Seller Order of Events From Listing to Closing:
Appointment with Seller & Agent.
Prepare Comparative Market Value Analysis (CMA). Print it out & put it in the file.
All Active & Contract Listings must have a completed file in the office.
Sign Exclusive Listing Agreement, Agency Disclosure Form, & Lead Paint Disclosure Form (if necessary). Print it out & put it in the file.
Get all information on property, including correct taxes (from the Receiver of Taxes), legal square footage (from the Assessor), Septic Plan from the Dept. of Health (if applicable-For Westcheseter County: https://health.westchestergov.com/foil-request), Certificates of Occupancy (from the Building Department), & Survey (if available), etc. Print them out & put into the file.
Help Seller with staging advice & decluttering advice. De-personalize.
Take photos-note that the facade photo is most important-should have full sun on the facade & a cloudless blue sky in the background.
List property on MLS, upload photos, Exclusive Agreement (private exposure), & Lead Paint Disclosure (public exposure). Double-check that all pages of all forms are uploaded properly.
Prepare office file with all paperwork (See GLR File requirements page).
Install For Sale sign & lockbox if possible.
Marketing events including Broker Open House, Public Open House, Postcards to the neighborhood, Flyers to the local agents, etc.
Adjustments to sales strategy, including: price, commission to buyer’s agent, incentives, condition, etc.
Receive offer with pre-approval letter. All offers in writing. Print it out & put it in the file.
Negotiate.
Receive Acceptable Offer.
Prepare Memorandum of Agreement & distribute to all the parties. Get Buyer’s side information first from Buyer’s agent. Must include Broker’s & Agent’s Unique ID#. Memorandum should be on Listing Broker’s letterhead.
Schedule buyer’s inspection (if necessary).
Seller’s attorney writes Contract & sends to Buyer’s attorney. Buyers sign Contract & write Earnest Money Check & Buyer’s attorney sends to Seller’s attorney. Sellers sign Contract.
Contracts fully executed.
Change MLS status to: Contract. Print it out & put it in the file.
Schedule Bank appraisal.
Receive Buyer’s Commitment Letter.
Underwriting.
Schedule Closing.
Send Commission Invoice to Seller’s Attorney.
Seller should contact all utilities including: Electric, Cable, Oil/Propane, etc. to transfer billing as of the date of the Closing. You do not want these utilities turned off on the date of the Closing. Sometimes the Buyer & the Seller can get on the phone together with the utility & transfer the ownership. It’s a good idea to get a final reading of any meters during the final walk-through. Take a photo of the meter reading with your cell phone. Make sure you can read the numbers.
Go to Closing, get any additional paperwork signed (if necessary), pick up commission check, bring to office. Bring HUD Document & put it in the file so you can send it to the buyer after January 1 for their taxes.
Change MLS status to: Sold.
Bring completed file to office & get paid!