginning. Overpricing can reduce interest and cause the home to sit on the market too long, while underpricing might result in accepting less than your home is worth.

At 360 Real Estate Pros, we analyze comparable homes weekly, evaluate current market trends daily, and stay up to date on design and material trends that add equity to a home or property. This ensures your "marketing number" is strategically set, helping you attract qualified buyers and maximize the value of your sale.

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Step 5: Marketing Strategy

At 360 Real Estate Pros, we develop a comprehensive marketing strategy tailored to advertise your home effectively across multiple platforms. This begins with listing your property on the MLS, which automatically syndicates to all major home search websites, giving your home maximum online exposure.

We use professional mediagraphy—including high-quality photography, videos, and virtual tours—to showcase your home’s best features, allowing potential buyers to explore your property online from anywhere in the world. Staging plays a key role in this process, helping buyers imagine themselves living in your space.

Our strategy includes a combination of digital marketing and print marketing to reach a wide audience. We launch targeted social media campaigns, utilize SEO advertising, and promote your home through agent-to-agent referrals. In addition, we design and distribute professional print marketing materials, such as brochures and postcards, to target local buyers and neighborhoods.

To generate even more interest, we host open houses and promote your listing through traditional media outlets. Our goal is to maximize traffic to your home, especially within the first three weeks, ensuring it reaches the right audience quickly and efficiently.

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Step 6: Evaluate & Accept An Offer

All it takes is one buyer, but having multiple offers is always our goal. Receiving an offer is an exciting part of the process, but the journey isn’t over yet. We will evaluate each offer carefully, ensuring that the buyer is vetted and pre-approved by a reputable mortgage lender and that the offer meets your expectations and selling objectives. 

If an offer comes in too low, don’t worry—we’ll guide you through making a counter-offer or finding creative ways to bridge the gap. Once an offer is acceptable, we’ll review the proposed contract to ensure everything is in order. This includes confirming key details like the deposit amount, down payment, financing terms, inspection rights, contingencies, settlement date, and allocation of fees.

When both parties agree to the terms, we’ll finalize the contract and prepare for the next steps, ensuring a smooth transition toward closing. With 360 Real Estate Pros, you’re in good hands every step of the way.

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Step 7: Buyer's Role

You have accepted an offer and are now moving through your selling journey. However, there are still important steps to complete before closing. The buyer & their agent will compile a list of necessary tasks that need to be addressed based on the offer. In some instances, your home may need to undergo formal inspections, surveys, and appraisals. During this time, the buyer and their agent will likely need access to the property to complete their due diligence and meet with appropriate resources and trades for specified contingencies, such as appraisals or obtaining quotes for items disclosed during the discovery process.

At 360 Real Estate Pros, we will manage all aspects of this process for you. We’ll develop and execute the necessary action items, ensuring everything is handled efficiently and that costs are allocated to the appropriate party. Our team will diligently track all tasks to ensure that everything is completed by the closing date. A few days before closing, we will contact the title company to confirm that all details are in order and they are ready for you to sign release of ownership to the new buyer. It's also time to arrange for your move so the new buyer can take possession of the home based on what was agreed upon. With our guidance, you can relax and confidently navigate this final stretch.

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Step 8: Closing Day

You’ve reached the last step in the seller’s process. When you “close” on the home you are selling, you are legally transferring ownership of the property to the new buyer once it’s “on record” or it’s been recorded with the county. During this time, we will also assist you in making plans to handle final details, such as canceling utilities, cable, and lawn or trash services. We’ll ensure that the name on accounts the new owner is retaining is changed and provide the new owner with clear instructions for all appliances that will remain in the home. With our support, you can navigate this final step with ease and confidence.

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.

Seller & Buyer
CLIENT VOICES

Simply put: Malaka Thompson at 360 Real Estate is an awesome realtor. When we first relocated to the Santa Cruz area a few years ago, she helped us find a perfect landing place. It was a smooth and positive experience, and we were happy to be able to work with her again when we decided to start the search for our “forever home” this year. She is a great listener, and we felt she took the time to really u...

— Seller & Buyer

CLIENT VOICES

Jennifer is a phenomenal real estate agent who went above and beyond to ensure our home-buying experience was smooth and stress-free. Her patience, understanding, and professionalism shone through every interaction. Jennifer's ability to navigate us through the complexities of the buying process was impressive, and she always had our best interests at heart. We couldn't be happier with her service and wh...

— Marcin

CLIENT VOICES

If I could give Jennifer 100 stars I would. Jennifer is amazing and we were so lucky to work with her to buy our very first home. We never would have found our dream home in our budget if it wasn't for her. She was incredibly responsive and flexible. She is also extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of home buying and willing to get down and dirty inspecting every corner of houses and making sure we ...

— Christine V.

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Why work with 360 Real Estate

Get assistance in determining current property value, crafting a competitive offer, writing and negotiating a contract, and much more. Contact us today.