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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 team of real estate agents 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.

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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 team of real estate agents once you choose one so they can adjust your selling price accordingly.

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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 team of real estate agent is the best way to determine the right selling price for your home. A team of real estate agent with experience can determine what other comparable homes are selling for, evaluate the current market, and may even suggest a home appraisal.

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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.

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Step 4: Develop a Marketing Strategy

We 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. Our 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.

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Step 5: Evaluate Offers

Receiving an offer is an exciting part of the process, but it doesn’t mean the journey is over. We 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.

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Step 6: Accept an Offer

Once we deem the offer is acceptable, we 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 team of real estate agents.

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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. We 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, we 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.

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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. We 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 team of real estate agents 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.

AARON A.
BUYER
CHERYL T.
CONRAD
MFAUTH
JOHN A.
CHELSEA B.
JEFF C.
CHRIS B.
BUYER
ALLEN S.
BUYER
TODD R.
BUYER
BECCA M.
BUYER
BUYER
TYLER D.
BUYER
GARY K.
KEN & GINNY R.
KEN L.
VIRGINIA C.
CHRIS C.
BECKY D.
MIKE P.
EVA & WALDEMAR D.
Chris B.
SELLER
BUYER
BUYER
CHRISTOPHER T.
SELLER
SERENE S.
NINA T.
GINA E.
VICKIE T.
Chad N.
BUYER
CLIFF & TRACEY S.
MARIA V.
BILL C.
LEE A.
DEBRA S.
DINA G.
CHRIS B.
BARRY M.
JOEL D.
BARBARA W.
JEAN H.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Easy and Always communicates. John helped me sell my rental. I am in Virginia Beach so we did everything over the phone and emails. The process with him was so easy. I did not have to keep pinging him for updates. He was communicating updates, changes, and offers to me. He is very responsive to my questions - which I think is important as a client. He was very professional and patient with me.

— AARON A.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

My family and I were moving from Eastern Long Island New York to North Carolina. Obviously picking a real estate agent while in another state was going to be one of the most important decisions we made. The difference between home purchasing in North Carolina and New York is night and day. Different rules different fees different taxes etc. etc. Finding someone knowledgeable and who we completely trusted...

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Bizz Baker is a five-star Realtor®, We hired him to sell our beach house, which we had difficulty selling. He assured us there was a buyer out there for our property, and he delivered! He was very responsive to all our questions, let us know details about every show, and generally kept us informed every step of the way. Since we live out of state he had to step in and take care of some details regarding ...

— CHERYL T.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Not say enough about Wanda. She is wonderful Very professional and courteous. Got us through some rough times when a deal Wanda course fell through. She responded to our emails quickly. I would recommend her wholeheartedly. I would not use any other real estate person if she was available.

— CONRAD

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We were fortunate to encounter working with Kylie by chance. The following process undertaken and resulting activities became a conscience decision to actively choose her. From the first moment she was responsive, engaged, focused on understanding and supporting our needs, and determined to make things happen. Her hard work. tireless efforts, and connection with our family was evident. Like any true prof...

— MFAUTH

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Ana was a joy to work with and was always available for a phone call or text. She was very responsive in arranging spur-of-the-moment in-person or virtual showings while helping me navigate this crazy market! She was wonderful every step of the way.

— JOHN A.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Ashley was my first-ever Realtor® and she set the bar so incredibly high. She answered all of my millions of questions with confidence and eased my stressed first-time homebuyer mind. She was on top of every listing that I was interested in and moved her schedule around to work with mine. She was always a pleasure to be around and made this experience one I will never forget. Thank you Ashley for all of ...

— CHELSEA B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We recently closed on a new construction townhouse in Sneads Ferry, NC. When we initially reached out for information Dee Dee was the listing agent for the builder. Due to her caring nature and pleasant demeanor, we decided to stick with her as our buying agent. I know some people look upon this as odd but rest assured she always had our best interest in mind and stayed on top of all matters between us a...

— JEFF C.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

You have used Joann McDermon on several properties we have purchased. She is always professional, quick to respond and extremely knowledgeable. If you are looking for someone who knows the industry and the lay out of the land, use Joanne.

— CHRIS B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Amye and Bizz are great Realtors®. They worked hard to find the property I wanted, secure the terms, and get to closing. I will always use their services in the future when buying or selling property.

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

As first-time home buyers, my husband and I knew very little about what to expect when buying/searching for a new house, which is why we are so grateful that Kylie was our Realtor®! She provided us with any and all of the information that we needed, and she had no problem answering all of our questions. She is extremely knowledgeable, diligent, and vigilant: she informed us on things to look out for as f...

