You have decided to sell your home, now what do you do next? Below is a list of things typically needed to assist the Seller in marketing their property.  return to top

The process for selling a home is not as easy for sellers as it was five or ten years ago. Surviving in today's real estate world requires experience and training in such fields as real estate marketing, financing, negotiation and closing. This expertise is available from a licensed REALTOR. REALTORS are members of the National Association of Realtors, a group of agents and brokers with a strict code of ethics and an advanced education. This membership obligates them to be fair to all parties involved in a transaction, be it a buyer, seller or cooperating agent.

All Brokers and Associates at FULLER & ASSOCIATES REALTY, LLC are members of this elite organization.  return to top

First, the Realtor you choose will provide you with a Real Estate Commission prepared and approved disclosure pamphlet, entitled "Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions". This booklet describes the brokerage relationships that FULLER & ASSOCIATES REALTY, LLC represents. This booklet will state that your REALTOR is your Limited Seller's Agent.  return to top

Next, your REALTOR will provide you with information to determine the best listing price for your home or property. In setting a list price for your home, you need to consider the following: If you set the price too high, your house won't be picked for viewing, even though it may be much nicer than other homes on the street. Buyers will be comparing its price with everything else on the market, no matter how attractive your house. A REALTOR can furnish you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), to help determine a suggested list price. This amount is determined after careful inspection of the property and after comparing the subject property with past sales of comparable properties. A MARKET ANALYSIS (This opinion or analysis is not an appraisal.  It is intended for the benefit of the addressee for the purpose of assisting buyers or sellers or prospective buyers or sellers in deciding the listing, offering, or sale price of the real property and not for any other purpose, including but not limited to, lending purposes.  This opinion or analysis is not governed by the Real Estate Appraiser Act, but is subject to enforcement through the Nebraska Real Estate License Act).    return to top

You will be asked to sign a Listing Agreement, which means that you are employing the REALTOR to act as a Seller Limited Agent in the sale of your home. The listing agreement is a legally binding contract, so it is very important that you discuss each item thoroughly with your REALTOR. If there is anything you do not understand on this contract, you should seek legal advice before signing it. This document will also state the length of the listing, the personal property that will be included in the sale, the amount of compensation that the REALTOR will be paid, and any other provisions that are pertinent to the sale. It should be stressed that all contracts, agreements and changes should be in writing so that all matters are documented.

When listing the personal property that is included or excluded, be as specific as possible. This eliminates the risk of misunderstandings that might occur. If there is something that you do not want included with the property, be sure to have it listed on the listing agreement.  return to top

You will also be asked to fill out a Property Condition Disclosure Statement. This form asks you to disclose all pertinent information concerning your property. This form is only necessary on residential home sales, and does not apply to commercial property, vacant land or new construction. You will be asked to complete the form to the best of your knowledge. It is important to be as complete with your answers as possible.  return to top

Another document that you will be required to fill out if the house you are listing was built in 1978 or before is the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form. You will need to disclose if you are aware of any lead-based paint or paint products in your house, or if you have any reports pertaining to lead-based paint or paint products in your house. This will need to be signed and dated.  return to top

The ultimate goal of any marketing plan is to sell the property at the highest possible price in the least amount of time. After finding a potential buyer, your real estate associate will bring you an offer to purchase. Every seller has three basic options when presented with an offer on your property. You can either accept or reject what is offered, or make a written counter offer. You have a legally binding agreement once you and the buyer reach a meeting of the minds and sign the purchase agreement and all attached addendums and counter offers. It should be stated that by law, your licensee MUST present ALL offers to you, the Seller, no matter what the amount of that offer .

Your signed acceptance of a written offer becomes your sales contract. Again, make sure that you understand everything that is on that Purchase Agreement before you sign it. If there is anything that you do not understand, seek legal advice. As part of the offer, normally the buyer will put down a reasonable cash deposit or Earnest Deposit. This shows you that this is a sincere offer by the buyer and that the buyer intends to go through with the purchase of the property. This earnest deposit is held by a designated broker pending acceptance of the offer. After final acceptance of the offer, the earnest money is deposited in that broker's trust account and , if that broker is not the listing broker, then it is transferred to and held in the listing broker's trust account. You should be aware, as either a buyer or seller, that designated brokers are required to handle the funds as directed by the Nebraska Real Estate License Act and Rules and Regulations. In general, brokers will require a mutual release between both the Buyers and the Sellers before they can release the earnest deposit to either party.  return to top

With written approval by all parties, usually listed on the Purchase Agreement, a third party, such as an attorney or title insurance company, may be used to close the transaction. The fee that this closing agent charges is usually split equally between the Buyer and the Seller. FULLER & ASSOCIATES REALTY licensed associates keep the Seller aware of the closing process as it unfolds, and usually attend the closing with the Seller. The compensation paid to a real estate agent is not paid until the actual closing of the property.  return to top