Sellers Guide

Step 1: Prepare the home to be sold

Walk through your home, room by room as if you are a buyer and take notes on what needs to be done
Consider having a home inspector come and see if anything needs to be repaired
Have a yard sale and throw out anything you do not need anymore (this will make packing up to move easier, too!)

Repaint and clean walls. Using light, neutral shades have been shown to be more appealing to potential buyers. In the kitchen paint baseboards, kitchen cabinets, trim, molding
Landscape. Add some color with flowers and shrubs Keep the lawn mowed and remove weeds
Upgrade lighting. Swap out old light bulbs with new brighter bulbs Add more lamps and accent lighting to brighten up darker rooms.
Replace old appliances. When buyers know they don’t need to replace appliances for years, they have a much easier time saying “yes to the address”
Consider renewing floor finishes and replacing old carpets. Flooring is one of the first things a potential buyer will see and can make or break it for them. Cleaning or renewing your floors can result in a great return.

Thoroughly clean the entire home, or hire a professional cleaning company to do this
Steam clean carpets, if stained consider replacing carpet
Repair all cracks and holes in walls
Paint all interior walls a neutral color
Remove any excess furniture
Organize closets and remove any clothes not in season to show off the space in closets
De-clutter: stow away any small appliances, knick knacks,, personal items, etc. Remember, less is more!
Remove valuable items from home like cash or jewelry

Mop and polish floors
Clean appliances and fixtures
Clean and organize pantry, throw out any old items and show off the storage space
Replace old caulking
Remove all stains from sinks, toilets, showers/tubs
Keep all toilet seat lids closed
Stow away your personal soaps, hygiene products, medications, etc

Switch out any lights that need to be replaced
Throw in some fresh flowers or plants
Remove personal photographs and items
Don’t forget to tidy up your closets and storage areas – buyers will be looking there too
Stow away any pet or kids items Light a candle
Wipe down all surfaces and declutter

Paint the home’s exterior, trim, doors, and shutters Power wash
Consider sprucing up the front door with a fresh coat of paint, welcome mat and plants
Inspect the roof
Sweep the entryways
Keep lawn mowed and maintained
Clean up pet droppings
Clean the gutters and downspouts
Open windows, let fresh air in and light a scented candle
Turn all of the lights, open the blinds

Properties that are priced right from the beginning typically sell for more in the end.
If you price your home too high, the home will stay on the market longer.
The longer a home stays on the market, the less it will be shown.
Your property attracts the most interest when it is first listed, so it is crucial to price it correctly initially.
Pricing at market value= no appraisal issues, buyers and agents will recognize a fair price, will appear on more relevant buyer home searches
Pricing below or above market value is NEVER a good idea.

We will decide together on how to handle showings.
We can set parameters as to the hours and days that showings are allowed, and how to notify you in advance.
Homes show best when the homeowner is not present, but if this is not possible, we will work together to create the best experience for the buyer that also fits your lifestyle.
Usually we use an electronic lockbox that allows buyers’ agents to access your house key.
These boxes also notify me any time they are opened, so no one is accessing your home without my knowledge.
If you have pets in the home that need to be tended to during showings, we will work out the best way to handle them.
Furthermore, I will try to get feedback from each showing and pass that information back to you.

Once we’re under contract, keep in mind that we still have to clear any contingencies on the contract before we close. A contingency is when there’s something that the buyer or seller needs to do for the transaction to move forward.
Some common contingencies are:
Financing contingency. This will be on any contract where the buyer needs to obtain a mortgage loan in order to buy your home. This is why buyers will submit a pre-approval letter with their offer, to prove that they have are capable of getting the loan, but there are still some things that need to be done before they get the “clear-to-close” from their lender.
Appraisal contingency. Typically, the lender requests an appraisal is done to make sure they are paying a fair price for your home. If the appraisal value comes back lower than the price of the home, the buyers will have the ability to walk away from the deal if you don’t lower the price. This is why it’s so important to price your home right from the get-go.
Home sale contingency. This happens when the buyer is currently trying to sell their own property. This is not as common as the other contingencies, but it does happen.
Inspection contingency. If the inspection report shows that the home has issues like a damaged roof or electrical issues, the buyers may ask you to lower the price or repair the issues. If an agreement can not be reached, the buyers may back out.