Buyer/Seller Tips

Useful Tips When Looking for a Home
Preparing Your Home For a Successful Open House
Moving Checklist

Useful Tips When Looking For A Home

• Work with your realtor so that they can do the work for you
  They can pre-screen homes that meet your criteria so you don’t have to spend countless hours trying to do research yourself. Focus on what you consider important, what areas/neighborhoods you like, what type of home you want and your realtor can pre-screen the homes for you.
  
• It is very useful to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for your loan
  Talk to your realtor to see if they can recommend any mortgage companies that can do this for you. This will help you know how much home that you can afford so you can adjust your search accordingly.
  
• You will need a deposit on any offer that you wish to submit
  This deposit is fully refundable if not accepted.
  
• Be accessible after you make an offer
  Often a seller will come back with a counter-offer or if there are multiple bidders, you may need to quickly alter your offer in order to get the home you want.
  
• Remember your realtor is there to help you every step of the way
  If you need any advice or information about your home search, ask your realtor and they can help you out.
  
• Your realtor can be your guide through all the paperwork
  There are numerous forms and contracts to fill out and sign. Your realtor goes through this process several times are year and can help you understand everything that you are signing.

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Preparing Your Home For a Successful Open House

When a potential buyer visits your home, you want to make sure to give the most positive impression as possible. Here are some suggestions for how to make the best of your open house.

Many of these items can be extremely important if selling in a market with few buyers. If homes are selling quickly, you may be able to avoid having to do some of these larger cost items.

Work with your realtor and find out what they suggest to maximize your return on the sale of your property.

General Advice

• Schedule to be away during showings. Buyers usually prefer to be alone with their realtor so they can ask questions freely.
• Keep pets away during showings.
• Try to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home.
• It is most important to focus on making your home look open and spacious. Be sure there is lots of light, no clutter, and no odors from pets or cooking. This can go a long way in making a buyer feel welcomed.

Garage and other storage areas

• Be sure that garage and other storage areas are free of clutter. If you have a lot of boxes, consider moving them into a separate storage facility.
• It is very important that you emphasize the amount of storage space your home has. Having storage areas filled with boxes or clutter gives the appearance that there is not a lot of space
• Put adequate lighting in storage areas and if needed, put a quick coat of light paint to brighten up the storage areas
• If there are stains on the garage floor or storage areas, see if these can be lightened or removed.

Kitchen

• Make sure all pantries are only half full. This will emphasize the amount of storage in the kitchen.
• All cabinets and drawers should display lots of free space
• Placing mats on bottom of drawers or cabinets can make things look much newer
• Replace all stovetop drip pans.
• If kitchen floor is in need of repair, it may be cost effective to replace or repair flooring to obtain a better selling price.

Bathroom

• Repair any dripping faucets. If faucets are old or corroded, consider having them replaced. This can be relatively inexpensive to do.
• Remove stains from toilets, bathtubs, and sinks. Toilets can be replaced without too much cost.
• Keep new fresh towels in the bathroom.
• Replace old bathroom mats with new ones.
• Replace old caulking.
• Be sure all drains are running smoothly.
• Replace light bulbs with brighter ones if possible.
• Clean mirror and shower stall door (or replace shower curtain with new one).
• Consider replacing flooring if existing floor is in need of repair.
• Put half of medicine cabinet and other storage cabinets into storage to emphasize space in bathrooms

Living Areas and Bedrooms

• If painting, use a light or neutral color.
• Make sure walls are in good condition.
• Clean all windows and keep drapes open.
• Be sure all windows and screen/sliding doors open and close easily.
• Be sure every light switch works.
• Replace all light bulbs to achieve maximum brightness.
• Remove half of every closet and place into storage. Be sure there is absolutely no clutter in closets or rooms.
• Be sure to lubricate any squeaky doors or cabinets.
• If you have a lot of furniture, consider placing some into storage to emphasize more living space.

Outdoors

• Be sure lawn and shrubbery is well maintained.
• Consider painting exterior of home and doors if it will make a big difference in the appearance.

Moving Checklist

The following checklist may help you in your moving preparation.

