Name: Kay Pratt, Edmond OK Real Estate Agent
Rating: 5

Steps to Selling

There are many steps to selling your home, from getting it show worthy to listing it on the MLS to showings to offers and negotiations. Feeling unprepared or overwhelmed is expected. That is why having a trained and experienced local real estate agent on your side can make all the difference! My business is selling homes and I know how to get you through the sale of your home in the least stressful way. Below are the steps to selling to help you visualize what this process looks like. Don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions and remember I will be there for you every step of the way!

STEP 1: CHOOSE A REALTOR

Interview several agents and ask HOW they will market your home and what they do that other agents don’t. Make sure they take professional photos of your home and provide other valuable listing tools like showing apps that text you when your home has a showing and give you valuable feedback. They should be doing MORE than the average agent and they should be able to show you examples. Don’t choose a Realtor who just puts your home on the MLS and lets other real estate agents do their job for them.

STEP 2: SET YOUR ASKING PRICE

Accurate pricing sells homes. The price your home enters the market with can mean the difference between creating a bidding war and sitting on the market for months. Listen to your agent and let them do a Free CMA on your home. Once they have toured your home ask them to prpare a NEW CMA based on seeing it in person. The highest price is not always the best price. Look at the low and high prices they give you and pick a number that is reasonable & will get the most guaranteed offers.

Get a FREE CMA on your home in 24hrs or less!

It's a SELLERS Market! Even if you are even just THINKING about selling, knowing what your home's TRUE market value is valuable information. Fill in your info below and I will send you a complete Market Value Report that shows you what it is REALLY worth in today's market.

STEP 3: PLAN & PREPARE

Plan ahead by choosing the right time of year to sell and take the time to prepare your home before you list it. Ask your agent for a list of repairs that will improve the asking price. Start preparing a list of things you need to do before you list it and set dates to get them completed by. Choose the best time of year to list it and have everything completed before then. If you think you will need a moving company or moving truck then start researching local movers and how much time in advance they need to be notified and how booked up they are currently.

STEP 4: REPAIR & RENOVATE

This is the time to look at your home through a buyers eye, fix any major issues and do the updates that are necessary. Focus on small improvements which will push your homes value up like upgrading the cabinet hardware or installing a new kitchen sink. You do not need to entirely renovate a room to raise the value. Kitchen and Bathroom improvements will drive the price up and are the most important, with floors and paint a close second. And don’t forget curb appeal!

STEP 5: DEEP CLEAN & STAGE YOUR HOME

The difference between a staged house and an unstaged house can translate into THOUSANDS of dollars in the sales price. Clean your entire house thoroughly, including the basement and garage. Buyers will be looking into every nook and cranny so be sure to organize closets and cabinets and throw away old food and junk you don’t plan on taking with you when you move. Clutter often makes rooms seem smaller, and overwhelming decorations may prevent a potential buyer from envisioning their own style in a room. Rent a storage unit and pack up as many things as you can live without and bring them to storage. Put away family photos and store personal items in drawers and cabinets. Stage your home so that each room is attractive, every closet is clean and organized and countertops are clear of clutter.

STEP 6: LIST IT

Review your listing agreement with your Realtor and make sure it contains all of the contingencies you require like how much time you need to move out after closing, are appliances and window treatments included, and what financial terms are required including pre-approval letter or proof of funds. Read everything carefully and ask your agent what other sellers are asking for to give you ideas. This is a contract and you do not want to forget anything crucial. Be prepared for your Realtor to come in and take photos. Ask your agent to preview the property remarks before publishing to the MLS. Make sure they include all of the important details about your home and are creative and stand out. Be honest but be rememberable. Describe special details that aren’t always obvious. A compelling description can make your house stand out from the rest and bring a higher offer. The first day your home enters the MLS is important so be sure to plan on listing it first thing in the morning.

STEP 7: PLAN AN OPEN HOUSE

Not every agent is willing to put forth the time and effort it takes to put on an Open House and not all homes need an Open House. A successful Open House can attract attention from people searching nearby and create a buzz around your home often creating a potential bidding environment. Ask your Realtor what they provide in a showing report and be sure they collect valuable feedback so you can make small improvements where needed.

STEP 8: REVIEW OFFERS & NEGOTIATE

When you’re looking at an offer, it’s not just about the price it is also about the terms. Review each offer carefully and ask questions. Pay attention to the type of offer a buyer is making; a conventional loan has different requirements than a VA loan. Find out what the ABSOLUTE responsibility of the Seller is for the loan type. Aside from that, each repair request from the buyer is NEGOTIABLE. Ask yourself: Who is absolutely the most guaranteed to close the deal. Make sure you get a pre-approval letter or proof of funds.

STEP 9: ACCEPTING an OFFER and CLOSING TIME

Once you’ve finally accepted an offer, inspections will be done to satisfy both the buyer and the mortgage lender. Additional repairs are sometimes negotiable and the cost can be split between the buyer and seller and many times are not required at all. Many sale agreements are incredibly complex so be sure to ask your Realtor before shelling out more money.

