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Lombard Real Estate
Buying or Selling Your Home Just Got Easier
Inspections & Appraisals
Inspections
After accepting an offer, most buyers will schedule a licensed property inspection. This process helps verify the condition of your home and ensures that everything outlined in the Purchase Agreement is accurate. Inspection timelines are included in the contract, and in some cases, buyers may hire specialists for areas like roofing, plumbing, or HVAC systems.
We’ll coordinate with you to make the home available for inspection and help you understand the next steps if any concerns are raised.
Appraisal
If the buyer is financing the purchase, their lender will require a home appraisal. This step confirms the property's value to protect the lender’s investment. A licensed third-party appraiser will assess the home’s condition, size, location, and comparable sales in the area to determine a fair market value. If the appraisal supports the agreed purchase price, the loan process can move forward.
The Closing Agent
A title company or real estate attorney will serve as the closing agent (also known as escrow). Their role is to examine the history of the property and confirm that the title is free of encumbrances—such as liens, restrictions, or outstanding mortgages—before transferring ownership. Once certified, the title is prepared for closing, ensuring the buyer can legally and securely take ownership of the home.
With Earned Run Real Estate Group handling the details, you can rest assured that your sale is in good hands—from inspections to closing day.
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Buyer or Seller?
What else you should know...
Understanding ContingenciesContingencies are conditions in the Purchase Agreement that must be satisfied before the contract becomes legally binding. Common contingencies include property inspections, financing approval, insurance coverage, and document reviews.
Before closing on your property, the buyer will work through several key steps:
- Securing financing and insurance;
- Reviewing important documents such as the preliminary title report and property disclosures
- Conducting inspections, which may include general home inspections and more specialized evaluations like roof, pest, chimney, mold, HVAC, lead-based paint, well/septic, pool, or property boundary surveys
Responding to requests for repairs or price adjustments during this process can be challenging. A skilled listing agent is essential for helping you respond objectively, negotiate fairly, and protect your best interests. At Earned Run Real Estate Group, we bring deep experience to the table to help you navigate these conversations and avoid costly missteps.
Loan Approval and AppraisalWe recommend working with buyers who have secured a pre-approval letter, written loan commitment, or full lender approval. This offers more assurance than a basic pre-qualification and helps streamline the path to closing.
As part of the financing process, the lender will send a licensed appraiser to evaluate your property. The appraisal confirms that the agreed sale price reflects current market value, which is a key step for loan approval. Once completed and approved, the transaction can move closer to closing with confidence.
Tips For Selling
Before your home hits the market, it's important to make sure it’s putting its best foot forward. Thoughtful preparation can dramatically increase buyer interest and help you secure a higher sale price.
Give Your Home a Deep Clean
A spotless home leaves a powerful first impression. Scrub bathrooms, mop floors, wash windows, and wipe down all surfaces. Clean carpets and rugs thoroughly, and don’t forget about often-overlooked areas like baseboards and vents. For the best results, consider hiring a professional cleaning service to ensure your home shines from top to bottom.
Declutter and Organize
A tidy space allows buyers to focus on the features of your home—not your belongings. Remove excess furniture, clean out closets, and clear countertops of personal items. Creating a clean, minimalist environment helps potential buyers picture their own life in the space.
Take Care of Repairs
Even small fixes can make a big difference. Leaky faucets, chipped paint, squeaky doors, or loose fixtures can signal neglect to potential buyers. Calling in a handyman to address these items in advance shows that the home has been well-maintained and builds buyer confidence.
When your home is clean, organized, and in great condition, it becomes easier to market—and much easier to sell. At Earned Run Real Estate Group, we’re here to guide you through every step of the process and make sure your home is ready for its next chapter.
Paint the walls
Not only is painting a great way to clean up the walls but making the overall color scheme neutral will increase the appeal to potential buyers, making it easier for them to envision their belongings in the house - get rid of any bright, outdated paint colors and go with a neutral palette throughout the house.
Staged homes tend to fill quickly because they feel homier - if you have neutral furniture that you can leave in the home, do it, otherwise consider a professional staging company.
Depersonalize your homeYou want to leave a few nice, framed photos around the house to make the home appear inviting and lived in, but in general, removing your very personal items, such as family photos will let the potential buyers see their photos in those places, versus yours.
