American Realty of Dubuque

1.	Contact Your REALTOR - Contact your AMERICAN REALTOR about viewing your home to do a walk-thru to gather information necessary to complete a CMA (competitive market analysis).
2.	Meet with Your REALTOR - After 1-2 days your AMERICAN REALTOR will sit down with you to present their marketing plan and to review the CMA. Keep in mind that each home – because of its price range, style, and amenities- requires different marketing strategies and advertising. Your AMERICAN REALTOR will discuss these issues with you.
3.	Activate Your Listing - Your AMERICAN REALTOR will explain the listing agreement and related forms to you and ask you and your spouse, if applicable, to sign the necessary forms to activate your listing.
4.	"For Sale" Sign Posted - A "For Sale" sign will be placed in your yard and a lock box put on your home.
5.	REALTOR Tour - The first Monday following signing of the listing, AMERICAN REALTORS will tour your home between 9:30 and 11:00am, so they are familiar with it when talking to their buying clients. Your AMERICAN REALTOR will call you with comments and suggestions made by those AMERICAN REALTORS that tour your home. Again, you see the power of the entire AMERICAN office working for you.
6.	Receive an Offer - Upon receiving an offer your AMERICAN REALTOR will meet with you to discuss all the aspects of the offer and will explain all contingencies to you. Your AMERICAN REALTOR will make a recommendation to you to accept, reject, or counter the offer. The final decision is yours. All terms of a purchase contract - dates, inspections, items to remain with the property and of course price are important.
7.	Purchasers Progress will be monitored - Your AMERICAN REALTOR will monitor the purchaser’s progress in removing all contingencies and keep you advised.
8.	Inspections are reviewed - If the purchasers request inspections, and, as the result of an inspection, requests that you make repairs or improvements, your AMERICAN REALTOR will discuss these issues with you and advise you as to what might be your best course of action.
9.	Abstract is Prepared - Your AMERICAN REALTOR will deliver your abstract to the abstracting company in preparation for closing.
10.	Abstract is Reviewed - Your updated abstract will be sent to the purchaser’s attorney so they can examine it and list any liens or encumbrances (a mortgage and real estate taxes are liens). Your AMERICAN REALTOR will review the attorney’s opinion with you and assist in clearing up any defects to title.
11.	Deed is Prepared - The examining attorney’s title opinion will be sent to your attorney and they will prepare the transfer documents (deed).
12.	Closing - On the day of closing, if you plan to attend, you will need to be at the closing location (usually the purchaser's lender's office) 15 to 20 minutes after the scheduled closing time. Once there, if you have not already done so, you will be asked to sign the appropriate closing documents.
13.	Congratulations!!!! You turn over the keys, collect your proceeds and start the next phase of your life.

Note: Choose the REALTOR you elect to represent your interests in the market place based on your perception of their ability, reputation, past successes and honesty. Any REALTOR can present you with an inflated COMPETATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS to get your business. Also, basing your decision on the fee charged in most cases is not a wise decision. That old saying "you get what you pay for" is not just an old saying- and it really applies in the real estate business. Good luck in the sale of your home!