What to Do Before You List Your Home for Sale

Let's face it, selling your home can seem overwhelming because of all the things that must be done when selling your home or property and all the paperwork involved. But I'm here to help make it easier. How do I do this? One way is by giving you the information you need to be prepared.

Organize Your Home Documents

Prior to making a call to meet with a REALTOR®, you'll want to gather (as much as possible) the following documents to have on hand during the listing appointment:

• Deed to the home
• Survey of the property
• Floor plan
• Record of property tax or condo fee payments
• Utility bills for electricity, gas, water & sewer, etc. – if possible for the last 12 months
• Home warranties for major household systems
• Information about recent upgrades or improvements made to the home
• Condo bylaws or homeowners association documents
• Copy of your home insurance policy

Decide What Will Stay As Part of the Sale

You'll need to determine what items will be included in the sale of the house. Things to consider include: washer & dryer, window treatments, refrigerator, stove, microwave, outdoor equipment, etc., Don't worry if you aren't sure whether something should or should not be included — when we meet, I can help answer those questions and identify those things you might not have considered.

The Price is Right...Or is it?

Savvy Northern Virginia sellers know that pricing their home realistically according to fair market value in the beginning increases the likelihood of it selling for their asking price and in a shorter amount of time.

Today's buyers are spending a lot of time on the Internet viewing homes available for sale and arming themselves with market data in the area they're interested in. It may be quite helpful to start gathering market information yourself 

The closer you get to listing your home for sale, get a Comparative Market Analysis completed for your home. Based on the information you provide about your home, you'll be provided with a report that will give you an idea of what your home is worth.

Getting Your Home Noticed

Everyone knows it's important to present their home to their best advantage. Deep cleaning, clearing away clutter and knicknacks, keeping the lawn neat and trimmed, even making certain the entrance of the home looks attractive - these are all key to making a good first impression to a prospective buyer.

But not everyone knows about home staging, which is accomplished by rearranging or removing excess furniture in your home for maximum flow, enhancing curb appeal, and accessorizing the home to make the property warm and inviting. Home Staging has been proven to help your home sell faster and for more money. Consider whether you will want a professional Home Stager to help showcase your home.

Home Improvement is Not Created Equally

Typically, home improvements will increase the value of your home, but there's a big difference in which improvements get the best Return on Investment (ROI). In my "Home Improvement Advice" article, you'll get advice on how you can get the best ROI at the lowest cost.