Are You Selling a Baltimore Area Home for the First Time? Here Is What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Baltimore Realtor!

Our last post laid the groundwork for how you can position your Baltimore home to sell right away, and for the highest price. Along with developing a winning pricing strategy with your realtor (ahem, TBG!), there are many other important elements to the sale process which include:

✔️ Listing

✔️ Staging

✔️ Fees

✔️ Showings

✔️ Contracts

✔️ Inspections

✔️ Buyers

---

Listing

Here’s the part where we really love to shine.

Our listing process is called “TBG Seller Select” and we’ve created this plan to make things super simple and straightforward for our sellers. We have sold over 1,500 Baltimore homes since 2005 using this process!

Here’s how it goes...

Step 1: We have an initial meeting with you to discuss 5 key elements: 

1. Your financial goals for the sale of your home

2. Your timeline

3. Our recommended low-cost repairs that will add value to your home

4. How our free home staging services will add value to your home

5. The market value of your home [see previous blog post about Pricing]

After this meeting, you will work with one of our elite Agent Partners on setting a timeline, discussing the process, and detailing expectations. Whether you have a home to sell in Towson, Lutherville, Roland Park, Mount Washington, Federal Hill, Canton, or anywhere in between, we’ve got you covered: our process is proven to be effective all over the Baltimore Metro. 

Step 2: You’ve hired the Beliveau Group! Now what? 

You will sign a listing agreement with us, which has a 1-day cancellation clause. We won't lock you into a contract you can't exit. We’re just not like that! 

Staging, professional photography, marketing, and the rest of our services (which you'll read about soon!) are fully included in our compensation, which is due only upon the final closing of your home. There is no up-front cost for you.

Step 3: Staging Consultation. 

We will schedule a time for your home preparation and staging consultation. This meeting will include the following: 

1. A walk-through of your home to discuss possible repairs to enhance your market value, possible re-arrangement of personal effects to maximize value, and staging decor that we will install at a follow-up appointment, 

2. We take detailed notes on the features and upgrades within your home plus all room measurements, 

3. After the walk-through, we will provide referrals to any vendors necessary to prepare your home for sale (such as a painter, landscaper, general contractor, or mover/storage), and 

4. If your home will be vacant while it's on the market, we take care of all staging on your behalf.

Step 4: Marketing Implementation. 

After your Staging Meeting, we will begin preparing our marketing materials and coordinate all logistics to get your home on the market.The bottom line is, we make sure every Baltimore home buyer and Baltimore realtor is fully aware of your home and sees it online in all of its glory!

You will receive the following services: 

• Tracking, follow-up, and coordination with all associated vendors retained.

• Weekly status updates on the listing process.

• Installation of any recommended staging decor.

• Professional photography will be scheduled to take place as soon as your home is “Photo Ready.” Photo Ready is defined as de-cluttering complete, staging decor installed, recommended repairs completed, the house is squeaky clean, and all photographable areas of your home are camera ready (note: we do not photograph closets, unfinished attics, unfinished basements, or the interior of garages or sheds).

• Typically, we list your home within 1-2 business days of the photography date.

• Preparation of the Multiple Listing Service listing and dissemination of the listing to ALL online portals that consumers utilize. 

• Set up for any necessary home warranties, Homeowners Association or Condo documents, and signage in your yard.

Step 5: Professional Photography. 

We work very hard for and with you to get your home "photo perfect." The photos of your home set the tone for how the rest of the listing process unfolds; they impact the quantity of showings that are scheduled which impacts the quantity and caliber of the offers that you receive.

If you're living in your home, our stager will work with you to ensure the property is photo ready, providing counsel on what to declutter and put away, as well as installing accessories and decor that optimize how it photographs. 

Step 6: Listing Day. 

On the appointed day, we will list your home on the Multiple Listing Service. Here is what you can expect:

• A copy of your listing will be immediately provided to you for your review.

• The listing will be fed to every online consumer portal, including but not limited to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin, Google, and every real estate brokerage.

• You will be set up to receive showing requests through our appointment center, Showing Time. Every showing is tracked and scheduled per your needs.

• We will aggressively network with every Baltimore agent, agents within our brokerage, and our extensive database of thousands of local clients throughout the Baltimore metro to promote your home.

• Your home will be beautifully marketed on our Facebook page, private Facebook groups for Realtors, Instagram profile, and our website. We have a reputation for creating viral results through social media.

• We use proprietary, state of the art technology to target market paid Facebook and Instagram ads for your home directly to buyers shopping in your area.

• A sign will be installed in your front yard or from a window (unless your HOA/condo association does not allow signs).

• Our team will prospect for potential buyers for your home.

Whew! We know that is a LOT of info! But if you made it this far, you must really be serious about selling your first home. Remember, the more you know, the better.

And stay tuned for more posts in our series What every first time home seller needs to know.