Sell Austin, TX Real Estate
Closing the sale of your Austin home to a new buyer will be your final act in this drama. It will be done at a title company office, and it is the responsibility of the title firm to generate all the paperwork. However, you will want to request that you have time to review the paperwork the day before to insure that it is all correct and there are no barriers to the final closing.
Make sure your realtor takes the responsibility to insure that the title company did the paperwork right, and that you get a chance to review it. If there is a mistake it can be fixed beforehand, rather than being found at the time you and the buyer are bumping knees around the table. Any delay in closing may give the buyer time to think about backing out, and that happens more frequently than you might suspect.
You got an offer! Somebody is serious about buying your Austin home. Hand off the negotiating to the realtor. They can do all the legwork between you and the buyer, handling the offer and counter-offer. If you have an absolutely final bottom price you'll take, keep it in mind, but don't tell your realtor or that's what you'll end up with. Let the process of give-and-take slowly settle to that price, if necessary.
If you and the buyer are close on price, tell your agent to offer trade-offs such as a decorating allowance if the buyer is willing to pay a certain price. If they agree, then you can have that discounted from the closing price or you can hand over a check to the buyer at closing.
Your most important job will be to get your Austin home into shape for viewing. A lot of work needs to be done making a home attractive to buyers. Do as much as you can yourself, but be prepared to hire plumbers, electricians, painters and landscapers if you need them. It may be costly, but if it helps sell your house, it's probably a bargain.
Have your realtor find you a Seller's Insurance Policy that covers any repairs or replacements of appliances, plumbing or electrical devices after the closing. Most are reasonable and will save you money that you may not be able to afford if something breaks or wears out.
The "Open House" game is one that many realtors play to prove to you that they are really doing something to sell your home. Most realtors don't even like these showings, but they're a necessary evil. One type of "open house" is only for realtors, it's called a realtor's tour and usually involves as many as 50 to 100 agents from different firms flying through your Austin home in a few minutes. If your agent has done a good job of packaging the marketing of your home, these realtor tours can help move your home fast. Otherwise, be prepared to do "open house" showings, usually on weekends. Here's what to expect and what you'll have to do for "open house."
- Make sure everything is spic 'n span from the front door to the back fence.
Decided to sell your Austin home? Are you ready? What's your game plan? Well, most people who decide to put their home on the market know the process is more involved than just having some realty company stick a sign in the front yard. It requires planning, serious efforts to compile information about the home and a whole lot of elbow grease to make the house attractive and saleable.
Initially you'll want to review the homes that are already for sale in your neighborhood. You need to be a realist about the price you're wanting to get for your home. If the homes are open for viewing, take a tour and see what they look like, compared to yours. Make comparisons based upon size, age of the house, features, new updates and amenities. Visit the Austin Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and see if you can find other homes comparable to yours that will give you some idea of what prices are being asked. Be prepared to adjust your price up or down based upon what you find in the comparisons.
