What Should Homeowners Know Before Selling Their Home?
LOUISIANA REALTORS • May 23, 2017
Making the decision to sell your home
is an important one. There is a lot of time, energy, emotion, and money at stake in this process, so being prepared is crucial. But how do you prepare and what do you need to know in order to achieve your goal of successfully selling your home? Here are 5 things every homeowner should know before selling their home.
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1.) Hire a REALTOR®
First and foremost interview and hire a REALTOR®. This is arguably the most important step in any real estate transaction. In your interview, look for expertise and knowledge about the market, gauge the REALTORS’ character for education experience along with a high moral and ethical guideline. Using a REALTOR® will help you arrive at the best price for your home and attract qualified buyers to ensure that you get what you need from the transaction.
2.) Consider a Pre-Listing Inspection
Having your home looked over by a professional can give you great insight into what type of work may need to be done. Having this information available before you list can help in the decision making process and allow you to remedy anything that could become an issue down the road. You may also want to consider these other types of inspections: pest, radon, septic, chimney, etc.
3.) Improve Curb Appeal
First impressions are vitally important when it comes to real estate. Any potential buyer’s initial interaction with your property will be from the outside. Fresh landscaping, a coat of paint, a neatly kept lawn, and other aesthetic features can only help ensure a positive impression while your home is on the market.
4.) Gather All Documents
Any documents and paperwork you have amassed over the years relating to your home can be a great resource for your REALTOR®. The history, upkeep, upgrades, and mechanics of your home allows for compelling information to be created, as well as the pertinent information buyers need and want. HVAC records, roof documents, appliance warranties, remodeling information, and other documents are all valuable throughout the selling process.
5.) Prepare Your Home for Showings
This is an essential part of the process. Clearing the clutter, organizing the different spaces of your home, and creating a positive environment for potential buyers can greatly impact the speed and price at which your home will sell.
While there is much to do and consider when preparing to sell your home, your top priority should be to hire a REALTOR® to guide and advise you through the process.
NAR is sharing its latest consumer guide, Seller Handoff Checklist . Sellers can create a smooth transition for the new owners using the new one-page guide. It offers a handy checklist of information and resources that sellers can pass along—from appliance manuals to paint colors to garbage pickup schedules—as well as suggestions for goodwill gestures that will help buyers feel they made a great purchasing decision. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Seller Handoff Checklist Defining Home Buying Needs vs. Wants 10 Tips For Unpacking Smartly After A Move UPDATED: Multiple Listing Services Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Check out the next consumer guide on condominium insurance.
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