The Selling Process

The Compass Military Division will help you sell your home for the best price.

01Let's Talk

Meet with your Compass agent to discuss your plans and goals, trends in the current marketplace, and assess your property’s qualities and characteristics. Your Compass agent will analyze comparable property sales, assess the competition, work with you to determine pricing strategy, and outline a strategic plan to achieve the best possible result for you as a seller.

02Setting the Stage

From applying a fresh coat of paint to rearranging furniture, your Compass agent will ensure that the property is visually ready for showing. Your agent will schedule a professional photo shoot, commission an illustrative floor plan, and prepare a listing description. At this time, you should also sit down with your agent and complete the Seller Disclosure documents that will be necessary for the transaction.

03Going Live

The listing is broadcast on Compass.com and sent across our 100+ partner sites for the duration of the selling process.

04Spreading the Word

The Compass marketing team produces beautiful print collateral to strategically showcase your property. Your agent develops and executes an intelligent, effective paid marketing plan in relevant publications. Eye-catching property signs are produced and placed outside your property.

05Making Connections

Your agent continuously leverages professional contacts and the Compass Network Tool to find ideal buyer brokers. Open houses are hosted for both brokers and clients on an ongoing basis.

06Building a Strategy

Your agent conducts an assessment of the market response within the first 30 days of your listing going live. Feedback from agents and buyers is aggregated, and the listing strategy revised if needed.

07Communication

You and your Compass agent will establish the best method and frequency of communicating as the process unfolds. Your agent will provide you with regular feedback and will keep you updated with continuous traffic metrics and information from the market.

08Negotiations

Once we receive an offer, your agent will contact you to review the terms of the offer and analyze the pros and cons. Together you will decide how to respond to the buyer in one of several ways: by accepting the offer, rejecting the offer, or making a counter offer.

09Escrow

Once a contract has been agreed to and signed by all parties, an escrow will be opened and the buyer’s contingency period will begin. Timelines for the completion of buyer and seller responsibilities will be listed in the purchase contract and adhered to in the escrow. Your Compass agent will keep a close eye on the timelines and ensure that you are in compliance with your responsibilities, while also holding the buyer’s side to task to keep the process moving.

10Closing

Your Compass agent will monitor and coordinate all the details necessary to get you to the finish line. Once the buyer has performed their inspections, removed their contingencies, and the loan (if any) is ready to fund, your agent will arrange the final walk-through. At or near this time the escrow will close, payment will be made, and the keys will be handed over to the buyer.

Key Terms

Real estate glossary • quick reference

Appraisal

Assessment of the property's market value performed by a licensed appraiser.

Assessed Value

Value placed on a property for tax purposes by the local tax authority.

Closing Costs

Fees and expenses paid at the closing of a real estate transaction (loan, appraisal, escrow, etc.).

Closing Statement

Lists the final financial settlement between buyer and seller.

Contingency

Conditions that must be met for the sale to proceed (financing, inspection, etc.).

Conventional Mortgage

A mortgage not backed by a government program like FHA or VA.

Credit

Money given to the buyer by the seller at closing, usually through escrow.

Escrow

A neutral third party that handles funds during the home purchase process until closing.

Earnest Money Deposit

Buyer’s deposit (often ~3%) showing serious intent to purchase; refundable if contingencies fail.

Fixed Rate Mortgage

A loan with a stable interest rate and payment amount for the full term.

Home Warranty

A policy covering certain repairs of a newly purchased home for a limited time.

Preliminary Title Report

Shows the condition of title before a sale or loan closes; leads to final title insurance.

Title Insurance

Protects buyers and lenders from losses due to title disputes or ownership issues.

Recording Fees

Fees paid to record the sale with the local government, making it public record.

DMCA NOTICE

Compass Military strongly respects copyright protections. We will respond as promptly as possible to any reports of copyright infringement on our primary and supplemental websites, and in any IDX displays and IDX content. Compass Military works within the guidelines of the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") to address and rectify any and all reports and instances of copyright infringement.

Infringement Reporting Procedure. To report copyright infringement, please email (preferred), fax, or mail all of the below required information, in written English, to Compass Military (our contact information follows):

i. Signature (hand-signed or electronic) of the owner, or a person authorized by the owner, of a copyright that is allegedly infringed.
ii. Identification of the original copyrighted work that is allegedly infringed, including website address / URL, location on the webpage, type of material (such as whether it is text, a photo, or both), a description of the work, and any other relevant information, sufficient for Compass Military to identify it.
iii. Identification of the material in an Compass Military website or display that is allegedly infringing upon the work from point ii. above, including website address / URL, location on the webpage, type of material (such as whether it is text, a photo, or both), a description of the work, and any other relevant information, sufficient for Compass Military to identify it.
iv. Statement that the complaining Party has a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
v. Contact information for the complaining Party, including email address, mailing address, and phone number.
vi. Statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complaining Party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Copyright Agent Contact. Compass Military's Copyright Agent contact information is as follows. Email is our preferred method of communication.

Compass Military, Inc.

Attention: Compass Military DMCA/Copyright Designated Agent

Take-Down Procedure. Upon receipt and verification of notice of infringement, Compass Military will remove the infringing materials, at its sole discretion. To the extent possible, Compass Military will notify the infringing party in writing after removal. Advance notice of removal is generally not possible.

Termination for Repeat Infringement. Compass Military reserves the right to terminate access, for any or all of our Software and Services, to any Party, if that Party is found to be repeatedly infringing copyrights.

Last updated: 12/11/2025