To avoid surprises during the selling process, there are some precautionary
measures that can be taken to protect both buyers and sellers:
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Hiring a professional to inspect your home in advance will better prepare you
for any issues a buyer's inspector may have.
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Buying a Seller's Home Warranty provides insurance against any damage that is
caused to the house while it is on the market.
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Finding an escrow holder (a third party, whether it be a neighbor or an
attorney, who holds on to all deposits made on the property until all
stipulations agreed upon by the buyer and seller are met) will protect you
against receiving any faulty funds and protect the buyer against losing money
on a misrepresented home.
Advertisement is one of the most crucial factors in shaping whether or not you
bring in buyers that are willing to pay your asking price. Using many different
advertising mediums will increase your chances of securing the best possible
deal.
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Place a "For Sale" sign on your front lawn and attach a clearly labeled set of
fact sheets (that include your contact information) for interested passer-bys
to take and scan.
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Market your home in the local newspaper (the weekend edition is optimal since
that is when most people have the time to leisurely read the paper).
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Advertise on the web (this can be done on many sites for free, but paid web
advertising typically results in a listing that is on a higher volume site).
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Take advantage of local bulletin boards. Place flyers that have your contact
information, a few facts about the house, and any dates of open houses.
Your home is the only thing that will make or break the deal in the end. So, it
is imperative that you create a warm environment that will make people want to
not only own your home, but work with you to achieve a fair agreement.
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Choose a few days for prospective buyers to come view your home, as well as one
or two additional days for an open house (choose days in which you can assure
that you will be able to have your home in its best condition).
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Make your home inviting for any potential buyers by having some light
refreshments, as well as friendly conversation available.
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Create a cozy atmosphere by baking a loaf of bread or brewing a pot of coffee
just before your home is open for inspection.
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Obtain a set of real estate sales contracts and disclosure forms from a local
home-office store and have one of each of the forms filled out and ready for
signing so that you can be sure to close the deal and collect an "earnest money
deposit" as soon as a buyer makes you the perfect offer.
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Once you have negotiated with a serious buyer, set up a time when you can be
home for the buyer's inspector and appraiser to come examine the property.
Moreover, consider hiring a real estate attorney to handle the closing.
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At least one day before the closing, obtain a copy of the Settlement Statement
and check that the "net cash to sellers" is close or equal to the number that
you initially estimated.
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On the day of the closing, be prepared to ask any questions you may have had
about the Settlement Statement and have some form of identification on you,
along with the deed.
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Moving Tips