The Basics of Selling

Step 1: Create Marketing Plan
Create a marketing plan for your home that will help distinguish it in your local marketplace and attract the most potential buyers to your property. This may include advertising in the newspaper, posting your listing on the Internet, holding an open house and more. AIM Realty Group Chicago sales associates use our tailored marketing system to create a personalized selling program for clients. Its purpose is to sell a home at the best price possible in the shortest amount of time.

Step 2: List Price
A key part of the marketing plan is setting the list price. If a home is priced too low, it may cost you money. However if a home is priced too high, potential buyers may be scared away. To determine the best asking price review the cost of recently sold homes, evaluate the competition and study marketplace trends. Our sales associates are trained to use this information to help you reach the right asking price. It is also helpful to discuss other terms and conditions, such as timing and items that can be included with the sale of the home. Both of these can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Step 3: It’s Showtime
Now it's time to get your home ready for the main event. Start with a good thorough cleaning, then eliminate any clutter, add a fresh coat of paint and tidy up the yard. Talk to one of our real estate professionals about other tips that can help boost your home's curb appeal and impress potential buyers once they're in the door. In addition to this, our professionals will help make you aware of all the federal, state, and local disclosure laws. There are certain items that you MUST disclose to potential buyers. We’ll help you identify them.

Step 4: The Deal
A buyer has made an offer - now it is time to negotiate. Rely on one of our real estate professionals to guide you through this process. He or she will help you arrive at an acceptable price, terms and conditions. Once you have accepted an offer, help keep the deal together by meeting deadlines and criteria, including home inspections, appropriate buyer visits, scheduled deposits and other steps. In fact, during this period there may be a renegotiation of the accepted offer price depending on the outcomes of these visits. As the closing nears, you may also need to perform repairs or do additional work to the house as agreed upon in your contract. In addition, you will need to have the house "broom clean" prior to the closing so that the buyer can complete a final walk through. Once the money has exchanged hands and all the papers have been signed it's time to hand over the keys and concentrate on your next big project - getting YOUR new home in order.