Preparing Your Home for Sale

Team Luxe will assist you in preparing your home for sale, including recommendations for deep cleaning, decluttering, handling cosmetic maintenance issues and fixing any known problems with the home. 

During this time Team Luxe will help you gather all the paperwork that you will need to expedite the closing once you have an acceptable offer.

Determining an Asking Price

There are many factors that impact the list price of a home: location, condition, amenities, supply and demand, as well as local and global market conditions. Team Luxe provides a thorough market analysis of your home so you will be able to come up with a realistic, competitive pricing strategy.

Receiving Offers

When an offer is presented, Team Luxe will help you negotiate the best possible price and terms. As your representative, we will promote your interests and assist in developing a clear and binding transaction.

Typically, an offer is initiated through the buyer’s agent and includes the following information:

• The amount the buyer is willing to pay
• Mortgage amount, if any
• Desired closing and occupancy dates
• Contingencies, such as mortgage commitment and requested inspections, such as termite, pest, radon, water portability, well, lead, septic and oil tank
• Any personal property specifically included or excluded

If the offer is not acceptable to you, further negotiations may be necessary to reach terms that are agreeable to you and the buyer. Because counteroffers are common (any change in the offer can be considered a counteroffer) it is important that we remain in close contact during the negotiation process so that proposed changes can be reviewed and responded to quickly.

Accepting an Offer

Once you have an accepted offer, you will go to contract. Team Luxe will be an invaluable asset at this stage and will work closely with you on writing the contract, determining down payments required, managing inspection contingency dates and other aspects of the transaction.

What to Expect at Closing

Closing is a formal process where all parties sign the necessary paperwork needed to complete the sale and the title to the property is transferred from you to the buyer; they receive the house keys, and you receive payment for the house. From the amount credited to you, the title representative subtracts the funds to pay off the existing mortgage and other transaction costs. Deeds, loan papers and other documents are prepared, signed and ultimately filed with the local property record office.

Intelligent pricing is one of the most critical aspects of a successful sale – no matter how perfect your home is, you’ll miss out on potential buyers if its price doesn’t align with similar properties selling in your market. Team Luxe will thoroughly assess your home and optimally price it in relation to market factors and local competition to generate the most interest from buyers and their agents.

Team Luxe will prepare comparative market analysis (CMA), a report that pulls data from sales activity in your area and offers intelligence on homes similar to yours. The CMA will be used to establish an ideal listing price that both meets your financial needs and appeals to buyers.

Key CMA data includes:

• Comparable properties in your area that recently sold and failed to sell
• Pending sales in your area
• Comparable active listings in your area

Throughout the selling process you are likely to receive competing offers or offers below your asking price. Team Luxe will leverage your input and their expertise to negotiate on your behalf, building the strongest possible case for your home to secure top dollar.

You can receive an instant estimate on your home using our Home Valuation tool before contacting Team Luxe for a more detailed CMA.

Unless your house is nearly new, chances are you'll want to do some work to get it ready to sell. What type and how much work depends largely on the price you're asking, how quickly you want to sell, and of course, the present condition of your home.

As a Coldwell Banker team, Team Luxe is able to leverage Coldwell Banker’s RealVitalize® program to help you make inspiring home improvements with no money up front. With the RealVitalize program, and our association with Angi, you have access to the Angi network of trusted contractors and a dedicated virtual Angi Project Consultant for renovations, updates, and more to maximize your property’s value while you simply pay out of your profits at closing¹.

The majority of homes that take advantage of the RealVitalize® program sell at or above the list price². Speak to your Coldwell Banker® affiliated agent or visit RealVitalize.com for more information.

Minor improvements you may be able to make yourself include:

• Applying new paint in light and neutral colors.
• Keeping your yard and interior free of clutter. Clear as much as you can from your walls, shelves, countertops, closets, refrigerator, and pantry; giving buyers a clean canvas to imagine living in.
• Consider the ”curb appeal“ of everything prospective buyers can see from the street. Keep two key words in mind: neat and neutral. New paint, an immaculate lawn, picture-perfect shrubbery, a newly sealed driveway and potted plants at the front door will show drive-by shoppers that your home is worth scheduling a tour.
• After you've cleaned, try to correct any cosmetic flaws you notice. Regrout tile walls and floors, remove or replace worn-out carpet, and replace dated faucets, light fixtures and handles on your kitchen drawers and cabinets.

_{¹ Seller must pay for work upon earlier of closing, listing no longer being in effect, or 12 months after completion of the first job. If settlement proceeds are insufficient to cover the RealVitalize project costs, seller must pay the balance within 15 days after closing.
² Based on program data from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Not a controlled study; results not guaranteed. Execution of a program agreement is required. RealVitalize is not available in all states and available only at participating offices. Void where prohibited by law. Additional terms and conditions apply. Results not guaranteed. Not intended as a solicitation if your property is already listed by another broker. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. The RealVitalize logo and service mark are owned by Anywhere Real Estate Group LLC. Anywhere Advisors and franchised offices that are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All property enhancement services are provided by the applicable service provider affiliated with Angi, and not Coldwell Banker or any of its franchisees or affiliates.}

_{Not available in Delaware, Louisiana, North Dakota, Rhode Island or South Dakota.}

Online exposure is critical in getting a competitive price and a fast sale for your property. In fact, 87% of home buyers use the internet in their search¹, and more consumers visit Coldwell Banker^® digital platforms than any other national real estate brand². Team Luxe will capture your property’s most compelling selling points and photos to post your listing on some of the most-visited real estate websites in the world including coldwellbanker.com, realtor.com^®, Zillow, Trulia, Homes.com®, HotPads.com and HomeFinder.com.

Team Luxe will additionally schedule and stage open houses and private showings, invaluable opportunities for potential buyers to tour your home. A broker’s open house will allow Team Luxe to invite our industry contacts to view your property whereas public open houses are attended by 41% of buyers looking for a new home³. Lastly, Team Luxe can facilitate a virtual open house to reach online homebuyers quickly, wherever they are.

Your home will also be internally shared with our national network of Coldwell Banker^® affiliated agents, creating even more opportunities to match your home with interested buyers. By engaging with our powerful network early on, we take advantage of the initial buzz around new property availability – increasing buyer interest and driving your home’s value perception for a faster sale.

_{¹ 2022 National Association of REALTORS® Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends. ² Reflects total website visits for 2021. Comscore 2021 Media Trends. ³ 2022 National Association of REALTORS® Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends.}

Team Luxe & Coldwell Banker® are there for you in all aspects of the home sale process. Our primary services ensure you’ll receive complete assistance from start to finish, giving you one-stop convenience.

Title

The title and closing company will research and resolve any title issues before the closing to help ensure your transaction closes smoothly and on time.

Warranty

A Coldwell Banker Home Protection PlanSM provides that extra measure of security that makes buyers feel more comfortable and confident in the purchase of your home.

Mortgage

If you are purchasing another home, Team Luxe can introduce you to trusted lenders across the country that feature low rates, fantastic customer service and a fast, simple process.

Insurance

Team Luxe can connect you with a local insurance company offering competitive rates on homeowners, condominium, renters, automobile, second home, vacant home and umbrella coverage.

Commercial Services

Highly skilled Coldwell Banker Commercial® professionals offer a full spectrum of office, industrial, land, retail, multi-family and hospitality services.