When prospective clients call or email us to request an appointment to talk about listing their home, they often ask, ”Is there is anything I (or we) need to do be preparing for the appointment?”

It’s a great question and one we are always happy to answer. The short answer is YES!

The best preparation a homeowner can undertake before meeting and listing their home with a professional Realtor is to (1) reflect and (2) research. The more information you can provide for our first meeting, the better. But, rest assured, you do not have to have all of this information at the first meeting. It is more than okay! We are happy to meet at anytime even if you are not quite ready with all the below listed information.

PREPARING STEP #1: REFLECT

At our initial meeting, we will ask you about your plans and goals and what prompted our meeting.

• Where are you moving? What is taking you there?
• What is your timeframe for selling / moving?

Also, spend some time thinking about the following:

• On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank your motivation with 10 being the most motivated to sell?
• Is there a Plan B or do you absolutely need to sell the home?

Turning to the home itself, think back to when you were house hunting for the home. Reflect on the following questions:

• What attracted you to this neighborhood?
• What did you love about this home?

Now, after living in the home, think about:

• What are its five best features?
• If you were a buyer looking at this home, what are some of the features you might change?
• What are the top five things you love about the neighborhood now?

PREPARING STEP #2: RESEARCH

Another very important part of this meeting is sharing as much information as possible about your home and neighborhood (and/or condo association). It’s time to get out your old records and files! We will want to know:

• a list of any and all updates you have completed since you bought the property – when, what type of work was done, and costs.
• a list of the home’s major systems/appliances and their ages (at least an estimate). Include HVAC, the hot water heater, furnace, sump pump, roof, windows, washer/dryer, kitchen appliances, deck, electric panel (or other electrical work done), and any other major systems (alarms, sprinklers, sound, etc.)
• your average monthly utility costs for electric, gas, water, sewer, trash etc.

If your home is part of a homeowners or condo association, please have handy your most recent documents and directories. Also, it’s great to know:

• the amount and frequency of HOA/condo dues, along with what amenities the fees include
  all community amenities (pool, party room, etc)
• if is there currently a special assessment on the property
• if there are any major restrictions (pets, renting the property, etc)

Most times, clients don’t have this for the first appointment, which is just fine. But, it is information that is very helpful for pricing and marketing your home.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Again, remember, we are always happy to meet, even if you don’t have all of this information available. That said, the more information we have in advance of our meeting, the better.

Being armed with information helps us recommend a listing price and a suggested marketing plan and potential strategies.

In some cases, we may already be working with a buyer who is looking in your neighborhood or for your style of home!

Ready to take the next step? Book a seller’s consultation with us now! Or even if you’re not quite ready, we are always happy to meet for coffee and chat about the market and your options. You can also find more information about selling with The Goodhart Group on our website, as well as get a free market valuation of your home.

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