THE "SHOULD I SELL MY HOME MYSELF?"
CHECKLIST
The first 10
questions relate to when you bought your current home:
1. When you bought your home was it an easy process?
2. Did you easily understand all of the paperwork?
3. How were the problems handled and who handled them for you?
4. Who prepared the forms, contracts, and disclosures?
5. How did you decide what to offer for the property? Who gave you
the sales data?
6. How did you find your home?
7. Who negotiated the transaction?
8. Who guided you to your loan and assisted with your loan process?
9. Who oversaw the closing process?
10. How did you complete the transaction? (How did you get possession,
keys, etc.?)
The following questions relate to your abilities and the
actual sale process:
11. Can you advertise your home effectively? Can you write advertising
copy?
12. Do you know how to set the price properly?
13. Do you know what repairs should be made and what repairs must
be made?
14. Are you willing to spend money for signs, advertising, and brochures?
(This could be hundreds, even thousands of dollars.)
15. Do you know what disclosures must be made?
16. Do you know what inspections are required and which should be
done?
17. Can you show your home effectively?
18. Can you screen buyers properly?
19. Do you know what to watch for when time wasters call or show
up at your door?
20. Can you prepare deposit receipts or purchase contracts that are
legally binding?
21. Do you understand good-faith deposits?
22. Do you know under what circumstances those deposits must be returned?
23. Will you be using an attorney to prepare your paperwork or close
your transaction? If so, how much are the fees that will be charged?
24. Do you know where to send a buyer for a loan?
25. Can you assist the buyer in loan application preparation?
26. How will the appraisal process be handled?
27. If the appraisal does not come in at or above the sale price,
what do you do besides lower your sale price?
28. Do you understand the title process?
29. Do you understand the loan process?
30. Do you understand the closing process?
31. Which type of advertisements attract the most buyers?
32. Which papers, book, or publications are best to advertise your
property?
33. What type of brochures are most effective?
34. Where should brochures be placed to attract the most buyers?
35. What color, style, and format of brochure produces the best buyers?
36. What color and size of brochure has the highest readership and
the highest response rate?
37. Where can advertising items be sent to produce immediate buyers?
38. How can you negotiate escrow, closing title, and inspection fees?
39. Do you know how to prepare your home for sale with no help or
guidance?
40. If the roof, termite, well, septic, or home inspections turn
up with problems, what are your options?
41. How can you get back any overages paid in impounds or special
fees?
42. Can you give the closer/escrow officer the proper instructions
for closing the transaction?
43. How will you handle the final walk-through process with the buyer?
44. What will you do if the buyer wants to make changes in the terms
of the contract?
45. What can you do if the buyer refuses to sign papers or close
the transaction?
46. In what cases can you keep a buyer's deposit?
47. What if the buyer has an agent or attorney? Can you negotiate
and deal effectively with professionals?
48. Will a sophisticated, professional buyer be able to take advantage
of you?
49. Are you good enough at selling to be able to sell your own home?
50. Would someone else hire you to sell their home?
