5 Common Factors that are Often Overlooked When Prepping to Sell Your Home
So you’ve prepped your home cosmetically for sale in every imaginable way – you’ve fluffed the pillows, applied fresh paint throughout the house, given it a deep cleaning, you’ve gone through and decluttered closets and even landscaped your yard. Your house looks better than it ever has and you are ready to hit the market! Before you proceed with the “For Sale” sign on the ground, however, there are several key pieces of information that you should consider gathering that today’s savvy buyers are going to want to know.
- Termite Bond
In many markets where termites are alive and well, it is commonplace for homes to have some sort of protection plan in place which is also known as a bond. Prior to listing your home, obtain a copy of your termite bond policy from the provider, know exactly what type of bond you have – repair or treatment bond and up to what dollar amount of coverage is it good for. Also know how long the bond is in effect when it is up for renewal and what the renewal fee is if there is a transfer fee and what does it provide protection for – not all bonds provide protection against all different types of termites. - All Product Manuals and Warranty Documents
Now is the time to gather the various product manuals for all items that will be staying in the home such as appliances, water heater, heating and cooling system, ceiling fans, pool equipment, etc. If your home came with any warranties, be sure to include these for the new owner as well. Putting all of these in one large envelope makes it easy for everything to be readily accessible in one place for the new buyer. - Certificates of Complete Testing and Info on Pest Control
If you maintain any type of pest control on your property, compile information as to who the provider is, what you have done, how much you pay and how often does the company come out to treat the property. A copy of your service agreement is helpful in this instance. - Neighborhood Rules and Information
This is key critical information for a new owner to have on hand – especially if you live in an HOA. A contract may likely hinge on the buyer’s review of this information, so easiest to have it available ahead of time. If you don’t have these, contact your neighborhood’s association president or management company for assistance in obtaining a copy. Many of these documents are matters of public record and are available by going online to the appropriate municipality’s website. - Contact Your Service Providers and Provide the New Home Owners Their Information
Compile a list of all service providers/vendors and their contact information who you have used in your home – lawn service, pool service, A/C company, etc. While a new buyer may or may not choose to use these services, they will certainly appreciate having resources available to them and may elect to initially use them as they make the transition to living in your home.