Owner’s manuals and warranties for appliances left in the house.
Garage door opener.
Extra sets of house keys.
A list of local service providers — the best dry cleaner, yard service, plumber, etc.
When you sell a stock, you owe taxes on your gain — the difference between what you paid for the stock and what you sold it for. The same holds true when selling a home (or a second home), but there are some special considerations.
How to Calculate Gain
In real estate, capital gains are based not on what you paid for the home, but on its adjusted cost basis. To calculate, follow these steps:
Make your home more appealing for yourself and potential buyers with these quick and easy tips:
1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows or architectural details.
2. Mow your lawn, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before the showing to make the lawn sparkle.
3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.
1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.
2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.
3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.
□ Provide the post office with your forwarding address two to four weeks ahead of the move.
□ Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of your change of address.
□ Create a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified about your move.
□ Arrange to disconnect utilities and have them connected at your new home.
□ Cancel the newspaper, or change the address so it will arrive at your new home.
□ Check insurance coverage for the items you’re moving. Usually movers only cover what they pack.
□ Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.
□ Check with your condo or co-op about any restrictions on using the elevator or particular exits for moving.
□ Have a “first open” box with the things you’ll need most, such as toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors,
hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.
1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.
2. Prepare for visitors. Get your house market ready at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show at the spur of the moment. But the more amenable you can be about letting people see your home, the sooner you’ll find a buyer.
An open house can be a great sales tool, but it also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Stay safe by practicing these guidelines.
Call the local police department and ask them to have a squad care drive by during your open-house hours.
Check your cell phone’s strength and signal prior to the open house. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial. Carry an extra, fully charged cell phone battery.
1. Property disclosure form. This form requires you to reveal all known defects to your property. Check with your state government to see if there is a special form required in your state.
2. Purchasers access to premises agreement. This agreement sets conditions for permitting the buyer to enter your home for activities such as measuring for draperies before you move.
3. Sales contract. The agreement between you and the seller on terms and conditions of sale. Again, check with your state real estate department to see if there is a required form.
These questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to move.
1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years, you may have significant, unrealized gains.
Thinking about selling your home? As you probably know, it’s not a one and done task. With the proper preparation and game plan, the sale of your home can be a smooth transaction. Here at 17 services that you may consider using to assist you in your real estate sale.
