Are you planning to sell your San Antonio or Austin home? Regardless of whether this is your
first time as a home seller or you’ve sold many homes, understanding the selling process can
assure you that things are going smoothly. Successful transactions don’t just happen; it takes
experience and professionals to navigate from staging to closing.
Who Are The Experts?
Real Estate Agent
Choosing the right San Antonio or Austin listing agent is the single most important aspect of
the home sale process. A professional listing agent does far more than slapping a lockbox on
the front door and sticking a sign in the yard. You should do your homework and find an
experienced listing agent in your area. They should not only be able to explain the process, but
have extensive understanding about your market and neighborhood.
Home Stager
Your agent will offer ideas about how to ready your home for sale. They might suggest a visit
with a professional home stager. A professional home stager can make a huge difference in
sales price. A properly staged home creates an emotional response in the San Antonio or
Austin buyer. They are trained to help you depersonalize your home and allow it to show in its
best possible light. Their services range from a simple consultation to replacing an entire
houseful of furniture and décor.
Escrow Officer
Escrow is a neutral third party to the transaction. The escrow officer is your agent in that
office. Escrow takes the terms agreed to by the parties and enacts them. They work with the
lender and the two agents to make sure that everything is handled according to the contract.
They run the file and arrange funding and change of title on the day of closing.
Timeline For Your Home Sale
Meeting With Your Agent
Normally the first meeting will take place in your home. Your agent will want to see your
home and hear about its unique features. You will show your agent around your home and
they will likely have questions. During this visit you will also talk about what your goals are for
the home sale. What is your timeline? What do you want/need for net proceeds? Will you be
buying another home and how does this sale affect that purchase or move? The more you
share with your agent, the easier it will be for them to help you.
Comparative Market Analysis and Choosing the List Price
After the home tour, you and your agent will sit down and talk about the local real estate
market and how it affects your property and list price. Your agent will come prepared with a Comparative Market Analysis which will show not only the sold sales but active and pending
listings. Then they will explain how each home compares to yours and how they impact your
potential sale and list price.
Choosing the list price is your decision. You will be given all the data you need and your agent
help you understand the turnover rate, months of inventory available and average days on the
market, so that you can choose a list price that fits your needs and timeline.
Preparing Your Home For Sale
Preparing your home for sale might be as simple as fresh flowers in the front yard. It’s
important to think about what the buyers will see as they tour your home. This is where the
professional home stager could come into play. Typically even a dated home can be spruced
up with small changes in furniture placement, fresh paint, new lighting and/or minor repairs. A
small investment can net thousands of dollars in a sales price.
Listing Your House
Once your home is ready for San Antonio and Austin home buyers, you will list your home
and your agent will implement their marketing plan. Most agents use a professional
photographer and provide extensive Internet exposure. Your agent will hold a Broker’s Open
House to invite the local agents through the home to view its unique features. If it makes
sense and you are willing to accommodate, there could also be public open houses. The goal is
to get as many buyers through your home as possible.
Offers
Once you start to receive offers, you will meet with your agent to review them together and
determine how to respond. Typically counter offers reflect a change the sales price, but they
could also ask for different terms. These terms might include a higher deposit, shorter escrow
period or shortened contingency timeframe. Once you have an acceptable offer, then escrow
is opened.
Escrow Process For Sellers
Much of the escrow process involves the buyer’s side of the transaction. You will provide seller
disclosures to the buyer. This disclosure will notify the buyers of any problems or conditions
you are aware of with the property that could be an issue….and also what has been fixed. . If
you’ve agreed to provide anything, such as termite clearance or septic tank certification, this
will be arranged during this time as well.
Request For Repairs
Once the buyer has completed all their home inspections, they might request that you make
repairs or provide a credit. You are under no obligation to make these repairs. The home
inspection is part of the buyer’s contingencies however, so if the parties cannot come to an
agreement or if the buyer will not accept the property as–is, then they do have the right to
cancel. Typically in this heated San Antonio and Austin real estate market the requests for
repairs relate to fire and safety concerns and issues.
Closing
Prior to the closing date, you will have signed all your documents with escrow. On the date of
closing, you should have nothing to do but wait for the phone call that title has transferred.
Escrow will then balance the file and wire your proceeds. This typically takes place the
following day.
The sales process is a series of steps that you and your agent will take together. Knowing what
to expect, and when, can alleviate the uncertainty you might feel as a seller. Once escrow is
opened, so much happens on the buyer’s side of the transaction that days can go by with no
update. That’s ok, and normal! The right San Antonio and Austin real estate agent will keep
you informed and run the transaction smoothly.