Whether you’ve sold a home many times or you’re going to be selling your first, there are things that you need to know before listing your home for sale.  Many sellers think the home selling process is straightforward and doesn’t take any preparation.  This is not true, in most cases.

Any friend, family member, colleague, Realtor, or individual who says selling a home is a comfortable, fun-filled experience is not being honest.  The truth is that selling a home can be a real hassle, create stress and anxiety, and lead to thoughts of uncertainty.  These feelings can, however, be minimized if the proper preparation is taken and well-crafted decisions are made along the way. Some sellers often choose to sell their home to investors which can be an excellent alternative for one who is in need to move house quickly.

So before you sell your home, there are several things that you need to know before beginning the journey for the first time or the tenth.  Here are the top things to know before selling a home.

Often the most overlooked step when selling a home is the importance of hiring a great real estate agent.  Aren’t all real estate agents the same?  The answer is not.  When selling a home, you should have high expectations of the real estate agent whom you hire to sell your home.  Top producing agents possess different qualities and have different skill sets, bottom line.  When hiring a top producing agent, there is a potential downside; your property may not be on the top of their list.

How does a seller ensure that a great Realtor is hired when selling a home?  The answer is quite simple.  Knowing how to interview a Realtor when selling a home will provide the highest probability that a great Realtor is selected.  While there is no guarantee that the top producing Realtor you hire will be the right one for you when selling a home, by asking the right questions and seeking the correct answers, is essential. One question you must ask is, will you be handling the showings personally or will a team member be assigned to that task? There is nothing wrong with a team concept, it all depends on how one on one attention you desire.

A great Realtor knows what information should be included in the knowledge of the house they’re selling.  What does this have to do with gathering paperwork and documents?  Having information on the major mechanics of the home and also any updates that have been completed to the home will be extremely helpful for your Realtor.  A great Realtor is not going to place a sign in the front of your house and wait for it to sell.  They should know how to write compelling information about your home to attract potential buyers in addition to creatively marketing it online and offline.

What type of paperwork and documents should you be gathering when selling a home?  Here are some examples of the kind of information, paperwork, and materials you should collect before selling a home.

Roof age & any warranty paperwork, if applicable
Furnace age & any instruction manuals
Central Air conditioning age & any instruction manuals
Water heater age & any instruction manuals
Any included appliance ages & any instruction manuals
Dates of any home improvement projects, such as a kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, window installation, carpet installation, and so on.
Any certificate of compliance (permits) that apply, such as, deck permits, shed permits, fence permits, etc.
Instrument survey
What to do with all these documents? The documents will be placed in a binder along with any pictures of the home that highlights the unique features of the house. We will call this the home book and will have it on the kitchen counter with listing documents for Realtors to show the potential home buyer. It is recommended that you take the time to create a digital book also. You ask your Realtor to email it to an agent who sets up a showing. Why would you want to do this? If the Realtor who is showing your home can speak to the features well they are more respected, and your home will be as well.

Selling a home is not as simple as picking up the telephone, calling your local real estate office to speak with an agent, and it will be ready for the market, unfortunately.  Several things should be examined before selling a home.  A great Realtor should be able to point out during a walk-through of your home items that should be corrected or repaired. Issues such as painting, cleaning, and de-cluttering are just a handful of low-cost preparations that can be made, before selling a home.

The first impression is crucial when selling a home.  By not preparing your home for sale, this can often lead to a poor first impression and also can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Take the extra time and effort to prepare your home, and you’ll be glad you did.

If you are unable to do the corrections or repairs or can’t afford to do them keep in mind, some investors will make you all cash offers with no repairs required.

Let’s recap what we have discussed so far. You need to weigh your options of hiring a Real Estate agent or working with an investor. If you decide to hire an agent, you should do an in-depth interview with the agent or agents. Once you have hired the agent, they will do a thorough review of your home and give you honest feedback on what you need to correct to sell the house for the most money in the shortest amount of time. They will have to ask for relevant documents to aid them in selling your property. You have now hired the agent, they have completed an honest walk through and you have hired a local handyman to do some painting and other small things around the home.

It is at this point one of the most critical decisions will have to be made. The List Price, usually the Realtor will give you a range of what comparable homes in the market have sold for in the last six months. Setting the price at the high end is called fishing, putting it in the middle is what is recommended; however some agents will encourage you to go in at the lower end for a couple of reasons. One that comes to mind is they are trying to get a quick sell and pocket the commission; some will tell you this is how to get a bidding war started. If no bidding war begins , then you have maybe sold your home below value. That is why setting it in the middle of the range is often your best bet. However, remember it is your job, not the agents.

Just a few more things to work on before going on the market. You will decide if you’re going to allow the agent to do Open Houses or not. It is a fact that very few homes are sold from an open house. However, it is a way to get exposure . It is always a good idea to have a stager come in and work their magic and lastly hire a maid to come in weekly to detail cleaning.