Search

Leave a Message

Thank you for your message. I will be in touch with you shortly.

Explore Properties
Browse my

Seller's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time Seller's Guide

Putting your home on the market can be a stressful process, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, with the help of an experienced agent and this easy to follow guide, you can smoothly complete the process. Following these steps will help you prepare so you can get organized and sell your home for the best price possible.​​​​​​​

Default Image

Step 1: Understand Why You're Selling

What do you want to accomplish with the sale of your home? Do you want to make a certain amount of money that you can put toward a larger or nicer home? Do you need to sell it as soon as possible to facilitate a move to a new city or area? Once you understand your needs, you can better craft your offer. For example, if you need to sell quickly, you might want to price your home lower than if your goal is to make a certain profit margin. Make sure you convey these needs to your real estate agent once you choose one so he or she can adjust your selling price accordingly.

Default Image

Step 2: Determine Selling Price

Knowing how to price your home is one of the most important parts of the selling process. When you set a fair price in the beginning, you’ll get the most interest from other real estate agents and prospective buyers. Overpricing your home could lead to reduced interest, and underpricing leads to receiving less than what your home is worth. Working with a real estate agent is the best way to determine the right selling price for your home. An agent with experience can determine what other comparable homes are selling for, evaluate the current market, and may even suggest a home appraisal.

Default Image

Step 3: Start Preparations

If you’ve kept your home in showroom condition since you’ve lived in it, you’re in the minority of homeowners. Once you price your home, it’s time to start getting it ready to be shown to potential buyers. This includes getting rid of clutter, depersonalizing the space so that buyers can envision themselves in the space, making any small repairs, and doing a deep clean to make sure your home is in pristine condition.

Default Image

Step 4: Develop a Marketing Strategy

I will develop a marketing strategy that is perfect for advertising your home. This involves listing the home and then driving the right people to that listing through social media campaigns, agent-to-agent referrals, traditional media, or SEO advertising. My team creates a marketing campaign that aims to get the most possible traffic to your listing in the first three weeks after becoming a client.

Default Image

Step 5: Evaluate Offers

Receiving an offer is an exciting part of the process, but it doesn’t mean the journey is over. I will evaluate each offer and make sure the party making the offer is prequalified or pre-approved by a mortgage lender and that their offer is acceptable to you. If the offer is too low, you can make a counter-offer or offer other ways to bridge the gap, such as covering some or all of the closing costs, making repairs, adjusting the move-in date, or leaving some appliances or fixtures for the new buyer.

Default Image

Step 6: Accept an Offer

Once I deem the offer is acceptable, I will review the proposed contract to make sure it’s all in order and includes the necessary components such as deposit amount, down payment, financing, inspection rights and repair allowances, contingencies, settlement date, and a list of fees and who will pay them. When both parties have agreed to the term, a final contract will be prepared by your agent.

Default Image

Step 7: Get Ready to Close

You have accepted an offer and are now very close to the end of your selling journey. But first, you and the buyer must make a list of what needs to be done before closing. In some cases, your home may need to be formally inspected, surveyed, and appraised. In other cases, major or minor repairs will need to be made before the house can close. I will head up efforts to develop and execute this list, get each action item paid for by the correct party, and make sure everything is in order by the closing date. A few days before the closing date, I will call the company closing the transaction to make sure everything is ready to go. If you haven’t done so already, you also need to make arrangements to move out of the home so the new buyer can take possession.

Default Image

Step 8: Close

You’ve reached the last step in the seller’s process. When you close on a home you are selling, you are legally transferring ownership of the property to the new buyer. I will meet with the company closing the transaction to sign the final paperwork and go over any issues that have not yet been taken care of. During this time, you can also make plans with your real estate agent to handle final details such as canceling utilities, cable, and lawn or trash services, changing the name on accounts that the new owner is retaining and ensuring the new owner has instructions for all appliances that will remain in the home.

Congratulations!

Once you have sold your home, you’re free to take the next step on your journey. Whether this is relocating to a new city, moving into a larger home, or downsizing and enjoying your life as empty-nesters, knowing all your selling responsibilities have been taken care of will help you achieve peace of mind for your new path.

Instant property Valuation

Have an Expert Help You Find Out What Your Home is Really Worth Today

1
2
3

Thank You!

