Seller's Checklist

Selling your Florida home can seem like a daunting undertaking, which is why many people choose to enlist a real estate agent to help them manage the process. With an expert agent on your side you have a leg up on other sellers in the area. Here’s a quick list of the things you can do to prepare to list your home and what your real estate professional can do for you.

Step One: Prepare Your Home

When it comes to selling your home or property, the first impression is often the only one that you get. Therefore, it’s important to properly prepare and display your home for potential buyers. Below are a few things that can be done to make your home more appealing to buyers and even up the value of your home:

• Clean and update wherever you can update affordably. Replacing old light fixtures or plumbing fixtures, and creating small, affordable changes that bring things up to date can make a big difference on the way a prospective buyer sees your home.  If you are looking to command a significant asking price, it may even help to update flooring, countertops, or appliances. Even small changes can really make a difference.
• Repaint the interior. Fresh paint can do wonders for the look of a home. If you’ve got a room painted in an unorthodox manner it would be best to paint over it with neutral colors.  This may not change the property value, but it makes it much easier for prospective buyers to envision themselves living in the space.
• Deodorize. Have your carpets and upholstery steam cleaned. If you have pets or have smoked in the house, a professional cleaner may be in order. Open the house up to air it out frequently while it’s on the market.
• Remove personal items and clutter. This includes family photos, knick knacks and the like. An impersonal house allows the buyer to envision themselves in the home.  Keep only minimal furnishings and décor items.
• Repair everything possible. Pressure wash the exterior of the house, fix any leaks or cracks, and generally spruce the place up. Items left in disrepair can make buyers uneasy about the overall condition of the home. Get a home inspection done and make any necessary repairs ahead of time.
• Don’t forget the Landscaping. The first thing a potential buyer sees when they arrive at your home is the landscaping. Keep the yard mowed and trees and bushes trimmed. Adding little items like pretty flowering plants to walkways and entrances is also a good touch.

Step Two: Contact a Realtor and Establish a Listing

Real Estate agents will have a better feel for how your home will sell in your local market than you could get from national websites and can help you come up with a competitive price to get your home sold as quickly as possible. A great realtor will also work hard to market your property to the right prospective buyers in order to decrease the amount of time that it sits on the market.  Once your home is listed with your agent they will take care of marketing and showcasing your property. Marketing is one of the very valuable benefits of using a real estate agent because they know where and how to advertise your home so that it gets out to the widest possible audience.  Your agent may also be able to suggest small changes or improvements that will help the house sell faster or for a higher price.

Step Three: Receiving an Offer and Contract Negotiation

When an offer is made on your home your agent will consult with you and handle any counter-offers you wish to make to the potential buyer. These contract negotiations are where important things are worked out between the buyer and the seller including which party is to pay for certain closing costs. An experienced agent can make sure that no detail is overlooked and will look out for your best interests when negotiating the terms of the contract.

Step Four: Finalize the Sale of Your Property

Finally, your agent will coordinate the closing of the sale, including making sure that all paperwork is filed appropriately with the correct parties. They will keep tabs on important dates and deadlines and coordinate inspections, appraisals, and repairs during the closing process.

If you are looking to sell a home in Northwest Florida, give me a call!  I can help answer your questions and can help you get your home on the market and get it noticed.  Real estate contracts and negotiations can be tough to manage on your own, and I would love to make the process as easy as possible.  Give me a call today at 850-708-7724 and I will be happy to answer all of your questions!