Before we sell a home we organize both the interior and exterior and also gather all the information a prospective buyer may request (taxes, heating, hydro, etc.). We also have a lawyer in place to review any offers or to receive deposits on the home. We generally ask for 5% that is held in trust by our lawyer.
Ideally you should be able to pull you home together for a showing within a couple hours. Generally you will have 12-24 hours to prepare, however if people are looking for homes in the area you may lose the chance to show your property if you aren't available or your home is a mess.
Both my husband and I have familiarized ourselves with the legal steps necessary in selling a home. We also have a real estate lawyer that has been very helpful and we have consulted with him on a variety of issues from disclosure requirements to the review of many legal documents.
Additionally, we always deal with any problems or issues with the house beforehand and if something arises we always inform the buyer that we will take care of it or offer to lower the price accordingly. Almost every buyer we dealt with arranged for a home inspection. Because we have been meticulous in preparing our homes for sale the inspectors have never encountered anything that created any complications with the sale. It pays to be prepared.
We offer a free downloadable e-book with lots of tips on selling your home privately.