STEP 10: MOVING

Depending on how far you’re moving or how much stuff you have, you may require a moving company or a moving truck. Professional movers may seem pricey at first but when you look at the time and money to get similar results, you may re-consider. Call and set your moving date and start packing! Many places like U-HAUL sell moving boxes that are made to make your move easier. Label everything with what is inside it and what room it goes in. Recruit friends and family if needed.

BONUS TIPS ON HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME FAST

TIP #1

List when the market is high and in the season when moving is the most common for your area.

TIP #2

Make sure the outside of your home is clean and attractive. Plant flowers and clean up for the best first impression.

TIP #3

Smart Homes SELL – add smart lightbulbs and thermostats to increase value and make your home more attractive.

TIP #4

Keep Pet areas clean & fresh. Put away pet beds and toys before showings and use plug-in freshners near pet areas.

See what my clients are saying:

Average Rating 5 out of 5 stars

Eric and Kasey Allen

Kay,

Thank you so much for all your help and support during our selling and building process. You made this such an easy and enjoyable experience. We can’t imagine doing this without you!

Much love,

Eric and Kasey Allen

Thank you so much for all your help and support during our selling and building process. You made this such an easy and enjoyable experience. We can’t imaging doing this without you. Much love, Eric & Kasey Allen

Micky McVay

Kay is very perceptive, intelligent and industrious. Does not waste her time on showing you houses that will not be of interest to you, based on what you told her you would be interested in buying. She is an interesting and personable sale lady.

Lois Smith

Recently Kay helped Lois Smith of Edmond downsize her home. After her family grew up and her husband passed away, Lois needed to downsize to a home she could manage. She talks about the challenges of downsizing and the mental strength needed in letting go of her “stuff” she collected over the years.

Paul Watters

When it was time to sell my home, Kay, not only advised me on updating my house, but she had all the contacts at her fingertips. She made the transition of buying and selling as easy as possible. Kay also found a home that I thought I never could have afforded for a great price! Win-Win!

Gary Lynn Foss

Gary and Joyce Foss

My wife and I appreciated Kay very much during the process of selling our home in Edmond. We had several problems in relocating to Colorado including mail service and a computer crash which required buying a new computer to exchange documents with Kay. During all this she was always available to provide help with e-mails, texts, and telephone calls. Also our home sold in just over two months which was a big help to us.

Garland and Melissa Reese

We met Kay years ago when we trying to sell a home that, due to geographic location, we were afraid would never sell. Within a month, we had a buyer, and within two months, we were settled into a beautiful new home. Kay made what could have been an overwhelming experience pleasant, and has since helped us sell and buy again. Kay is an absolute joy to work with. Professionalism, knowledge, and patience at its finest! Thanks so much for everything, Kay.

Jayne Cox

Working with Kay Pratt will be the most positive experience you will ever have working with a realtor. She takes the complicated and timely process of putting your house on the market and turns it into absolutely, stress free experience. My house went on the market two days after Kay make first contact, pictures and all info online and contract within one week. Although that contract fell through, Kay had another buyer within a week and the house sold and was closed within a 6 week time frame. Not a bad turn around! Kay was always on time, did what she said she would do, called when she said she would and I absolutely cannot imagine her being uncomfortable in any setting. She is down to earth and has humble Oklahoma beginnings that have obviously carried her far. Of the past six or seven experiences I have had in dealing with real estate, Kay Pratt’s experience is by far outstanding.

manuel leo g. carter

Leo Carter

Kay Pratt helped my wife and me sell our farm in McLoud and found the perfect home in Edmond. She saved us a lot of money. Kay Pratt helped us again to sell our home in Edmond and found the perfect home again in Edmond. She was and is the best possible realtor you could possible wish for. Very trustworthy, smart, courteous and helpful in every way. If you don’t choose her – then you just made the biggest mistake of your life. God bless Kay Pratt.

A-R

NOTE: Since selling her home and doing this testimonial, our client has become a star in Hollywood and requested that her name not be used, so we are going to call her A-R.

I wanted to share my story about what a great experience I had working with Kay. I was referred to Kay by a friend and he went on and on about how great his Realtor was. He gave me her web site and I went to Kay Pratt.com. I filled out the form and thought “oh, I might start looking at some houses”. I got an email from Kay almost immediately, which I was very impressed by, and we went and started looking at houses. It was a completely different experience than I thought it would be. I thought I would find the perfect house in the first day or two and it was much more difficult than that. Kay walked me through every step of the process and was very patient and so kind and knowledgable about the entire process. She made me feel I was with the right person because she was so experienced. It took us 6 months and Kay told me to be patient and made sure I found the perfect house for me rather than just settle. She was more interested in finding me the perfect house than just selling me a house.