10 Steps Before Selling

1. Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan

Market conditions change rapidly and you do not want to get caught off guard with any unexpected issues involving your credit, so be sure to get pre-approved before you get into the home buying or selling process.

Find a lender you trust and research the housing market in the area where you wish to live so that you have a good idea how much it will take to buy a replacement.

How To Start Researching

Hint: I can show you any property (regardless who the listing agent is) and you can use my website to search to search the entire MLS and find any property in the area!

Start looking for two types of real estate:

• Houses that seem to match the one you'd like to buy
• Houses that are similar to your current home.

Call your lender to find out the payoff for your current home mortgage. You'll need the figure to complete Step 6.

3. Determine How Much the House Is Worth

Determine your home's fair market value. Your realtor can help you by doing an initial Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report to see what recent home sales have been in your area and then arrange for an appraisal of a property you are interested in.

4. Estimate Your Costs to Sell Your Existing Home

As your real estate agent, I deal with transactions every day and can give you a very close estimate of seller closing costs including the following factors:

• Real estate commission if you use an agency to sell.
• Advertising costs, signs, other fees provided by your agent.
• Attorney, closing agent and other professional fees.
• Excise tax for the sale.
• Prorated costs for your share of annual expenses, such as property taxes, home owner association fees, and fuel tank rentals.
• Any other fees typically paid by the seller in your area (surveys, inspections, etc.).

Total all expenses related to buying a new home including:

• Moving expenses, loan costs, down payment, home inspections, title work and policy, new hazard insurance policy, etc.
• Your lender should give you a disclosure of estimated costs when you apply for pre-approval.

• Will your closing proceeds cover your costs to acquire a new home?
• Will you have cash or other funding to make up the difference?

Calculate your proceeds by:

• Deduct your mortgage payoff from your home's fair market value.
• Deduct your costs to sell from the remainder to get an estimate of the proceeds you will be paid at closing.

Make all major priority repairs (low to high priority items identified on Home Seller’s Tips page) unless you want the house to be regarded as a fixer-upper. I'm not referring to cosmetic updates, but to items in need of repair. Anything that's out of line, gives potential buyers a reason to submit a lower offer.

Most houses need at least a little spiffing up before they are shown to potential buyers. Great curb appeal, fresh paint indoors (and sometimes out), organized closets and cabinets, clean windows and appliances, and a clutter-free atmosphere are essential if you want the house to appeal to buyers.

That means it's always ready to show. Many agents won't bother showing a house that takes 24 hours to get into. Don’t crowd home buyers when they are viewing your home and make every effort possible to make them feel comfortable while in your home.

10. How to Find a Real Estate Listing Agent

• Find an agent that you feel comfortable with in their personality, professionalism and ability to serve or assist you in your home buying/selling process – like me!
• Find an agent who has a good website that provides you with ample educational resources, information about the area, offers me services and has a good MLS search and information on listings I am interested in
• Find an agent who will offer you prompt professional service
• Find an agent who is knowledgeable and will help guide you through the real estate process
• Ask me for referrals. Don’t do business with me because I have a nice website, let my previous customers tell you how I serviced them
• Make an appointment and interview me, ask me about my marketing tactics, placement in MLS, services offered, commission rate, etc.
• Get a feel for my knowledge and experience of the industry and the area and more

Return to Top

Top Buyer Turn-Offs

10 Ways to Make Home Buyers Hate Your House