Slidell, La For Sale By Owner Tips - Important Forms Needed to Sell Your Home

You're dreaming of your next move and are ready to put your sign in the ground.  But before your studs hit the mud, be sure you are prepared for what's to come. 

Let's talk paperwork; if you are not a natural born 'organized' individual, now is the time for a crash course.  A fellow agent once said to me as she was preparing for her client's closing, "There is so much paperwork to account for in a real estate transaction sometimes you forget there is a house involved,"  Funny statement, but oh so true. 

Take my advice, go out and get yourself a legal folder with prongs and a two-hole paper puncher right away.  You will want to keep all of the original documents once signed by yourself and your buyer handy for closing.  Documents?  "What documents," you ask.  Allow me to share with you a well written list of documents you'll want to become acquainted with before you list your house for sale by owner courtesy of REALTOR® Magazine: 

Forms You'll Need to Sell Your Home

1. Property disclosure form. This form requires you to reveal all known defects to your property. Check with your state government to see if there is a special form required in your state.

2. Purchasers access to premises agreement. This agreement sets conditions for permitting the buyer to enter your home for activities such as measuring for draperies before you move.

3. Sales contract. The agreement between you and the seller on terms and conditions of sale. Again, check with your state real estate department to see if there is a required form.

4. Sales contract contingency clauses. In addition to the contract, you may need to add one or more attachments to the contract to address special contingencies - such as the buyer's need to sell a home before purchasing yours.

5. Pre- and post-occupancy agreements. Unless you're planning on moving out and the buyer moving in on the day of closing, you'll need an agreement on the terms and costs of occupancy once the sale closes.

6. Lead-based paint disclosure pamphlet. If your home was built before 1978, you must provide the pamphlet to all sellers. You must also have buyers sign a statement indicating they received the pamphlet.

This has been Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag http://www.realtor.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Have Questions?  I'm here to assist.

Be sure to check back for more tips to help you go it alone!

Happy Selling!

Tried FSBO and decided it's not for you?  Contact me and I'll share with you my Selling Action Plan and journey with you to the closing table! 

Slidell For Sale By Owner - Important Contact to Make Before Listing Your Home For Sale

Getting ready to dive into the world of Real Estate, save some cash and list your home "For Sale By Owner?"  Be sure to shake hands with local vendors who can assist you in your journey. 

Making contacts before you list can make a significant difference in your stress level when that offer to purchase arrives and you hit the ground running.  Preparation is key!  Here's a helpful checklist of important contacts to make, written by Kim Daugherty, Real Estate Checklists and Systems:

Checklist: 17 Service Providers You'll Need When You Sell

• Real estate attorney
• Appraiser
• Home inspector
• Mortgage loan officer
• Environmental specialist
• Lead paint inspector
• Radon inspector
• Tax adviser
• Sanitary systems expert
• Occupancy permit inspector
• Zoning inspector
• Survey company
• Flood plain inspector
• Termite inspector
• Title company
• Insurance consultant
• Moving company
  
  Used with permission from Kim Daugherty, Real Estate Checklists and Systems, www.realestatechecklists.com.

A little bit of preparation in advance will be the key to your success!
Have Questions or Need Referrals of Local Vendors?  I'm here to assist!

Be sure to check back for more tips to help you go it alone!

Happy Selling!

Tried FSBO and decided it's not for you?  Contact me and I'll share with you my Selling Action Plan and journey with you to the closing table!

Slidell For Sale By Owner - Holding and Open House

Cookies are in the oven, pets and children are with the sitters and the house is sparkling clean.  You've posted your "OPEN HOUSE" signs and have advertised them on all the top internet search sites. 

Balloons are floating above your mailbox and the day has arrived!  Strangers, yes strangers will soon arrive to view your home that is now 'open to the public.'  Have you considered your safety?  Here are some excellent safety tips for your big day courtesy of REALTOR® Magazine:

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Open House Safety Tips

An open house can be a great sales tool, but it also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Stay safe by practicing these guidelines.

• Call the local police department and ask them to have a squad care drive by during your open-house hours.
  
• Check your cell phone's strength and signal prior to the open house. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial. Carry an extra, fully charged cell phone battery.
  
• Determine several "escape" routes that you can use in case of an emergency. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape.
  
• Turn on the lights and open the curtains. These are not only sound safety procedures, but also great marketing tactics.
  
• Make sure that if you were to escape by the back door, you could escape from the backyard. Frequently, high fences surround yards that contain swimming pools or hot tubs.
  
