Interview and select a broker: The process for selecting a broker is described above in the How to Select a Real Estate Broker section. As a seller, pricing and marketing issues are very important. Everyone wants to make sure they get the best possible price and terms. Proper preparation goes a long way towards that end.

Competitive Market Analysis: The brokers that you interview will want to take a careful look at your property in order to gather information to help them estimate its value. This estimate is not an appraisal, but a competitive market analysis. This is a tool that will allow you to compare your property with similar properties recently sold and currently on the market.

Marketing Strategy: Newspapers, yard signs, open houses, internet, multiple listings service. How should your property be marketed? What kinds of advertising really pay off? What works for sellers in my price range? A broker who knows your area will be able to help you devise a marketing plan based on previous successes.

The Listing Agreement: The listing agreement is the written contract where by a property owner hires a real estate broker to market real property . A listing contract describes the property ( address and legal description), the listing price and the terms that are acceptable to the seller. The listing also outlines the compensation that the broker is to receive. A listing may specify a percentage of the selling price, a flat fee or any other negotiated agreement mutually acceptable to the parties (the seller and the broker are the parties to the listing contract) as compensation to the real estate broker. Colorado brokers are required to use listing contracts approved by the Colorado Real Estate Commission.

Preparing for a Showing: Your broker can give you good advise about how to prepare your property for showing. Common sense applies, but a trained third party observer can help you to make the best possible first impression on prospective purchasers. A thorough clean-up, a little fresh paint or minor repairs can help show your property in a favorable light.

Counteroffers: An offer to purchase made by a prospective buyer has no limits on what price or terms it may contain. An offer that mirrors the listing’s asking price and terms may be common under certain market conditions, however, from a purchaser’s point of view, it may represent a minor issue in a search for an exceptional value. A licensed real estate broker is required to submit all offers regardless of it’s terms. The seller always has the option of accepting or rejecting an offer that does not meet his requirements. If the terms do not meet with the sellers approval, a counteroffer may be utilized as an attempt at compromise rather than dismissing what might be a qualified prospective purchaser.

A Commission approved Counterproposal form is used modify the terms of an offer to purchase. Once a counteroffer is made, the terms of the original offer have been rejected and the seller becomes the offeror. The original purchaser then has the option of rejecting or accepting the new terms.