Which documents do I need to prepare before selling my Brooklyn home?

If you own a co-op or condo, we recommend having these documents on hand:

• House Rules
• Purchase Application
• Recent Financials for the building
• Offering Plan and Amendments

If you own a house, have these documents on hand:

• Property Deed
• Property Tax Receipts
• Mortgage Loan Documents

How long will it take for you to sell my home?

We wish we could tell the future—for multiple reasons, most of which aren’t related to real estate. Sadly, we cannot. What we can do, however, is offer you our expectation based on years of experience and knowledge of other sales in your neighborhood.

If we price your home competitively, we can often secure a buyer for you within the first few showings. We are experts at highlighting your home’s best features and marketing it to a broad network of qualified buyers and real estate professionals, including over 15,000 fellow Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) members.

It’s not quite telling the future, but about as close as you can get.

What can I expect as a selling timeline?

From offer to closing typically takes around 60-120 days. That usually breaks down as follows:

• Negotiate Offer & Acceptance: 2-5 days
• Buyer’s Due Diligence/Contract-Signing & Escrow Deposit: 7-10 business days
• Buyer’s Loan Application/Appraisal/Loan Approval & Commitment Letter: 2-4 weeks
• Buyer’s Co-op Board Package & Interview/Condo Application: 4-6 weeks
• Bank & Attorney Closing Preparations: 1-2 weeks
• Buyer’s Final Walkthrough: Within 24-48 hours of closing
• Transaction Closing: 2-3 hours

What is my Brooklyn home worth?

Many factors determine the market value of your home, such as the state of the current sales market (overall global economy, interest rates, inventory levels and buyer confidence), your property’s location, it’s condition, square footage, the amenities your building offers, the surrounding neighborhood, recent comparable sales and more.

We will provide you with you a thorough market analysis of your home and advise you on pricing strategies aimed at generating multiple bids from qualified buyers.

How can I increase the value of my home?

We offer expert advice on cost-effective solutions to enhance your home’s appeal and increase its value, ensuring you get the most out of your investment. From decluttering and staging to refreshing your home with a coat of paint, we know the right professionals to help, all while staying in your budget.

Whether it’s cleaning walls, re-glazing a tub, updating fixtures, refacing kitchen cabinets or installing new appliances, we’ll help you choose the best improvements to maximize your home’s market value. If you’re considering larger updates, we can also recommend options like adding an extra bedroom or bathroom to boost your return.

Why stage my home?

Staging makes an excellent first impression and helps buyers feel an emotional bond with your home the moment they walk in the door. Even more than the walls that contain your home and the fixtures within it, buyers want to fall in love with a sense of what’s possible for their lives inside that home. Anything you can do to create a sense of warmth, elegance, comfort and ease, maximize your home’s best features and minimize any imperfections, will go a long way towards helping prospective buyers envision their lives in your property.

Statistics attest to the value of staging, and we’ve certainly found that it helps our properties sell faster and often up to 10% more in price than comparable vacant homes. We love helping you find solutions to optimizing your home’s potential.

Where do you market my home? And who pays for that?

Your home will be featured in a variety of media outlets, most prominently in Streeteasy, Zillow, Trulia, the REBNY Listing Service, and on our website and window display on highly trafficked 7^th Avenue in the heart of Park Slope. We pay for all advertising costs.

Why should I have an open house?

An open house allows the buying public an opportunity to view your property in person during a designated time, typically on a weekend or weekday evening outside of regular working hours. The more buyers we can attract, the stronger the sense of urgency we can create, encouraging competitive offers.

It’s human nature to desire what others are interested in, and an open house is the perfect way to tap into that psychology, generating buzz and excitement around your home.

What’s the best time to market my home?

Springtime is often considered the ideal season to sell property, with Fall being a close second. Factors such as weather, school schedules and holidays influence buyer activity, but serious buyers are in the market year-round. When your home is priced correctly, it will attract buyers no matter the season. We’ll collaborate with you to maximize your home’s selling potential and recommend the best marketing strategy tailored to your property.

How much is the broker’s fee in Brooklyn?

The commission due to the listing agent is 3% of the sales price. We recommend offering a REBNY-affiliated buyer’s broker 3% of the sales price as well, but ultimately, sellers have the flexibility to determine the commission offered to buyers’ agents.

What can I expect my closing costs to be?

See our financing guide for a breakdown of closing costs for sellers.

What’s a listing agreement?

Our Exclusive Right to Sell agreement is a contract engaging Garfield Realty as your broker, offering us the right to sell your property within a specified time frame, for an agreed-upon asking price and commission.

What is your sellers guarantee?

Our Sellers Guarantee is our commitment to providing exceptional service throughout the selling process. This includes our approach to pricing, advertising, determining net proceeds, and offering ongoing support and guidance before and after the sale. We confidently stand behind our promises, which is why we put them in writing.

Contact us today to create a customized selling plan and get your home on the market.