Bernie & Mike Homes
BERNIE KATZMANN 415.906.6000 Email Me

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Sellers’ Guide

Once you’ve made the decision to sell your home, you need to focus on what has to be done to get the best possible value for your property and to make the transition to your new home as easy as possible.

Selling in San Francisco – San Francisco Real Estate

Start preparing for what lies ahead. Go through our step-by-step guide below, and get in touch with Bernie and Mike Homes for further guidance.

  1. Select a real estate agent to work with. In the very competitiveSan Francisco market, you need to work with a professional who has the necessary skills and tools to reach the right buyers so you can get your home sold at the shortest possible time and at the highest possible price.
  2. Price your home correctly. Overpricing is a common mistake among sellers, turning away potential buyers and discouraging them from making an offer. It’s the biggest reason why homes sit on the market longer than necessary.

    On the other hand, lack of market knowledge can lead to underpricing, especially if you’re in a hurry to sell your home.

    An experienced real estate agent can help you arrive at a competitive price by doing a comparative market analysis. This takes into account market factors and selling trends that affect home prices in your neighborhood.

  3. Get your home ready. Inspect the property for anything that could potentially diminish its value, such as damaged roofing, a poorly maintained yard or broken fixtures. It would be a good idea to do the inspection with your real estate agent or, better yet, a home inspector, who can identify what buyers will be looking for in a home. Decide if major home improvements, such as upgrading your kitchen, will be worth it.
  4. Home staging can also help make your home more attractive to buyers. Your real estate agent will connect you with a professional home stager or they may know what to do themselves.

  5. Market your home. Your agent can help you come up with a comprehensive marketing plan. It’s important to give your home good online visibility. A real estate agent will get your home listed on the relevant real estate sites, including theirown, and make sure that your listing will have plenty of beautiful, well-lit images that showcase the property’s best features.

    Other marketing strategies include advertising on selected publications, sending out mailers, and connecting with potential buyers through the agent’s network.

    Open houses are often important tools in marketing a home. Work with your agent on how to prepare for an open house.

  6. Screen prospects and offers. Your agent can help you pre-qualify buyers and review offers. It’s not necessary to issue a counteroffer for each one, but it will help you stay connected with prospective buyers.

    A counter-offer opens the line for negotiations, not only for the price of the home but for the terms and contingencies as well. Go through each offer carefully and accept what you think is best for you. While your agent will guide you and provide the information you’ll need, the decision will ultimately be made by you.

  7. Once you accept an offer, the process goes to escrow. The buyer and their agent will be doing most of the work at this stage, but you have to be prepared to meet contingencies such as the home inspection and property assessment.
  8. Once the title is transferred to the buyer’s name, the sale is closed. Congratulations!