Step 1: Make Quick Fixes
EXTERIOR
- Sweep sidewalk
- Mow Grass (rake leaves, shovel snow)
- Trim hedges
- Plant flowers
- Clean gutters
- Fix chipped paint spots
INTERIOR
- Repaint bold walls neutral colors (neutral tones make a home easier to sell)
- Do any DIY fixes (faucets, squeaky doors)
- Unclutter your closets and bookshelves
- Store items that are clunky, unattractive, or too personal
Step 2: Price Your Property
Regardless of whether you are going to sell with an agent or by yourselves, schedule for an agent from one of your city's major real estate agencies (who is approved by the National Associate of Realtors) to come to your home and tell them you want to know this info:
- A realistic sell price
- A realistic listing price
- Three comparable homes that they've represented sold within the last few months
- Three comparable homes currently on the market: what they are listing for and how long they've been for sale
- Three comparable homes taken off the market (and why)
- What they would do to get your home ready
Step 3: Option A - Work with a Realtor
If you decide to hire a realtor to help you sell your home:
- Choose an agent you trust and like working with
- Keep your contract short so the agent has incentive to sell fastPick a day for an open house (usually two to three hours on a weekend afternoon)
- Make sure your agent lists the house around town
- Hire a lawyer to help with complex offers, mortgages, leases, and contracts
- Get a home inspection
Option B - Work with a Realtor
If you decide to hire a realtor to help you sell your home:
- Take pictures when house is clean, clutter free, and has optimum sunlight
- Decide what you're going to list the house for (get number from agents you invited over and from researching similar homes online)
- Set a date for an open house (usually two to three hours on a weekend afternoon)
- Post your open house with basic info and pictures in local newspapers and online services
- Put up a sign on your lawn and pring flyers wtih house pictures to leave around town
- Hire a lawyer to help with complex offers, mortgages, leases, and contracts
- Get your home inspected
Step 4: Get a Home Inspector
Find a crednetialed inspector on local thenest.com message boards to see who other people in your area recommend. Use your home inspector to help find out the following:
- Square footage
- Length of each room
- Appliances with dates purchased
- Taxes
- Local schools
- Distance to public transportation
Step 5: Use Sell Sheet
Fill out this detailed list on house specifics:
- Listing price
- Square footage
- Number of bathrooms
- Number of bedrooms
- Size of each room
- Appliances and date purchased
- List of amenities
- Distance to public transportation
- Schools (names and addresses