So you’ve decided to sell your home; it’s too big, too small, you’ve got a new job, you’re ready for a change, you’ve retired, or whatever the case may be. How do you know where to start? What is your home worth? Which improvements should you make? When should you list your home on the market? How much should you ask for it? Obviously, you want to get the maximum offer for your home with the minimum amount of work and stress. That’s why you should choose KLM; because we handle it.
There should be a good reason you are wanting to sell your home, perhaps a job change or the need for more space. Your reason for selling can impact the negotiating process so it’s important to discuss your needs and wants with your KLM agent.
The marketplace tends to be more active in the spring and summer months. However, with the diverse culture and amount of opportunity North Central West Virginia brings, there are always people looking to buy a home. Your REALTOR® will go above and beyond to plan the perfect time to sell.
Improvements should be made so the property “shows” well, is consistent with the neighborhood, and does not involve capital investments (the cost of which cannot be recovered from the sale). It is necessary to look at a home through the eyes of a prospective buyer and determine what needs to be cleaned, painted, and repaired. Ask yourself: “If I were buying this home what would I want to see?”. You want to be sure your property is competitive with other homes in your community. Don’t worry, you REALTOR® will help you do just that!
Cosmetic improvements like painting, cleaning, replacing flooring, and landscaping are all great improvements to make to your home that will help it “show” better. The first step is to call KLM. Your REALTOR® will assess your home on site, and guide you through the entire renovation process. Our REALTORS® have decades of experience with showing homes to buyers and understand exactly what kinds of things they’re looking for in a home for sale.
Your REALTOR® will conduct a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to determine your home’s worth. The CMA will help to figure out:
Typically, a home inspector will come to the property and take two to three hours examining various structural and mechanical works to determine safeness. After it has been inspected, the inspector will record the findings and report them to the home buyer. Findings could be issues that need immediate attention, as well as probable issues down the road.
The best way to prepare for your inspection is to reread your purchase agreement and review your obligations. For example, if you have agreed to paint a room or replace the dishwasher, you will need to complete these things before closing. Your KLM agent can discuss your agreement with you and the steps which must be taken to complete the transaction.
The inspection is a physical review of your home. The inspector will examine the exterior of your home, including walls, foundation, grading, garage or carport, and roof. In addition, the inspector will most likely check for radon. Specifically, he/she will check the plumbing, electric, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), your water heater, kitchen appliances, laundry room, bathrooms, and smoke detectors.
The closing is the actual, legal transfer of ownership, and where all the “adjustments” are made. You (the seller), the buyer, the lender, the listing and selling agents, and the closing attorney all attend the closing process meeting. The attorney reviews the sales agreement to determine what credits you should receive, and what payments are due from the buyer. You will review many records, including:
If you paid your taxes in advance, the attorney will compensate you for the prepayment at the time of closing by having the buyer reimburse you.