Sales Checklist – Seller

1. Prepare your home and create curb appeal

Most buyers prefer homes that are move in ready and don’t need too many repairs. Also, you will sell your home more quickly and for more money if it’s in good repair.

Here are some tips:

Repainting is one of the quickest and least expensive ways to make your home look crisp and clean. Use neutral, earthy colors so that buyers are not distracted and can better imagine their own belonging in the home.

Wash the windows inside and out, making your home appear cleaner, larger and more cheery.

Eliminate Clutter , remove knick-knacks and other personal items. Remove excess furniture, making your rooms look more spacious.

Clean the home thoroughly, including the flooring/carpeting. Buyers are turned off viewing someone else’s dirt.

Create a good first impression at the curb. Pull weeds, mow, trim bushes, sweep walkways, and plant blooming flowers. If you have wood trim consider repainting if the paint is peeling. Clean your front entry and front door.

 

2. Price your home

This is one of the most important decisions, and by owner sellers often make the mistake of overpricing their homes. Compare your home to similar homes in the area that have sold in the last 6 months. Ask for a Comparable Market Analysis for your home. Before deciding on an asking price, consider any updates, remodels, or other improvements made to your home that may impact your home’s value.

 

3. Market your home

List your home on the SWMLS (Southwest Multiple Listing Service) The vast majority of home buyers start their search on the internet. By listing your home on the SWMLS, you will create enormous internet marketing coverage. Our MLS data gets copied to the major home shopping websites such as Realtor.com. FSBO New Mexico customer enjoy “showcase” listing status on Realtor.com.
Hire a professional photographer FSBO New Mexico will refer you to a cost effective photographer that will provide beautiful results. Buyers are visual. When house hunting on line, they will often make their home viewing decisions based on the pictures.

Write an attractive, descriptive paragraph Save this item for last, and include the home features that are not already mentioned elsewhere in your listing. Also focus on those things that attracted you to the home when you purchased it.

Display the yards sign provided by FSBO New Mexico This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to let buyer prospects know that your home is for sale. Consider purchasing “directional” signs to pull traffic past your home.

Carry home descriptive “flyers” with you and post them on community bulletin boards as you run in to them. Don’t underestimate the power of “word-of-mouth”
advertising!

 

4. Show your home

Rent or purchase a lockbox so that real estate agents can have easy access. If the buyer prospect is not represented by an agent, you will need to screen them and verify their identity. Ask to see their driver’s license for security reasons. It’s advisable to have a partner/friend with you when showing your home.

Hold “Open Houses” Have a partner with you. Securing a buyer is in many ways a “numbers” game. The more people that view your home, the more likely you are to find a buyer.

 

5. Negotiate the price/terms and complete the paperwork

Many by owner sellers believe this to be the most difficult part of the process. It actually is the easier part! All the forms you need will be provided to you, and the FSBO New Mexico broker will answer your questions. It is not required in the state of New Mexico, but hiring a real estate attorney to review your documents is advised. Before negotiating with any prospect, be sure they are pre-approved.

 

6. Open Escrow

Deliver the signed (executed) purchase agreement along with the earnest check to the title company. Both seller and buyer will now work together to perform all the obligations outlined in the purchase agreement. These will include performing inspections and working with mortgage company lender to secure the mortgage. The title company will conduct the “closing” when both buyer and seller will sign all the needed documents to transfer title to the buyer.

 

7. Before closing

Title company will help you get your mortgage pay off amount.
Cancel your homeowners insurance.
Transfer utilities in to the name of the buyer
Complete change of address at post office
Contact utility companies to start service in your new home
Conduct final walk-through of the home with buyer

 

8. Close

Schedule your closing appointment with the Title company where you will sign various documents that will result in the transfer of the property to the buyer.

 

9. Celebrate!