5 Things to Do Now to Get Your Home Sold

It’s that time of year when most of us start tocount our blessings, look back at what we’veaccomplished and think about what we’ll getdone. If selling your home is part of yourresolution list for next year, there’s plenty ofprep work you can do to set yourself up forhome selling success.

1. Put your intentions in writing. The first stepto any real estate transaction - actually, toanything important in life! - is to get clear onyour goals. Unexpected challenges andsituations might very well come up in the courseof selling your home, so having a clear idea ofyour ultimate goals at the outset is a must tohelp you make the right decisions along the wayand to remind you when you might need tocourse correct.

2. Study the local market. The most successfulhome sales are the listings that are priced rightfrom day one. Ask any agent: even in thetoughest markets, there are listing that sellquickly, mostly because the one-two punch ofthe property and its price look to buyers like avery strong value.

3. Gather your paperwork. In planning for your sale, you can get a great head start by pulling together the necessary paperwork now. Keep in mind that the specific requirements vary by province, so this is not an exhaustive list. In general, you’ll need to have these ready.

4. Prep your listing plan and timeline. Afteryou’ve done all your pricing homework and havechosen a listing agent, you can create a plan andtimeline for how all the moving pieces will cometogether - including who is responsible forgetting which tasks done. At minimum, yourplan should specify:

• prep work you’ll be doing to your property beforeit’s listed for sale - including decluttering, stagingand any repairs or cosmetic power-tweaks youplan to make.

• planned list price (based on current local marketconditions - this could change if you don’t plan tolist your home for several months)

• the target date on which your home will be listedfor sale in the local MLS; and

5. Get a head start on your ‘homework. How muchprep work your home needs really depends on itscurrent condition. A good starting point for manysellers is to order an inspection. Most buyers willget their own inspection before closing a deal, butgetting ahead of them with your own will help youavoid any unwanted surprises later on in thetransaction. An inspection will give you a realitycheck on your home’s condition, enabling you todecide upfront whether it’s worth it to fixsomething now or simply reduce the price inconsideration thereof.

What other elements do you encourage sellers to include in their listing plans?

Randy BettInvestment Realtor/Author/Investor

Real Estate Professionals Inc.Better Group Real Estate 202-5403 Crowchild Trail NWCalgary, AB T3B 4Z1

Phone:403-774-7464 Ext:1Fax:403-208-0082Toll Free fax:888-711-6801

Randy Bettwww.BetterGroupRealEstate.ca