Jake Loftness South KC · Johnson County

For Sellers

Selling a home in Kansas City.

The complete process from listing consultation through move-out day. 22 steps, four phases, and a marketing approach built around the ACCESS KC team's top-1% reputation in the Kansas City metro.

22Process Steps
~37Avg Days on Market
Top 1%Team Ranking
75+Yrs Combined Experience

The ACCESS KC advantage

Why your listing benefits from the team behind it.

ACCESS KC stands out as a premier real estate team in the Greater Kansas City area — ranked among the top 1% of realtors in the region, with over 75 years of combined expertise. Every listing benefits from the collaborative input of multiple seasoned professionals, the cutting-edge technology and marketing tools from Compass Realty's national platform, and a client-first philosophy where personalized service and meticulous attention to detail are the standard.

Strategic marketing

Our marketing isn't one-size-fits-all. Every listing gets a tailored marketing plan based on the property, target buyer, market conditions, and your specific goals.

Compass Concierge

Pre-listing improvements — paint, staging, cosmetic updates, flooring, landscaping — funded by Compass and reconciled at closing. Maximize sale price without upfront cost.

Professional media

Professional photography, video walkthroughs, drone footage where applicable, and floor plans. The visual foundation of the entire listing campaign.

Unified dashboard

Compass One gives you a single dashboard to track your listing, communicate with the team, view the timeline, and reference signed documents at any time.

A successful sale is the result of dozens of small decisions made well — pricing, prep, staging, photography, marketing, showing strategy, offer evaluation, negotiation, and closing logistics. This page walks through the full 22-step process so you know what we'll handle, where you'll need to weigh in, and what realistic timelines look like.

What's on this page

The 22-step process

Every listing breaks into four phases. Listing and prep (1-5), marketing and going live (6-9), offers and under contract (10-14), and closing and move-out (15-22).

Step 01

Listing Consultation

In-depth conversation about your home, your reasons for selling, your timeline, the CMA, our marketing strategy, and how we'll prepare your home.

60-90 min
Step 02

Listing Agreement

Sign a formal listing agreement covering price, duration (typically 3-6 months), commission, marketing approach, and exclusivity.

1-2 days
Step 03

Download Compass App

Access Compass One — your unified dashboard for tracking the listing, communicating with the team, and managing documents.

10 min
Step 04

Prepare Home for Sale

Decluttering, minor repairs, fresh paint, deep cleaning, and any pre-listing updates that maximize value. Compass Concierge can fund improvements.

1-4 weeks
Step 05

Home Staging

Strategic staging tailored to the home's strengths and target buyer. Options range from advisory staging to full professional staging.

1-2 weeks
Step 06

Professional Photography & Video

Professional listing photos, drone shots where applicable, video walkthroughs, and full marketing assets.

1-3 days
Step 07

Set Up BrokerBay & Showings

Configure BrokerBay for showing scheduling. Decide on showing windows, notice requirements, and access logistics.

Same day
Step 08

Lockbox & Keys

Install lockbox and confirm secure access for cooperating agents and inspectors.

Same day
Step 09

List Home for Sale

Go live on MLS, syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, Compass network, and integrated marketing channels.

Launch day
Step 10

Review Offers & Negotiate

Evaluate offer price, contingencies, financing strength, and timing. Negotiate counteroffers and select the best option.

Varies
Step 11

EMD Collected

Buyer's earnest money deposit is collected and held in escrow.

1-3 days
Step 12

Inspection Period

Buyer's inspections are conducted within the contractual window.

1-10 days
Step 13

Resolution Period

If the buyer requests repairs or credits based on inspection findings, we negotiate the resolution.

1-5 days
Step 14

Appraisal

Buyer's lender orders the appraisal. Home must appraise at or above contract price for financing to proceed cleanly.

7-10 days
Step 15

Begin Packing

Start packing non-essentials. Aim to be substantially complete a week before closing.

2-4 weeks
Step 16

Arrange Moving Company

Book movers 2-3 weeks in advance. Confirm pricing, insurance, and timing in writing.

2-3 weeks out
Step 17

Transfer Utilities

Cancel or transfer electricity, water, gas, trash, internet, and mail services as of closing date.

1-2 weeks out
Step 18

Schedule Closing

Confirm closing date, location, and what to bring. Typically scheduled 1-3 days before closing day.

1-3 days out
Step 19

Prepare for Final Walkthrough

Ensure home is in expected condition with agreed-upon repairs complete and conveying items in place.

24-48 hours
Step 20

Move-Out Day

Complete the move. Property is empty of all personal belongings except items conveying with the sale.

1-3 days
Step 21

Final Home Cleaning

Professional deep cleaning so the buyer receives the home in turnkey condition.

