This is a list of tasks you must complete before your home can be listed for sale.
Task 1 Provide House Keys
Provide 3 copies keys to access house for: the agent key safe; the contractor’s box; and the agent file. Additionally, organize all keys for access to your property in a container / safe place to provide the new owner. That is garage remotes, gate keys, community rec center keys, mailbox keys, etc. You can learn more about organizing your keys here:
Task 2 Obtain an Insurance History
Sale contracts require you provide a claim history for the shorter of 5 years or as long as you have owned your home. You can obtain this report for free from your insurance agent. You must provide reports from each insurance company if there has been more than one. You can learn more about obtaining an insurance claims history report here:
Obtaining an insurance claims history report
Task 3 Complete Seller Disclosures
The state requires you disclose known facts about your property. Facts that may be of concern to a buyer in purchasing the home. This is made easier by a template form referred to as the Seller Property Disclosure Statement. The form is copyrighted by the Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR). They don’t allow anybody to link the form on a website (even AAR members like me). I will provide you a copy upon request. The page linked below goes into detail about completing your seller disclosures:
Completing your seller disclosures and additional tips here.
Task 4 Complete Home Maintenance
Virtually all buyers request the following items be without issue: Air Conditioning (HVAC); Roof; Termites & Pests. It is vital you have a clean bill of health on all the above prior to listing your home. The following three items must be completed at a minimum:
- Complete a HVAC checkup with licensed professional.
- Order roof walk and complete prescribed maintenance tasks.
- Order a termite check, ramediate findings if any, and obtain 1 to 2 year termite warranty.
- Apply pre-emergent to your yard and clear weeds if any.
These are only the most costly maintenance items. Really you need to have all maintenance on your home completed prior to listing. The pre-emergent is vital though not a mechanical system. Nothing is better at scaring buyers away than a little rain turning your yard into a jungle. Make sure you’ve applied pre-emergent so the weeds don’t wreck your curb appeal. Linked below is a PDF with additional maintenance items and common defects home inspectors point out.
Do it yourself home inspection
Paperwork to hire your agent
I have outlined everything you need to know about the paperwork process when listing your home.
Step 1 Fill out your client intake survey
This form provides me the information I need to fill out your paperwork and know how to best help you. Please fill it out as soon as possible so I can get started researching your sale.
Step 2 Review the listing paperwork
I will draft paperwork specific to you once you’ve completed your intake survey from Step 1. Below is a set of videos for you to review the forms we will use for your listing:
Step 2 Obtain disclosures from your HOA
Additional disclosures need completed if your property is in a home owner association (HOA). The HOA provides these for you and most will only speak with homeowners (not agents). You will have to obtain these forms directly from your HOA. More info below:
Contacting your Home Owner’s Association
Step 3 Get familiar with the purchase contract
This is the contract buyers will be using to present offers on your home. Let’s review it now so know what to expect when we find a buyer for your home. I created a video review of the purchase contract below:
AAR Purchase contract review & tips for negotiating with buyers
Here’s what you need to do to after you’ve hired me to prepare yourself and your home for a buyer.
Task 1 Prepare for home showings
Your first showing will be with me, your agent. The home must be spic and span and ready to go so I can get those awesome listing photos. You will need to maintain your home in this great condition afterwards as buyers come to view your property. The link below explains how to prepare your home for showings:
Task 2 Review the purchase contract
Buyers will be using this contract to submit offers on your home. You want to know what is involved in the sale so you can focus on the details of each offer when they are presented. Below is a link to review the purchase contract template contract:
Review of the Arizona Association of Realtors Purchase Contract
Task 3 Act on feedback
I follow up to solicit feedback after each preview. These buyers will tell me exactly what you need to do, if anything, to get your home sold. Additionally, receive notifications alerting you of new competition / listings on the market. You need to act promptly on the feedback from me and listing alerts. This may necessitate price adjustments, updates, or tweaks to your home so we get your home sold before another property down the street takes a buyer from us. I handle things from here on however, you’re welcome to learn more about what I’m doing in the link below:
What I do after a buyer previews your home
You may feel a bit uncertain about what will happen after this. I’ve been on this voyage for going on 10 years now helping folks get their homes sold. This is where the real work starts for me. Searching for that perfect buyer for your home. Tell me what is your biggest concern right now and let’s do this. Let’s get your home sold.