— ALLEN S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Kylie was extremely helpful with my home-buying experience, especially being my first home. She consistently went out of her way to assist me in all aspects from inspections to dealing with the loan vendor. I am very thankful that she was my Realtor® as it made everything much easier than I expected.

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I recently got orders to New River, so my wife and I contacted Dee Dee's office. Dee Dee responded quickly to see how she could help us out. We had never even stepped foot in North Carolina before so we really had to rely on our Realtor® for guidance in helping us decide on an area to buy for our family. Dee Dee sent us plenty of information about the different areas around that location to help us decid...

— TODD R.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I started my process with Kylie over a year ago. It has always been a dream of mine to own a piece of property at the beach. Kylie worked tirelessly first to find me the perfect home to make an offer on. She is extremely communicative especially when it comes down to the offer and acceptance of sale. Once you are under contract, she is punctual and responsive with providing you with all relevant document...

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We can't speak highly enough of our experience with Dee Dee Uzzell. We were first-time homebuyers with very little knowledge about how to find the right place, but we knew instantly that she was the one for us. Dee Dee is honest and hands-on and really helped to take the pressure off of us. We never felt forced to make an offer and when we finally found the "one", Dee Dee walked us through every step of ...

— BECCA M.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Kylie was hands down one of the best agents I've worked with and I happen to be a licensed agent as well with over 25 years in real estate! Even though I have my NC license, I'm not familiar with coastal real estate, and when I was searching for an investment property in Topsail, she came highly recommended so I reached out. From the very first text she was responsive, professional, and listened to our n...

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Dee Dee is Hands down the absolute best Real estate agent that I have ever worked with. She not only met my expectations but exceeded them in every single way With both selling our house and buying a new house. She is very knowledgeable about the area and every aspect of both buying and selling a home. Even with me being out of the area due to work, she was able to both answer any question that I had as ...

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

My wife and I are brand-new home buyers. We were completely clueless as to the process of buying a home and what goes into it. From the first day that we requested a Realtor®, Kylie was so helpful and quick to respond. She sent us houses to see that day, and she was willing to meet around our schedule, including late at night and on weekends. She took quite a bit of time explaining the home-buying proces...

— TYLER D.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Dee Dee is the most amazing real estate agent and a wonderful sweet person. We needed to find a house that would be used as an investment property and eventually be able to live it in when we retire. Since we did not know the area or really know what we were looking for, amazingly Dee found the most beautiful home for us. She went above and beyond especially since we only had the weekend to do it. We liv...

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I sought out Joann because she seems to be the listing agent on every home for sale on North Topsail Beach. After talking with her, she was flexible about the listing price. She offered her opinion and was more than willing to consider my input. She kept me informed as showings were made and found a very nice buyer and handled all the negotiations toward a settlement.

— GARY K.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

This was our 2nd experience with Joann and this time included her daughter Ashley. Both times were handled professionally with wonderful results. Both were very knowledgeable of any real estate questions we had & handled everything with an upbeat attitude.

— KEN & GINNY R.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann knows the Topsail area market inside and out. From our initial consultation where she explained her role and responsibilities, to the accurate comparisons and sale pricing of our property to achieve its full value, we knew we had made the right choice. All communications were handled promptly whether by phone, text or email. Showings were scheduled precisely and with a minimum of disruption to the ...

— KEN L.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Our first interaction with Joann was 6 years ago when she helped us purchase our oceanfront condo in NTB. That experience was so positive we used Joann again to sell our condo. She is the ultimate professional with a wealth of knowledge of NTB and surrounding areas. She listened to our wants and needs in what we were looking to buy and what we wanted from our sale. She always gives her honest opinion and...

— VIRGINIA C.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We just closed on a property last week and Joann and her team were extremely professional, proficient, responsive, and informative not to mention, patient. We would highly recommend using her team for any real estate need. Her knowledge is unmatched!

— CHRIS C.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann is extremely knowledgeable, proficient and determined to get you your desired results. Couldn't have a better person in your corner for any real estate transaction.

— BECKY D.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

JoAnn is extremely knowledgeable of the local market. She is very conscientious and professional.

— MIKE P.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We highly recommend JoAnn's services whether one intends to buy or build a new home. She is truly knowledgeable in the construction process as well as in the real estate business. During the construction of our house, she offered a lot of helpful advice and worked diligently to ease the challenges we had encountered. Communication with JoAnn was excellent, and she responded in a timely manner. JoAnn alwa...

— EVA & WALDEMAR D.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Working with Joann was a pleasant experience. She is very knowledgeable of the market and helpful with suggestions to get the most out of our condo during the rise of interest rates. We would highly recommend Joann and her team when looking for a resourceful and educated Realtor®.

