Home Seller Guide
Selling Your Home in North Dallas: A Step-by-Step Plan
Pricing, preparation, marketing, offers and costs, explained in plain English. Se habla español.
Selling a home in North Dallas or Collin County starts with a price based on recent nearby sales, a home that’s ready for buyers, and a clear look at your costs. Hilda Avila, a bilingual REALTOR® with Ebby Halliday Real Estate, prepares a free comparative market analysis (CMA), then guides you through marketing, offers and closing.
Below is the plan Hilda follows with sellers, step by step, with links to deeper guides. Prefer Spanish? Contact Hilda: se habla español.
The six steps, from valuation to closing
- Free home valuation. Hilda prepares a comparative market analysis (CMA) to estimate a realistic price range for your home, with no obligation and no pressure. See how a CMA works.
- Pricing plan. She uses recent sales and the homes you’d compete with to set a list price that draws qualified buyers. See how to price your home in a buyer’s market.
- Marketing. Professional photography, clear listing copy, MLS exposure and social media promotion.
- Showings and open houses. Hilda manages showing requests, shares buyer feedback promptly, and hosts open houses.
- Offer review and negotiation. She looks at every term of an offer, not just the price, and negotiates to protect your net proceeds.
- Contract to close. She coordinates inspections, the appraisal, title and closing logistics so you can plan your move.
Pricing your home
Price is the decision that most affects how fast your home sells and what you net. Hilda’s CMA compares your home with recent sales nearby, adjusting for size, age, updates, lot and condition, and looks at the active listings a buyer would see next to yours. Online estimates are a reasonable starting point, but they can’t see inside your home.
When more homes are for sale, buyers compare more carefully, and an overpriced listing tends to sit while buyers wait for a price cut. Read pricing your home in a buyer’s market and how a CMA works, or learn about Hilda’s home valuation.
Preparing your home and your paperwork
Most of the work before listing is simple: declutter, deep clean, make small repairs, and tidy the yard. Hilda walks through the home with you and points out what matters most to buyers in your price range, so you don’t spend money on projects that won’t pay off.
Paperwork matters too. Texas Property Code §5.008 requires most sellers of a single-family home to give buyers a written Seller’s Disclosure Notice; TREC publishes a version as form OP-H. If your home was built before 1978, federal law also requires a lead-based paint disclosure. Gather your survey, HOA documents, utility information and records of repairs or warranties early. Use the seller readiness checklist to stay organized.
Timing your sale
There’s no single right season to sell; the right time depends on your plans, your next home and local supply. Recent numbers give useful context:
- Collin County, September 2026 (Realtor.com): median sold price $456,250, down 8.75% from a year earlier; median list price $517,500; homes spent a median 65 days on the market; about 13,445 homes were for sale.
- Frisco, September 2026 (Realtor.com): median sold price $592,562; a median 65 days on the market; homes sold about 4.57% below asking; 695 active listings, up 10.37%.
- Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac’s average 30-year fixed rate was 7.32% for the week of October 22, 2026.
More listings and higher rates give buyers more choices and more time, so plan for a longer market time and price with care. These figures change monthly; Hilda can pull current numbers for your neighborhood.
How your home is marketed
Getting on the MLS is the start, not the whole plan. Hilda’s marketing includes:
- Professional photography
- MLS listing
- Syndication to Zillow, Realtor.com and Trulia
- Yard sign and open house promotion
- Ebby Halliday network marketing
- Marketing materials in English and Spanish
- Social media promotion
Comparing offers
The highest price isn’t always the strongest offer. Compare what each offer nets you after your loan payoff, closing costs, agreed compensation and any concessions, then look at how likely it is to close: the buyer’s financing, option period, appraisal terms and closing date. Hilda reviews every term with you and explains the trade-offs, so you can counter with confidence or accept knowing what you’re giving up. The compare offers and net proceeds guide includes a worksheet to estimate your net.
What selling costs in Texas
On the TREC one-to-four family resale contract (20-19), the seller typically pays the loan payoff, any lien releases and deed preparation, and splits the escrow fee with the buyer. Property taxes are prorated to the closing date. Who pays for the owner’s title policy is negotiated through the box in paragraph 6A; there’s no default, and the Texas Department of Insurance sets the premium. Seller-paid concessions happen only if you agree to them in the contract.
Brokerage compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. It’s agreed in writing in your listing agreement before your home goes on the market. Your final numbers appear on the settlement statement from the title company. For a line-by-line breakdown, read seller closing costs in Texas: who pays what.
Planning your next move
Many sellers are also buying. If your next home is new construction, a home sale contingency can protect you; see how a home sale contingency works and the North Dallas new construction guide. Buying a resale home? Start with the buyer guide. Hilda can coordinate both sides so your dates line up, and she’ll flag early if one closing looks likely to slip.
Seller FAQ
What does Hilda handle from listing to closing?
Hilda starts with a free comparative market analysis (CMA), then builds a pricing strategy, markets your home, manages showing requests, and reviews every offer on all of its terms, not just price. Once you’re under contract, she coordinates inspections, the appraisal, title, and closing logistics.
How can I tell which offer leaves me with the most money?
Look at what each offer nets you after your loan payoff, closing costs, agreed compensation, and any concessions, and at how likely it is to close on time. Our compare offers and net proceeds guide includes a worksheet for estimating your own net, and Hilda will walk through each offer’s terms with you. Your final numbers come from the title company’s settlement statement.
How is the listing fee decided?
It’s agreed in writing in your listing agreement before your home goes on the market. Brokerage compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable, so ask Hilda to explain each part of the agreement before you sign.
Can I talk with Hilda before I decide to list?
Yes. Book a 15-minute call with Hilda or call (469) 802-8711. A conversation or a free CMA doesn’t commit you to listing.
Do I have to give buyers a seller’s disclosure in Texas?
In most cases, yes. Texas Property Code §5.008 requires the seller of a single-family home to give the buyer a written Seller’s Disclosure Notice, with exceptions listed in the statute. TREC publishes a version of the notice (form OP-H). Disclose what you know about the property’s condition, and ask your attorney if you’re unsure whether an exception applies.
Who pays for the owner’s title policy in Texas?
There’s no default. On the TREC one-to-four family resale contract (20-19), the buyer and seller choose who pays by checking a box in paragraph 6A, so it’s part of the negotiation. The premium itself is set by the Texas Department of Insurance, not by the title company.
Does a CMA cost anything?
No. Hilda’s comparative market analysis is free, and requesting one doesn’t commit you to listing or selling. She prepares it from recent comparable sales near your home and walks you through the results.
Can I sell my home and buy another at the same time?
Yes, and many sellers do. The usual options are making your purchase contingent on your sale, timing both closings close together, or negotiating a temporary leaseback so you can stay in your home after closing. Each choice changes your risk, so talk through your timeline with Hilda and your lender before you list.
Ready to talk about selling?
Start with a free CMA and a conversation about your goals. Se habla español.