Process and Timeline for Selling Your Home:

I'm not interested in Selling just yet, but I need to know what the process is so I'm more comfortable when that time comes? Can you give me an example? You are not alone.

There are some important steps that most home sellers should take before listing a home. Every bit of prep work you do helps you get the most return from your investment.

1. Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan

We’ve known sellers who signed a contract to sell their house before they knew if they were qualified to buy another. Either their financial circumstances had changed since their last purchase, and they could no longer qualify for a loan, or they weren't able to sell at a price that allowed them to buy the type of replacement house they wanted. They ended up renting or buying something that was far from ideal.

Before you decide to sell the house, get pre-approved by a lender you trust and research the housing market in the area where you wish to live so that you have a good idea how much it will take to buy a replacement.

Start looking for two types of real estate: houses that seem to match the one you'd like to buy and houses that are similar to your current home. How do the two categories compare in price? Can you handle the difference if you're planning a step up?

2. Check Your Mortgage Payoff

Call your lender to check the payoff for your current home mortgage. You'll need the figure to complete Step 6.

3. Determine How Much Your House Is Worth

Determine your home's fair market value. Pohl Real Estate will help you determine the value.

4. Estimate Your Costs to Sell

Real estate commission if you use an agency to sell.

Attorney, closing agent and other professional fees.

Prorated costs for your share of annual expenses, such as property taxes, home owner association fees, and title insurance.

Any other fees typically paid by the seller in your area (surveys, inspections, etc.).

We work with real estate transactions every day and if you elect to work with Pohl Real Estate we provide all our clients with a very close estimate of the seller settlement.

5. Estimate Costs to Buy a New Home

Calculate moving expenses, loan costs, down payment, home inspections, title work and title policy, paying for a new hazard insurance policy--all expenses related to buying a home. Your lender should give you a good faith estimate which is an estimate of all the costs when you apply for a loan.

6. Calculate Your Estimated Proceeds

1. Deduct your mortgage payoff from your home's fair market value.
2. Deduct your costs to sell from the remainder to get an estimate of the proceeds you will be paid at closing.

Will your closing proceeds cover your costs to buy a new home? If not, do you have cash or other funding to make up the difference?

7. Make Necessary Repairs

Make all needed repairs unless you want the house to be regarded as a fixer-upper. I'm not referring to cosmetic updates--just items in need of repair. Anything that's obviously broken gives potential buyers a reason to offer you a lower price, especially if it's one of several repair hot spots that worry buyers the most. Pohl Real Estate has a lot of experience determining which repairs will improve your bottom line and selling time enough to be made and which repairs can be skipped.

8. Get the House Ready to Show

Most houses need at least a little spiffing up before they are shown to potential buyers. Great curb appeal, fresh paint indoors (and sometimes out), organized closets and cabinets, sparkling clean windows and appliances and a clutter-free look are essential if you want the house to appeal to buyers. Be sure to avoid the things buyers hate most about houses. Pohl Real Estate takes an active role in getting your home ready for sale. Don’t be offended when we suggest early packing by boxing up all those nick knacks that make your home great to you. It’s nothing personal it’s only to help you get your home show ready.

9. Get Psyched Up to Let People In

Leave your house when the house is shown. Why? Because lurking sellers make buyers nervous--they don't feel comfortable inspecting the house when they feel they are intruding in your personal space. Make the house accessible. That means it should always be ready to show. Many agents won't bother showing a house that takes 24 hours to get into. First impression means everything. The home should look as light and bright as possible as well as smell very nice. Buyers are trying to eliminate your home. If potential buyers come in to a pleasant aroma and well lit home they will have a harder time checking your home off their list. If buyers are actually coming in your home that means they have most likely seen your home on the Internet and perhaps have even driven by the neighborhood. After doing the above if they still want to enter your home then you better make sure you do everything you can so that they love it.

I've seen enough please set a no obligation appointment with me to evaluate the potential sale of my home.

Add This Page To Your Reading List: