So you want to sell your home in New York?
Unfortunately, just mulling over these questions can cause anxiety and make decision-making very difficult. So what do you do? Many people turn to Zillow to see what their home is worth. Plug in your address and poof: You have an estimate.
But how accurate is Zillow’s Zestimate?
Can the online estimator see all of your interior upgrades or your incredible view? Does the online estimator work with buyers and know what they are willing to do in order to get into your specific neighborhood or school district?
No, only an experienced Realtor who knows and sells in your area will be able to help you zero in on your home’s true value. Knowledge is power, and I’m here to supply you with that so you can make an informed decision.
Step-by-step
Step 1
My listing presentation consists of two parts, starting with the Initial Consultation.
I will come to your home where you can tour me through the property. During this time, I’ll ask plenty of questions and take detailed notes. Think of this first meeting as a “Fact Finding Mission.”
It’s important for me to see your home in person to assess its condition and check details like the age of the mechanicals. Just as importantly, this meeting gives us a chance to get to know one another and allows me to answer any initial questions you may have.
Step 2
There is more to listing a home than just coming up with a price.
A true professional digs deeper. I review your home’s records—checking the building file, health department records, property cards, and confirming taxes. Armed with this data and my personal notes from our tour, I begin a deep dive into researching comparable properties.
Note: I will never give a price evaluation over the phone prior to viewing your home and its records.
Anyone can do a quick search and throw out a number, but I don’t play around with such important figures. With me, your home’s value will be determined through thorough research supported by actual data—it won’t be a “guesstimate.”
Step 3
Once I have completed my research, we will meet to review it all together. We will go over the town records, view the listings I’ve pulled as comps, and determine a list price together.
I will explain the whole selling procedure—what you can expect from me and what you can expect when your home is actually listed for sale.
My job is not to sell your house. The sale of your house is the result of me doing my job.
My role is to know the market your home is located in so I can be your best advisor and your intermediary between you and the real estate marketplace. My goal is to earn your trust and respect so that we can be partners throughout the process of selling your home.
Step 4
Once we are committed to working together, we will complete all the required listing paperwork. In New York, that paperwork will include:
We will also discuss what your showing schedule may be, if you would like a For Sale sign on your property, and if you would like me to host open houses, just to name a few.
Step 5
Declutter, Declutter, Declutter! That’s the name of the game!
Prepare your home to be ready for photography. The listing photos are the first impression buyers will have of your home and property, and we want them drawn in and excited.
This is the time to complete all of those items that have been on your to-do list for years. Have your grass freshly mowed, house power washed, and interior deep cleaned and clutter-free; this will ensure your home is portrayed the best it can be.
While you prep, I will be working on your listing—entering all the pertinent info, writing a captivating description, and uploading the best photos. I will always share the listing with you for approval before we make it “live.”
Step 6
Your home is officially on the market!
Your listing can be viewed by thousands of agents in the MLS and all of their buyer clients, as well as millions of people searching on third-party sites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Homes.com.
Be prepared to leave your home for showings and any open houses we choose to do.
Step 7
Together we will review and negotiate any offers we receive. Once you accept an offer, the buyers will complete their inspections and let us know if they are moving forward or would like to negotiate anything that came up during the inspections.
I will then work up the memo to be sent to the attorneys.
Your attorney will draw up the contract and send it to the buyers’ attorney for review. The buyers will sign first and submit their down payment; then, you sign. Once both parties sign, we have “fully executed contracts.”
I will update the listing to “pending” status and the buyers’ mortgage process can begin.
Step 8
You will spend the next month or so packing and clearing the house of anything you are not taking with you. If the buyers are purchasing with a mortgage, an appraiser will come out to view the home and determine the value.
Prior to closing, please prepare to:
Once all of the buyers’ mortgage conditions have been met, they will be issued a “clear to close” and the attorneys can schedule the closing.
Important Note: In the lower Hudson Valley of New York, closing dates in contracts are “on or about.” The date in the contract may not be the exact date you close, so don’t plan to take a day off of work or schedule your movers until the attorneys set a confirmed closing date, time, and location.
You must be completely moved out by closing day and leave your home “broom swept” unless otherwise negotiated in your contract.
Why Worstell Realty
Choosing Worstell Realty for your home buying process in New York comes with numerous benefits:
“The River of Real Estate” explains why homes sell in every season; it’s a current that keeps moving, no matter what month the calendar says. Life doesn’t pause—people still get job transfers, babies still get born, families still split or merge. Those currents carry people into buying and selling even when the so called “season” is over. So, don’t get wrapped up in worrying if it’s the “right time to sell.” The time is right if it’s right for you…there will always be buyers!
The short answer is no, but here’s why that may not be in your best interest:
Most buyers expect their agent to be paid by the seller and many buyers cannot afford to pay an agent out-of-pocket on top of their down payment, closing costs, and moving expenses. Buyers may ask their agent to find out if the seller is offering compensation to buyers’ agents before requesting showings; if the seller is not, the buyers may opt to not even view your home.
Fewer buyers = less competition = fewer offers = less leverage for you.
Offering no compensation shrinks your buyer pool and could take your home longer to sell. The longer your home is actively sitting on the market, the more likely buyers are to incorrectly assume there is something wrong with it. Longer days on the market often lead to price cuts to generate interest, which does not benefit you.
Additionally, if the buyer must pay their agent’s commission, lenders typically cannot roll that fee into the mortgage (real estate commissions are not a financeable closing cost). This forces the buyer to pay it in cash at closing. If they don’t have the cash, they’ll likely request either a lower purchase price or a seller concession to cover the fee indirectly. Either way, the seller still bears that cost.
So while you are not required to pay a buyer agent’s commission, not doing so could end up costing you more than if you did.
And remember: compensation rates are not fixed by law. It is set by each broker individually and may be negotiable. You have the ability to offer a set compensation amount as either a percentage of the sale price or flat fee, or you can advise buyers to include their requested buyer agent compensation in their offers for your review.
I always advise my clients to create a binder containing home records to be left out for buyers and agents to peruse while viewing your home. It should include items such as:
Your transparency and willingness to share how well you have maintained your home will put buyers more at ease which will benefit you more in the end. Plus, they will be spending more time in your home going through the binder and then touring through the house with a more informed view.
We want them to feel at home in your home! Other than this, keep your home clean, inside and out, and smelling fresh for showings.
