A practical Kansas City real estate guide

A Guide to Selling or Purchasing a New Home — Compliments of April Soria

Clear steps, useful preparation, and an experienced advocate for the decisions between your first conversation and closing day.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes

April Soria

About April

Local knowledge, careful guidance.

April is a Kansas City native, licensed in Kansas since 2006, who returned to real estate full-time in 2020 after a career as a paralegal and legal assistant. Based in the Northland, she is known for guiding clients with care and empathy through both buying and selling.

Start with your seller goals

A good listing strategy begins with the outcome you need—not just a price. Bring these priorities to your first conversation with April so timing, preparation, and offer decisions stay aligned.

1

Your ideal outcome

Define what a successful move looks like before choosing a list date.

  • What proceeds do you need for the next step?
  • Is maximum price, speed, or certainty most important?
2

Your timing

Work backward from your next home, lease, job, or school schedule.

  • When would you prefer to close?
  • Will you need time in the home after closing?
3

Your boundaries

Make the non-negotiables visible before offers arrive.

  • Which repairs or terms are off the table?
  • Who needs updates and how quickly can decisions be made?

Your buyer roadmap

April helps you connect the financial, practical, and contractual pieces so each decision supports the home—and the life—you are working toward.

01

Prepare

Get lender pre-approval, choose a comfortable all-in monthly budget, and keep emergency funds outside the transaction.

02

Search

Separate must-haves from preferences, then compare location, condition, taxes, insurance, upkeep, and resale potential.

03

Offer

Review comparable sales, price, earnest money, financing, contingencies, closing date, possession, and likely competition.

04

Investigate

Complete inspections, appraisal, title work, and lender requirements. Weigh repairs, credits, risk, and contract options carefully.

05

Close

Review final figures, verify wiring instructions through a trusted channel, complete the walk-through, sign, and take possession.

Prepare your home to sell

Buyers notice light, space, maintenance, and ease. Focus on the details that help the home feel cared for and make the first showing happen online.

1

Win the first impression

Make the approach feel intentional.

  • Mow, edge, trim, sweep, and hide bins and hoses.
  • Clean the entry, replace burned-out bulbs, and make the address easy to spot.
  • Move vehicles away before photography and showings.
2

Show light and space

Help each room read clearly.

  • Open blinds, clean windows, and match bulb color within each room.
  • Remove extra furniture and clear counters, sinks, and floors.
  • Give every room one obvious purpose.
3

Clean, repair, and document

Small unfinished details can suggest larger neglect.

  • Deep clean kitchens, baths, floors, glass, and odor sources.
  • Fix drips, loose handles, damaged screens, scuffs, and missing bulbs.
  • Gather permits, warranties, receipts, association records, and improvement dates.
4

Plan for photos and showings

Make the launch easy to execute.

  • Secure pets, valuables, medications, documents, and personal information.
  • Straighten linens and rugs; hide toiletries, remotes, cords, and small bins.
  • Keep a quick reset plan for dishes, laundry, lights, temperature, and leaving on time.
  • Your realtor will provide a free twilight photo of your home at no extra cost. In a 450-listing study, twilight listings averaged 66% more views—76% more when the twilight image was the main photo.

Your document hub

These spaces are ready for property-specific materials. April can add approved destinations when a secure sharing process is chosen for your transaction.

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Floor plans

Measured and unmeasured versions can appear here when available.

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Listing photos

Your approved gallery and image-download folder can appear here.

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Disclosures

The current disclosure package belongs in the approved secure system selected for the transaction.

Add this guide to your home screen

Keep April’s guide one tap away. Open this link in your phone’s browser, then follow the steps for your device.

iPhone

  1. 1
    Open the link in Safari.
  2. 2
    Tap the Share button—the square with an upward arrow.
  3. 3
    Scroll and tap Add to Home Screen.
  4. 4
    Tap Add.

Android

  1. 1
    Open the link in Chrome.
  2. 2
    Tap the three-dot menu.
  3. 3
    Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  4. 4
    Tap Add.

The guide will appear on your home screen for quick access.

Ready to talk through your next move?

Call or text April to start with your questions, goals, and timing.

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