Flat Fee MLS Home Selling Checklist | Step-by-Step Guide for Home Sellers

Step 1: Get your home ready for the market

Before listing, follow these key steps to prepare your home for a successful sale.

✔ We provide a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help you understand your home’s value and position it competitively.
✔ We discuss your pricing strategy by comparing similar properties, ensuring you attract the right buyers.
✔ Review our Flat Fee MLS Listing Plans and choose the best fit for your needs and budget.
✔ Gather your important documents—property title, mortgage statement, HOA documents, and required disclosures.
✔ Make minor repairs and cosmetic improvements to enhance your home’s appeal to potential buyers.
✔ Declutter and deep clean to ensure your home is photo-ready and presents its best for showings.

📌 A well-prepared home attracts more buyers. Let’s position yours for success!

Step 2: Finalize your listing agreement & disclosures

Now that your home is ready for the market, it’s time to finalize the paperwork. Ensuring everything is legally compliant will help streamline the selling process and prevent delays.

✔ We’ll help you understand your seller agency options in California—including exclusive right to sell, exclusive agency, open listings, and dual agency—to determine the best approach for your sale.
✔ Complete the Listing Agreement & required disclosures – Ensure compliance by filling out all necessary documents, including the Seller Property Questionnaire (SPQ) and other required disclosures.

Step 3: Maximize your home’s appeal & buyer interest

Once your home is prepared and paperwork is in order, the next step is ensuring your listing stands out with top-tier visuals and staging.

Professional photography, video, and staging play a crucial role in attracting buyers and securing top-dollar offers. Our plans include high-quality visuals and guidance to showcase your home in the best possible light. Whether you need a simple photo package or premium marketing with drone footage and staging consultation, we’ve got you covered.

Enhance your home’s presentation with staging

Our staging consultations help highlight your home’s best features and create a welcoming impression for buyers. We provide practical recommendations on furniture arrangement, décor adjustments, and minor repairs to enhance your home’s appeal. If you’re interested in full-service staging, we can connect you with professional stagers for a complete transformation (additional costs apply).

📌 Important: Any recommended repairs, upgrades, or staging services are the seller’s responsibility and are not included in the listing plans.

🟥 Premier Plan (Best for high-impact marketing & luxury homes)

✔ 30 HDR Photos – Ehanced lighting & contrast for a polished, high-quality look
✔ 1 HDR Walkthrough Video – Showcase home features in a dynamic, high-definition video
✔ 10 HDR Drone Aerial Photos – Capture breathtaking exterior & neighborhood views
✔ 1 Drone Aerial Video – Aerial footage providing a premium marketing experience
✔ Twilight Exterior Photography – Highlighting evening ambiance & exterior lighting
✔ Home Staging Consultation – Professional insights to maximize buyer appeal

🟥 Plus Plan (Great for well-presented homes needing professional photography & video)

✔ 15 Basic Professional Photos – Crisp, high-quality images for MLS & marketing
✔ 1 Basic Walkthrough Video – A guided video tour showcasing key areas of the home
✔ 10 Basic Drone Aerial Photos – Standard aerial views to enhance listing appeal

🟥 Basic Plan (Essential package for MLS listings)

✔ 15 Basic Professional Photos – Standard professional images capturing essential home features

Why high-quality visuals matter

✔ Homes with professional photos sell faster & for more money
✔ Drone & video tours increase engagement & attract serious buyers
✔ Staging helps buyers envision themselves in your home

Step 4: Maximize your home’s exposure with MLS & marketing

🚀 The right marketing strategy ensures your home reaches the most buyers. Here’s how we maximize exposure:

Step 4.1: Your MLS listing goes live.

✔ Your home is officially listed with high-quality photos and details on the MLS, reaching active buyers.

Step 4.2: Get seen on major real estate platforms.

✔ Syndicated to Zillow®, Realtor.com®, Redfin, and more – Your listing appears where buyers search most.
✔ For sale sign installed – Included in all plans to attract local buyers.
✔ Lockbox installed (if applicable) – Secure access for buyer showings.

