Seller's Tips

Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a Home:

• Pricing incorrectly
  Don't allow emotional ties to influence pricing rather than market conditions. The first 2-4 weeks is when you'll see the most action. If your home is not competitively priced, you could miss an opportunity to sell.
• Failing to "showcase" the home
  Pet, cigarette odors and cracking paint don't make good first impressions. The fewer problems buyers see, the easier it is for them to picture themselves as the new owners.

How to Polish the Merchandise:

• Start with a curb-to-door cleanup. Prune shrubs and tree branches, edge the lawn and keep it mowed and, if the season permits, add a show of color with annual bedding plants. Paint the front door and put out a new welcome mat.

• Inside, make your home look as spacious as possible. Eliminate clutter. Organize closets, the attic and basement storage.

• Depersonalize your space. Reduce distractions and help would-be buyers visualize making themselves at home. Tuck away family pictures. A home stamped indelibly with your personality and style can be harder to sell.

• Remove obvious clues to your political, religious and social sentiments. Store away banners, bumper stickers and biased literature, including magazines.

• Use the Interior and Exterior checklists to identify areas of your home that need work before placing it on the market.

Interior

    Attic

• Check underside of roof for leaks, stains or dampness

• Look around chimney for condensation or signs of water

• Clean and clear ventilation openings if necessary

• Clean out stored junk

    Walls and Ceilings

• Check condition of paint and wallpaper

• Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster or wallboard

    Windows and Doors

• Check for smooth operation

• Replace broken or cracked panes

• Repair glazing

• Check condition of weather stripping and caulking

• Examine paint

• Test doorbell or chimes

• Test burglar alarms

• Wash windows and even woodwork, if necessary

    Floors

• Inspect for creaking boards, loose or missing tiles, worn areas

• Check baseboards and moldings

• Test the staircases for loose handrails, posts, treads

    Bathrooms

• Check tile joints, grouting and caulking

• Remove mildew

• Repair leaking faucets and shower heads

• Check the condition of painted or papered walls

• Test operation of toilet

    Kitchen

• Wash all appliances

• Clean ventilator or exhaust fan

• Remove accumulation of grease or dust from tiles, walls, floors

    Basement

• Remove clutter

• Check for signs of dampness, cracked walls or damaged floors

• Inspect structural beams

• Check pipes for leaks

    Electrical System

• Check exposed wiring and outlets for signs of wear or damage

• Repair broken switches and outlets

• Label each circuit or fuse

    Plumbing System

• Check water pressure when taps in bathroom(s) and kitchen are turned on

• Look for leaks at faucets and sink traps

• Clear slow-running or clogged drains

• Bleed air off radiators if needed, and check for leaking valves

    Heating and Cooling Systems

• Change or clean furnace and air-conditioning filters

• Have equipment serviced if needed

• Clear and clean area around heating and cooling equipment

Exterior

    Roof and Gutters

• Repair or replace loose, damaged or blistered shingles

• Clean gutters and downspout strainers

• Check gutters for leaks and proper alignment

• Inspect flashings around roof stacks, vents, skylights and chimneys

• Clear obstructions from vents, louvers and chimneys

• Check fascias and soffits for decay and peeling paint

• Inspect chimney for any loose or missing mortar

    Exterior Walls

• Re-nail loose siding and check for warping or decay

• Paint siding if necessary

• Check masonry walls for cracks or any other damage

• Replace loose or missing caulking

    Driveway

• Repair concrete or blacktop if necessary

    Garage

• Lubricate hinges and other hardware on your garage door

• Inspect doors and windows for any peeling paint

• Check condition of glazing around all windows

• Test electrical outlets

    Foundation

• Check walls, steps, retaining walls, walkways and patios for cracks, heaving or crumbling

    Yard

• Mow lawn, re-seed or sod if necessary

• Trim hedges, prune trees and shrubs

• Weed and mulch flower beds

Setting the Price

Trust your agent (If you can't trust your agent, get one you can!)

The first couple months your home is on the market is the most important!  There is much interest in new listings.  If it's not priced right the first time it may not be looked at a second time.  Your agent has the best knowledge of the current market.

Key Elements of the Contract

Preparing for Closing

As the seller, you have relatively little to do at this point. By keeping abreast of progress on both sides, you can help avoid common glitches.

If your buyer is having trouble getting a loan on the terms specified in the contract, you should know it; if he/she is turned down, it could jeopardize the whole deal, and you could end up putting the house back on the market. A day or so before closing, make sure all the necessary papers and documents have been gathered and are in the hands of the right players.

Things can go wrong. Documents can be misplaced, delayed or lost. However, common last-minute glitches can be avoided:

• Parties who should be present at closing need to be informed of any change in the date, time or place. They should be reminded a week before closing and again the day before.
• Everyone named on the deed under which you hold title must sign the new deed by which you grant title.
• Know when and how you will be paid. Don't expect to walk away from the settlement table with a check in hand.
• If you are buying another property, consider having both closings at the same office scheduled back-to-back. That way, the timing of the disbursement is not a problem. You sign a paper authorizing the title company or attorney to assign the funds from your sale to your purchase.

The papers you'll need

• A copy of the sales contract and documentation showing that any contingencies have been removed or satisfied.
• All documents needed to complete the transfer of title. This may include certificate of title, deed, correcting affidavits, quitclaim deeds, survey and title insurance policy or binder.
• Homeowners insurance policy. When the buyer plans to take over the unused portion of your hazard insurance, you'll need to make arrangements in advance for all paperwork to be completed on time.
• Prorations for ongoing expenses such as insurance premiums, property taxes, accrued interest on assumed loans and utilities (if not shut off between owners).
• Receipts showing payment of the latest water, electric and gas bills.
• A certificate from your lender indicating the mortgage balance and the date to which interest has been prepaid.