Two Months Before Moving Day

• Start calling around to get estimates from moving companies if you plan to utilize a mover. Collect estimates and look for referrals. Find out:
  • Will the movers pack for you?
  • Are there any items they will not move?
  • What are your insurance options for high value items?
• If you’re planning to move yourself, check with friends or family to reserve an ideal date for the move. Call at least two truck rental companies to get quotes.
• Take inventory of your possessions and begin removing clutter. Have a garage sale or donate to a local charity the things that you do not plan to move.
• Begin collecting all the information regarding your move such as receipts, quotes, and to-do lists.
• If moving to a new school district, begin arranging transfer of school records to new school.
• Make a final decision on a mover or truck rental company and reserve a date.
• If you will require travel plans to reach your new home, make reservations for your transportation (plane, train, etc).
• If moving to a new state and you have pets, make sure you understand if there are any regulations involved in transporting your pet.

One Month Before Moving Day

• Call up the utility company and arrange the day that you wish to have services stopped. Be sure to have it stop at least a day or two AFTER you leave. Setup the start of services in your new home at least a day or two BEFORE you arrive.
• If moving to an apartment building, be sure to reserve the day for the moving elevator.
• If you plan on packing yourself, purchase packing materials. Buying packing materials specifically designed for moving will make the day of your move much more painless.
• Use a camera of camcorder to inventory all your possessions. If you have electronic items, record serial numbers and approximate values.
• Begin packing items that you will not need until after you arrive at your new home. Be sure to label every box clearly.
• If moving to a new state, check to see if your bank has branches there. If not, open up a new account in your new city.
• Obtain a change of address kit from your post office. Be sure to notify:
  • friends and family
  • banks insurance companies
  • credit card companies
  • magazines and newspapers
  • doctors, dentists, and other providers
  • past employers so you can receive your W-2's
  • stock brokerage houses
  • IRS
  • churches, organizations, and clubs
• If you are moving to another island or state, make arrangements to pick up all of your important records such as:
  • birth
  • doctor
  • dentist
  • optometrist
  • school transcripts
  • veterinarian
• If you take prescription medicine, be sure to get an extra prescription as it may take some time to settle into your new neighborhood.
• Start using up your food so there is less to pack.
• Pack all your important documents in one place such as passports, military records, mortgage records, marriage license, birth certificates, vehicle papers, stock certificates, insurance papers, bank records, school records, medical records, tax records, etc.
• Set aside anything that will travel with you so that it does not get packed for the movers

One to Two Weeks Before Moving Day

• Confirm all important dates with movers, travel, and utility companies.
• Dispose of any flammable or hazardous items so that it does not get packed. Things such as: paint, aerosol cans, lighter fluid, gas, etc.
• Make arrangements for cleaning of your new and old home if needed
• Make arrangements to obtain key for new home
• Continue packing
• If you have young children, consider having a sitter or family member watch them at their house during the move
• Arrange for transfer of registration of your vehicle if moving to another state
• Check with insurance agent to see if your insurance will cover you during the move. Be sure to purchase moving insurance if you are not covered

Two to Three Days Before Moving Day

• Mark which boxes you will want to unpack first so that it will get loaded last. This will make it easier during unpacking.
• Disconnect and prepare any major appliances for the move. For example, defrost refrigerator and freezer and keep door open to air out. Clean stove.
• Let movers pack your belongings (if using a full service mover).
• Collect valuables and important papers from safe deposit box.
• Pack a phone book from your town so that you can refer to important numbers should you forget anything.

The Day Before Moving Day

• If utilizing movers, make sure you have payment ready.
• Pick up some food, ice, and beverages and store in a disposable cooler to prepare for moving day.
• Check all closets, cabinets, and drawers to see if anything was missed.
• Be sure to get a good night’s sleep!

• Strip your beds.
• Show movers around house and explain what you rooms you want loaded first / last.
• Remember things loaded last will be unloaded first at your new home.
• Talk with the moving people to ensure that you know how to reach them, they have the correct address, and that every box is inventoried and logged.
• Be sure to keep copies of all moving paperwork and keep in your possession, do not let it get packed with the movers
• Do a final check of the entire house to see if anything was missed
• Ensure that everything is turned off and that all doors and windows are locked
• Be sure to leave a folder of important information for the new tenants/home owners

• Be available to answer any questions and to point out which boxes go to which room
• Supervise unloading of boxes. Look for any signs of damage on the boxes and note it with the movers. Take pictures of any boxes that look damaged prior to opening them
• Be prepared to pay your movers if not already arranged
• Be sure to find out where all the important controls of your house are – electrical circuit breakers, main water valve shutoff, gas shutoff, water heater, etc.
• Begin unpacking!

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