Home Selling Checklist

Selling a home is a complex process that takes time and patience. An average home may stay on the market for 60 or more days before selling. That is a long time to be constantly opening your home up to strangers and wondering if this could be the one. Depending on why you are selling your home, the time it takes can affect the stress level associated with such a task. To ease the tension when selling a home it is important to be prepared. Below is a short checklist to help prepare yourself.

Determine whether or not to use a local real estate agent to handle the transaction. Most people choose to use an agent but you may know more about the process than the average homeowner and decide to do it yourself. Selling your home takes a lot of effort and time.

Gather the necessary information pertaining to your home: number of bedrooms, baths, square feet, new upgrades, lot size, etc. Also put together a short list of local amenities that have been helpful. If your neighborhood has something special to offer make a note of it. Also include a short list of local schools. Putting together a well-organized binder with this information can be a considerable help. Leave it on the kitchen table for home viewers to look over when visiting.

Get your house ready to sell by making minor repairs to the inside and out. Take the necessary steps to make your home look clean and well maintained. Consider adding a fresh coat of paint, if needed.

Since you are going to be moving anyhow you might as well start packing. Pack any unnecessary items that you don’t need. Organize closets and get rid of torn or damaged furniture. Make your home look spacious and clutter free.

Familiarize yourself with the home selling process along with some of the financial aspects. Be prepared by knowing what to expect at each phase of the process.

Determine if you will be willing to make any concessions, whether it will be in price, closing costs, or upgrades (such as new carpet).

Knowledge and preparation is key when selling your home. If using a real estate agent they can assist you in most of the above but you will be required to make the decisions. Anything that you can do to speed up the home selling process will benefit you in the long run. By taking the time to do it right you can increase the chances of getting more on the sale of your home.

About the Author:
Boise Id Real Estate information and resources

Additional Real Estate Articles and Information on the Web

Phoenix Real Estate, How Far Have Prices Fallen
Some months ago, I wrote of two homes that had come onto the market due to the owner's need to re-locate (Selling Real Estate Today, No More Mr Nice Guy?) I will briefly re-cap the stories. Couple "A" bought a phoenix home in March 2006 for $335,000, with a substantial down payment of $185,000; or more than 50% of sales price.

How Are Real Estate Agents Paid
Real estate agents are usually independent contractors and as such work on a commission basis. Commissions are usually split four ways.

A Real Estate Construction Firm in Its Own League
At a time when realty boom is at its all-time peak, finding a real estate construction firm to provide quality and innovation is a rare phenomenon. Total Environment has proved its worth time and again.

Will the Credit Crunch Open the Door For a New Wave of Seller Financing?
Lenders are closing their doors at record pace. Bank failures are at the highest level since the 1980's. Credit programs are becoming as elusive as the Loch Ness Monster, and the failing credit markets are turning the real estate market upside down. In this environment of tight credit, how does a buyer without a sufficient down-payment and/or credit score buy a house? Seller financing may be the answer.

Mallorca Property Boosted by Falling Interest Rates
A review of the latest RBS forecast report on interest and exchange rates and highlight the impact these will have for owners and buyers of Mallorca property. With so much gloom surrounding the Spanish and Mallorca property markets it seems that falling interest rates will offer at least some respite.

How a Small Mistake Can Cost You a Fortune As a Real Estate Investor
Admit it: One of the main reasons you pulled the trigger on a Real Estate investing career is because of the potential you saw to pull cash in hand over fist over the next year or two as the market works its way through the pile of foreclosed properties. There's nothing wrong with wanting to secure your future and give notice to your boss that he or she will have to learn to get by without you. If you're going to do that, though, you'll have to get an education in real estate investing - and avoid some of the...

Cedar Park, Texas
Austin was once a town north of Austin Texas. Cedar Park is quickly finding itself to be the geographic center of the metro area.

FHA Appraising Secrets - Statement of Assumptions and Limiting Conditions, Appraiser's Certificate
All the Fannie Mae forms that are required by FHA contain both the Statement of Assumptions and Limiting Conditions and Appraiser's Certification. By signing an appraisal, the appraiser is agreeing to the assumptions and limitations and certifying to the 25 sections of the Appraiser's Certification.

Real Estate Investors Can Hit a Homerun If They Can Locate the Owner of an Abandoned Property
If you've identified abandoned properties as a lucrative real estate investing niche because of the relative lack of competition, the tendency of the owners to be motivated to sell, and the fact that you can generate almost instant equity by making a few well-placed repairs, you'll probably be ready to dance a jig in the street once you've located an abandoned property you'd like to purchase and -- with just a little research -- figured out who owns the property. Not so fast.

Own a Real Estate Property
One of the islands that are part of the Sarasota County is the Siesta Key. You may already be aware that Sarasota in itself is a good place to start a family with the environment and the business opportunities in it. Thus, there are already many people who are interested with the market and there is an increasing list of choices for the available properties.

Bangalore Residential Properties Are in High Demand Lately
A staggering growth has been seen in the Bangalore residential properties. Especially with the inflow of many NRIs eager to settle down in the garden city.

Stunning Frisco, Texas
The Frisco Real Estate market is thriving despite the issues with the rest of the country. Frisco Texas is a wonderful community offering a small town atmosphere with city conveniences. Most of the city consists of brand new homes and master planned communities or subdivisions.

5 Safety Rules to Guide Showings and Open Houses
Insist on meeting people at your office, preferably when someone else is there and it is clear that you have people who know where you're going, with whom and for how long. Get the information of the person that you are showing a house to - driver's license or other ID, name, address, etc. If you feel better knowing that your spouse or a friend is with you, take them along.

Housing Snapshot For Winnetka, Kenilworth, Wilmette & Glencoe
A quick snapshot of sales in the North Shore of Chicago communities of Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, and Kenilworth. Also, statistics of list to sell, days on market, units sold, etc. Why this is a great time to buy a home.