Selling Guide

Seller's Guide

Your home. Our mission.

Whether you're just getting started or are almost ready to put your house on the market, here is quick introduction to the steps, and how we would work and make your process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
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Any questions? I would love to hear from you,
I’m here to help! Feel free to reach out.

How it works

Let's Talk

We'll meet 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 and assess the competition.

Setting the Stage

From applying a fresh coat of paint to rearranging furniture, I will work with you to ensure the property is visually ready to make the right first impression with buyers.

Going Live

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

Spreading the Word

I will develop and execute an intelligent, effective marketing plan. Our marketing team will produce beautiful print and digital collateral to showcase your property.

Making Connections

I will leverage my professional contacts, the Compass Network Tool, and OpenHouses to find ideal buyers and brokers.

Optimizing the Strategy

Feedback from agents and buyers is aggregated from the first couple of weeks, and the listing strategy is revised if necessary.

Communication and Measuring Success

You and I will establish the best method
and frequency of communication for updates, metrics, and market info.

Receiving an Offer

I will contact you to review the terms of
the offer and to analyze the pros and cons.Together you and I will decide how to respond:by accepting the offer, rejecting the offer, or making a counter offer.

Negotiating the Details

The contract is negotiated and accepted, and the transaction summary is circulated to all parties. I will observe and record all contingency periods throughout the in-contract stage. A property appraisal and home inspection take place, and any further negotiations are managed. All financial and supplemental information is collated and submitted to the managing agent.

Completing the Close

Only at Compass

A Proven Pre-Selling StrategyDrive buyer interest and buzz with Compass Coming Soon, which affords prospective buyers a glimpse of your home before it officially comes in the market.

Our Platform

Developed entirely in-house, all of our technology is designed to sell your home faster and at a higher price point. We can track comparable properties, view your listing's traffic, gauge marketing performances — all at a moment's notice.

Our Community

Locally, we offer deep-rooted market expertise and have intimate knowledge of each neighborhood; meanwhile our national presence and uniquely collaborative culture present agents with unlimited co-brokering and referral opportunities.

Our Marketing

The 200+ members of our in-house marketing and advertising team ensures that every home we represent is portrayed in its finest light across every platform — from eye-catching billboards and installations to stunning print materials and digital campaigns.

APPRAISAL

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

CLOSING COSTS

Expenses incidental to a sale of real estate, such as loan fees, appraisal fees, and title insurance.

CLOSING STATEMENT

The statement which lists the financial settlement between buyer and seller, and the costs each must pay.

CONTINGENCY

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

DEBT-TO-INCOME RATIO

The percentage of an individual's monthly gross income relative to the amount of debt owed.

EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT (EMD)

A good faith deposit the buyer makes with an offer to show that they are serious about buying the property. In exchange, the seller agrees to stop marketing the property.

INSPECTION

An expert conducts a formal review of the property to find visible issues that need to be repaired.

LIEN SEARCH

A background check on the property and the seller to ensure there are no outstanding debts or claims upon the property.

PRE-QUALIFIED

Potential buyers provide an overall financial picture and mortgage brokers provide an estimate of what level of loan you will likely be pre-approved for.

TITLE INSURANCE

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

RECORDING FEES

A fee paid to the local government to officially report a sale of a home; usually paid by the buyer.

"Rick Talmage is a real estate agent licensed by the state of California affiliated with Compass. Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage."