Home Sellers To-Do List

Home Sellers To-Do List

Selling a home is a HUGE undertaking!  Selling your home involves so many things; it affects emotions, finances, logistics, legalities just to name a few.  There are many steps in the home selling process – That’s why there are REALTORS®!  ENTER MICK & JANE GOEBEL OF THE GOEBEL TEAM!!!  EXPERIENCED REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS 

Hiring an experienced REALTOR® is an important first step.  Who to hire?  How to search for a Realtor?  What do you do?  Most of the time, people ask their friends and family first.  That’s a logical first step, right?    Referrals are also a really BIG DEAL!  It’s important to ask someone you trust, then set up an appointment with who they recommend.  Give them a call.  Call a few, in fact.  Just because someone is right for your neighbor doesn’t mean they will be right for you.  Treat the phone call like an interview.  Ask the questions, hear them out, then set a face-to-face appointment with the one or ones you like.  Go from there and see how you feel.

After selecting your Realtor, there are things you can do to prepare for listing your home.  We’ve found an article that is well worth your time so read what the author writes in the list below and then give us a call!  We would love to hear from you – The Goebel Team is on YOUR side – put us to work for you TODAY!  

http://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/7-things-home-sellers-forget/?identityID=12056061&MID=2017_0324_WeeklyNL&RID=1142918722&cid=eml-2017-0324-WeeklyNL-blog_7_thingssellersforget-blogs_sell

To-do No. 1: Google your address:

“…Nearly all buyers—90%—search online during their hunt for a home… You should be aware of what your online listing looks like…”

To-do No. 2: Account for improvements and issues:

“…make a list of all the problems you’ve solved while you’ve lived there… This could include chimney fires, water damage, or a flood in the basement. Whether you solved the problem or not, you should disclose this information to the buyer so you don’t wind up in a lawsuit after the sale. Disclosing “invisible improvements” that you’ve made… can also be a great source of comfort for buyers…”

To-do No. 3: Check your real estate agent’s references:

This is what we were discussing in the beginning of this blog.  It is SO important to find and use a reputable real estate professional - and one that suits your specific needs.  “Real estate agents should be happy to provide a number of references for a new client to call,”   Here are some questions you might want to ask potential real estate agents when talking to them:

• Did you have confidence in your real estate agent?
• Do you think he/she had good knowledge of the local market?
• Did your agent communicate well and keep you informed during the entire transaction?
• Do you think that he/she negotiated well on your behalf?
• Did your agent have good vendors who could assist you?
• Did your agent return calls/emails in a timely fashion?
• Would you recommend this person? Why? (Or why not?)

To-do No. 4: Insist on social media marketing:

“Video tours, floor plans, and photo galleries promoted on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are must-dos… You want to make sure that your agent is using all avenues to attract the right buyer for your home… Make sure your home has a presence on your agent’s website, their agency’s website, and is promoted on various sites that will market the home...”

To-do No. 5: Make sure the doorbell rings:

“It’s those little cosmetic repairs that could cost you your home sale… First impressions make all the difference… A well-kept home, starting with the view from the curb, gives the perception that the seller has great pride in the home…”

To-do No. 6: Clean inside everything:

“Storage is a huge selling point for homes. So be warned: Buyers are going to poke around inside closets, drawers, cabinets, ovens, refrigerators, and even the dishwasher, whether they’re cleaned or not—so you’d better make sure they are clean…”

To-do No. 7: Clarify which items are not included:

You don’t want a buyer to fall in love with your house because of the custom window treatments and then rescind their offer when they find out the curtains aren’t for sale.
“The law says that anything bolted to the wall or ceiling goes to the buyer unless specifically excluded in the contract,” says Boyce. “If you want to take your flat-screen TV, chandelier, or custom pot rack, be sure to label it as soon as the house goes on the market, so that buyers don’t bank on owning that item and wind up disappointed.”