For many, being prepared to sell your home might seem quite the task, but following these simple steps will ensure an easier entrance to the market.
Make An Inspection Checklist
What You See:
~ If you have loud paint, dated lighting or overly eclectic décor, consider repainting walls a neutral color, updating old light fixtures and storing certain personal possessions while your home is on the market.
~ De-clutter and clean. While this sounds obvious, a messy home is a major turnoff to potential buyers.
~ Kitchens and bathrooms are a make or break factor in selling your home. Small updates you should attend to in those areas might include fixtures, faucets, cabinet hardware, lighting, painting and even decorative staging.
What You Get:
~ Do you know which of your appliances you’d like to take with you or leave on the property? What about play sets or above ground pools? Buyers want to know what is staying when viewing a property.
~ Make sure you have a thorough knowledge of the condition of electrical components, plumbing system and roof wear and tear. These are essential details to have a grasp on because all of these factors will come up in a buyer’s inspection. Better yet, find and fix problems before potential buyers notice and demand them as part of the agreement. On the flip side, remember that you can exercise the right to exclude specific items or consider an ‘as is’ sell to protect yourself.
How Are You Planning To Sell Your Home?
For homeowners in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, for sale by owner (FSBO) transactions are becoming more and more popular. If you go this route, be sure to do your research and understand your legal responsibilities first.
If you choose to do a for sale by owner, a title company can assist with closing your home by ordaining the property’s legal owner, observing any mortgages, liens, judgments or unpaid taxes that must be fulfilled pre-dispatch as well as pinpoint existing leases, restrictions or easements connected to your home. The title company will complete all the pressing documents and will correct any problems. Upon completion, the parties will then trade off paperwork and close the deal.
If you choose to use a listing agent, you will sign a listing contract with your Realtor of choice. Your Realtor then researches the market value of your home to help you determine a selling price. Their next step is listing, marketing and showing your property. The listing agent relays any offers to you, handles the offer negotiations based on your input, and moves all the paperwork through the transaction. You pay for the listing agent’s services via a percentage commission (usually 4 to 6 percent) or a flat fee. The buyer’s agent is also paid out of that fee.
If you’ve weathered the market downturn and are finally ready to sell your home in today’s rebounding economy, follow these simple steps to get your home ready to list.