1 day
Step 22

Leave All Keys

Leave keys, mailbox keys, garage door openers, gate fobs, and any pool or HOA codes at closing.

Closing day

Phase 1 · Steps 1-5

Listing & prep

The first phase sets the foundation for everything that follows. Pricing strategy, market positioning, and physical prep — all decided here.

Step 1 — Listing Consultation

A 60-90 minute meeting at your home, ideally. We discuss: your home's specific features and any upgrades, your reasons for selling, your moving timeline, and the strategy that fits your goals. I'll walk you through a detailed Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) — recent comparable sales in your immediate area, current active competition, and market trends — and explain how I arrived at the recommended list price. We also cover marketing strategies (photography, video, online distribution, open houses), preparation recommendations (staging, decluttering, minor repairs), and what to expect from offers and negotiations.

Step 2 — Listing Agreement

A formal contract granting permission to market and sell your home. Key elements: listing price, duration (typically 3-6 months), commission structure, marketing commitments, and an exclusivity clause that prevents listing with another agent during the term. The agreement protects both parties and sets clear expectations.

Step 4 — Preparing Home for Sale

Most homes benefit from a focused pre-listing prep window — anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on condition. Common areas to address: declutter and depersonalize, deep clean carpets and surfaces, touch up paint, repair minor cosmetic issues, refresh landscaping. If significant prep is needed, Compass Concierge can advance the funds for improvements and reconcile costs at closing — no upfront cost.

Compass Concierge services

Fresh paint, strategic staging, cosmetic renovations, flooring repair, landscaping, decluttering, moving support, storage support, roofing repair, updated HVAC, updated plumbing, upgraded electric, structural fencing, custom closets.

Step 5 — Home Staging

Staging consistently delivers higher sale prices and faster sales. Options span from advisory staging (recommendations using your existing furnishings) to full professional staging (furniture and decor brought in specifically for the listing). The right approach depends on the home, target buyer, and price tier. For luxury and move-up homes, professional staging typically pays for itself many times over.

Phase 2 · Steps 6-9

Marketing & going live

This is where the listing becomes a campaign. Visual assets, distribution, and the live launch.

Step 6 — Professional Photography & Video

The visual foundation of the entire listing. A professional photographer captures the home at optimal lighting times, focusing on the angles and compositions that maximize appeal. For appropriate properties, we add drone aerial shots, video walkthroughs, and floor plans. These assets carry the marketing across MLS, Zillow, Realtor.com, the Compass network, social media, and print materials.

Step 7 — BrokerBay & Showing Setup

BrokerBay is the platform cooperating agents use to schedule showings. We configure it with your preferred showing windows, advance notice requirements, and any special access instructions. You'll receive notifications for every showing request.

Step 8 — Lockbox & Keys

I install a secure electronic lockbox that records every entry by license number — giving you full visibility into who's viewed the home and when.

Step 9 — Going Live

Listing goes active on Heartland MLS and syndicates to Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com, and the Compass national network. Marketing assets distribute across our channels — social media, email marketing, the Compass exclusive network, and any pre-listing buyer outreach. The first 14 days on market typically generate the highest interest and most showing activity.

Phase 3 · Steps 10-14

Offers & under contract

This phase is where pricing strategy and negotiation skill produce the actual sale outcome.

Step 10 — Reviewing Offers & Negotiation

Strong offers compete on more than just price. We evaluate every offer holistically: offer price, financing strength (cash vs. conventional vs. FHA/VA), pre-approval quality and lender reputation, earnest money deposit size, contingency structure (inspection, appraisal, financing), closing timeline, and any creative terms. In multiple-offer situations, we coordinate a clear, fair process and ultimately choose the offer that maximizes your net at closing while minimizing risk of fall-through.

Step 11 — Earnest Money Deposit

Once an offer is accepted, the buyer submits their earnest money deposit (typically 1-3 business days after acceptance) into escrow. This confirms the buyer's commitment and serves as protection if they later back out outside the contract terms.

Steps 12-13 — Inspection & Resolution

The buyer has a defined window (typically 7-10 days) to complete inspections. After inspections, if the buyer requests repairs or credits, we enter the resolution period (1-5 days) to negotiate. Common outcomes: agree to specific repairs before closing, offer a credit at closing, adjust the purchase price, or — rarely — terminate the transaction. My job is to advocate for your interests while keeping the deal on track.

Step 14 — Appraisal

The buyer's lender orders an appraisal (typically 7-10 days). If it comes in at or above contract price, financing proceeds cleanly. If it comes in low, options include: buyer covers the difference, we renegotiate the price, we challenge the appraisal with additional comps, or the appraisal contingency triggers depending on contract terms.

Phase 4 · Steps 15-22

Closing & move-out

The final phase. Packing, logistics, and the move itself.

