A Homeseller's Checklist

When deciding to sell your home, there are a number of things that must be accomplished to not only get the house on the market, but also to prepare it to show to prospective buyers.  Here's a quick checklist that will get the process started and ensure the main things are covered.

• Find a real estate agent 
   
  • Talk to others about their experiences and who they worked with during their real estate transactions.
    
    
  • Look at the currently listed homes on Point2Homes to find agents in your local area, and see how they present the homes they are selling.  Does it align with how you want your home presented? 
    
    
  • Speak to the real estate agent and ascertain how they do business, how they will market your house, and their level of knowledge of the neighborhood.  Do you feel confident in their skills?  Do you feel that you have a level of understanding and trust?  Choose an agent with whom you feel comfortable and whom you feel will do the best job in selling your house while keeping your needs in mind.
    
     
• Familiarize yourself on how to price your house Thanks
  
  
  • Take a look at similiar homes on Point2Homes in your neighborhood to get a sense as to what is on the market and how they are priced.
    
    
  • Get a valuation from your real estate agent, who has experience in determining the price of a home based on its features, the neighborhood, and the current market trends. 
    
    
     
• Prepare your house for market
  
  
  • Assess house for any repairs that may be needed.
    
    
  • Complete any repairs or adjustments that are necessary prior to putting the house on the market.
    
    
  • Compile pertinent neighborhood information that would benefit someone moving into the house.  For example, what schools, parks, libraries, transportation, shopping amenities, etc. are nearby?
    
    
• Create and review the listing for your house
  
  
  • In order to create a thorough listing, your real estate agent will need specific details regarding your house. 
    
    
  • Avoid 'hiding' any issues that the house may have; they will only be revealed later in the process and potentially damage the sale.
    
    
  • Ensure you review the final copy so that it is complete and you are happy with it; sometimes you'll forget some little details until being reminded of them when reviewing the listing copy.
    
    
• Prepare your house for showings
   
   
  • Declutter the house by removing excess furniture, storage bins, pictures, clothes, and toys.  Now would be a great time for a garage sale!
    
    
  • Place excess items in storage - having less in a room will make the room appear larger and more attractive to potential buyers.
    
    
  • Remove personal items like names, monograms, photos, etc. that will position you as the homeowner.  You want prospective buyers to be able to envision themselves as owners of this house, which will be harder to do with your photo on the wall.
    
    
  • Clean everything thoroughly: walls, ceiling, carpets, floors, surfaces, cupboards, appliances, fixtures, sinks, faucets, everything.  This will make the house seem super-clean, inviting, and homey.
    
    
  • Remove anything that might seem offensive to anyone (political, religious, sexual, etc).
    
    
  • Paint any interior or exterior walls or trim that need it.
    
    
  • Remove any litter, debris, or excess furniture/decorations from the porch and yard.
    
    
  • Create a pleasant atmosphere: turn on lights or lamps, avoid using scents prior to showings, ensure that everything is clean and orderly.
    
  • Avoid completely redecorating the entire house prior to showing it; sometimes this can seem an attempt to cover a larger issue.
    
    
  • Opt to stay separated from the buyers, especially when they are wanting to talk amongst themselves.  Hovering will make you appear too eager for the sale (even if you are!) and can put unwanted pressure or strain on the prospective buyers.
    
    
• Prepare to answer questions
  
  
  • Have utility bills on hand to show prospective buyers what to expect in owning the house.
    
    
  • What are you leaving and what are you taking?  Consider window treatments, appliances, furniture, etc.  Sometimes a buyer will fall in love with something that you may intend to take with you.  What are you willing or not willing to part with as part of the sale? 
    
    
  • Answer questions openly and honestly.  Be friendly and cooperative.
    
    
  • Avoid over-selling the property by making the house seem like nothing but 'sunshine and roses'.  This will seem false to prospective buyers, who will be expecting to come across some issues or challenges with the home.  Even if the house is great, the fact that the bathroom window sticks in the winter will balance things.
    
    
• Prepare for feedback
  
  
  • Prospective buyers will have their own thoughts and concerns regarding your house, whether that is actually based on something they saw or something they felt.  Either way, the buyers' real estate agent may provide you or your real estate agent with feedback on the house.  It is beneficial to keep an open mind and put yourself in their shoes in evaluating their comments or suggestions.  Sometimes an outside person can see something that may have previously gone unnoticed that may make or break a sale.
    
    
  • If feedback indicates that something needs to be fixed or adjusted, make plans to remedy the situation right away, to avoid the same feedback coming from the next set of prospective buyers.  This will help move along the sales process.
    
    
• Prepare to move
  
  
  • You may have arranged to rent a storage facility somewhere when you were decluttering and depersonalizing.  You will now need to decide whether you want to retain it for awhile longer, or if you plan on cancelling.  Some places require a month's notice, which you will need to handle.
    
    
  • Moving companies require bookings as far in advance as possible, so once you have your moving date, give them a call.  If you are planning on moving your possessions yourself, you'll either need to look into renting a truck or arranging family and friends for assistance.
    
  • Moving boxes and blankets are necessary to keep possessions organized and ensure a smooth transition into your new home.  Check out Uboxes.com, as they have fast service and great pricing.
    
    
  • You will want to change your address with any companies who send you information, magazines, and bills; you'll also want to change your address for insurance policies, banking and savings accounts, driver's license, schools, family, friends, employers, income tax information providers, etc.  You should also provide your new address to the purchasers of your home so that they can forward any mail that is erroneously sent to your previous address.  This can easily be done by sending postcards to everyone.
    
    

Selling a house and acquiring another can be an emotional and stressful event, although being prepared will help reduce unforeseen obstacles from occuring.  Plus, acquiring a different home is a great time to clear out extra clutter and plan for a new life in a new home.  Enjoy the experience!