10 Steps:
1) Define Needs
2) Pricing
3) Property Prep
4) Marketing
5) Receive Offer
6) Negotiate
7) Vendors
8) Pre-Close
9) Close
10) Post-Close
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3. Prepare Your Property For Selling
It's time to get your home in "showing and selling"
condition. Most of us don't keep our homes in the condition
it would need to be in to sell. Over the years those boxes
in the corner of the garage just seem to multiply on their
own. Things have broken that we just never get around to fixing
and some things have just worn out. We just accept the fact
that they will always be this way. It is this frame of mind
that you have to break out of in order to get your house ready
to show. How your home looks will have an immense impact on
how quickly it sells and whether or not you get full market
value for it.
First impressions are very important and you only get to
make one. Your real estate agent, who is interacting in the
marketplace every day, can assist you in approaching your
home from the buyer's standpoint. What needs to be changed
to make a good first impression? This may mean that all you
do is prune the trees and shrubs. On the other hand, it may
mean that you completely repaint the house, inside and out.
Do a "curb to door" check. Give the potential buyers
a clear path to enter the home. The fewer obstacles between
the buyer and the true appeal of your home the better. Keep
in mind that over time we become accustomed to our surroundings.
What's normal for you may be detrimental to the buyer.
Make your home look as spacious as possible. Organize your
closets and kitchen cabinets, and if you have things stored
in the attic or basement, make sure they are presentable.
If you are showing during the day, pull back your curtains
and drapes to show how bright and cheery your home is. If
you are showing at night, turn on all of the lights to create
a warm and welcoming environment for the prospective buyers.
A home that is marked with your personality and style may
be harder to sell. You might even consider such things as
removing obvious clues to your political affiliation and tucking
away any biased literature that may be visible. This will
reduce distractions and help the buyers to visualize the home
as their own.
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