Should I Sell My Home Myself? Checklist

The first 10 questions are about the purchase of your home.
Maybe you have forgotten some of the process.

1. When you bought your home was it an easy process?
2. Did you easily understand all of the paperwork?
3. How were problems handled and who handled them for you?
4. Who prepared the forms, contracts and disclosures?
5. How did you decide what to offer for the property? Who gave the sales data to you?
6. How did you find your home?
7. Who negotiated the transaction?
8. Who guided you to your loan and assisted with your loan process?
9. Who oversaw the closing process?
10. How did you complete the transaction? How did you get possession, keys, etc?

The following questions are about your abilities and the actual sale process.

11. Can you advertise your home effectively? Can you write advertising copy?
12. Do you know how to set the price properly?
13. Do you know what repairs should be made and what repairs must be made?
14. Are you willing to spend money for signs, advertising, and brochures? (This could be hundreds, even thousands of dollars)
15. Do you know what disclosures must be made?
16. Do you know which inspections are required and which should be done?
17. Can you show your home effectively?
18. Can you screen your buyers properly?
19. Do you know what to watch for when rip-off artists and time wasters call you or show up at the door?
20. Can you prepare deposit receipts or purchase contracts which are legally binding?
21. Do you understand good faith deposits?
22. Do you know under which circumstances those deposits must be returned?
23. Will you be using an attorney to prepare your paperwork or close your transaction? If so, how much are the fees that will be charged?
24. Do you know where to send the buyer for a loan?
25. Can you assist the buyer in loan application preparation?
26. How will the appraisal process be handled?
27. If the appraisal does not come in, at or above the sale price, what do you do besides lower your sales price?
28. Do you understand the title process?
29. Do you understand the loan process?
30. Do you understand the closing process?
31. Which papers, books, or publications are best in which to advertise your property?
32. What type of brochures are the most effective?
33. Where brochures should be placed to attract the most buyers?
34. What color, style and format of brochure produces the most buyers?
35. What color, size of brochure has the highest readership and the highest response rate?
36. How can you negotiate escrow/closing, title and inspection fees?
37. Do you know how to totally prepare your home for sale with no help or guidance?
38. If the roof, termite, well, septic or home inspections turn up problems, what are your options?
39. How can you give the closer/escrow officer the proper instructions for closing the transaction?
40. Can you give the closing/escrow officer the proper instructions for closing the transaction?
41. How will you handle the final walk-through process with the buyer?
42. What will you do if the buyer wants to make changes in the terms of the contract before closing?
43. What can you do if the buyer refuses to sign papers or close the transaction?
44. In what case can you keep a buyers deposit?
45. What if the buyer has an agent or attorney? Can you negotiate and deal effectively with the professionals?
46. Are you "flat out" good enough at selling to be able to sell your own home?
47. Will a sophisticated, professional buyer be able to take advantage of you?
48. Would someone else hire you to sell their home?