— Chris B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann put us at ease from the initial call all the way through to closing. Her knowledge of the area is a great asset. She made the process seamless even though we were not local. Highly recommend!

— SELLER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Great experience! Dee Dee was a pleasure to work with. She made our home-buying process smooth and was very helpful in helping us navigate the process in a very busy market.

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Experienced Realtor® and joy to work with. Dee Dee was just wonderful to work with. Firstly, she is always happy which is just nice to be around. She is also smart to the real estate world and won't misguide you. She listens, provides great advice, and doesn't push.

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Dee Dee was just wonderful to work with. Firstly, she is always happy which is just nice to be around. She is also smart in the real estate world and won't misguide you. She listens, provides great advice, and doesn’t push.

— CHRISTOPHER T.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann did an excellent job helping me and my wife sell our condo in North Topsail. She is very knowledgeable about the local real estate market and gave us very helpful advice. We also had the benefit of working with Joann's daughter Ashley, who is also a Realtor®.

— SELLER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann is the best Realtor® that we have ever worked with. This is the second beach house that we have purchased in the Topsail Island area, and Joann's knowledge and "get 'er done" attitude made the entire process seamless and easy!

— SERENE S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Selling a home can be very stressful. Our situation was I'm sure something JoAnn runs across all the time. My mother was the beneficiary to my brother's home when he passed. Being elderly, JoAnn made it so simple for us. She handled it all, it really was stress free. We got a great price for the home, signing papers was a breeze. I really couldn't ask for a better agent. Thank you, JoAnn for being patien...

— NINA T.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann was very knowledgeable and helpful during our purchase process.

— GINA E.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joanne recently helped us with our dream location home. She is the mostly knowledgeable person about N Topsail Beach. She is also very knowledgeable about the housing market. She would answer all our questions and was available anytime we needed something. She worked tirelessly for us and was very professional you would be fortunate to have Joann has your agent

— VICKIE T.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

My wife and I had a great experience with JoAnn and her team. They were always available via phone or email, had great knowledge of the home buying process, and any time we had a question or a concern they were ready and willing to go the extra mile to ease our concerns. We highly recommend JoAnn and her team.

— Chad N.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Reliable partner. Dee Dee was a pleasure to work with as a first-time home buyer. From being readily available to answer questions and concerns to breaking down all you need to know each step of the way. She gives a welcoming vibe that lets you know that she is there to help you in any way that she can and is here to make sure your needs are met. Dee Dee was fun to work with and I would recommend her to ...

— BUYER

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

JoAnn made the sales process of our home easy. She gave us excellent advice on what we needed to do in order to get our home ready to put on the market. She also gave us recommendations for local vendors that were fantastic. We have enjoyed working with JoAnn so much that we will be using her as our Buyers Agent as well.

— CLIFF & TRACEY S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

JoAnn is an amazing, very knowledgeable individual. She is not pushy, advises properly, and remains calm even in very stressful situations. There's not enough good I can say about Joann. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a Realtor®.

— MARIA V.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Amazing job of quick sell and more importantly constant communication

— BILL C.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I've used Joanne to buy and sell a property in N. Topsail. Not only did she do a great job but was always available during my time as the owner to assist in all my needs. She is not only a great real estate agent but also a great person to know. I look forward to our next interaction.

— LEE A.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

It was a great pleasure to work with Joann McDermon on buying my daughter a house. She was very professional at all times and very knowledgeable about the real estate market. My wife, daughter and myself would fully recommend her.

— DEBRA S.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

We recently moved to the area back in April and Joann was our Realtor® for our first purchase. When we decided to purchase some more land we asked Joann to be our Realtor® again. Very happy with her.

— DINA G.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann McDermon is a fabulous Realtor®. She was able to answer all our questions in regards to flood zones and was very informative about the surrounding areas. We highly recommend Joann for your real estate needs.

— CHRIS B.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

This is our third purchase from Joann,she has also sold 2 properties for us.If you want personable service and local knowledge, Joann is the agent for you.

— BARRY M.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann is a giant. Best Realtor® I've had the pleasure of working with. Bought and sold a home with her and don't regret a thing.

— JOEL D.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann and her team go over and beyond serving her clients! We were very happy with her services and would recommend her again!

— BARBARA W.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Joann was a Godsend. We were having major issues in our life and we were blessed with the most wonderful agent anyone could ever have. From the first phone call through the final papers, she handled everything and was the most thorough agent we have ever dealt with. We will definitely use her for all our real estate needs in the future.

— JEAN H.

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