18 Feb 2008 04:53:37 | Dan Lewis
Selling your home can be a complex process. If you make
mistakes, you may be unable to sell you home or have seller's
remorse. There's no need for this if you keep in mind the
following.
Overpricing Your Home
It's important to be realistic about the value of your home.
Sellers should insist their realtors present them with objective
criteria for pricing. Comparative information is most critical
in getting a house priced properly. If you ask for too much,
it's hard to ask for less later on in the process.
Not Displaying Curb Appeal
You don't have to invest thousands of dollars into redecorating
your home. But there some basic steps you must take to present
your house in the most positive light.
Overdoing Home Improvements
Don't go overboard staging your home. It should feel warm and
inviting. Grass should be freshly cut, plant some flowers,
organize the home's interior, rid the home of foul smells and
apply new coats of paint to all walls and doors.
No Understanding The Buyer's Offer
Carefully reviewing and understanding the offer or purchase
contract is imperative. Here are a few things to look for:
1. Has the buyer agreed to put down a significant deposit?
2. Has the buyer asked for some credits to cover loan costs?
3. Is the offer contingent upon the owner selling his or her
present home? If so, how is the selling process transpiring?
Home Inspection
Have general inspections done in advance. Even though buyers
will often have the house inspected again, it's best to prepare
for any potential problems.
Withholding Information
While it is tempting to hide or fail to mention the snafus of a
home for example, it's a the hotel for cockroaches or located in
an area that's prone to floods or earthquakes, canyon fires, it
is best to give buyers full disclosure. This kind of information
can greatly affect the value or desirability of the property.
Be Objective:
While you may think your pink walls or roman columns are
fabulous, it is best to keep that opinion to yourself.
Poor Realtor Communication
Sellers should take a pro-active approach to the selling process
and not rely completely on the realtor. Sellers should insist
upon regular updates about the house and never assume the
realtor has taken care of everything. It is the seller's
responsibility to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Investigate Buyers
Once you have an offer on the table, it is imperative to secure
letters of prequalification or loan approval from the buyers.
These letters should not only state that the buyers' credit has
been checked but also that it was acceptable to the lender.
Also, it's important to ask buyers to complete a loan
application and submit it to their lender within a few days
after acceptance of the offer.
Closely Read Closing Statements
Cautiously review the closing statement, including the loan
balance, repairs and other expenses detailed there to avoid
last-minute surprises or errors. Make sure you get an estimated
statement a few weeks prior to closing and compare the final
statement to the estimated one.
If you follow these steps, you will go a long way towards
avoiding being a victim in the home selling process.
About Author :
Dan Lewis is a mortgage broker with http://www.gwhomeloans.com -
San Diego mortgage brokers providing home loans and refinances.
Visit http://gwhomeloans.com/services.html to learn more about
options for San Diego mortgages.