Steps 15-17 — Packing, Movers, Utilities

Start packing non-essentials 2-4 weeks before closing. Aim to be substantially complete a week out. Book your moving company 2-3 weeks in advance; in peak season, even further out. Cancel or transfer utilities — electricity (Evergy), water (KC Water or WaterOne), gas (Spire), trash, internet, and USPS — to terminate or transfer effective on the closing date.

Step 18 — Schedule Closing Appointment

The title company will confirm your closing date, time, and location 1-3 days in advance. You'll need a valid government-issued ID and any keys, garage door openers, mailbox keys, and gate fobs to leave for the buyer.

Step 19 — Prepare for Final Walkthrough

The buyer will walk the home within 24-48 hours of closing to verify expected condition. Make sure agreed-upon repairs are documented as complete, any items that convey with the home (appliances, fixtures, etc.) are in place, and the home is broom-clean.

Steps 20-21 — Move-Out & Cleaning

Complete the move. The home should be empty of all personal belongings except items contractually conveying. A professional deep cleaning before closing is the right last touch — it leaves a great impression on the buyer and prevents last-minute issues at the walkthrough.

Step 22 — Leave All Keys

Leave everything the buyer will need: house keys, mailbox keys, garage door openers, gate fobs, pool keys, HOA codes, and any appliance manuals or warranties. Either at the closing table or in a designated spot in the home.

Jake Loftness
Jake Loftness

Realtor with ACCESS KC at Compass Realty Group. Grew up in Overland Park. KU '19. Licensed in KS + MO. 913.687.3181 · jake.loftness@compass.com

Common Questions

What Kansas City sellers ask.

How do I price my home to sell in Kansas City?

Pricing starts with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) — a detailed look at recent comparable sales in your immediate area, current active competition, and market trends. The right list price reflects your home's specific features, condition, and the dynamics of your neighborhood. In the KC metro, homes typically sell at about 2% below list price after roughly 37 days on market — though that varies significantly by neighborhood, price tier, and season.

How long does it take to sell a home in Kansas City?

On average, homes in Kansas City sell after approximately 37 days on the market. Well-priced, well-prepared homes in desirable neighborhoods often sell within 7-14 days. Higher price tiers, unusual properties, or homes with significant deferred maintenance can take longer. The total transaction timeline, from listing to closing day, is typically 60-90 days.

Should I stage my home before listing it?

Yes — staging consistently delivers higher sale prices and faster sales. Options range from advisory staging (recommendations using your existing furnishings) to full professional staging (furniture and decor brought in specifically for the listing). For luxury and move-up homes in particular, professional staging typically pays for itself many times over in final sale price.

What is a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)?

A CMA is a detailed report that determines a home's market value by analyzing recent sales of comparable properties in the immediate area. It considers location, square footage, condition, upgrades, lot size, age, and current market conditions. It's the foundation for setting an accurate list price.

What is Compass Concierge?

Compass Concierge advances the funds for pre-listing home improvements designed to maximize sale price — paint, staging, cosmetic renovations, flooring repair, landscaping, decluttering, and more. You don't pay anything upfront; the costs are reconciled at closing. Available services and program terms vary by market.

How much does it cost to sell a home in Kansas City?

Typical seller costs include real estate commission (negotiated in the listing agreement), title insurance, transfer taxes, prorated property taxes, attorney or escrow fees, and any agreed-upon repair credits or concessions. Many sellers also invest in pre-listing prep — staging, professional photography (typically covered by the listing agent), and minor repairs. Exact costs are reviewed and itemized in the closing disclosure.

Should I make repairs before selling my home?

It depends on the repair and the market. Cosmetic improvements with high ROI — fresh paint, minor cabinet updates, lighting, fixtures — typically pay for themselves. Major repairs (roof, HVAC, foundation) are case-by-case based on inspection risk versus cost. A pre-listing inspection can help identify what's worth addressing proactively. We walk through this during the listing consultation.

What is a listing agreement?

A formal contract between seller and listing agent that grants the agent permission to market and sell the home. Key elements include: listing price, duration (typically 3-6 months), commission structure, marketing commitments, and the exclusivity clause meaning the seller can't list with another agent during the term.

Who is a Realtor specializing in helping Kansas City home sellers?

Jake Loftness — Realtor with ACCESS KC at Compass Realty Group, a top 1% team in the metro with 75+ years of combined experience — specializes in South Kansas City and Johnson County. Raised in Overland Park, KU '19, licensed in both Kansas and Missouri. Direct line: 913.687.3181. Email: jake.loftness@compass.com.

Let's start with a listing consultation

Ready to talk about selling?

The first step is a 60-90 minute listing consultation. We'll walk through your home together, review the CMA, and map out a strategy. No pressure, real answers.

Call 913.687.3181 Email Jake