• When prospective buyers begin to arrive, jot down their car descriptions, license numbers and physical descriptions.
  
• When showing the house, always walk behind the prospect. Direct them; don't lead them. Say, for example, "The kitchen is on your left," and gesture for them to go ahead of you.
  
• Notify a friend or a relative that you will be calling in every hour on the hour. And if you don't call, they are to notify the police immediately.
  
• Inform a neighbor that you will be showing the house and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary.
  
  Source: National Association of REALTORS® Safety Week kit

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My motto is , it's better to be prepared and not need it, than to need it and not have prepared for it!  Please remember to practice safety on your big day!

Have Questions?  I'm here to assist.

Be sure to check back for more tips to help you go it alone!

Happy Selling!

Tried FSBO and decided it's not for you?  Contact me and I'll share with you my Selling Action Plan and journey with you to the closing table!

Slidell For Sale By Owner - Pricing Your Home

You've decided to go it alone, after all, with a little hard work, a willingness to be on call to your potential buyers and a lot of real estate knowledge you are capable of selling your own home and saving the extra cash, right?

It's time to do some research - let's talk pricing!  Pricing your home correctly is one of the most important aspects to selling your property for the most money, with the least hassles, and in the shortest amount of time.  I'm going to share with you some tips on pricing your home courtesy of REALTOR® Magazine to provide you with very valuable info to aid in your success:

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Tips for Pricing Your Home

• Consider comparables. What have other homes in your neighborhood sold for recently? How do they compare to yours in terms of size, upkeep, and amenities?
  
• Consider competition. How many other houses are for sale in your area? Are you competing against new homes?
  
• Consider your contingencies. Do you have special concerns that would affect the price you'll receive? For example, do you want to be able to move in four months?
  
• Get an appraisal. For a few hundred dollars, a qualified appraiser can give you an estimate of your home's value. Be sure to ask for a market-value appraisal. To locate appraisers in your area, contact The Appraisal Instituteor ask your REALTOR® for some recommendations.
  
• Ask a lender. Since most buyers will need a mortgage, it's important that a home's sale price be in line with a lender's estimate of its value.
  
• Be accurate. Studies show that homes priced more than 3 percent over the correct price take longer to sell.
  
• Know what you'll take. It's critical to know what price you'll accept before beginning a negotiation with a buyer.

This has been Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag http://www.realtor.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

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Have Questions?  I'm here to assist.

Be sure to check back for more tips to help you go it alone!

Happy Selling!

Tried FSBO and decided it's not for you?  Contact me and I'll share with you my Selling Action Plan and journey with you to the closing table!

Slidell For Sale By Owner - Is Your Buyer Qualified?

The decision has been made, the sign is prominently displayed in your front yard, you've posted advertising to all the top search engines including dozens of photos displaying your beautiful home from the most perfect angle and you wait.........

But, when that offer comes in there's work to be done,  you must dot your 'i's' and cross your 't's' it's game time!!

Allow me to share with you these following tips regarding Buyer Qualifications courtesy of REALTOR® Magazine:

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Is Your Buyer Qualified?

Unless the buyer who makes an offer on your home has the resources to qualify for a mortgage, you may not really have a sale. If possible, try to determine a buyer's financial status before signing the contract. Ask the following:

1.Has the buyer been prequalified or preapproved (even better) for a mortgage? Such buyers will be in a much better position to obtain a mortgage promptly.

2.Does the buyer have enough money to make a downpayment and cover closing costs? Ideally, a buyer should have 20 percent of the home's price as a downpayment and between 2 and 7 percent of the price to cover closing costs.

3. Is the buyer's income sufficient to afford your home? Ideally, buyers should spend no more than 28 percent of total income to cover PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance).

4. Does your buyer have good credit? Ask if he or she has reviewed and corrected a credit report.

5. Does the buyer have too much debt? If a buyer owes a great deal on car payments, credit cards, etc., he or she may not qualify for a mortgage.

This has been Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag http://www.realtor.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

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Please don't get yourself caught up in a contract with an unqualified buyer, be sure to ask the important questions and recieve pre-approval in writing from the buyer's lender.  

The last thing you want to do is remove your home from the market for 30+ days to find out the buyer wasn't qualified and you've missed out on potential qualified buyers shopping in your subdivision!!

Any Questions?  I'm here to assist!

Be sure to check back for more tips to help you go it alone!

Happy Selling!!

Tried FSBO and decided it's not for you?  Contact me and I'll share with you my Selling Action Plan and journey with you to the closing table!

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