1. Define your needs.
Write down all the reasons for selling your home. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to sell and what do
I expect to accomplish with the sale?" For example, a growing family may prompt your need for a larger home, or a job opportunity
in another city may necessitate a move. For your goals, write down if you'd like to sell your house within a certain time frame
or make a particular profit margin. Work with your real estate agent to map out the best path to achieve your objectives and
set a realistic time frame for the sale.
2. Name your price.
Your next objective should be to determine the best possible selling
price for your house. Setting a fair asking price from the outset will generate the most activity from other real estate agents
and buyers. You will need to take into account the condition of your home, what comparable homes in your neighborhood are selling
for, and state of the overall market in your area. It's often difficult to remain unbiased when putting a price on your home,
so your real estate agent's expertise is invaluable at this step. Your agent will know what comparable homes are selling for
in your neighborhood and the average time those homes are sitting on the market. If you want a truly objective opinion about
the price of your home, you could have an appraisal done. This typically costs a few hundred dollars.
Remember: you're
always better off setting a fair market value price than setting your price too high. Studies show that homes priced higher
than three percent of their market value take longer to sell. If your home sits on the market for too long, potential buyers
may think there is something wrong with the property. Often, when this happens, the seller has to drop the price below market value
to compete with newer, reasonably priced listings.
3. Prepare your home.
Most of us don't keep our homes in "showroom" condition.
We tend to overlook piles of boxes in the garage, broken porch lights, and doors or windows that stick. It's time to break out
of that owner's mindset and get your house in tip-top shape. The condition of your home will affect how quickly it sells and
the price the buyer is willing to offer. First impressions are the most important. Your real estate agent can help you take
a fresh look at your home and suggest ways to stage it and make it more appealing to buyers.
A home
with too much "personality" is harder to sell.
Removing family photos, mementos and personalized dιcor will
help buyers visualize the home as
theirs.
Make minor repairs and
replacements. Small defects, such as a leaky faucet, a torn screen or a worn
doormat, can
ruin the buyer's first impression.
Clutter is a big no-no when showing your home to potential buyers.
Make sure you have removed all
knick-knacks from your shelves and cleared all
your bathroom and kitchen counters to make every area
seem as spacious as possible.
4.
Get the word out.
Now that you're ready to sell, your real estate agent will set up a marketing strategy specifically for your
home. There are many ways to get the word out, including:
The Internet
Yard signs
Open houses
Media advertising
Agent-to-agent
referrals
Direct mail marketing campaigns
In addition to listing your home on the MLS, your agent will
use a combination of these tactics to bring the most qualified buyers to your home. Your agent should structure the marketing
plan so that the first three to six weeks are the busiest.
5. Receive an offer.
When you receive a written offer from a potential
buyer, your real estate agent will first find out whether or not the individual is prequalified or preapproved to buy your home.
If so, then you and your agent will review the proposed contract, taking care to understand what is required of both parties to execute
the transaction. The contract, though not limited to this list, should include the following:
Legal description of the property
Offer price
Down payment
Financing arrangements
List of fees and who will pay them
Deposit
amount
Inspection rights and possible repair allowances
Method of conveying
the title and who will handle the closing
Appliances and furnishings that will stay with the home
Settlement date
Contingencies
At this point, you have three options: accept the contract
as is, accept it with changes (a counteroffer), or reject it.
Remember: once both parties have signed a written offer, the document
becomes legally binding. If you have any questions or concerns, be certain to address them with your real estate agent right
away.
6. Negotiate to sell.
Most offers to purchase your home will require some negotiating to come to a win-win agreement.
Your real estate agent is well versed on the intricacies of the contracts used in your area and will protect your best interest throughout
the bargaining. Your agent also knows what each contract clause means, what you will net from the sale and what areas are easiest
to negotiate. Some negotiable items:
Price
Financing
Closing costs
Repairs
Appliances and fixtures
Landscaping
Painting
Move-in date
Once both parties have
agreed on the terms of the sale, your agent will prepare a contract.
7. Prepare to close.
Once you accept an offer to sell your
house, you will need to make a list of all the things you and your buyer must do before closing. The property may need to be
formally appraised, surveyed, inspected or repaired. Your real estate agent can spearhead the effort and serve as your advocate
when dealing with the buyer's agent and service providers. Depending on the written contract, you may pay for all, some or none
of these items. If each procedure returns acceptable results as defined by the contract, then the sale may continue. If
there are problems with the home, the terms set forth in the contract will dictate your next step. You or the buyer may decide
to walk away, open a new round of negotiations or proceed to closing.
Important reminder: a few days before the closing,
you will want to contact the entity that is closing the transaction and make sure the necessary documents will be ready to sign on
the appropriate date. Also, begin to make arrangements for your upcoming move if you have not done so.
8. Close the deal.
"Closing"
refers to the meeting where ownership of the property is legally transferred to the buyer. Your agent will be present during
the closing to guide you through the process and make sure everything goes as planned. By being present during the closing,
he or she can mediate any last-minute issues that may arise. In some states, an attorney is required and you may wish to have
one present. After the closing, you should make a "to do" list for turning the property over to the new owner. Here is
a checklist to get you started.
Cancel electricity, gas, lawn care, cable and other routine services.
If the new owner is retaining any of the services, change the name on the account.
Gather owner's
manuals and warranties for all conveying appliances.