For Sale By Owner

Steps In Selling Your Home

The marketing of your home is a business deal. Once you make the decision to sell your home, you need to prepare your home to look its best. You want your potential buyers, themselves, to imagine living in your home. In order to "depersonalize" each room, get rid of most of your personal clutter, and you can achieve this goal.

• Hire a cleaning service. A spotlessly clean home is essential; dirt will turn off a prospect faster than anything.
• Mow the edge of your lawn, or remove snow and slush as necessary. Be sure toys and yard equipment are out of sight. Clean up after pets.
• Set the table with pretty dishes and candles. Add a new shower curtain, fresh towels and new guest soaps to every bath.
• Serve cookies, coffee, and soft drinks. It creates a welcoming touch. But be sure the kitchen has been cleaned up; use disposable cups so the sink doesn't fill up.
• Build a fire in your fireplace or put a basket of fresh flowers there if it's not in use.
• Turn on all the lights. Even in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle.
• Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that's not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (a basement or bath).
• Make sure the front door is clean and freshly painted if needed. Add a new doormat. First impressions are everything.
• Accompany your prospective buyers through your home; answer questions, and point out the good features of your home.

The Security Checklist

Do not give your schedule over the phone. For example, the buyer calls and says: "I would like to come over this weekend. When are you folks available"? Don't tell a complete stranger when no one will be home.

• Make sure you get the buyer's phone number first. Then call them back and start giving them information about your home.
• Make sure you are never home alone when showing the home.
• Carry your cordless phone with you in case your phone rings so you don't leave the buyer alone to answer it.
• If your currently showing the home to a buyer and the doorbell should ring, do not leave the buyer alone in your house to go answer the door.
• Make sure your children do not let anyone in or give information about the home over the telephone.
• Be aware of suspicious questions while showing the home (Do you have an alarm system? Does it have a panic button?)
• Require I.D. when they come to your door and let the buyer know you'll be asking for it when you set the appointment.

Forms You'll Need To Sell Your Home

You'll need to pick up a Residential Real Estate Property Disclosure Report. This form requires you to reveal all known material defects of your property.  Also, you'll need the following forms to sell your home the right way:

• Lead-Based Paint Disclosure/Pamphlet: If your home was built before 1978, you must provide the pamphlet to all buyers. You also must have buyers sign a statement indicating they received the pamphlet.
• Mold Disclosure: Mold is quickly becoming the new "hot button" to buyers. This disclosure addresses the mold issue which may or may not be present in your home.
• Sales Contract: The agreement between you and the buyer on terms and conditions of sale. Generic sales contract are available at office supply stores.

Best advice: Check with your attorney regarding all matters that concern the sale of your home.

I would be happy to mail you a copy of the Residential Real Estate Property Disclosure Report pamphlet by calling me at (847) 217-6147 or send me an e-mail with your request.