Step 4.3: Enhance buyer engagement & exposure (Varies by Plan)
Increase interest in your home with strategic marketing efforts included in our Premier & Plus Plans.

✔ Professionally designed property flyers – High-quality print & digital flyers to showcase your home at open houses and to potential buyers.
✔ Open house coordination – We schedule and manage up to 4 open houses (Premier Plan) or 2 open houses (Plus Plan) to attract buyers and generate interest.

Step 4.4: Stay ahead with data & buyer insights

✔ Track showings & buyer feedback – Gain insights into how buyers respond.
✔ Weekly market updates – Stay informed on neighborhood trends & competing listings.
✔ Adjust pricing if needed – Data-backed recommendations to keep your listing competitive.

📌 With DMT Realty Broker, your home gets maximum exposure while keeping your selling costs low.

Step 5: Review & negotiate offers with broker support

✔ Review all submitted offers with DMT Realty Broker’s professional guidance.
✔ Buyer’s lender contacted for pre-approval qualifications and verification of funds.
✔ Accept, reject, or counter offers based on market value and buyer terms.
✔ Within 1-3 days of offer acceptance, the buyer submits their Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) to escrow.
✔ Finalize terms, contingencies, and closing timeline.
✔ Contract signed by both parties, and the home goes under contract.

📌 All plans include offer review, pricing insights, and transaction coordination.

Step 6: Escrow opened & escrow instructions drafted

Once your home is under contract, the escrow process ensures a smooth transfer of ownership. We coordinate each step to keep your sale on track while keeping you informed.

Opening escrow & initial steps
✔ Escrow is officially opened, and the buyer’s Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) is processed and held by the escrow company.
✔ A property sales file is created, and your dedicated transaction coordinator is introduced.
✔ The title policy is ordered and reviewed to ensure clear ownership transfer.

Buyer inspections & due diligence
✔ Buyer schedules a physical inspection, termite inspection, and any additional evaluations.
✔ We provide you with inspection dates so you can plan accordingly.
✔ Inspection reports are carefully reviewed together to discuss potential issues.
✔ If needed, you and the buyer can negotiate remedies or repairs.
✔ Once resolved, the buyer formally removes the inspection contingency.

Appraisal & loan approval
✔ The buyer’s lender schedules an appraisal to confirm your home’s value.
✔ Our team stays in close communication with escrow to ensure everything moves forward without delays.
✔ Upon loan approval, any financing contingencies are removed.

Final steps before closing
✔ Buyer signs escrow and loan documents to finalize their financing.
✔ The buyer conducts a final walkthrough to ensure the property meets agreed-upon conditions.

📌 Throughout the process, DMT Realty Broker coordinates with escrow, title, and all parties involved to ensure a seamless closing experience.

🔎 Have questions about escrow? We’re here to help—Contact Us!

Step 7: Finalizing your home sale – Congratulations!

You’re in the final stretch of your home sale. As escrow finalizes the closing process, we’ll help ensure everything stays on track so you can focus on your next move with confidence.

Final closing & funds transfer
✔ Closing statements are prepared by escrow and reviewed by both you and the buyer.
✔ Funds are wired securely to your account—your proceeds from the sale are officially yours.
✔ Escrow closes, and the title company records the sale with the county, finalizing the ownership transfer.

Final property handover
✔ Hand over keys, garage openers, and any necessary documents to the buyer.
✔ Arrange for move-out and final walkthrough coordination.
✔ Make any final preparations to ensure a smooth transition for the new owner.

Planning your next move? We can help!
✔ Need help finding your next home? We offer guidance and referrals to top agents in your desired location.
✔ Relocating? We can connect you with trusted moving services and post-sale resources.

📌 DMT Realty Broker is here beyond closing—whether you need assistance with your next purchase or recommendations for your transition.

🔎 Have post-sale questions? ➡ Contact Us for guidance on what comes next!