Who Can I Call to Find Out What to Do (and Not Do) Before Selling?
Before you spend money on a sale, start with an agent walk-through. Here is who else can help, what each one does, and what we can and cannot do.
Start with an agent walk-through
Before you spend money, ask an agent to walk through the home with you. An agent sees the home the way buyers will, knows what is likely to come up in an inspection, and can help you decide what to fix, what to leave and in what order.
For more on understanding maintenance or issues before listing, see [LINK to Topic 22: Should I Get a Pre-Listing Inspection?].
For more on which improvements are worth making, see [LINK to Topic 05: What Improvements Should I Make Before Selling?].
At the walk-through, we provide you with:
1. A comparative market analysis at the time of the walk through
2. Ideas for using your home, furnishings and resources to improve the sale
3. Rough cost estimates, plus a list of vendors you can contact to refine them
4. A timeline for getting to market
5. Guidance on what to disclose on the Form 17 seller disclosure, whether or not an issue is repaired
Who else can help, and with what
In Washington, a real estate broker cannot refer or recommend a specific vendor with the expectation that you must use that vendor. You always choose, not us. What we can do is give you a list of possibilities to consider and help you compare them, based on our experiences. Bring this up when we meet.
A home inspector. A pre-listing inspection finds problems before a buyer's inspector does. See our post on whether to get one. [LINK to Topic 22]
Specialty inspectors. A sewer scope, a pest inspection, a chimney inspection or a crawl space review each answer a specific question.
Licensed contractors and tradespeople. They give estimates and do the repairs. Check licenses and registration through the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (lni.wa.gov).
A stager or photographer. They help with the presentation of your home, and are critical as they provide seasoned opinions on how the home will look online AND in person.
A CPA or tax professional. Ask about taxes on the sale, records of improvements, and anything unusual about your situation.
An attorney. For estates, trusts, divorces, title questions or anything legally complicated.
Your mortgage lender. To get a payoff figure, and to plan financing for your next home.
Your HOA or property manager. For HOA documents, rules and fees, if they apply.
Your insurance agent. Especially if the home will be vacant while it is listed.
What we can and cannot do
As agents we work with contractors, suppliers and vendors regularly, and we have helped clients through large repairs. We can help you compare bids and ask the right questions, but who you hire is always your decision.
What not to do
Do not start large projects before getting advice. Some updates cost more than they return.
Do not rely on friends and relatives who are used to the home. They stop seeing problems too.
Do not hire the first contractor available without checking license and insurance.
From Our Own Experience
A big part of what we do is help sellers understand and prepare before they list. Here are some examples, with details changed to protect privacy:
- The Retirees Who Plan Ahead: A couple bought their retirement home last year and plan to sell their current home in our area next spring. We met with them, identified what should stay with the house when they list, asked them to collect information on their updates and upgrades, and began confirming that the title is clear so the home is ready to sell.
- The Estate: When a client's mother passed away, the client asked us to help list the property as an estate sale. The family wanted time to sort through the house and get it ready. Although the house was sold "as is," we still wanted to present a property with charm and value. We helped them identify painters, stagers, cleaners, and other trades to prepare the property and get it on the market. It sold within a week of listing.
- The Couple Heading Back Home: This couple's children are grown, and they have found a property in their native country. We have had ongoing discussions to help identify and prepare for listing their property early in the coming year. This work included assessing what maintenance items to invest in, what to do to improve curb appeal, how to "thin out" their current furnishings to make the home more appealing, and a short consulting meeting with our stager to plan.
Thinking about selling in the Seattle Area?
Kelly Azzarello Real Estate | Compass
kelly@kellyazzarello.com | (425) 830-6457
Instagram: instagram.com/kellyazzarello
YouTube: youtube.com/kellyazzarellorealestate
Disclaimer
This post is general information about real estate topics. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and it does not replace a professional inspection. Rules and practices differ by situation and change over time. Check current requirements and talk with a licensed professional, such as an inspector, contractor, attorney or CPA, about your own property.