Preparing Your Home for Sale Checklist in Australia

Preparing to sell your home is a complicated process and is quite stressful.  

From deciding to sell your home to actually listing it for sale can take weeks, months and even years. After that comes the sales process which in itself is a lengthy procedure.  

Through this blog, i.e., the home for sale checklist, we have tried our best to help you and take your pain away while you think of selling your property.   

However, this blog might not be enough to get to the practicality of the procedure. So, to make the process smooth and easy-going, you must hire a real estate agent. If you are selling in Hampton Park, Pakenham, Narre Warren or the nearby suburbs, then contact Manny Singh.   

Now, let us get back to the blog. Here’s the home for sale checklist. 

 

Make the Final Decision to Sell 

Anything can prompt a sale like wanting a change of scenery to upsizing, downsizing, financial worry or even changing your investment strategy.  

Some months might be all fit for sales and others might be the opposite. There is no right or wrong time to sell your house. All you need is to consider what is happening in the Australian real estate market and see which situation suits your requirements the most. 

For example, if you are an owner-occupier you will have to decide if it is better for you to buy a new home before or after selling your current home.  

Prepare Your Property 

Clean up the corners, the doors, the knobs, the windows, the fans, everything that you might think is not important must be tidy. Yes, pristine house without dirt impresses the buyer.  

Also, take care of the maintenance and repairs. If there are non-functional electric elements, get them fixed. You never know which light bulb you ignore and the buyer switches on the same to know that it is not functional.  

Make sure your property looks the best inside and outside. You can start a cleanliness drive once a week. That would also work wonders but leaving the dust gathered on items at home will reduce the chance of selling the house fast.  

Clean and declutter. You can also consult a property expert before making any major change to ensure they pay off in any sale and that you are also not overcapitalizing. 

Choose Real Estate Agent 

A real estate agent will be in charge of everything from listing, marketing, advertising, negotiating, and breaking the deal. A real estate agent will show the property and complete the legal requirements for selling the house. So, you must make a choice carefully.  

The real estate agents will usually appraise your property and will also give you a comparative market analysis (CMA). Before hiring a real estate agent, you must interview several agents and choose the one who is dedicated, loyal and experienced in your local area before you make a final decision. Do not be swayed by personal relationships because selling a house is a strict business. It is not child’s play. 

Once all the details have been finalized, you will be signing a legally binding contract with your real estate agent who will outline the following points: 

• Commissions 

• The estimated sales price  

• Duration of the agreement 

• Advertising costs,  

• The process in case the property is passed in at auction. 

•  

You may even wish to seek independent legal advice to ensure you know the terms and conditions of the agreement.  

How to Sell? 

This is the next step in the home for sale checklist.  

At this point, you are required to decide the type of sales process like auction or private treaty. Deciding the right method of sales can be tricky because for that you would need understanding of the entire real estate market. If you cannot decide on the right sales method for your property, then you must definitely employ a real estate agent like Manny Singh. He will advise you on the current market condition and the area trends.   

Your real estate agent and you will have to work out a plan for listing and also for selling your property. For example, do you want week and weekend open home or by appointment only? Will you attend auctions, issue a price range guide, or ask for offers? 

Determine the Selling Price 

You may have your home/property valued by a real estate agent, who will assess the location, size, age, and extra features that it possesses. Your real estate agent will also guide you on similar sales in the area.  

Prepare the Contract of Sale 

Your lawyer or your conveyancer will have to prepare a contract of sale for your property. This will include all the details that the prospective purchasers would need such as details of the owners, settlement dates, title, all conditions of the sale and everything else included in it such as carpet, furnishings as well as zoning certificate and sewer diagrams. 

Marketing Your Property 

It means putting your property in the eyes of the public through advertising and promotional activities. In order to market the property, the real estate agent takes professional photographs of the home, draws floor plans and also agrees to your marketing schedule. You can even choose from a range of online ads in order to help drive enquiry and also spread the word. Offline marketing includes printing ads, preparing a sales board outside the property, making flyers and also an ad in the real estate window.  

Going On the Market 

Prospective buyers will contact your real estate agent and arrange different time schedules to view your property. They might also attend the open homes. An auction campaign is for four weeks and the sales campaign can be longer.

  

Negotiation or Auction 

Your realtor will be the middle person who will mediate between you and any buyer to reach an acceptable price. Once you accept an offer or once you sold it at the auction, your conveyancer will start to prepare the final contract documents and the buyer will pay the deposit.  

Under Contract 

Before any settlement, both seller’s and buyer’s lawyers and banks will work out the details of the house that is on sale. This is done to ensure that both parties meet all legal and financial requirements.  

Settlement Day 

If everything goes as per the plan, on the settlement day, you will relinquish the keys and legal rights to your property in exchange for the balance of payment from the final buyer or his/her bank. Then, you will have them sell your valuable assets.  

If you are thinking of selling your home, consider the above-given home for sale checklist. Also, hire a real estate agent who can help you throughout the process and make selling a pleasant experience. Contact Manny Singh, a real estate agent serving in the areas of Hampton Park, Narre Warren, Pakenham and the nearby suburbs.