Step-by-Step Guide to Selling a Home in the Bay Area: What Is the Process of Selling a House?
- Marketing Alpha
- Jul 10
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 28
Selling a house in the Bay Area is a cumbersome process involving multiple steps, but as long as you understand it clearly, each step can be carried out smoothly and the best transaction price can be achieved.
So, what is the complete process of selling a house? From the early preparation to the listing stage, and then to the transfer and delivery, there are small details that cannot be ignored in each link.
This article will analyze in detail the standard process of selling a house in the Bay Area to help everyone be more calm and efficient when selling a property!
01: Choose a suitable broker In the United States, when selling a house, the landlord usually pays the commission of the buyer's and seller's brokers, and in the Bay Area, this is often one of the major expenses in the process of selling a house.
Therefore, it is very important to choose a broker with the right values! In the next few months, the seller and the broker will work closely together. If the broker can give you fair and comprehensive advice on the house, the process of selling the house will go much smoother!
I would like to praise our Axis Realty agent team here. The team members are professional and energetic. They not only understand customer needs and respond quickly, but also communicate smoothly and provide meticulous service . They are well received by all the customers we have worked with!
02: Home inspection and renovation Checking the condition of the house is an essential step before listing. Professional sellers' agents will recommend that sellers do a home inspection first. Although in theory the home inspection usually takes place after the seller accepts the buyer's offer, the Bay Area housing market is highly competitive, and most sellers will prepare a home inspection report when the house is listed, so that buyers can feel more at ease.
We will also publish a special article to explain in detail about house inspections . If you are interested, please don’t forget to stay tuned!
After the inspection report is out and the on-site inspection is completed, the seller's agent will give the landlord targeted renovation plans and listing suggestions. For example, is it just a simple renovation or a complete renovation? Is there a suitable construction team that can do it? Is staging required? When does it need to be listed? And so on.
03: Market analysis and pricing Generally speaking, the time for house inspection and renovation is usually about 1-3 months. After completion, you can compare market data (CMA, Comparative Market Analysis), analyze recent sales of similar properties, current active & pending properties, and set prices (Asking Price) based on market trends. Competition in the Bay Area is fierce, and the pricing strategy is usually to start low and end high (lower than the market price to attract more bids), but it also needs to be adjusted according to the condition of the house and demand.
04: Listing and promotion
After determining the price, you need to start marketing the house . During this period, the seller does not need to worry too much, and the real estate agent is the main battlefield . The house is published on the MLS and synchronized to Zillow, Redfin and other websites to let everyone know that the house is on the market. At the same time, an open house will be held, usually on weekends, to increase exposure. In addition, various marketing channels are used to promote the house.
05: Negotiation After various promotional marketing, the seller should have received a lot of offers. At this time, it is necessary to carefully compare and select the offers.
Of course, the higher the bid, the better. Different offers will have different risks . For example, All-Cash Buyers are usually the type that sellers prefer. This type of offer can be completed quickly and there is no loan risk. Other factors that need to be considered when choosing an offer include whether the offer has contigency, whether the down payment is sufficient, the type of loan, closing time, etc.
Regarding the selection of offers, our Xiaohongshu has published a separate video explanation, welcome to check it out! (Scan the QR code below or copy the link to jump )
What is the best offer to make when selling a house?
Competition for properties in the Bay Area is fierce. If you really can’t decide, popular properties may even initiate a second round of bidding to compare prices. From the start of a property marketing campaign to receiving an offer, it takes about 5-21 days in the Bay Area.
06: Enter the transfer process Once you choose an offer, the house will immediately enter the escrow process. In addition to the preliminary preparations, most other expenses will be incurred during this period, including escrow fees, notary fees, tax fees, etc.
The transfer stage usually takes about 30 days, and this stage involves the cooperation of multiple parties such as buyers, sellers, lenders, escrow companies, insurance companies, and appraisers.
The handover and transfer procedures include signing a sales contract, opening an escrow account, signing transfer documents, and the government recording the transfer of ownership. At this point, the seller's basic "task" is actually completed, and the buyer needs time to wait for receiving the title certificate and ownership insurance policy.
Selling a house is a systematic process. Mastering a clear workflow can not only help novice sellers avoid common pitfalls, but also improve the market competitiveness of the house and ultimately achieve an ideal transaction.
The following chart shows part of our transaction records: Since 2020, we have assisted clients in successfully selling properties with a total value of more than US$295 million, of which more than 90% were sold at historical highs .
Want to know how we can help you sell efficiently at the highest price?
Accurate pricing and market analysis: Help you lock in target buyers through professional data analysis and pricing strategies.
Strong team, all-round collaboration: Full-time team working together to efficiently solve 99% of real estate transaction problems. Whether it is special circumstances or "difficult and complicated problems", we have mature solutions.
Innovative solutions + resource integration: From marketing, shooting scenes to strategy customization, we use a variety of means to ensure that your house is sold smoothly and enhance its overall appeal.
One-stop service to unlock hidden value:
Bridge loan service: solve the problem of capital connection and help you make a smooth transition.
ADU / SB9 expansion planning: tap into the potential of the land and increase overall valuation.
Interior design and renovation advice: tailor-made optimization plans to fully demonstrate the potential of the house through sketches and renderings.
If you are considering selling your home, please consult the professional team Axis Realty. We will provide one-on-one professional evaluation and personalized advice for your property! If you also want your house to be sold smoothly and satisfactorily, come and contact us!
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