For Sellers

Your Seller's Guide

White Mediterranean-style home with tile roofs, iron-railed balconies, and lush landscaping.

01-Let's Talk

Meet with me to discuss your plans and goals, trends in the current marketplace, and assess your property’s qualities and characteristics. I will analyze comparable property sales, assess the competition, work with you to determine pricing strategy, and outline a strategic plan to achieve the best possible result for you as a seller.

Turquoise surf swirls around reddish-brown rocks along a rugged coastline.

02-Setting the Stage

We will prepare the property for show, with a custom approach. I will schedule a professional photo shoot with various marketing elements to best present your property. You will complete the Seller Disclosure documents that will be necessary for the transaction.

Renovated kitchen with a marble island, four bar stools, dark gray cabinets, and three pendant lights.

03-Going Live

The listing is broadcast on Compass.com and sent across our 100+ partner sites for the duration of the selling process.

White two-story house with oval windows, a covered garage, and palm trees.

04-Spreading the Word

My Compass marketing team produces beautiful print collateral to strategically showcase your property. I develop and execute an effective paid marketing plan published through various relevant media.

Kitchen with navy cabinets, a professional-style range, and a dramatic marble backsplash.

05-Making Connections

I leverage professional contacts and the Compass Network Tool to find potential buyers. Open houses are another avenue to reach buyers and agents.

Pointed green leaves cast shadows across a textured white stucco wall.

06-Building a Strategy

I conduct an assesment of the market response throughout the listing process. Feedback from agents and buyers is collected and the listing strategy revised if needed.

Modern kitchen with a marble island, professional range, wood cabinetry, and windows overlooking a pool.

07-Communication

I will provide you with regular feedback and will keep you updated with buyer traffic updates and information from the market.

Modern living room with a floating staircase, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a golden retriever on the rug.

08-Negotiations

Once we receive an offer, I will contact you to review the terms of the offer and analyze the pros and cons, so you can decide how to respond to the buyer in one of several ways: by accepting the offer, making a counter offer, or not accepting the offer.

Luxury kitchen with navy cabinetry, geometric tile backsplash, and a large island with dark stone countertop.

09-Escrow

Once all parties have agreed and signed the offer, escrow will be opened and the buyer's contingency period will begin. I keep an eye on the timelines so that you are in compliance with your responsibilities, and the buyer's side is moving forward with theirs. I arrange the final walk-through.

Living room with blue tufted sofas, a pale stone fireplace, and sliding doors to a patio.

10-Closing

After the buyer has performed their inspections and removed their contingencies, and the loan is ready to fund, you will be ready to work with escrow to sign the closing documents. Escrow distributes the funds. The keys will be handed over to the buyers.

Key Terms

Assessment of the property’s market value, for the purpose of obtaining a mortgage and performed by a licensed appraiser.

Value placed upon property for property tax purposes by the tax collector.

Expenses incidental to a sale, such as fees for loan, appraisal, Escrow and Title.

The statement which lists the financial settlement between Buyer and Seller, and the costs each must pay.

Certain criteria that have to be met in order to finalize the sale.

A mortgage or Deed of Trust not obtained under a government insured program such as FHA or VA.

Money given to a buyer from a seller through escrow at closing.

A neutral third party that handles the transfer of any money during the sale of a home from initial deposit to final funding and closing.

Buyers in California usually deposit 3% of the purchase price to show that the buyer is serious about purchasing the home. It is usually refundable in the event a contingency in the sales contract cannot be met.

A loan on which the interest rate and monthly payment do not change.

A policy that covers certain repairs (e.g. plumbing/heating) of a newly purchased home for a period of time, typically one-year.

A report showing the condition of title before a sale or loan transaction. After completion of the transaction, a new title insurance policy will be issued.

Insurance to protect the buyer and lender against losses arising from disputes over the ownership of a property.

Money paid to the lender for recording a home sale with the local authorities, thereby making it part of the public records.

Work With Diane

​​Diane is a multi-year award winning Five Star Real Estate Agent, acknowledged in Los Angeles Magazine, Forbes and Fortune. Inducted into the Hall of Fame at a previous broker, she is proud to now be part of nationally acknowledged broker, Compass.

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