Home Selling Checklist

by Shannon Volk

Here is a general checklist for getting your house ready to market.

Choose a listing agent

An error home sellers make selecting a listing agent is based on two things:  
the highest list price and the lowest commission.  They have very little to do 
with hiring a competent agent and, in many instances, are completely 
irrelevant.   Ask the agent about how their marketing strategy and how it is
relevant to your property.  Experience, their eduction, and knowledge of the 
area are important factors.

Determine what your home is worth

Work with your agent to look at comparable homes that have recently sold and 
gauge current activity in the market.  Looking at your area wholistically and 
identifying how quickly you want to sell are factors in determining price.  It's
helpful to see how long properties on average convert from market to under 
contract too.  If properties in your area take on average 40 days until they go 
under contract and an average escrow is 30 days that's approximately 70 days 
from market to close.  Let's say you need to be out of the property no later than
60 days and can't afford payments on two properties.  Then you'd want to 
price below average to move your property fast.  If this is a vacation home and
you have time & money to wait, then pricing the property higher can be a 
strategy too.  If you go with the longer strategy, sign a longer employment
agreement with the agent to give the agent ample time for this strategy.

Get property ready to market

Declutter
Stage the property
Work with agent on scheduling professional photos
Signage on the property
Lockbox
Work with agent on a schedule for showings &/or open houses
Make any repairs
Review and sign-off on listing
Complete & Provide Seller Property Disclosure Statement to Listing Agent
Complete and provide claims letter from insurance
Complete home inspection ** optional.
**optional Appraisal. Sometimes sellers will pay for an outside appraisor to substantiate price.