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.
|