There's a big difference between putting your home on the market and getting it sold!

In fact it may matter more who personally manages the sale of your home than who actually brings the buyer. In fact our job is not to find a buyer, but to cause your home to be sold and expose and market it to as many qualified buyers as possible

It will soon become evident that the sale of a home is one of the most stressful, time-consuming, and sometimes overwhelming experiences the seller and his/her family will undergo. It is also a very complex legal process. Gone are the days of the Three P program ( Put up a sign, Place an ad, and Pray) Todays seller wants to see a comprehensive plan of action and the comfort that comes from understanding the process in full, from beginning to end

So here are the basic steps from meeting your realtor to moving on!

1. Gather all documents & information pertaining to the property to be sold
2. Ready your home for market evaluation. Show your home at its best to any realtors or appraisers.
3. Get a market appraisal. If possible find a realtor or company who hold the designation of MVA (Market Value Appraiser) who knows the market well enough to be trusted by lenders and the courts. The Pelican Group/GMAC Real Estate is such a firm.
4. Interview & carefully choose your Realtor. Make sure you receive a written Listing presentation which includes a thorough Marketing plan. This will ensure you discover their strategy, their expertise and the service you can expect in return for the commissions you will agree to pay
5. Calculate all your Closing costs to discover how much you will retain when the sale is completed.
6. Price your home competitively
7. Agents are legally responsible to have you read & acknowledge a pamphlet called Working with a Realtor which explains the duties of Real Estate Agents and Who works for Whom  
8. Sign a Seller Property Information Statement
9. Sign a Listing Contract
10. Merchandize your home. Create a good impression inside and enhance curb appeal outside
11. Your Realtor will make sure the world knows your home is for sale, with a yard sign and more importantly through MLS service and the internet. 
12. Your Realtor should mobilize the resources of the entire real estate community. Your home should be marketed aggressively to buyers but also to realtors who have many buyers under contract to purchase exclusively through them (in order to protect their interests as buyers).
13. Negotiation of the offer. Your realtor will argue the best price and terms, on your behalf and maintain your personal confidentiality.
14. Offer is accepted and executed ( time stamped) and the deposit cheque is held in a real estate trust bank account belonging to your Listing Broker (as part of the down-payment)
15.  You must hire a lawyer to close the transaction and provide the realtor with his or her name ASAP
16. Home inspections will be arranged, for the buyer's peace of mind. 
17. All the conditions are waived (removed) by notice in writing and the SOLD sign goes up.
18. Pack & notify all friends & utilities of your move.
19. The week of closing, meet with your solicitor to sign paperwork
20. Its Closing Day. Congratulate yourself!  It's over!  (unless you've purchased another home!)