General Timeline for Selling a Home

Some clients start planning for the sale of their home years in advance, while others call up and want to know if they can go on the market that very day. Anything within that continuum is possible, but a typical timeline for selling a home usually goes something like this:

Week 1

•	Sit down together for a relaxed and detailed conversation about how the whole process works.
•	Walk around the whole property, inside and out, and talk about what improvements and repairs, if any, you may want to make. Some homeowners do not want to make any improvements and this is okay. We discuss all of this some more throughout the entire process.
•	Talk about landscaping (if applicable) and whether you want to make any changes to increase your "curb appeal."
•	Take detailed notes about your property so that it can be researched in terms of how it compares to other recently sold properties in the neighborhood.
•	Fill out some preliminary paperwork that allows your agent or broker to begin work on your behalf as your agent.
•	Discuss any mandatory local requirements, such as smoke detector disclosures or Sewer ordinances, and prepare any relevant disclosures or paperwork.
•	We go through your house room by room and decide which furniture and artwork you may want to leave in the house for showing, and which things you may want to put into temporary storage. If staging is appropriate and desired, we schedule an appointment with a stager.

Week 1-3

•	Meet to discuss the findings of market research and value on your home and decide on an approximate listing price accordingly. This price may be fine-tuned just prior to placing your home on the market or to reflect adjustments pertaining to any deferred maintenance issues affecting the value of your home (e.g., if your home requires updating, has structural problems, etc.), if necessary.
•	Some clients are unsure of the approximate value for repairs necessary to increase the value of their homes. At this phase your agent or broker will assist or accompany the various inspectors or contractors and discuss their findings with you if you would like to know the exact cost of various repairs prior to placing your home on the market. If a further inspection is recommended, such as an engineer or roofer, at this time you schedule that appointment with your agent's assistance.
•	Some clients' are aware thier homes are in need of repairs or updating and some only just discover this at this stage. Examples of this may be roof issues, termites or carpenter ants, severly worn carpeting, outdated kitchens and bathrooms, etc. At this stage your agent will Counsel you on which of these type of findings you may be required and/or which you choose to correct, such as active termites or issues with your roof, as just examples. Some homeowners do not wish to correct all problems because they do not have the means to correct such problems and would rather adjust the sales price to reflect a credit for the necessary repairs. Other problems such as non-working smoke detectors or termites are often required to be repaired by local ordinace (but also may be easy and inexpensive to repair as well). If appropriate and if clients do choose to correct any work necessary, at this time work is scheduled.
•	Obtain estimates for satisfying local ordinances and schedule the work if needed.
•	If desired, at this stage, clients may meet with the stager, obtain her or his written estimate, and decide how to proceed with staging. Your agent will help coordinate these appointments.
•	Complete additional paperwork, including disclosure documents.
•	If part of the plan, you move any unneeded furniture and belongings into storage.
•	Repairs and improvements such as painting, landscaping and handy work are begun.

Week 2-4

•	Repairs and improvements are completed, if necessary.
•	Pest control work, if any, is completed.
•	Mandatory requirements are completed.
•	House is clear of extraneous possessions and, if appropriate, staged.
•	Various inspection reports are in hand.
•	We complete yet more paperwork, including local, county, state, and federal requirements.
•	House should be thoroughly cleaned, including windows inside and out.
•	Our firm photographs the interior and exterior of the home and begins to design marketing materials.

Week 3-4

•

On the market ! Open Houses, Broker's Tour, and private showings and intensive marketing of your home all commence. In general, listings that are well planned with respect to the above advice receive offers within the first several weeks of marketing and sometimes, as has been our experience, in hours or days.

Week 3-7

•	Receive offers. Once an offer is accepted and escrow is opened, you will not have to continue to show your home unless you choose to do so. However, you will have to grant your Buyer access to your home with reasonable notice.
•	Complete more paperwork including a purchase contract and any necessary addenda.
•	A typical escrow lasts around 30 days, so if you are still living in the home you will need to start to plan your move.

Week 7-8

•	Buyers complete any of their own inspections.
•	Appraiser visits the property; loan process begins, if applicable.
•	Preliminary title report is generated and delivered for Buyer's approval.

Week 8-9

•	Buyers complete the inspection and loan process, approve all existing reports and disclosures, and commit to complete the purchase.
•	Stager is given permission to remove any staging from the property, if applicable.
•	You make final moving plans.

Week 10-12

•	Time to move! House must be free of all personal possessions and "broom clean."
•	You sign your final transfer documents at your attorney's office.
•	Buyer's loan is funded; Buyer signs closing documents.
•	On the day escrow closes, you receive your proceeds check and hand over all keys.

Sold! Although this can't be predicted with precision accuracy - this process from preparing for market to receiving your proceeds check generally lasts about 3 months. However, keep in mind the above process is infinitely adaptable and will be tailored to meet your specific needs and can be faster or slower, depending on different variables which we will discuss early on. Please feel free to call your ViBergman agent for a no-charge, no-obligation meeting to discuss your questions and concerns and your specific and predicted values and timelines.

Please Click Here to learn how our firm works with clients who are buying a home.