A lot goes in to selling a home. Here is a comprehensive home seller checklist to keep you on track through each different phase of the home selling process.

Pre-Listing Checklist

• [ ] Pricing Analysis: Pricing is paramount to a successful sale. Really look in to the neighborhood market activity. Use our Market Compare tool to see what’s been selling in your neighborhood
• [ ] Know your finances: Once you have determined your price, you can start to calculate what your final take home will be. Here is a great net sheet by Stewart Title for sellers to calculate listing expenses.
  • Some of the expenses you can expect as a seller in Texas are:
    • Commissions
    • Title Insurance Policy
    • HOA Fees: It’s a good idea to call your HOA to find out what expenses are incurred by the seller in your neighborhood
    • Home Warranty
    • Survey (if you don’t have your existing one)
    • Misc. Title fees
• [ ] Repairs: Finish all those small projects you’ve been talking about for five years. Or better yet, hire a handyman to do it right. The buyer’s inspector will be looking through every nook and cranny so it’s a good idea to knock out any issues likely to show up on an inspection.
• [ ] Documents: Collect all of your documentation so you have it ready to go when the buyers ask for it.
  • Survey
  • Seller’s Disclosure Notice
  • Warranties/Service Paperwork (For recent upgrades like HVAC, water heater, roof, pest control treatments, foundation, etc). Showing you have taken great care of your home goes over very well with potential buyers.
  • You will need additional documents if your home was built prior to 1978, if you have a septic system or well and are located in a MUD.
• [ ] De-Clutter: If you don’t NEED it, get it out of the house.
• [ ] Clean up inside and out: You have likely gone “nose blind” to your own home so take a hard, honest look. It’s recommended to have a professional come in and deep clean the house and carpets as well.

Listing Checklist

• [ ] Keep the house clean and show ready.
• [ ] Open the blinds. A home that is too dark that appears to lack natural light can be a big turn off.
• [ ] Make showings easy without requiring too much prior notice. Some buyers are searching/looking on the fly and if you turn them away, they may not come back.
• [ ] Give buyers plenty of information on the house and the neighborhood. A good idea is to prepare a binder near the front door with following information. ListReports.com is a great resource to provide neighborhood and area information.
  • Seller’s Disclosure Notice
  • Survey
  • Neighborhood info discussing parks, pools, hike/bike trails, etc.
  • List of upgrades
• [ ] Don’t let the landscaping get overgrown. Make sure to keep the yard mowed and in good shape and keep watering during the summer.
• [ ] Keep the A/C running when it’s warm out. Buyers are much more likely to hurry out of a house if it is too hot and uncomfortable and that is the feeling that sticks in their mind.

During Contract Negotiations

• [ ] Make sure you as the seller can hit all deadlines set forth in the contract.
• [ ] Update the netsheet you did in the beginning to reflect the terms of the offer your are considering so you know everything you are paying for as the seller.
• [ ] Make sure your contact information is on the contract so the title company can send you all documents and correspondence.
• [ ] Double check all fields are completed and there are no blanks that should be filled in.