Home Sellers Guide

Selling your home is a big decision and like any other big decision for the family, preparation is the key to success. The most difficult thing about selling your home is being objective about what your home has to offer a buyer. Sit down and try to think like someone who is considering buying your home and try to see it through their eyes. Look for all of the "character" things that make this house your home and try to think if these things would be an advantage or a disadvantage to someone new.

First impressions remain with potential buyers. Look at your home and spend some time doing all of those little things that you've been postponing and do them now. A little paint here, a minor repair there, and a little de-cluttering throughout will make a big difference in how a prospective buyer remembers your home. Not only will this help you get the best price for your home, it will also bring offers sooner.

Whether you are hiring a moving company or moving yourself, make an inventory of your belongings. Moving is a confusing operation and you don't want to forget items that have a sentimental value to you.

Decide if you should hire a moving company by comparing the cost of moving yourself to the cost of a professional. Add the total of the expenses you will incur by moving yourself. Include items like truck rental, gas, insurance, boxes, and don't forget the time required by yourself and any friends/casual employees who help with the operation. Can you take sufficient time off work to accomplish this task? Who will help you with the move and how much will it cost, either in wages, or in however you choose to express your appreciation for the aid. Can you drive the rental truck, or do you know someone who can. Take all of these things into consideration when calculating the cost. One way or another, moving is a costly business.

If you decide to hire a moving company, here are some things you need to consider.

First of all, ask your friends and family for references. Having someone recommend a moving company based on their experience with that company can be a shortcut to a competent move. If no one you know has a recommendation for you, contact several moving companies and get a written quote from each of them. Look at each quote and compare the services they offer and what they guarantee. Check your homeowners or renters insurance policy to check for coverage for lost or damaged goods during a move. Decide of you would do the packing, or ask the moving company to do the packing. Who does the packing will likely impact the coverage for damaged goods.

Once the moving procedure has been decided, make a list of things to do with regard to your move. Who needs to be notified? Complete a change of address with the post office and let others know of your address change (utility companies, telephone, friends). Reserve the elevator for moving day if you live in an apartment building.

Selling Your Home

Staging your home is only the first step in selling your home. A complete market analysis is necessary to assess the value of your home and to anticipate what competition your home will face when it enters the marketplace. What other homes in your neighbourhood will a Prospect likely view and how does your home compare to those homes? What marketing activities will take place to ensure the sale of your home? What promotional materials with pictures of your home will be used to expose your home to the market. What materials will be prepared for distribution to prospective purchasers and to Realtors®? What marketing websites and publications are appropriate for and ad for your home to appear?

Consideration of Offers to Purchase

Try to be objective when considering offers to purchase your home. Remember that an offer is just that…an offer. Buyers are not making personal comments about your home, they are communicating to you how much your home is worth to them. You don't have to agree or disagree, you need to assess whether their offer is close enough to your anticipated sale price to risk losing the offer for an extra few dollars.

Closing

There are usually closing costs associated at the time of taking possession of your home. These could include the following (talk to your REALTOR® to find out a more detailed listing):

• Attorney/Lawyer fees (yours and your lenders if applicable)
• Property taxes (to cover tax period to date)
• Interest
• Title insurance
• Any Documentation preparation fees

Before you sign any closing documents you should have your attorney/lawyer review your papers and closing documents to ensure your interests are protected. Your real estate REALTOR® might assist you on selecting a lawyer, or you could find your own.