Seller’s Checklist | Republic, MO Real Estate

1. Gauge your need to sell.

List the repairs and projects you’ll have to do to get your home in selling condition and estimate the costs of supplies and contractors.
See what projects you can afford and adjust how much you expect to get for selling your home.
To get top dollar, consider remodeling projects and green upgrades that increase your home value.
Expect to pay about 7 to 10 percent of the home’s sale price in closing costs, including real estate agent commissions, transfer taxes and prorated property taxes.

And factor in these costs:

Determine how fast you need to sell your house and how much money you want to get from the sale.
Interview at least three reputable real estate brokers and list your home on the multiple listing service (MLS).
Weigh the pros and cons of selling the home yourself.
Plan your sale during the spring or fall peak home buying seasons.
If you go FSBO (For Sale By Owner), hire a real estate agent or attorney.
If you hire a listing agent, negotiate terms of your listing contract, such as commissions and termination date.
Determine your home’s strengths and unique features and promote them in all advertising.

Research public records and collect information on comps — comparable homes in your area with similar square footage, construction, age and condition that sold within the past six months and are currently on the market.
Browse listings for homes for sale in your area to get a sense of what is on the market and current home prices.
Ask your agent to prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report.
Find out about new construction and foreclosures in your area.
Figure out the average cost per square foot for your area, and make sure your home is in line with it.
Evaluate market trends, including whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market.
Use your FMV to determine your asking price.

Have a yard sale. Sell, donate or trash everything you don’t need.
Make necessary repairs.
Make improvements to increase your curb appeal.
Declutter, depersonalize and decorate every room and outdoor areas so buyers can imagine themselves living in the home.
Paint interior rooms neutral colors.
Replace outdated lighting fixtures and window treatments.

Keep the home in show-ready condition at all times.
Take appointments or set up a lockbox so agents can show the home.
Hold an exclusive open house for local real estate agents to introduce them to the home and get feedback. Include food and refreshments.
Hold an open house for potential buyers.

For each offer, note the proposed offer price, pre-approval letter, contingencies, earnest money amount, proposed closing date and offer expiry date.
Have a process in place if you expect to get multiple offers.
Keep emotions in check when receiving lowball offers.

Approach each offer as an opportunity to negotiate.
If the buyer’s offer is contingent on selling a home, counter with a Removal of Sale Contingency.
If you won’t budge on price, offer financial incentives that don’t require cash out of your pocket, such as paying for part or all of the buyer’s closing costs, repairs found during the property inspections or points.
Make a full-price counteroffer, if your comps can back it up.
Make the sale contingent on your buying a home.
Don’t forget to set a closing date and move-in date.

Create a formal plan for handling home repairs, including when they should be made and who pays for them.
Clean and prepare the home for the appraisal and home inspections.
Choose an escrow officer who will order a title search, request payoff information for your mortgage and other liens on the home, prepare and record documents, hold and disburse funds and prepare closing statements.
Prepare for the final walk-through inspection.
Sign the closing documents and move out of your home.
Keep copies of documents for reporting the sale on federal and state tax forms.