The following will be helpful to have on hand to prepare your listing:

A working KEY to whatever needs to be accessed by Realtors ONLY for showings.

Survey or Deed and any blueprints if available

Current Property (city/village/town/county) and School Tax Bills

Water/Sewer/Trash bills

The location of your property lines, well, gas lines, septic tank/leach fields

Utility Bills – electric, gas, oil, internet, phone

Special service contracts – garbage, culligan,  cat’s eye, HVAC, solar panels, etc.

Warranty Information for anything going with the house – Hot water tank, garage door opener, roof, HVAC, Appliances, pool liners/covers.

If you utilize a lawn care service, a snow plowing service please provide their information. 

 

Any additional information you may be able to provide about your neighborhood such as local events, places of interest, your school system, even your favorite hang outs and take outs – we want to sell your house and it helps if it has attractive surroundings. I know you have been cleaning and getting ready but what about the houses around yours?

 

If the house next door is in bad condition it might actually help you to offer some assistance with needed maintenance or cleaning up of the yard. Remember the appearance of your neighbor's houses can really help or really hurt your sale.  I have seen so many beautiful houses sell below asking price simply because of an eyesore residing next-door. In those circumstances one may want to really consider the actual cost of paying for work on a neighboring house. Not only is it altruistic, but it may save time and money.

 

Your neighbors should all be made aware that your house is going on the market – there are many reasons for doing this. They may have a buyer already – today most people know someone looking to move – whether to different home or just to be closer to their relatives. This makes a quick and easy sale and limits people in your home.

 

Sometimes we do not always get a long with our neighbors and if that is the case it would be best to avoid any interaction between them and our perspective buyers period. It is funny what lengths people will go to interfere with a neighbor selling their house and their sabotage can lose you money. Make me aware of any issues – property related or personal that exist so that I can handle them properly.

 

Great neighbors are actually a huge selling point – letting buyers know that there are fantastic people next-door or across the street is very reassuring to a buyer. If you have someone that keeps an eye on your home when you are away – it would be best to let them know there will be licensed real estate agents there to accompany buyers during showings, so that they do not need to pay attention or appear to be “nosey.” We do not want our buyers attention to be distracted just focused on your property.

 

As a buyers agent we tend to get noticed when we are parading people around the exterior of homes, naturally neighbors are curious and will sometimes ask what we are doing, why you are moving, where is “so and so?” Chances are – we do not have answers to their questions. Your neighbors want to hear that you are moving from you and then we can avoid these awkward situations.

 

People like to know who they are living next to, it is perfectly okay when you are under contract to let your neighbors as many details as you can provide – this will help your buyers transition into their home and not feel like strangers.