I'll be in touch with your free personalized report. It'll compare your home to nearby properties, taking into account market conditions, location, and features to accurately determine its value.
Search Homes
See Why My Clients Love Me

Testimonials

"Ruthie Gets it done! If you are looking for a realtor in Teller County, then look no further than Ruth Grainger-Star! My wife and I were first-time homebuyers, and Ruthie made the entire process Absolutely amazing! She got us the home we were looking for and made sure we didn’t get taken advantage of or treated unfairly. Ruthie is very straightforward and will not give you the hard sell or make you feel pressured into making any decisions. She really wants the best for her clients and will go the extra mile to make sure all your needs are met. I could not recommend a better real estate agent in the area. My wife and I are grateful we found her and love our new home."
"Ruthie Gets it done! If you are looking for a realtor in Teller County, then look no further than Ruth Grainger-Star! My wife and I were first-time homebuyers, and Ruthie made the entire process Absolutely amazing! She got us the home we were looking for and made sure we didn’t get taken advantage of or treated unfairly. Ruthie is very straightforward and will not give you the hard sell or make you feel pressured into making any decisions. She really wants the best for her clients and will go the extra mile to make sure all your needs are met. I could not recommend a better real estate agent in the area. My wife and I are grateful we found her and love our new home."
Zack S.
"I love my new home and thank you to Ruthie for helping me every step of the way."
"I love my new home and thank you to Ruthie for helping me every step of the way."
Brandy V.
"Ruth, I selected you because I really felt I needed to work with a professional who was familiar with the area of Cripple Creek, and could help me find and then orchestrate the purchase of a property, and that's exactly what you did for me. Ruth, I was very impressed by how quickly you sent me information on the properties for sale in Cripple Creek and then took the time to drive me around to show me the properties that were available. Trust me, your insight and information were very much appreciated. Ruth, yes I would be glad to refer you to any family and friends who might be looking to purchase a property. Thank you again for all your help and support."
"Ruth, I selected you because I really felt I needed to work with a professional who was familiar with the area of Cripple Creek, and could help me find and then orchestrate the purchase of a property, and that's exactly what you did for me. Ruth, I was very impressed by how quickly you sent me information on the properties for sale in Cripple Creek and then took the time to drive me around to show me the properties that were available. Trust me, your insight and information were very much appreciated. Ruth, yes I would be glad to refer you to any family and friends who might be looking to purchase a property. Thank you again for all your help and support."
Terry H.
"Ruthie, you did an outstanding job bringing about the sale of our commercial property on 4th Street in Victor. You brought to the endeavor a wealth of experience in Victor and southern Teller County real estate, which allowed you the help us wade through a conditional use variance that made the property more attractive. The sale had some challenges bringing all sides together which the Grangers help bring to a beneficial outcome for both the buyers and sellers."
"Ruthie, you did an outstanding job bringing about the sale of our commercial property on 4th Street in Victor. You brought to the endeavor a wealth of experience in Victor and southern Teller County real estate, which allowed you the help us wade through a conditional use variance that made the property more attractive. The sale had some challenges bringing all sides together which the Grangers help bring to a beneficial outcome for both the buyers and sellers."
Chris & Nancy H.
"We are very pleased with our Grainger real estate experience. Ruth was very professional and extremely helpful. Her knowledge of the local market was exactly what we were looking for."
"We are very pleased with our Grainger real estate experience. Ruth was very professional and extremely helpful. Her knowledge of the local market was exactly what we were looking for."
Buyer | Seller
"Ruthie is a realtor with a heart! She loves her local market and boy does it show! Her dedication to her clients and their best interests is second to none and I highly recommend her! "
"Ruthie is a realtor with a heart! She loves her local market and boy does it show! Her dedication to her clients and their best interests is second to none and I highly recommend her! "
Jan C.
"Ruthie is a true stand-out! She knows the area in and around Pike's Peak like no one else. She's super responsive and makes herself available to accommodate her clients' schedules and she always makes me feel like a valued client and a friend. I highly recommend Ruthie as the go-to real estate agent in Pike's Peak!"
"Ruthie is a true stand-out! She knows the area in and around Pike's Peak like no one else. She's super responsive and makes herself available to accommodate her clients' schedules and she always makes me feel like a valued client and a friend. I highly recommend Ruthie as the go-to real estate agent in Pike's Peak!"
Judy W.
"Ruthie Grainger is an outstanding realtor and knows the area in Teller County better than anyone! She is always professional and a joy to work with. I look forward to many more transactions with her in the future!"
"Ruthie Grainger is an outstanding realtor and knows the area in Teller County better than anyone! She is always professional and a joy to work with. I look forward to many more transactions with her in the future!"
Amelia W.
"My family is currently looking for land for sale in the Cripple Creek, Co area. It is Sunday evening and this agent contacted me right away and let me know that as soon as she was able, she would be happy to help. A couple hours later she called and spent the last few hours helping us look for property fitting our needs. I would highly recommend her! She has been wonderful during this first step of this decision."
"My family is currently looking for land for sale in the Cripple Creek, Co area. It is Sunday evening and this agent contacted me right away and let me know that as soon as she was able, she would be happy to help. A couple hours later she called and spent the last few hours helping us look for property fitting our needs. I would highly recommend her! She has been wonderful during this first step of this decision."
Buyer | Seller
"Ruthie is the most knowledgeable about the area I know. I would recommend her team for your all real estate needs. I have never had any problems with her and she is on top of all the transactions and paperwork."
"Ruthie is the most knowledgeable about the area I know. I would recommend her team for your all real estate needs. I have never had any problems with her and she is on top of all the transactions and paperwork."
Seller

Follow Us On Instagram